SNOWSHOES: Everything You Need to Know

IG: @radishuprooted
The ultimate guide on how to use snowshoes, how to choose and buy snowshoes, and a detailed overview on the different parts of a snowshoe. Snowshoes are a particularly great method of snow travel because they require minimal skill or experience, so they can get just about anyone and everyone up into the mountains to experience the magic of winter!
0:00 Intro
1:09 The Types of Snowshoes
2:33 How to Choose and Buy Snowshoes
3:36 The Anatomy of a Snowshoe
10:08 When to Use Snowshoes
12:20 How to Use Snowshoes & Demo
14:24 Next Steps

[@GoodMorningHikers]

I hike to stave off my anxiety and depression during the summer, but every winter I stop hiking due to conditions, and that winter depression kicks in and gets worse every year. this year I'm going to try out snow shoeing so that I can circumvent my winter-blues. didn't even think about avalanche risk. that's definitely worth being ready and trained for. thanks for the tips!

[@RadishUprooted]

I very much feel this. For me, when I finally started exploring winter activities, as opposed to waiting all winter for summer adventures, I began to actually enjoy what winter offered. Snowshoeing and cross country skiing are two great options to explore the mountains in the snow and keep you active and outdoors year round!

[@JoeZUGOOLA]

Where do you live where hiking is too bad in winter? (I Hope I sound polite asking that😅)

[@GoodMorningHikers]

@@JoeZUGOOLA Colorado, many of the trails close due to snow/muddy conditions and road closures. there are some places you can still go during the winter but I found out this winter that i just don't enjoy myself hiking in the cold. i tried snow shoeing, and skiing this year but it just doesn't relax me the same when the weather isn't warm. it was more of a challenge and less of a relaxation experience for me which is just not what I do it for. i learned that what I love about hiking is the sounds of the birds and all the green. i tried as hard as I could to enjoy the winter scenery but it just lacks everything I love about hiking. it's the warmth and life of summer that gives me peace and therapy. but I gave it the ol college try. so I need to move to a warmer place where I can have access to my "trail therapy" year round. as a native coloradoan my vendetta against snow runs deep.

[@stevencannone4178]

I’m going through the exact same thing. Summer hiking is cheap winter hiking is expensive! Lol

[@brianhamelin6684]

Get out year round! Sooo good for mind and spirit!!

[@conniebauer4128]

Thanks. I'm totally new to snowshoeing. I just got my first pair for Christmas and I plan to take them snowshoeing in the park for exercise and as a way to get outdoors a little during the winter.

[@MrSilentliu]

Learned a lot! Looking forward to my first nordic snow backpacking!

[@aries144]

Hey, thanks for taking the time to lay out topics and be specific. You really helped me understand what snowshoe features do and why. Take care!

[@RadishUprooted]

Heck yeah, glad it was helpful-have fun out there!

[@carlycfs]

I was researching this particular brand/style/model of snowshoe so this video is very helpful and I really learned alot as well. Furthermore, I am very happy you demonstrated 'how' to put the snowshoe on and also the function of the snowshoe actually being used in the SNOW !! Good vid man!! Well done:)

[@RadishUprooted]

Glad you found the video useful-enjoy the snow!

[@TheJohnnyBE]

Excellent video. Love how you break it down. Thorough and concise. Like that you mentioned RENT. I always recommend folks Rent or borrow before they buy.

[@AmericanTrapper311]

Great video. You answered all of my questions. Thank you.

[@somedots]

Thank you for your thorough and clear explanation!

[@Kflem]

Great info! I have always been interested in trying showshoes.

[@RadishUprooted]

They’re really intuitive and easy to use! Go rent a pair to start, see how you like them, and have fun!

[@CombatBanana]

Best overview I've seen. Thanks so much

[@RadishUprooted]

That’s great to hear-have fun!

[@ohhsnapitsharley]

Really helpful video, thanks!

[@kccarrtheoregonhillbillyhi4803]

Great video, thank you for sharing.

[@CampfireRachael]

The trickiest step of this video is finding a friend to go with lol

[@adventurecoalition3690]

Very informative, thx for sharing

[@hygeiahealing6609]

Super thank you!

[@JuanMoreFish]

Thank for making these videos! Great info! Really liked your “self arrest” video as well!

[@RadishUprooted]

Glad you’re finding them helpful, there’s more videos like them coming soon!

[@DumpTrump4TRE45ON]

I saw those Atlas Helium MTNs behind you. I have them in 23 and 26 inches (depending on what I am carrying/wearing). I love them! Aggressive traction! I live in Alaska and I snowshoe a lot, and Winter is long. That was a lot of excellent information.

[@RadishUprooted]

Thanks, glad you found it useful! The Heliums are my go to lightweight snowshoe-fantastic design.

[@MichalisTsirakis]

@@RadishUprooted what's your heavyweight go to ones?

[@RadishUprooted]

I don’t really have a “heavyweight” go-to, but if you’re looking for something a bit more burly, the MSR Ascents are fantastic.

