Reply
Sun 19 Dec, 2004 07:13 pm
I'm thinking of purchasing snowshoes, but the last time I did it they were made of wood
Is there a particular type or brand that is better than the rest?
Thx
not only made of wood anymore. I think LLBean or Landsend has some for sale. Another good place to look is at sierra outpost online.
Thanks. I'll take a look. The ones I've seen are definitely more high-tech and "modern". More effective & efficient probably, but there is still something more aesthetically pleasing about the "vintage" wood..
Sherpa used to be one of the best brands, but they seem to be missing this past few years.
Snowshoeing is more work than it sounds like, and not nearly as much fun. Also, untill you get the gait down, it is very easy to have one shoe overlapping the one you are planning to pick up and step forward with. When that happens, you become very familiar with the snow about five feet in front of your feet.
Have you considered cross country skis?
I've done some cross-country & downhill, but I never really connected with either. I know that snowshoeing is difficult, but there are so many aspects of it that I find appealing...getting off the beaten track & exploring....so, it may mean alot of full-frontal "snow angels", but I think I'll give it a try. Maybe I'll rent initially at one of the parks to see if I am totally delusional or not!
Good idea. By the way, borrow a couple of cross country ski poles while you are at it. I give you my word, it won't take long to find out why.
So, I can fend off the wild critters, right?
Actually, had planned on it...hopefully will get the upper & lower body moving in synch..
No, that's why you carry the AK.
Seriously, the poles are a great idea. Some are even carrying treking poles when hiking. Snow shoes, or shanks mare, poles don't really come into their own till you're carrying a pack.
Well, I can see you are determined. I hope you enjoy it. I didn't, but after one foreshortened little expedition (those snow angels, ya know) I didn't get back to practice. Best of luck - it sounded like fun to me too.
Dang! Gotta get that AK out of storage...
I'll keep you "posted" on my expedition...There is a series of hikes being offered starting Jan. 8..."visit a beaver pond and look for animal tracks and enjoy the challenge of snowshoeing a short, steep slope down to a hidden oak savanna"... Hmmmm didn't even know we had savannas around here...Adventure awaits!
I LOVE shoeshoeing!
I have x-country skied a bit, but I wanted something to do with Older
Son, whose problems with gross and fine motor skills put xc out of the
question. So we got him snowshoes. The lad and I went out and did
some trails at the nearby Middlesex Fells. He handled the snowshoes
very well. In fact, having to concentrate on moving his feet correctly was
actually beneficial.
At one point he asked to go down a winding trail. Since I was on skis, I
said I'd go down first. I didn't want to lose control and go barrelling into
him. As it happed, I did lose control (hey, I never claimed to be
Ole Olson!) and wound up in some brush. He came down after me with
no problem and offered to help me out. What a cat-that-ate-the-canary
grin on his face!
I got my own snowshoes after that. We got ours from REI (they have a
store nearby) and yes, get poles.
Once you pick up the rhythm of poles and steps, it's easy to do. It's as
much or as little effort as you want it to be. Ease varies with pace,
terrain, and your growing level of skill.
Happy trails!
An excellent snowshoeing primer
I've been snowshoin' since I was a tyke; I've found different types of shoes are better suited to different pursuits, and that probably the most important thing is to be sure your boots fit well, are suitably warm and weatherproof, and that your snowshoe bindings be secure and properly adjusted. Poles are a must. I ain't much an AK fan, though I don't venture into the deepwoods without a sturdy knife and a pistol, and a compact folding shovel ain't a bad idea either. Bowin' to current technology, I generally take along a handheld GPS receiver and a cellphone, too. Its a good idea to not go into isolated, remote areas alone, and to let folks know where you're goin' and when you figure on gettin' back if you decide to strike out into the off-the-beaten-path boonies.
Snowshoeing's great. I'm finally ready to make the move to getting my own, modern pair.
Poles. Definitely an asset in a lot of situations.
SWEET! Thanks to all for the great feedback. It is particularly helpful since I am now even more motivated to give it a try.
Made the reservation today for the beaver pond & "savanna" hike. I think I will also do some practicing prior....don't wanna look too inept....
But then again, that may make it all the more fun!!
Slip slidin' away for now! :X)
Snowshoeing is great fun! I started about 5 years ago and look forward to going every chance I can. The great thing about snowshoeing is that once you purchase some basic equipment (snowshoes, poles, good boots), it's a very inexpensive sport and you can go anywhere! Generally, I go on trails that I hike on in the summer and fall. You can also try cross-country ski trails - most places allow you to snowshoe if you promise not to mess up the ski trails. This is a great way to get started because the trails are groomed and it makes it easier. Then you can "graduate" to backcountry trails. It's a lot of work (but a lot of fun) to go on trails that noone else has touched yet. Snowshoeing is also great exercise. I read somewhere that you can burn about 800 calories an hour if you're working on ungroomed trails. I own a few pairs of snowshoes and like both Atlas and Tubbs. Good luck and enjoy! It really is a blast and not very difficult at all.
If you are looking for an "old fashined" wooden set of shoes Cabelas still sells 'em (along with all the new-fangled aluminum ones).
I need a new set of bindings for mine .
Thanks much, hiker & fishin' ! I appreciate all the feedback and am definitely going to give it a try. Hopefully, we will get a bit more snow! I do like the whole off-the-beaten track concept...if I do manage to "graduate"... and will be borrowing the new-fangled aluminum ones for my first trek, but may end up purchasing both kinds. I may inadvertently create a few snow angels, but I think that will only add to the fun!
When I lived in New England I snowshoed a lot. We don't get as much snow here so I haven't gone in years. Try it, it's great. Tubbs still makes wooden ones as well as newer aluminum models.
Here's there website:
http://www.tubbssnowshoes.com/oursnowshoes.php
Arghhhh! Not enough snow for a good hike...high hopes for the 22nd & 29th.
I looked at some snowshoes last weekend. Still mulling whether to go old-fashioned, or all-aluminum.