Snowshoeing In Deep Snow! (12 TIPS For A Better Experience)

Here we will be focusing on snowshoeing in Deep, Fresh, Powdery Snow. The snow that has likely proven its difficulty to you… A common misconception people have when entering the world of snowshoeing is that they assume snowshoes will allow them to skim across the surface of the snow. I’ve got to be honest, I thought that was the idea as well when I initially got involved in snowshoeing but after my first time out I quickly came to realize that’s not the case.

Now, obviously that depends greatly on the snow density, but that’s a conversation for another time. Here I want us to focus on ways to make snowshoeing through that deep, fresh, powdery snow easier. Some call it “Breaking Trail” while others call it simply “Leading”. But either way the guy at the front of the group is the guy getting the hardest workout no doubt. And the effort required decreases as you get closer to the tail end of the group. Given the guy on the end typically is walking on somewhat packed snow by that point.

I want this to be all about making the life of the man or woman who is leading the group (Breaking Trail) as easy as possible! This means if you compare someone who has implemented all the below tips with someone who hasn’t. The man who has implemented will be using half the amount of effort when breaking trail then the guy who hasn’t. At least that’s the goal!

Anyway, Lets Dive Into It!

Make Snowshoeing In Deep Snow Easier

Given that the overall purpose of snowshoeing is to keep you from sinking deep into the snow while you walk / hike, there are three main factors that heavily impact how a snowshoe performs in the snow. Below we will be going over ways to which you can better one or multiple of the following to make your snowshoeing journey as easy as possible.

• Snow Density
• Snowshoe Size (Surface Area)
• Overall Weight (User + Gear)

The better you make either of these aspects, the easier snowshoeing will be. By better I mean: Snowshoe Density: the harder / more packed the snow is the easier it will be to walk on. Snowshoe Size: The larger your snowshoes are the greater the surface area, and the less you are going to sink. Overall Weight: Kind of goes along with snowshoe sizing, as the weight of a person and their gear typically provides the size of snowshoe they need, the less the weight the smaller the shoe size needs to be. Anyway lets get on to what you can do to make snowshoeing in deep snow easier for you.

12 Tips For Snowshoeing In Deep Snow

The Top 12 Tips for snowshoeing are as follows:

1. Upsize Your Snowshoes
2. Use Tail Extensions
3. Use Traditional Wooden Snowshoes
4. Go With A BackCountry Snowshoe
5. Use Snowshoes With Articulating Bindings
6. Properly Balanced Snowshoe
7. Use Poles
8. Use Larger Baskets On Poles
9. Lift Your Knees Higher
10. Take Turns (Groups)
11. 11th) Diversify Gear Weight To The Tailend Of The Group (Groups)
12. Wait For Better Snow Conditions

We will dive into greater detail below:

1st) Upsize Your Snowshoes

Simply upsizing your snowshoes even one size can have a decent impact on how much floatation the snowshoes are able to provide. The bigger the snowshoe the less you will sink in the deep snow. This is assuming that you have snow shoes that are recommended for your current weight.

If you don’t have the correct size snowshoe and you size up your snowshoe one size you still could be below the average flotation range or a properly sized snowshoe. What I would suggest is that you either select a snowshoe that has a large weight range, placing you nearer to the lighter side of that weight range

For example I will use myself, my current weight is 145 lbs with gear. Say theoretically I have the choice between two different snowshoes, the weight ratings of those snowshoes are 1st) 120 lbs to 200 lbs. And 2nd) 120 lbs to 220 lbs.

I would prefer to go with the second option because notice it provides a greater weight rating of 220 lbs. This means the snowshoe is rated to be able to withstand up to 220 lb. When compared to the first option, the second provides 20 lbs greater weight rating than the first.

The second option would be to just simply a purchase a pair of snowshoes with a weight rating that is outside your current weight.

For example, again, I weigh 145 lbs with gear. I have the option between a set of snowshoes with a weight rating of 120 lbs to 220 lbs, and 165 lbs to 245 lbs. In this case I could go with the second option as it is outside my weight in terms of weight rating, but it will provide much more support when I get headed off trail into some deep fresh snow.

By going with a larger pair of snowshoes, you will have a greater amount of surface area to keep you afloat when you’re snowshoeing across fresh powder snow, this will in turn help you to stay near to the surface of the snow then otherwise.

2nd) Use Tail Extensions

Depending on the manufacturer of your snowshoes you may or may not be able to pick up a pair of snowshoe tail extensions. Tail extensions are basically a way of sizing up a snowshoe without actually swapping out the snowshoe with a different one.

