Snowshoe Basics - 3 Different Styles of Snowshoes

[@croragen]

Great and easy to follow. Mine are the traditional style and your info on bindings helped me make a wise decision.

[@PenniacWilderness]

Great, I am happy to hear that Cindy! Where are you writing from?

[@livelife4471]

I use the traditional snowshoes with a pair of moose hide mukluks. They were made by John Palmer Co. Ltd. in Fredericton, NB. I probably got them in the late 70's. You can't buy anything like these mukluks so I really appreciate them and look after them. The mukluks have some give in the sole so your foot meshes with the contours of the snowshoe. The mukluks get very hard in cold weather, they form a shell. I typically place a wool felt sole inside the mukluks and wear really coarse wool socks. My feet are really warm and comfortable. I was at the Boyce Market this summer (2023) and was glad to see wool socks being knitted and offered for sale. Had to buy a couple of pairs. We were passing through Fredericton on our way to PEI.

[@PenniacWilderness]

I'm not far from Fredericton, maybe you knew that, but thanks for the info and that but of history too. I enjoy that stuff!

[@livelife4471]

Yes, I know where Penniac is. I knew some people from Penniac. Last names Boyce and Moore.@@PenniacWilderness

[@jedidiah5131]

I have 4 pairs of snowshoes and since I moved to NS I don't need them, sucks though as I love snowshoeing....I see lots of people out on trails with the small aluminum frames but they are snowshoeing on hard pack trails so I don't really understand their thinking...They are usually using ski-poles also...Thanks for the videos...

[@PenniacWilderness]

Good-Day Sir! I love snowshoeing too. I agree - nothing better than breaking and maintaining your own trail with traditional snowshoes. Always great to hear from you.

[@lissavanderheyden4294]

Thank you so much for this video. It was very helpful.

[@PenniacWilderness]

Glad it was helpful! If you have any questions, please let me know!

[@sharonr2541]

Great video! I have a pair of modern shoes, with the binding that has the hook tooth around the heel. Having a very difficult time stretching it to grab the hook. Do these straps lose their stretch over time (5-7yrs old)? I have a pair of traditional ones, Huron I believe, that were my husband's. I really like them, and the binding is better, but they are so wide, 14". And I have found traditional ones very hard to find this year. Any suggestions?

[@PenniacWilderness]

Sorry for the delay Sharon! Yes the bindings will stretch slightly. My grandfather used to make a basic binding from a piece of rubber. But a good solid binding makes snowshoeing much more fun.

[@surfnyolly]

Great video and appreciate you demoing the traditional version. They’re beautiful and seem to be more efficient.

[@PenniacWilderness]

I agree with you! I do like the modern ones on icy or wet snow sometimes though, but overall you cannot beat the traditional ones. They float well and make a much better trail!

[@gumboot65]

Good vid ! That is the first pair of long narrow shoes I've ever seen that don't have a large upturned toe. Here in Alaska we call the Long ones ( Alaskan) style 😀. For the dry snow we have in Interior Alaska the Ak and Ojibwe style work best over all. Then the Maine, Huron, Michagan style. The modern Aluminium shoes work best for mountaineering , urban park recreation and mostly. To have with on a snow mobile.

[@PenniacWilderness]

Thanks for sharing! That is neat to know. I was in Alaska in 2017 on Denali and absolutely loved my experience in the state. I used to use the Aluminium ones more but have found that the wood style really are great in so many places that I mostly use them now. Only exception is mountaineering and sometimes when the snow is really wet. Thanks for the comment - Hope you are well!

[@NH2112]

I have a pair of 12x42 GV modern snowshoes that are the best of both worlds. Plenty of flotation in soft snow for over 300lb (me and my pack) and good traction for everything but steeper terrain. You do have to pick your path through denser woods, though!

[@stephanieclayton9611]

Nice information!

[@rashadabdullah9769]

What about care or maintenance on the webing if its animal skin or raw hide?

[@PenniacWilderness]

Good question! I apply spar varnish on the snowshoes every year or two to protect the wood and hide.

[@rashadabdullah9769]

@@PenniacWilderness i was going to buy a pair made with pig skin but my friend was tellin me bout maintenance. My pair were made with the orange fish net line.

[@PenniacWilderness]

Where do you live? I do not find the maintenance to be bad at all.

[@rashadabdullah9769]

@@PenniacWilderness bas caraquet, new brunswick, canada. I hate my rackets. They suck ass, the front is flat so it digs into the snow often when im walking, the webbing isnt thick so it sinks quite a bit into the snow. When u run out of firewood in winter you got no choice but to go hunting in the woods for dead standing. I might buy em now, idk. Or put that money towards an extra cord of wood LOL

[@KerryWanamaker]

Wow The floatation was more than I expected with the traditional ones you showed. Great video.

[@PenniacWilderness]

I almost always use the traditional ones. Where are you located?

[@KerryWanamaker]

@@PenniacWilderness Massachusetts . We went out today after the storm and it was a beautiful day ! Our first time snowshoeing. I have wanted to try it for over 20 years ! So fun .

[@andersuhrvik4744]

Thanks for the demo - interesting!

[@roxyjeankcrow4167]

Thanks for the information

[@PenniacWilderness]

You are welcome! Are you getting a new pair of snowshoes?

[@roxyjeankcrow4167]

@@PenniacWilderness I'm hoping to try it for the first time this winter. I'm also a writer and would like to write a scene of a group of characters going out and trying it.