Snowshoes are a lot of fun, but if you’ve never done much research in to actually buying snowshoes, then there are a few things you should know. For instance, there are some differences between snowshoes for men and women. Snowshoes are fairly unisex, it’s true, but there are a few things about them that can really ruin your snowshoeing experience if you misinterpret. So for the sake of your future snowshoeing experiences, pay attention to what you need in a pair of snowshoes.
Snowshoes for Men
What to think about when buying a new pair of snowshoes.- Maximum Weight – Each pair of snowshoes has a maximum recommended weight. Snowshoes work by displacing your weight over a greater area, so that you don’t sink in to the snow. But if the area of the snowshoe is too small for your weight, you will end up sinking, and then the snowshoes wont be of much use to you.
- Intended Use – Snowshoes actually come in a few different varieties, and the kind of snowshoe you get will depend on what you intend to use them for. For instance, there are running snowshoes that are great for running in, or even walking on established trails in, but would be a poor choice if you decided to throw on a backpack and head off the trail.
Best Snowshoes for Men
Some of the very best snowshoes for men that you have to choose from.- MSR Evo 22 Snowshoes - First up, a great pair of all around hiking snowshoes from MSR. They're plastic, rather than the traditional aluminum frame with nylon deck. But plastic is cheaper, and also quite lightweight. At 3 pounds 7 ounces, or 1.55 kilograms these are some of the lighter snowshoes on the market. They will only hold up to 180 pounds, but there are optional tails that can be attached to increase that to 250 pounds.
- MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes - If you had backcountry travel in mind then something like the Lightning Ascent snowshoes might be more your speed. They have what MSR calls a 360 degree traction system, where the outer frame of the snowshoes has crampons cut in to the bottom of it, so that you always have a bit of traction. They also have a heel lift bar, to give you a bit of a boost and to reduce leg fatigue. The maximum weight of the medium is 220 pounds, but there are attachable tails to improve that, if you wanted to carry a heavy backpack, for instance.
- Atlas Race Snowshoes - For running, a specific kind of running snowshoes are required, and these are the best of them. At 2 pounds 1.3 ounces, or 943 grams they're some of the lightest snowshoes on the market. They have just toe and heel crampons, to give you enough traction to get by without adding unnecessary weight. And runners will definitely appreciate Atlas' spring loaded suspension technology, which helps you keep a natural gait, instead of trying to change your gait to accommodate snowshoes.