By using a snowshoe tail you can simply attach it to the back of your snowshoes and in most cases it provides upwards of an extra 6 inchs or so on the tail end of your snowshoe. By using tails you can get a greater amount of surface area out of your snowshoe, which in turn allows you to float nearer to the surface of the snow.

If you’d like to check out what a pair of tails looks like for snowshoes, be sure to check out these ones made by MSR, listed over on Amazon. But do keep in mind tails are, in most cases specific to a make or model of snowshoe. From my experience they don’t make universal tails, though it may be possible to make up some of your own?

3rd) Opt For A Pair Of Traditional Wooden Snowshoes

In most cases traditional wooden snowshoes are much larger and provide a greater amount of surface area which in turn allows for greater flotation especially when snowshoeing in deep powdery snow.

Traditional wooden snowshoes shine when they are put up against deep powder. I mean traditional snowshoes were essentially bread for that sort of terrain. Where as modern snowshoes are more best suited for little powder, groomed, or packed trails.

If you were to compare traditional snowshoes to modern snowshoes in deep snow the result can be quite astounding. As for the most part, many would think with modern day technology the snowshoes would perform much better than traditionals.

But it turns out traditional wooden snowshoes given their mass as well as surface area do a much better job in powder then modern snowshoes do! If you don’t believe me, check YouTube for a comparison video.

Since traditional snowshoes are so much larger then modern snowshoes it only makes sense for them to do better in powder. I mean, the largest sized modern-day snowshoe I’ve heard of is somewhere around 36” in length. Yet I’ve heard of some traditional snowshoes being upwards of 60”, and much wider than any modern-day snowshoe…

Though modern-day snowshoes do, do a great job when it comes to icy and slick situations given that they have crampons on the bottoms of each shoe, otherwise known as “cleats”. They just don’t seem to do as well in deep snow.

4th) Go With A Backcountry Snowshoe

Backcountry snowshoes are just that, Made For The Backcountry! Meaning they do a greater job when going up against soft deep snow. They are made with backcountry snow travel in mind, hence the reason they call them backcountry snowshoes. But some call them Mountaineering snowshoes. Depends on the manufactures, but either way both are intended for backcountry use.

They are equipped with a wider frame, longer tails, and overall provide more flotation then those that are made for simply groomed trail trekking. Not to mention backcountry snowshoes also come fitted with a very aggressive Crampon / Cleat, which helps the user climb steep, slick slopes, as well as get a good grip when crossing logs, and other debris that you are likely to come across.

To be honest if your thinking you will get heavily involved in snowshoeing I’d recommend you get a pair of Backcountry Snowshoes. They do great on the groomed trails, as well as the trails that you create. A Backcountry shoe is going to give you the most versatility, as well as likely be cheaper in the long run. Given the fact that one pair will basically do it all. Instead of having to purchase multiple pairs of snowshoes for different types of snow conditions…

Check out one of the top ranked Backcountry Snowshoes available at the time of this writing Now at Amazon. Not to mention you also have the option to get Tails for them, for even more flotation ability in the really deep snow!

5th) Use Snowshoes With Articulating Bindings

Most modern snowshoes are equipped with articulating binding. By articulating I mean, the binding articulates / pivots with your foot each step you take. So essentially it allows you to walk with a more natural stride, without the snowshoe getting in the way. Like would occur with a fixed binding.. A Fixed binding snowshoe, basically acts as if you had just strapped a 25″ x 8.5″ piece of plywood to your foot…

Well maybe not quite to that extent as they are typically made to flex. But either way, a fixed binding will cause for extra effort especially when traveling through deep powdery snow. Not to mention added focus during each step you take. Let me explain with a better example.

If you are one who goes swimming often, or you did as a kid you likely will be able to relate. Take for example a pair of Fins that someone such as a scuba diver would wear (They go on your feet). I’m sure you likely have tried on a pair. I personally used to wear them all the time back in the day when I did swim team. Anyway, If you have ever tried walking in those Fins outside water you probably quickly came to the conclusion that you had to focus on each step you took so you didn’t trip over the front of the fins, right?

Well the same sort of Idea applies if you are using a pair of snowshoes that are fixed to your feet, rather then pivot during each stride. Simply put, if your going to be snowshoeing in deep snow, go with a pair of snowshoes that come equipped with an articulating binding. For most you likely won’t need to worry about this, given that most snowshoes come with bindings that articulate. But some don’t so be aware.

