How to Buy the Right Size Snowshoe
Thanks to new technological advances, snowshoeing has become much more accessible, even for beginners. As with all athletic footwear, buying the right size shoe is vital to enjoying the sport.
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Instructions
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Buy Snowshoes That Suit Your Weight
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Decide what type of snowshoeing you plan to do before you buy them. You should buy shoes that can support your weight and the weight of your gear.
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Buy children's-sized snowshoes for anyone who weighs less than 70 pounds.
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Select 21-by-8-inch snowshoes for people who weigh between 71 and 155 pounds.
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Opt for snowshoes that are 8-by-25 inches for people whose weight lies between 90 and 177 pounds. You should choose longer snowshoes if you plan to carry a heavier pack, or if you plan to walk on packed snow rather than powder.
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Choose 9-by-30-inch snowshoes if you weigh around 200 pounds.
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Buy 10-by-36-inch snowshoes for anyone who weighs more than 220 pounds.
Suit Your Snowshoe Size to Conditions
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Go for shorter snowshoes when planning to trek in soft snow that is less than 30 inches deep. This usually translates into 22-inch shoes for smaller people and 25-inch shoes for heavier people.
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Buy the shortest snowshoes -- about 22 inches -- for walking on firmly packed snow or established snowshoeing trails.
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Choose the longest snowshoes possible for serious snowshoeing in soft snow that is more than 30 inches deep. Snowshoes of between 25 and 30 inches are necessary in such conditions to keep your weight properly distributed.
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Wear slightly longer snowshoes if you will be the leader in a group of snowshoers. Since snowshoeing groups walk single file, as the leader you will encounter rougher conditions that will require different weight distribution from your snowshoes.
Add Tails to Your Snowshoes to Extend the Length
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Elect to buy tails (add-on pieces) to make your existing snowshoes the right size for your activity.
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Consider buying a snowshoe model that allows for tails. This will give you the greatest flexibility.
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Tips & Warnings
Rent snowshoes a few times before you decide to buy. This will give you the chance to test out different sizes so you can buy the right one and enjoy a perfect fit.
Remember that snowshoe sizes can vary by manufacturer.
