There are snowshoes for running in and snowshoes for exploring mountains of untouched powder, but for those aren’t really what the recreational user is looking for. And if you’re just a recreational user you’re probably not looking to spend the kind of money that those more specialized, expensive snowshoes will cost. A good pair of recreational snowshoes will allow you to have a great time snowshoeing, without you having to make a major investment.
Recreational Snowshoes
What to look for when you're looking for recreational snowshoes.- Material – If all you’re looking for is a pair of recreational snowshoes then you don’t have to worry overly much about the material that they’re made from. Most snowshoes are a combination of an aluminum frame and nylon deck, but there are also some excellent plastic snowshoes ideally suited to recreational users.
- Maximum Weight – One of the more important things to be aware of when it comes to snowshoes is that there are different lengths, each of which have a different maximum weight capacity. If you weigh more than your snowshoes can handle you will end up sinking in to the snow, which is not nearly as much fun.
Best Recreational Snowshoes
Some of the very best recreational snowshoes.- Atlas 11 Series Snowshoes (Women's Version) - The 11 Series snowshoes do well as a recreational pair of snowshoes, but are the kind of thing that you could take out off the beaten trail and do a little exploring too. They come in two sizes, a 25 and 30 inch length, the longer with a maximum weight of 250 pounds and weighing 4.58 pounds, or 2.07 kilograms. What makes them suited to a little off trail travel is a heel lift bar, to reduce calf fatigue on inclines, and a solid base of crampons, for plenty of traction.
- MSR Evo 22 Snowshoes - If you're looking for a straight recreational snowshoe the Evo 22 is a fanstastic choice. They're only 22 inches, and have a low maximum weight of 180 pounds as a result, but there are optional tails that will boost that up to 250 pounds. These snowshoes are light too, at just 3 pounds 7 ounces, which is 1.55 kilograms. Part of the reason for that is that they're plastic. Plastic snowshoes also tend to be cheaper, another definite benefit for the person looking to just do a little recreational snowshoeing.
- Redfeather Trek Snowshoes Kit - If you want to get the whole snowshoeing experience then a kit might be the way to go. The snowshoes come in a 25 and 30 inch length, the 30 inch with a recommended maximum weight of 220 pounds. You also get a pair of trekking poles, which can come in handy on uneven terrain, and a tote bag, so that the snowshoe crampons don't tear up anything when you're not using them.