Oh, and when it comes to traditional wooden snowshoes, some may thing that they don’t articulate with your foot as you walk. Given that most traditional snowshoe bindings are made of string, rope, raw hide and so forth… But actually they do articulate in a way. You see when the user ties their feet to the snowshoes, they tie the concoction of string (binding) around their foot, and mount it to one specific point on the snowshoe (typically just below the ball of the foot). This allows the snowshoe to articulate based on the user’s foot position as they walk.

Now, typically the binding, or the string is attached to the snowshoe to begin with, and the user simply just ties their foot to the snowshoe then hits the trail. But if it is a brand new pair of snowshoes that are not already pre-tied, then the user is required to attach the string in the correct manner so that each time the user needs to take the snowshoe on or off, the snowshoe will easily attach or detach as needed.

6th) Use Properly Balanced Snowshoes

Snowshoes when designed correctly are supposed to seem as if you are dragging them rather than completely picking them up each step you take. This applies directly to snowshoes with an articulating binding, however if you do not have a pivoting binding the same problem can occur as if you have an improperly balanced snowshoe..

By properly balanced I am specifically talking about, that point where your binding connects to your snowshoe frame in a manner that allows the binding to articulate or pivot properly. A properly balanced snowshoe should come up nose first each time you lift your foot, and the tail should basically drag. This will keep your snowshoe from diving deeper underneath the surface of the snow each step you take.

Essentially meaning you would be tripping over the snow in front of you with an improperly balanced snowshoe, which in turn will cause difficulty when making your way through deep powdery snow. But with a properly balanced snowshoe where the nose lifts first and the tail drags you should be able to get the nose of the snowshoe over the fresh powdery snow directly in front of the shoe.

This not only makes lifting your snowshoe easier, but it also makes it feel much more natural as you stride.

It is important to keep in mind that they do make snowshoes without articulating bindings. This means that the snowshoe is rigid with your foot, so essentially it is like putting on a massive pair of shoes. If you are going to be breaking trail it is important that you avoid these types of snowshoes as they make the job quite a bit more exhausting. As well require extra focus when traveling through the snow.

7th) Use Poles

Using poles while you snowshoe can help greatly with balance. And when it comes to hiking in soft deep snow balance can be a struggle to keep. I personally prefer to use poles when I snowshoe in deep snow, rather than when I’m simply snowshoeing a groomed, or packed trail.

The problem with deep fresh snow is when your feet sink, the snow wants to hold your feet below the surface, which makes catching yourself if you fall off balance much more difficult.

Kind of like when you walk through mud, you know how the mud wants to hold your feet under the surface, it’s almost like your feet are suction cupped to the earth from time to time.

Well, it’s the same sort of idea just not quite to that extent. But if you have poles handy, you can easily use your arms to catch yourself if you do find yourself falling off balance. Not to mention poles can be helpful in propelling you forward through the snow, kind of like how they help skiers propel themselves forward when they are headed to the lift…

Anyway, poles can drastically make a difference to trekking through deep snow.

Check out a pair of the best Poles for both Hiking & Snowshoeing you can find on amazon “Here“.

8th) Use Larger Baskets On Your Poles

If you are going to be using poles it is very important that you have a properly sized basket for the snow conditions you are in. If you don’t know, the basket on a snowshoe pole is that piece right near the end of the pole where it contacts the ground, just a few inches up from the point and you have what looks to be a miniature umbrella looking feature. It has a radius of anywhere between 2.5 inchs to 4.5 inchs.

Well, with many modern day trekking poles they come equipped with multiple options when it comes to basket selection. The reason why they come with multiple sizes and or multiple designs is because it all depends on the ground conditions that you are going to be hiking or snowshoeing in.

For example, if you are simply hiking on a hot summer day when there is no snow coating the ground you likely won’t even be using a basket, as it will just get in the way. But if you are going to be going snowshoeing or skiing the basket is vitally important.

Because it acts just as your snowshoe does and keeps the pole from sinking deep into the snow each stride you take. Now, based on the snow conditions you likely will want a bigger or smaller basket on your trekking poles. Typically a bigger one is more desired when you are going to be snowshoeing through deep snow.

Which just so happens to be exactly what we are talking about at this moment. So in order to make the adventure a little bit easier on yourself opt for a larger basket when in deep, fresh snow. It will not only keep your poles from sinking as deep, but it will also give you a more firm planted pole, which can allow for better stability as you snowshoe.

