Snowshoe Question

S

Scott Free

Joined
Sep 15, 1999
Messages
3,319
A few weeks ago, my mom-in-law called to tell me she ordered snowshoes. I told her she was crazy. It never snows more than a few inches around here anymore. The day before her snowshoes arrived, it started snowing and it hasn't stopped since. Although it's compressed to about 36", the news is reporting that at least 60 or so inches have fallen. I apologized to mom-in-law today for questioning her sanity. (She's in her mid-sixties, BTW)

So--to me, the shoes look small. When she uses them, she plops down into the snow to just below her knees. Without the shoes, the snow is at her waist so the shoes are definitely helping, but I didn't expect she would sink to almost her knees. Is this normal, or does she need bigger shoes? She might weigh 135 lbs or so.

These are the shoes. "Gold 13" (The top ones.) They only come in one size.
http://www.crescentmoonsnowshoes.com/womens.htm
 
Last edited:
yup, if you want to really float across the powder, you need the huge traditional type snowshoes.

they're still better than the no-snowshoes option.
 
Snow shoes are worthless unless you are traveling on hard packed snow.
By hard packed I mean, you can't walk on it without breaking through when only wearing your boots. When you get that to happen, you can put on your snow shoes and then your weight is dispersed about a greater footprint. I laugh when I see people "snow shoe" through powder snow. What are you doing!!! The only thing you'll be doing is kicking snow up your back.
You need crusty snow or lightly iced snow for snow shoes to shine. If you don't have that, put them away and break out your cross country skis!
 
Basically, even with big snowshoes, they just prevent you from "post-holing" ... going up to your crotch in snow. In fresh snow [as said above] you can easily sink 24"+. I have a big pair of Atlas 'shoes and @ 195 lbs with a 40 lb pack, I'll sink 24-30"+ in fresh powda. A hell of a lot better than post-holing ... I've done that too and it really sucks. When you're in the mountains with 10-15' of snow, snowshoes or ideally skis are your best friends.
 
floatation is very dependent on snow conditions (as well as the weight of the user), also the construction of the deck play a part in flotation
 
markhait said:
Snow shoes are worthless unless you are traveling on hard packed snow.
By hard packed I mean, you can't walk on it without breaking through when only wearing your boots.
Click to expand...

I do a lot of snowshoeing and don't agree with you at all. They make for way easier going in deep snow, be it heavy or powder, than just wearing boots. I think a lot of folks use snowshoes that are too small, mostly because they're more stylish than large ones. The smaller the snowshoe, the less float it has, and thus the less benefit. I do agree that XC skis are a superior option.
 
x39 said:
I do a lot of snowshoeing and don't agree with you at all. They make for way easier going in deep snow, be it heavy or powder, than just wearing boots. I think a lot of folks use snowshoes that are too small, mostly because they're more stylish than large ones. The smaller the snowshoe, the less float it has, and thus the less benefit. I do agree that XC skis are a superior option.
Click to expand...

+1 for this one. I also snowshoe often, in all types of snow. I've found that crusted or icy snow can be tougher to walk in with snowshoes as you tend to break through but catch the toe of your shoe on the crust. Going through powder or new fallen snow is much easier with snowshoes. Your flotation is dependent on surface area of the shoe, the shape of the shoe and the weight of the user.
 
For now, skis vs. snowshoes are a non issue. So far, the shoes have only been worn to break ice sickles off of the gutters, knock snow off of tree limbs and bushes, and to pack a trail for a stray cat that she feeds. Skis wouldn't have worked, and without the snowshoes, none of the above mentioned things would have been possible.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top