Hiking Backpack Zone

There are several great outdoor activities to do in the winter, but the fastest growing sports is snowshoeing. Unlike skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing does not require lots of coordination and physical ability. One merely needs to be able to walk in the snow to snowshoe.

Besides being easy to learn, walking around with your snowshoes on is a great workout. It is similar to walking in shallow water. A single step is easy, but when you add up all the steps you take, it ends up being a good workout. You can get your legs in shape fast.

Getting around on snowshoes is a relatively safe activity. Snowshoes are very stable and offer a great method to travel in the snow and get an aerobic workout at the same time. They can be a terrific, low impact, winter-time cardiovascular workout that doesn’t punish your joints. If you are an experienced snowshoer and on the adventurous side, you will be able to explore some untouched areas of our national parks that most people don’t get to see in the winter time.

Snowshoes work by spreading the user’s weight over the entire surface of the shoe, this allows the user to walk on top of a surface that would not be able to support him if he had a smaller point of contact with the snow. This level of “flotation” is one factor to consider when purchasing a snowshoe. Light, fluffy, powder-like snow needs a higher flotation snowshoe than heavy, wet snow requires.

Snowshoes all look somewhat the same, but there are some big differences. The style and model that is right for you is dependent on your body weight, what type of snowshoeing you do and what kind of snow you will be in (wet or dry or in-between).

Besides their snowshoes, snowshoers often use trekking poles to help them keep their balance on the snow. Poles are used for added balance and to help transfer weight. These poles are really useful when descending slopes as they provide an increase in balance for a more controlled descent down the hill.

If you don’t want to end up carrying extra boots with you, don’t worry about buying special shoes to use with your new snowshoes. A good pair of insulated hiking boots will serve you well and are all you really need. Make sure you bring your boots with you to the store to make sure they will work before you buy.

Besides your poles and your boots, you will want to get a bag to carry them in. They will get wet and their shape may make them too big for your backpack. Lots of stores will include a carrying bag as part of a package deal.

A word of warning, however, please be sure to tell someone where you will be hiking to in case something happens and you don’t come back. Snowshoeing is almost always a safe adventure, but things can happen out in the woods.

Snowshoes are a great way to get non-skiers out and enjoying the winter season.

Although he says to be just a snowboarder, Robert Jensen likes the convenience of snowshoes and snowshoeing through the park he lives near. He recommends browsing through some of the best snowshoe shops to get an idea of which snowshoes might be best for you.