How useful are snow shoes?

There is a lot to know when choosing the right snowshoes.

In the far north, people don't use them, as they don't need them. There is not much snow to start with, and, it is usually very hard. In more southern areas, the snow can be a lot deeper. I am in Yukon, and we have 57cm of snow on the ground at the airport. Up higher there would be more. And, the snow is all powder. It would be impossible to get very far on foot without snowshoes here. Which is going to be fun, as I am heading out to the bush next month, and I don't have any! (I'll be on snowmobile though.)

There are many styles as well, depending on the terrain. Places with thick forests mean the longer, skinnier ones work better. If you are packing stuff, then larger ones are needed because of the weight. Powder snow also requires larger shoes. And, your weight is a factor as well. Also, if you are breaking trail (going through virgin snow), or tramping on existing trails makes a difference too. The wilder the country, the deeper the snow, the more powdery it is, and the heavier you are all mean larger snowshoes are required.

Snowshoes are very useful in deep soft snow that you would sink into.They spread the weight of your body over a larger area and keeps you on top of the snow. They are not used in hard packed snow like I think most of the Arctic is. It is a plains Indian invention.

The old snowshoes were made of wood and had a piece sticking out at the back so the 2 pieces could be joined together and then were strung with animal sinew or leather. The shape has not always been constant. My son who was a snowshoe enthusiast had 2 wooden ones 1 was the classic beaver tail and 1 was elliptical with an extra webbed part on the back and both worked equally well. The narrower ones when I as a novice wore them were less likely to be stepped on when I brought my foot forward. The secret is not the shape but how it disburses your weight. In my son's case both snowshoes had the same area of webbing in different shapes.

Don't compare the shapes look at how big the foot print would be of each one. Snowshoes have come a long way. I imagine the aluminum ones would be lighter than the wooden ones too

I don't think they're much used in the Actic. I'm guessing that the snow on the ground is pretty hard packed, and if there is loose snow on the surface, it won't be that deep. It's cold up there, but relatively dry, so not so much snowfall.

They are mostly used in areas with heavy snow fall where you have deep loose snow that you need to walk through. If you have snowshoes on you walk on top of the snow. They are worth it if the snow is a foot or more deep.

These guys have traditional and aluminum framed shoes, and will answer questions if you phone them:

http://www.snowshoestore.com/

Mountain Equipment Coop seems to have a wide range of high tech ones I wouldn't want, but maybe serious mountain hikers would:

http://www.mec.ca/Main/home.jsp

How useful they are depends on snow conditions and the snowshoe itself.

Their purpose is to distribute body weight over a larger area, so a person sinks less than they would just walking in boots.

But the heavier the person (or load they're carrying) the bigger the snowshoe needs to be.

Link - http://www.howcast.com/videos/359847-How-To-Pick-t...

Yes, they really work

The new ones have a pivoted boot binding and metal cleats like small crampons so they will grip somewhat on ice and bite into firm snow. You can walk up a 45 degree slope that otherwise you'd have to kick into each step, and walk in snow that otherwise you'd be up to your knees in, fighting each step.

Snow shoes would be very useful if you had to walk through deep soft snow. If you were bird watching or checking your trap lines they would be great. For most people snow shoeing is a leisure time activity, not a necessity, like cross-country skiing.

Shawn Robbin is right about the snow. Also, a certain amount of coordination is required. A giraffe drunk out of it's mind is a more graceful creature than me on snowshoes, LOL.

They are very useful

this year is very warm, you do not need them.