Go Deep

The personalities of local parks, nature centers and waterways change when temperatures dip below freezing, and a blanket of fresh snow covers familiar terrain. The marshes, ponds, and thick brush forest floors that are inaccessible in the summer now invite you to come see what you’ve missed.

The best way to get off the path and go deeper in the woods is to strap on a pair of snowshoes. Often overlooked or perceived as a “back in the day” pursuit, some think of snowshoes as antiques hanging over the fireplace of a rented cabin.

Recent innovations in design, materials, and an increased interest in winter outdoor activities have brought more people to snowshoeing. Snowsports Industries America statistics show snowshoeing participation increased 5.7 percent in 2024-2025. People who are committed to fitness routines see snowshoeing as a viable winter outdoor activity.

Snowshoeing offers a long list of benefits. The cost of a pair of snowshoes is significantly less than other winter pursuits. Current models are well-made with durable materials that can easily last 10 years.

One caveat. The snowshoes gathering dust in the garage may look worth a try but consider purchasing a new pair. With modern frame designs, materials and bindings, today’s snowshoes deliver much more comfortable experiences.

Snowshoe Design                                    

Anyone who has tried to hike in fresh, deep snow knows the frustrating experience of “post-holing” or sinking up to your knees in fresh powder. The primary goal of snowshoes is adding flotation to keep you on top of the snow cover.

Two basic shapes dominate snowshoe frame design. The names have evolved to match marketing pitches from brands trying to differentiate their models from the competition.

Although both frame shapes have long historical roots, modern designs mirror these configurations with updated construction and materials.

Traditional oval-shaped snowshoes have been called ‘bearpaw” or “Green Mountain.”

This shape works best traveling through thick brush and woodlands. Oval-shaped frame designs create a larger deck surface to spread your weight and prevent sinking into deep powder. Oval snowshoes are easier to maneuver in thick brush and around winter campsites and ice fishing holes.

The second shape, called “Ojibwe” or “teardrop” are longer, narrower and include a thin, often upturned tip and tail. These snowshoes are designed to maintain flotation on deep snow in open areas like crossing frozen lakes or open wildlands. The larger surface area adds flotation, and the narrow design allows for faster movement in deep snow.

Currently, most snowshoe brands offer oval-shaped models in different size configurations. Variations on the narrow “Ojibwe” style are positioned for backcountry, deep snow conditions. These are also offered in different lengths.

Snowshoe Basics

Special footwear isn’t needed for snowshoeing. A pair of sturdy winter weight boots will work. For snowshoeing on groomed urban trails or when trying racing models, hiking boots or trail running shoes will work too.

Of the three main elements of snowshoe design: frame, deck and bindings, the last has the most influence on comfort. As snowshoes have evolved from wood frames and rawhide laced decks to aircraft aluminum and neoprene decks, bindings improved significantly in comfort, performance and durability.

Bindings

Old school wood snowshoes used a leather strap and buckle system. The eyelets in the straps often stretched and required frequent adjustments.

Ratcheting straps replaced straps and buckles when frames moved from wood to aircraft aluminum. Inspired by alpine ski boot designs, the wrap around ratcheted straps offered easy adjustments even when wearing gloves. Quick release buckles make removing snowshoes from boots easy. Most mid-priced snowshoe models used brand specific ratcheted bindings.

Becoming popular with snowboarders, alpine skiers and cyclists, BOA dial closures offer more precise adjustments. Using a micro-adjustable dial and steel cables, these bindings are being offered by brands on limited models.

In some models, the bindings are designed to pivot up and down within the frame and deck to match the landscape’s elevation. The bottom of the hinged models may include steel crampons that bite into ice and add stability in treacherous terrain.

Bottom line, today’s bindings deliver comfort, durability and much better performance compared to traditional leather straps and buckles.

Frames

Traditional snowshoe frames were constructed of wood, primarily ash. White and black ash is strong, flexible under stress without breaking, durable and easy to maintain season to season. On the other hand, wood frames are heavy, and traditional rawhide or nylon laced decks require frequent varnishing to remain in good condition.

In the late 1980s, snowshoe manufacturers started using aircraft aluminum tubing to create both oval and narrow frame shapes. High quality aluminum offers significant strength-to-weight ratios compared to wood. Aluminum frames are also significantly lighter. That translates to reduced fatigue and more time spent outside.

Snowshoe brands have created a variety of frame shapes designed for different terrain, snow depths and conditions. The designers have created gender specific models that reflect anatomical differences in body size, body shape, and stride lengths.

There are models for men, women, and kids. Outdoor enthusiasts who want to go deep into the backcountry and people who prefer groomed urban nature centers can find models perfectly suited to these applications.

Decks

Frames and bindings get most of the attention when evaluating snowshoe purchase options. Decks, the last of three main snowshoe construction components, contribute to comfort and performance. Old school wood frames used varnished rawhide or nylon lace. The lattice work allowed snow to slip through but often required a fresh coat of varnish each season. These laces added more weight too.

When aluminum frames were introduced, designers shifted to neoprene, nylon or polyurethane. These materials are much lighter, more durable and designed to shed snow easily.

Using new designs and construction materials, today’s snowshoes are lighter, more durable and more comfortable than the pair of snowshoes hanging in your grandparent’s cabin.