How do I Care for Traditional Snowshoes?

Annual care extends your snowshoes' wear.

Maintenance of your traditional wood and rawhide snowshoes is fairly easy and should become an annual routine for long-term preservation. Three simple procedures can be done at the end of each season: inspect them for damage, apply a coat of varnish, and store them properly.

Inspect

Traditional wooden snowshoes require regular maintenance.

At the end of the season, rinse your snowshoes to remove salts and reveal cracks. Then thoroughly air-dry them in moderate temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Repair minor splits in the shoe frame by wrapping them with cloth strips. For deeper, unstable cracks, try splinting them with aluminum strips before wrapping.

Varnish

At least once a year you should varnish your snowshoes. Lightly sand the frame's surface and apply a coat of tung oil or marine spar varnish to the frame and webbing. Like varnishing a boat, this helps prevent water from warping the wood.

Storage

Snowshoes should be hung in a cool, dry location. Lightly wrapping them first will keep moisture and rodents from causing damage.

References

• Snowshoe Magazine: Traditional Snowshoe Care and Maintenance

Resources

• The Snow Shoe Store: Traditional Wooden Snowshoes