snowshoeing question

[short cut sally]

OK folks, I need to ask for some advice on something. I am intersted in snowshoeing to supplement the x-c skiing. I however, don't know anyone that is "into" the recreation to get a good answer. I have been looking on line and in catalogs at different shoes. I have noticed that there are 2 styles. One that is a "V' shape and the other more like a "U" shape at the backside of the shoe. What is the advantage of either shape/style. Is one supposed to be better than than the other? I've asked for some info at a sporting dept. store but they only sell men's shoes, which they state are 'unisex".. and were trying to sell their item as it works for everybody. I have read that womens are more narrower and a little lighter than the men's as to why I wasn't buying the speel about unisex shoes. Or are they right? Any pointers, advice, reccomendations you could give me, it will be greatly appreciated. Thanks..

[DebW]

What type of snowshoeing do you plan to do? Flat terrain, steep mountains, deep powder, packed trails, icy conditions? Do you want to slog along with a heavy pack or skip lightly and quickly over the snow?

I started snowshoeing in the 70s, climbing the steepest mountains of New England on flat wooden Bearpaw snowshoes. Todays snowshoes are far lighter and more specialized. So I'm somewhat skeptical of all the specialization, but the lighter weight shoes and newer bindings are very good. I'd look at snowshoe function (floatation, stability, crampons, bindings) before worrying about whether they are specifically made for females. If you'll be on unbroken or rough terrain, then any small design differences to make snowshoes female would, imo, be irrelevant. If you plan to shoe only on already-broken and well-packed trails, then perhaps the differences would be noticable, especially if you are a small woman.

[spokewench]

I have the U shaped variety - and I do mostly heavy snow, breaking trail type of snowshoeing. Otherwise, I just hike with my hiking boots !!!

Anyway, I'm no expert, but some of the shoes are designed to run in, i.e. shorter and a little narrower (don't know about the v shape on the back, i.e. what it is designed for)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Hi Shelly,

By the way, there is a snowshoeing thread here on TE already, where you can ask questions or read up on others' info and suggestions:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=12727

I have U shaped shoes. As far as I could see, the narrower-back shoes were supposed to be better for snowshoe racing or running. Though they can be used for regular walking too.
Women's snowshoes are designed for smaller people with shorter stride so that we don't step on the sides of our own shoes so much while walking- apparently the shoe is set a bit inwards of center so that the wide parts of the flat frame are not so close together when we walk, and less likely to clack together. Men have longer strides and further apart feet because they are larger in general.
If you look on the Tubbs snowshoe website you can read a lot of good info about snowshoes in general, and fit, and design features for various types of shoeing...
Here's another site with some good articles:
http://www.carlheilman.com/snowshoe.html

[short cut sally]

I plan on being on some snowmobile trails that go thru the woods, but I would have to slug up a hill and over a field on fresh snow to get to the trail. From there it's pretty much a flatter terrain. My riding partner wants to use them more for a speed type of thing. She wants to incorporate this into our workout in hopes that it will keep us in shape over the winter and get to work different muscles. So i would probably be using them more for speed than enjoying the scenery. (shes like a drill sargeant when it comes to sports-I think she would make a great coach!) and I might get the hang of it when spring gets here. There won't be any backpacks or such, just going out my back door, up the hill and to the trail and back home for lunch type of thing. We started doing stairs and hilly trail walking at a local park but that will be closing soon so we were looking for something to do to mimic that. Hence, snowshoeing came to mind. HOpefully we will be blessed with lots of snow..However, she's never done the sport before either so we are both trying to find info out. Lisa, I had read that post and that's what kinda got me excited about trying that sport. I will check that site you posted, thanks. DebW-never thought about conditions, I assumed all the shoes were versatile for every condition. I didn't realize that there were different crampons and different shoes for different terrains/conditons, I did do some reading about bindings and such for over your shoes and what others had told me to look for..SEE that's why I came to ask you ladies..always full of knowlege and information to keep one on the right path..Thanks

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Hi Shelly,

Just like the problem of finding one bike that "does it all" (road bike or mountain bike??)....a snowshoe built for speed is not going to be just like a snowshoe built for steep trails in deep snow.
I like a trail near our house that goes up STEEP woodland trails and DOWN steep trails- uneven terrain with hidden hazards. That's why I got shoes with pretty big steel crampons. I'm so glad I did, or i would have fallen many times in the woods.
I suggest when you and your companion start on the hilly part of your trail in fresh deep snow- tell her to race on ahead of you and you'll meet her at the end. I guarantee she will not be flying up that trail! Snowshoeing in fresh deep snow uphill is hard work.
When I did a 2 mile steep hilly woodland trail in 10 inch fresh snow, it was the hardest workout I had ever done in my life! OMG I thought I might collapse right there and croak. Way harder than any hill on my bike ever had been. Then, on the way back I could follow in my own shoeprints and it was WAY easier.

On the other end of the scale is fun easy shoeing on flat trails, flat fields, or just down the snowy streets- easy and fun!
In your situation you'd want shoes that enable you to handle the most difficult situtaion you think you will probably be attempting- whatever level of difficulty that might be. If you can handle the rough trails or inclines and have fun doing it, then it might be worth thinking about getting "fast" snowshoes and doing some shoe racing perhaps. What I "don't" recommend is getting the very cheapest shoes with wimpy or no teeth and then trying to navigate in hilly conditions- you will be sliding and falling. Of course if you like going downhill on your butt, then that's fine! Not much fun in a forest full of trees though....
Just my own thoughts...
I can't wait for our first deep snow!

[shootingstar]

I have been snowshoeing for past 5 years..since moving to Vancouver (from Ontario). One would be an idiot not take advantage of several local ski mountains here to do great workouts in snowshoeing that keeps you fit. You do notice that cycling fitness helps immensley to do mountain snowshoeing. There is wonderful local scenery where we are. Grouse Mountain may not have much snow now, but Whistler has a healthy dump right now (and it would be cheaper to go now instead of being price-gouged at Christmas at Whistler).

For past few Christmas holidays we have vacationed at mountain provincial park or ski resort and go snowshoeing for 10-15 kms. each day for 5-7 days straight.

I use MSR Denali Evo Ascent snowshoes. The rubber bindings are more practical and less likely to break over time. I wear heavy snowboots, not hiking boots. And wear orthotics inside my boot,..same pair I wear inside my running shoes (for walking) and my cycling shoes.

No, I don't do snowshoe running, but see lots of people do that. I'm not a jogger...find it hard to get enthused about jogging/running.