[@MichalisTsirakis]

@@RadishUprooted okay... I'm between 1)TUBBS FLEX VRT 2) TUBBS FLEX ALP 3) ATLAS MONTANE I've saw some reviews of the msr ascents that has bend...

[@RadishUprooted]

Without knowing what your recreational style or snowshoeing objectives are, out of those 3- the VRTs look like good options for more variable and somewhat steeper terrain. The Montanes look like a good option for mellow deep powder conditions.

[@travelingbucketlist8419]

Nice info, I'm totally new to snowshoeing

[@RadishUprooted]

Glad you found it useful-enjoy the snow!

[@jphillips4509]

Well done. New sub. Ty.

[@marilynsue4273]

I'm looking for mid-rise boots because last time heel strap edged up over ankle boots.

[@b.t.2057]

Seems like you need different snowshoes for every different snow fall we get up here. I live in Welches,Or. and we get powder to wet heavy snow all in the same week. I guess it’s best to rent a few times to find what is best. I been wanting to try Trillium Lake this year.

[@RadishUprooted]

I’d definitely recommend really thinking about what type of snow you’ll actually be out in the most and buying according to that. Of course you’ll always have variable snowpack, but for most mellow areas, a wide variety of snowshoes will perform just fine-especially for places like Trillium Lake!

[@anthonysamuel143]

Thanks for the helpful video. Could you tell me what OR gaiters you are using in your clip of you using crampons on ice?

[@RadishUprooted]

I believe they’re an old generation of the OR Expedition Crocodiles!

[@richfreireich4528]

Does the boa system work good with very large winter pac boots i.e. baffin, sorel,lacrosse etc, I have atlas that I purchased out of cabelas and they are a nice snowshoe but they are unusable with my boffins the boots simply will not fit I work alot with my snowshoes in extremely frigid conditions in interior Alaska so bunny boots, baffin extremes,or lacrosse ice kings are essential plus the easy on easy off feature on the boa bindings would be worth the extra cost as opposed to the strap type especially if your in/out of them several times a day I always order the maximum weight snowshoes even though I am several pounds lighter than they specify, simply because with all my arctic gear, back pack, carrying a 4ft spruce log to support my firewood needs as well as just better flotation, can you recommend a good snowshoe/binding that works in deep powder along the lines I described, I am 6ft3" but have long legs and weigh 205#s

[@RadishUprooted]

Sounds like you’re in some beautiful spaces! Hmm you may have trouble with Boa and bulkier boots like you mentioned. Your best best is probably a more traditional strap or ratchet binding. The MSR ascents are a fantastic option that may fit your boot style-and they have additional Tails of varying length you can buy separately to increase your floatation modularly.

[@candiohara357]

Any ideas if your weight/shoe size is on the cusp for two different snowshoe lengths? We’re in the Midwest and likely to have flat and rolling terrain. Should we size up for more float? TIA!

[@RadishUprooted]

I would base your decision on the type of snow you guys tend to get the most. Do you get mostly dry, fluffy, deep powder? If so, you may want to size up. Do you get wet, crusty, consolidated, heavy snow? Or are the areas you go packed down and consolidated? If so, you may want to size down. My instinct for the Midwest is that you could probably size down, but you’re likely to know your own snow better than I do!

[@candiohara357]

@@RadishUprooted Thank you for your advice and Happy New Year!

[@marilynsue4273]

My snowshoeing partner on Friday had old plastic snowshoes, the straps broke off.

[@taidrasti9281]

Hey, I was just wondering what boots you use? Thanks in advance!

[@RadishUprooted]

For this particular video I think I was wearing Vasques boots. But generally I rarely find myself ever using those boots anymore. I’m either reaching for trail runners, ski boots, or mountaineering boots. But for casual snowshoeing, they’ll work just fine!

[@taidrasti9281]

@RadishUprooted Thank you for the reply! Do you recommend any mountaineering boots?

[@RadishUprooted]

The best boots are the ones that fit you! Head over to your local shop and try some on to see how different brands fit your foot shape. It also depends on what activity you are wanting to get in to, there’s a wide range of mountaineering boot styles. That being said, I’ve had good experiences with my Trango’s as a general all-around mountaineering boot.

[@rockytopwrangler2069]

.. These are all modern snowshoes ... Traditional snowshoes are wood with leather or gut webbing .. much larger and float in deep snow much better ...

[@schnitzelschnizel9448]

Do not smack into the microphone!!!!!

[@robertsandidge441]

One word of caution Boa systems can and do fail I’ve had golf shoes and fishing wading boots with Boa and they failed and if they do and you are in the backcountry or on the back nine on a course you are screwed. Real personal experience.

[@RadishUprooted]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I’ve never had a problem with Boa on my snowshoes, and my ski mountaineering boots are Boa as well which would be relatively higher consequence. But you bring up a great point: it’s important to carry voile straps and have some way of jerry rigging a failed binding back together in the backcountry.