Loads of people love to snowboard or ski, but if you want to take part in winter sports activities in a different way, you should give snowshoeing a try!
What began as an essential way of traveling around in the snow has now evolved into one of the most popular winter sports activities in the world.
Snowshoeing is basically hiking across snowy terrain in special shoes that are designed to help you walk in the snow. It is a great form of exercise and a great way to enjoy the snow.
If you have never gone snowshoeing before then you might be wondering what the correct type of shoes to wear is. Well, we’ve got you covered!
We’ll be going over what sort of shoes you should wear as well as some other snowshoeing basics to make your first time more pleasant!
What Shoes To Wear Snowshoeing
Choosing the right snowshoes is absolutely essential for anyone who is planning on taking up this activity.
If you have the wrong shoes it can drastically affect your experience and in some cases, it can even force you to cut your session short.
Picking the right shoes comes down to a few things, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Always make sure the shoes you choose are correct for your weight, the snowy conditions, and the terrain you’ll be walking on.
Make sure that you wear warm and waterproof boots.
Always dress in multiple layers of clothes that are especially good for handling cold and wet conditions.
As long as you keep these tips in mind and wear snowshoes that fit these criteria, you will be completely prepared for your session.
You mainly need to make sure that the snowshoes you are wearing are waterproof, warm, and suitable for the terrain you will be traversing.
If you are new to snowshoeing, then getting rental gear is a much better option than buying things outright.
When you go to a resort and you rent gear, you have the opportunity to try a few different styles of equipment and you can ask for help and advice from the people there.
When you’re comfortable with a certain style, you can then go out and buy it for yourself.
For beginners, flat-terrain snowshoes are usually the best types of shoes you can get. They are entry-level snowshoes that are designed for easy walking on flat terrain and are great for beginners to use.
You also need to make sure that you check the maximum weight recommended for whichever snowshoes you end up using.
You need to make sure that your body weight and the weight of everything you are carrying don’t exceed the maximum weight of the snowshoes or you won’t be able to walk properly or efficiently.
How To Dress For Snowshoeing
In order to have a successful and fun snowshoeing session, you also need to make sure that you are wearing the appropriate clothing and layers.
Along with the snowshoes themselves, you also need to make sure that you are wearing suitable boots and socks that will keep you warm and dry.
Most boots can fit on snowshoes as they are easily adjustable, so you won’t have too much issue here.
When it comes to the actual clothes you are wearing, you need to make sure that everything you are wearing is going to keep you warm and dry, just like your choice of boots. Make sure you avoid cotton materials in these layers.
Winter sports clothing is usually divided up into three layers: the base layer, the mid layer, and the outer layer. Each layer will help you stay dry and warm and will allow you to stay outside for longer. Let’s take a brief look at each of these layers now:
Base Layer – This layer should be lightweight and breathable. Even if you are completely covered up, if you sweat and it sticks to your body, you will get colder faster.
You will want to wear tighter clothing that is designed to let sweat out and move it away from your body.
Mid Layer – Your mid layer will be all about insulating and keeping you warm. Things like soft-shell jackets and pants are perfect for your mid-layer. Polyester is a great material to use for this layer.
Outer Layer – Your outer layer needs to be waterproof and breathable, so anything like a shell jacket works well for this layer.
You also want to make sure that your outer layer is going to protect you from the wind. Something with lots of zips is also quite practical in case you need to shed layers at any point.
When you have prepared all of your layers properly, it means that you will be able to take part in snowshoeing for longer and it will keep you safer as well.
There are other things you can wear as well as your three layers that will make your experience more pleasant and comfortable.
Hats and gloves/mittens are great for snowshoeing and will retain heat for longer. They will keep your head and hands protected and can also help prevent sunburn.
Sunglasses are another great thing to have when you are snowshoeing. The sun and snow sound like they shouldn’t go together or be an issue, but you’d be surprised!
This is also why some people bring sunscreen out when they snowshoe because the sun rays are actually more intense in the snow and you can quite easily get sunburned!
Conclusion
Choosing the right snowshoes can be quite a challenge, especially if this is your first time doing it.
It’s always best to ask for advice and help from professionals or people who work at the resort in which you’ll be snowshoeing to make sure you have the appropriate pair.
Remember to make sure whichever snowshoes you choose are catered to your body weight, the weight of whatever you’re carrying, and make sure that they are waterproof and warm.
Use the advice we have provided to make your snowshoeing experience great!
Hi, my name is Jamie Andreas and I am a workaholic. I spent the best part of a decade climbing the corporate ladder, focusing on one thing and one thing only - my career.
Since then, I’ve stepped back in my job so that I have more free time to explore the wild. My mental health, clarity, and well-being have all improved by incredible amounts.
I now have a healthy work-life balance, and I want that for you too.
Life is too short to think of work only. Please enjoy my website and use it for inspiration for your next adventure. Maybe I’ll see you out there!
