The size of snowshoe you need depends on your body weight, the weight of your gear, snow type, and whether you snowshoe on broken-out trails or travel cross-country, on fresh powder.
But if you are about to buy a new pair of snowshoes, don’t take manufacturer’s size recommendations as gospel. Their snowshoe fit guides tend to put you into a snowshoe that is too big and much heavier than you need. The last thing you want is to carry more weight in winter than necessary, or get stuck with a giant pair of snowshoes that are impossible to maneuver with. I’ve done this myself, and it’s money down the drain.
Generally, the larger the snowshoe, the more flotation and decking surface area it will provide. If you plan on snowshoeing on powder and breaking trail more than 80% of the time, then I’d recommend you get a larger snowshoe with a lot of flotation. However, if you plan on snowshoeing on broken-out trails or a mix of snow and icy, rocky terrain then I recommend that you downsize a level. You don’t need the flotation, and you’ll find it difficult to maneuver with 30″ snowshoes on narrow, trench-like trails.
Snowshoes for Rocky Terrain
Let me give you a real-world example. I live in rocky New England. I mainly hike on mountain trails under tree cover, with moderate snow levels. I avoid snowshoeing on trails that are not broken out and mainly hike on older, crusty snow or a dusting of powder. I weigh 180 lbs and carry a 20-30 lb pack on winter day hikes and backpacking trips.
At one point, I used 30″ Atlas Snowshoes and then 30″ Northern Lite ultralight snowshoes. Both proved too large for practical use because they were too wide to fit in the narrow trench of a broken-out trail and they were difficult to turn around in while wearing. Using them was downright unpleasant, so I downsized to 25″ MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes. That has proven to be a good switch.
If you add my weight and gear weight together, it comes to 210 lbs on the high end when I’m backpacking and 200 lbs on the low when I’m day tripping. That puts me into the 30″ Lightning Ascent if I were to follow the MSR fit guide, which doesn’t work for New England snowshoeing.
Conclusion
Most fit guides from snowshoe manufacturers tend to put you into a snowshoe size designed for powdery snow requiring a high degree of flotation. If you plan on snowshoeing on packed trails, consider downsizing to a shorter and narrower snowshoe, than the one recommended for your combined body and gear weight.
If in doubt, ask around. Post a question about sizing on an online forum or facebook group with local hikers that are familiar with the terrain in your area. They can give you the advice you need to purchase the right size snowshoe for your needs.
You want to get snowshoes with televators that lift your heel when climbing up hill. Also, buy them one size smaller than recommended for your weight…we don’t have the snow depth in the northeast to warrant the floatation they have out west. You also want the poles. They prevent you from tipping over.
Philip, In November of this year I used snowshoes for the very first time at Lake Tahoe. It was exciting, but I had rented this pair of Tubbs, and they were probably just 20 inchers. Virtually the whole 5 mile hike was on broken trail left by two hikers who had just returned down my route up. There was generally a foot of snow, on some lesser inch base. Sizing was just right for staying within their track , and ease of travel, until I decided to take a mapped side trail. I began to posthole through where I thought the trail should be. Temperatures had never risen above 26 degrees since the snow fell, and at times this unbroken powder was 2.5 feet deep. I had no flotation in it at all, and could slightly feel the shape of the rocks below my feet. I shortly turned around as the mountain draw was narrowing, but I certainly needed more floatation with my 35 lb pack. It was an incredible hike for me. I weigh 195 lbs and expect with pack to typically be around 225 lbs. My son, who one day may own what I buy, is larger than I and could have a combined weight of 250 lbs.To note your choice in snowshoes, last winter, I did a lot of figuring and came upon the exact choice as you, the 25″ MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoe, figuring, instead of 30 inchers, I could always add tails to increase our flotation if desired. So I am preparing – I have just about all that I need now, I just ordered a cuben DuoMid XL for my overnight protection, have the Whisperlite Universal for cooking, and will probably get these snowshoes for the planned trip at the start of next winter season. I was excited to read your article above – thanks. Isn’t this a great experience!
Indeed. Go get’em tiger!
I weigh 170 lbs and pack weighs around 30 pounds. For 200 lbs to 210 lbs, Does MSR Lightning Ascent 22 inch size (upto 180 lbs) work fine? This is my first pair of snowshoe
Works for me.
Thank you Philip Werner.
Hi Everyone!
I was wondering what the benefit is of getting a more expensive shnowshoe?
My wife and I just want to walk on some near by trails and logging roads, nothing too extreme.
We tried some snow shoes. I wore ones that were 30″, I thought it would be perfect as I weigh about 175LB (so maybe 185 with winter clothes) but I found that my feet still sunk into the snow about 8″ making it hard to walk. (it was crunchy snow too)
Is that partially because they were cheaply made inexpensive snow shoes?
or I just need bigger ones? like say 40″ ?
thanks
Dylan
This is normal. Probably has nothing to do wih the snowshoes.
Thanks for your post.
I’ve been looking for a snowshoe and been waffling between the 24 or 28 Tubbs Flex Alpine. My weight and pack puts me into the larger size but I don’t want the extra weight to lug around. Most of my hiking will be in the White Mountains (4000 footers) on icy or snow packed trails. I’ve been using trailsnh.com to research trail conditions.
Okay so I’m buying new snowshoes, weigh about 200 with my day pack, and want mountain terrain shoes (for ice and what-not). What size would you recommend I get?
22″…did you read the article?
Thanks for your help! I did read the article, but came up with a 22″ or 25″ based on the specks and your recommendations, I was just stuck on which to go with.
I weigh about 180 #, of course over 200 with winter clothes and pack. I have the 22″ MSR Lightning Ascent. I am under no illusion that they will float on anything I hike. They will prevent postholing on regular trails in NH or Maine mountains where I do all my winter hiking. Last week on Mt. Meader they served their purpose. The trail was unbroken, about 8″ of new snow. When we came to the final mile or so, that trail gets extremely steep in big sections. I was surprised the snowshoes gripped just about everything, although I had to stomp down on some steps. On a steep sidehill traverse it turned out there was ice right underneath and no trees to grab. With great caution I depended on my MSRs to grip sideways, and they did. The guy with the Tubbs shoes with no grippers had to switch to Microspikes for that section and most of the steep parts. I don’t care for the “elevators”, when the trail levels out for a bit I feel like I am awkwardly hiking downhill and my 70+ year old knees tell me “don’t do this.” On our descent, I like to do seated glissade down the steep stretches, to me it is a bit safer, of course I plot my slide avoiding lines that end in a cliff. So, on that day, my snowshoes served their intended purpose very well.
I’m a petite woman at 5 Ft tall 110 pounds and live in Ohio and Want advice on what is the size & features I need to look for in a snow shoe ?
Best,
Danielle