Whether you’re a runner looking to expand your horizons by sprinting on snow or you are simply planning on trekking on some snowy terrain in the future, lightweight all-terrain snowshoes are a must-have for every snow traveler. If you’ve never bought a pair of snowshoes, you might think that all snowshoes are made in the same way for the same purposes. More seasoned snow trekkers will understand that snowshoes come in all sorts of sizes, weights, materials, and other styles. They have different features tailored to different athletes’ and hikers’ unique needs.
Benefits of All-Terrain Snowshoes
Lightweight all-terrain snowshoes have several key benefits. Firstly, since lightweight all-terrain snowshoes are usually made to handle all types of weather, they tend to be more versatile than other snowshoes. This means that you can wear them for light jogs in the snow, leisurely strolls around the park, or intensive hikes on steep slopes. Because lightweight all-terrain snowshoes are able to be used in a variety of contexts, they are a great choice for folks who lead active, varied lifestyles.
Lightweight all-terrain snowshoes also tend to fit most winter boot types. This is especially important for those who might want to use them for a wide range of uses. After all, if you have snowshoes that only fit over skinny fashion boots, they won’t be very useful when you want to use them for more intensive hiking with bulky snowboots. Since lightweight snowshoes tend to be highly adjustable, they are a great option for those who also tend to fluctuate in weight or shape over the years. What’s more, you can use the snowshoes yourself and then have a friend or family member borrow them without a hitch because of their adjustable nature.
Lightweight snowshoes are also great because they usually incorporate some sort of feature that enables traction such as claws, teeth, or other spikes. This is helpful for those who want to walk safely on snow, ice, and other slippery conditions without falling or slipping because of the terrain.
All-Terrain Snowshoes Compared to Other Kinds
Unlike flat terrain snowshoes, lightweight, all-terrain snowshoes are designed with casual users and heavy users in mind. All-terrain snowshoes do tend to be more expensive than flat terrain snowshoes. They also tend to lack the upturned heel that allows users to traverse slopes, mountains, and hills, unlike lightweight, all-terrain snowshoes.
Another type of snowshoes that are different than lightweight, all-terrain snowshoes are rolling terrain snowshoes. These are moderately priced snowshoes that may or may not have an upturned heel. If an upturned heel and spikes are important for your needs, we recommend opting for lightweight, all-terrain snowshoes to ensure your safety while out on the snowy peaks.
Other Gear Besides Snowshoes to Remember
When snowshoeing, you’ll want to remember to bring snowshoes, snowshoe poles or trekking poles, boots, and a pack to keep everything together. You’ll also want to bring a cellphone with service that works in the area where you are snowshoeing in case of emergencies. It’s also recommended that you keep all essentials in a waterproof bag to keep them safe from water damage. If you are hiking in a remote area, it’s important that you let someone know where you are going and when you anticipate returning. This way, if an accident happens, they will be aware and can help you out.
For clothing, it's important to stay warm while snowshoeing. As a result, you'll want to wear multiple layers of warm clothes including sweaters, an athletic winter coat, gloves, a backlava or other face covering, a warm hat, and ski socks or hiking socks. When you're out in the cold, you'll also want to bring multiple spares of socks since your socks are likely to get soaked.
For other items, you will definitely want to pack adequate snacks and water. In the cold especially, having protein-rich fuel like jerky, nuts, and energy bars is important for maintaining heat and keeping your energy levels up. You'll need these items to ensure that you are safe to continue trekking up and down whatever slope you are attacking with your hike. Bringing a waterproof map or waterproof cover for a map is equally important. You'll also want to bring an extra day's worth of food in case you get lost or need extra nourishment during your hike. When you're working on hiking in the snow, it's important to bring everything that you would generally need in your essentials bag.
Shop Northern Lites for all your snowshoeing necessities such as all-terrain, super lightweight snowshoes, available in all sizes, as well as snowshoe accessories!