SNOWSHOES: Everything You Need to Know

[@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!

[@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!

[@MrSilentliu]

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

[@AmericanTrapper311]

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

[@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.

[@CombatBanana]

Best overview I've seen. Thanks so much

[@RadishUprooted]

That’s great to hear-have fun!

[@travelingbucketlist8419]

Nice info, I'm totally new to snowshoeing

[@RadishUprooted]

Glad you found it useful-enjoy the snow!

[@kccarrtheoregonhillbillyhi4803]

Great video, thank you for sharing.

[@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.

[@marilynsue4273]

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

[@somedots]

Thank you for your thorough and clear explanation!

[@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!

[@ohhsnapitsharley]

Really helpful video, thanks!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@BeneyGesserit]

Rigid hiking/mountaineering boots or more flexible fast boots.

[@AlaskanGeezer]

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.

[@hygeiahealing6609]

Super thank you!

[@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!

[@StuartFingerhut]

Hi, what gloves are you wearing?

[@RadishUprooted]

Hey! I don’t recall what gloves I was using at the time, but currently I use either my synthetic La Sportiva Ski Touring Gloves, or my leather Give’r Gloves which are both great. I tend to pair them both with a super thin Smartwool Glove Liner so even when I take my larger glove off to mess with my phone, buckles, etc. my hands aren’t fully exposed.

[@adventurecoalition3690]

Very informative, thx for sharing

[@CampfireRachael]

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

[@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!

[@marilynsue4273]

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

[@jphillips4509]

Well done. New sub. Ty.

[@KamrynSayWhaaattt]

To Know*

[@rockytopwrangler2069]

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

[@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.