Quote Originally Posted by DebW View Post
I've never used women-specific snowshoes. I currently use the MSR Denalis, which are a plastic deck with very good traction for steep hills and traverses, plus a heel elevator for the steeper stuff. I also used flat wooden 'shoes for many many years (with 1/2 a crampon lashed to the bottom). If you have long legs and a long stride, I don't think you need women's 'shoes. You don't have to walk with your feet wider as long as you step far enough to avoid landing on your own 'shoe. Also compare your boot side to the 'shoe size to ensure that your weight will be balanced fore-aft on the 'shoe. I much prefer a binding that pivots freely rather than the springy ones that throw snow up your back at every step, but they all work pretty well.

Whether or not you need women's snowshoes doesn't have anything to do with the length of your legs or your stride it has to do with Q-angle.

http://www.gla.ac.uk/ibls/fab/glossary/qangle.html

My ski instructor showed us this test for Q-angle. Start with your feet hip width apart and walk in a figure 8. If your feet come together when you start to turn you have q-angle. When you do it in the snow the walking pattern really shows up. But you can do it at home, just pay attention to where your feet are when you begin to turn.

I suggest demoing before you buy, that way you'll know which ones will work for you.