9th) Lift Your Knees Higher

Problem with snowshoeing in deep snow is even snow shoes can’t keep you at the surface. They definitely help a ton, but it no doubt does not feel as if you were walking on a concrete surface.

Snow just is not rigid enough to support the weight of a human being, at least when it is fresh and powdery. Given that you are going to sink a little bit it is always a good idea to train yourself to walk as if you are marching, at least when trekking through deep snow. Lifting your knees like a soldier would when he marches will allow you to gain the clearance required in order to get each foot out of the hole your weight is created.

Now depending on the snowshoes you are using, you are likely going to sink more or less. This applies heavily to those who are sinking at or greater than 4 – 6 inches, which is the majority of us.

Now, you don’t necessarily have to march as excessively as a soldier would, at least in most cases. But you do have to assume most of the motion as it will help you in terms of getting out of each foot hole. But make sure not to over do it as that can also exhaust you.

By over do it I mean, don’t be lifting your snowshoe higher than is required in order to get the nose out and over the barrier of fresh snow directly in front of the snowshoe.

10th) Take Turns

If you’re going to be snowshoeing in a group or even just with a friend it is a great idea to take turns leading. As the hardest job went snowshoeing through fresh snow is breaking trail. By simply taking turns you each can conserve energy which will in turn allow you all to make it a greater distance than if one person was leading the entire time.

I would suggest you take turns breaking trail based on a specific amount of time or a distance. For example, say theoretically a group of four people are headed out snowshoeing. They take switch positions in the line every 20 minutes, or quarter of a mile.

By doing this each person can conserve energy and allow for greater distance of the overall group. Whereas if one person was leading they would likely exhaust themselves to the point where they would not be able to continue on, whereas the others would be fine continuing on. This means either the entire group turns around even though three out of the four didn’t go as far as they could have. Or 3 continue on and leave the fourth behind (which is in no doubt ever recommended. As this can lead to a very dangerous situation for the person on their own if anything was to occur.).

11th) Diversify Gear Weight To The Tailend Of The Group

Now, this can even work if you are snowshoeing with a partner, but if you are with a group perfect. The idea here is to put as little weight on the person leading / breaking trail as possible. This will not only conserve energy for the person breaking trail, but will also allow the others in the group to become more involved in packing down the snow.

So essentially it is like spreading the resistance of the snow throughout the group. Though the guy at the front gets the most of it still.

Anyway, the scenario here is to swap pack weight or gear weight with the person that is leading. So for example, say we have a group of 4 people. Well, the idea is to give a minority of the pack weight to the other three people who are trailing behind the leader. This makes the leader the lightest of the group, at least in terms of gear weight.

This will help the leader conserve more energy as they take care of the initial packing of the snow. So essentially we are diversifying the majority of the weight toward the tail end of the group.

12th) Wait For Better Snow Conditions

Depending on the temperatures around, or if the sun is able to hit the face of the snow for a period of time. Sometimes you can wait anywhere between a day to maybe a week and the snow conditions will change from when the snow first hit the ground.

For example if you live, or have spent much time in an area that often receive snow on a yearly basis or more. You likely have come to realize that after a few days condition of the snow will change. Typically it will either go from being soft and powdery to having a somewhat thick hard layer on top. Or if it’s a warm enough environment the snow begins to melt which in turn causes the snow to pack (to a degree) on its own. Which makes the snow denser, which then makes walking on the snow much easier as you are less likely to sink anywhere near as deep as you would had you headed out in the fresh powdery snow.

Same goes for if there is a somewhat ice layer on the top of the snow. Either way simply waiting a day or two after a storm has hit can drastically change the conditions of the snow to which you will be snowshoeing in.

Conclusion

Snowshoeing in deep, fresh, powdery snow is one of the most difficult ways to snowshoe, but it can also be one of the most exciting ways to snowshoe, as typically this gives you choice as to the direction you want to go as well as the experience you want to have.

Not to mention, snowshoeing in deep snow can be quite satisfying to some. But given that it is much more difficult then just simply hiking on a paved or packed trail you should very well take into consideration all the different aspects to which you can change in order to make snowshoeing in deep fresh snow less of a hassle and more of an enjoyment.

But always make sure to be safe regarding how you go about it.

I hope you found some value in this article, please have a great time out snowshoeing, and be sure to stay safe. If you have any further questions surrounding the topic of snowshoe, Be sure to check out the Outdoor Luxuriez Snowshoeing Lounge for more information.

This is Colt signing Off!