The season won’t get in the way of a true hiking enthusiast. Even when winter comes around, that is no excuse to stop your hiking adventure. There are plenty of excellent women’s snow shoes in the market to choose from so you can deal with the extreme weather conditions on the hiking trail. This guide will show you what you need to look for in a pair, as well as the recommendations on the top 5 best women’s snowshoes worth buying.
How to Choose Women’s Snowshoes
Women are not new to buying shoes but when it comes to snowshoes, there are specific guidelines to look into if you want to get one that is able to perform during rough winter hiking conditions. Snowshoes are designed specifically to deal with the challenges of the terrain during winter. If this is your first time to buy a pair of snowshoes, take time to consider the factors you need to look for as it is different from the traditional steps for shoe buying.
First and foremost, you need to understand the type of terrain you are dealing with. If you are dealing with wet and heavy snow, you do not need long tails in your snowshoe. But if you are navigating through dry and powdery snow, then they are absolutely necessary.
The weight of the back pack you are carrying during the hike is also crucial. It is important that your shoes are able to handle the terrain even with the weight that you are carrying – your full body weight, as well as the weight of the items you are carrying on your back.
Lastly, consider the type of terrain. Different manufacturers design their snowshoes to handle a variety of terrain types. Make sure you choose the right pair that will be able to withstand the challenges of the terrain you are about to scale.
In addition to knowing the terrain conditions, you also have to look for certain features when buying a pair. The first feature to look into is the material and binding that is used on the snowshoe. Some of your options include metal, plastic, and high-tech textiles. Check out the different ways they are attached to your feet to determine which can provide added security and comfort on the trail. As for the binding, there are typically two types of attachments available: hinged and floating.
You should also be on the lookout for add-on features such as the heel lift and snowshoe tails. These features can be helpful in various snow conditions to provide extra traction and support. The heel lifts are great when you hike mountain terrains while the snowshoe tails are great for when you pack extra load on the hike.
Top 5 Best Women’s Snowshoes
To help you find the right pair, check out the top 5 best women’s snowshoes and why you need to choose them.
1. MSR Lightning Ascent Women’s
The MSR Lightning Ascent Women’s Snowshoe is one of the best in the market and is also highly rated among its users. Available in Raspberry color, this is an ultra-light snowshoe weighing in at only 3.9 lbs. It also comes with a low-profile design in order to keep its lightweight build. Because of this, this snowshoe will save you weight when hiking or dealing with snow while also improving your agility (thanks to its narrow gait).
The lightweight quality of the MSR Lightning Women’s Snowshoe does not compromise traction when dealing with rugged and snowy terrain. It is equipped with 360-degree traction frames that are designed with the biomechanics of women in mind. At the same time, it provides edge-to-edge grip so you can be at ease when traversing steep slopes.
One of the most notable features of the MSR snowshoe for women is the PosiLock binding. This attachment is secure and freeze-resistant when used with a variety of footwear. The Ergo Televator heel lift bar reduces fatigue on your feet as you make your way through steep slopes and alpine terrain. With a measurement of 7.25 x 25 inches, it can fit a variety of women’s shoe sizes ranging from 4.5 to 14.
- It comes with a comfortable yet very secure binding.
- It is incredibly light so it does not wear your feet out easily.
- It has great traction especially on steep trails.
- It is very easy to strap on and off.
- It works with a variety of terrain types.
- It can carry up to 210 lbs. of weight.
- The strapping system could take a bit of learning curve to attach correctly.
2. MSR Evo Trail 22-Inch Hiking Snowshoes
Another highly recommended women’s snowshoe in the market is the MSR Evo Trail 22-Inch Snowshoes. This is the second model from MSR on this list and it only proves the manufacturer’s commitment to design and develop specialized snowshoes for women. One of the reasons why it comes with an impressive rating is due to its excellent traction and floatation capabilities. This feature is useful when hiking through rolling terrain and snowy trails.
This pair is, therefore, highly dependable for use on all types of conditions. It is durable enough to provide a powerful performance and to last for many years, even with its wear and tear. The snowshoe decking is also equipped with steel traction trails and brake bars. Other notable features that make it dependable even on rough conditions include the carbon steel crampons that add extra security when dealing with tricky conditions.
The DuoFit bindings on the MSR Evo Trail Snowshoes ensure that it is freeze-proof and glove-friendly. It also comes with an adjustable attachment so it can be fitted into a wide range of footwear and sizes. If you want to get extra floatation on deep powder trails, you have the option to purchase the 6-inch modular floatation tails separately.
Weighing in at 3.56 pounds, this snowshoe can support up to 180 pounds of load. It is also made in the USA.
- It provides excellent traction even on tricky hiking conditions.
- Its bindings are made to be freeze-proof and glove-friendly.
- It comes with adjustable bindings so that it can be fitted with a wide range of shoe sizes.
- It is durable enough to last a long time.
- It is dependable as it is manufactured by a trusted brand.
- They are not quiet over the snow and make quite a noise.
3. Crescent Moon Gold 13 Mountain Hiking Snowshoes for Women
The Crescent Moon Gold 13 Mountain Hiking Snowshoes for Women is one of the best there is in the market. This snowshoe is made with 95% recyclable materials through the company’s take back program. Their manufacturing processes are guaranteed to be environmentally-friendly, too. It is a good choice for those who want to make eco-conscious choices when it comes to shopping.
Apart from being environmentally-friendly, this snowshoe for women is also superb when it comes to performance and durability. It measures at 24.5 x 8.5 inches and weighs approximately 3.9 lbs per pair. Despite being lightweight, it has the ability to carry up to 185 pounds of load. It is designed with women’s shorter and narrow strides in mind.
The Crescent Moon Snowshoes for women is designed for packed snow and trail conditions. Thus, you can rest assured that it is going to make your hike in the snow more secure and bearable. Whatever the conditions on the terrain may be, it is guaranteed to withstand them all.
This pair comes with the Crescent Moon Single Pull Loop binding, which is praised as the best in the market by the media and users. This binding system is all-foot encompassing and is made of flexible polymer materials. This design enables the binding material to wrap around your foot so you can get excellent comfort and support while on the trail. This also gives you peace of mind knowing that it will not come off any time as you are hiking snowy conditions.
The platform used on these snowshoes is made with a teardrop shape. This shape is intentional as it provides excellent maneuverability without losing any of your floatation capabilities. This unique shape also makes it easy to run or walk without affecting your stride. The frame material is superior as it uses 6063 aircraft grade aluminum tubing. This makes it lightweight, durable, and resistant to abrasion.
- It is lightweight and designed specifically for women.
- It is suitable for packed snow and other tricky trail conditions.
- Its binding material is designed to provide excellent foot comfort and support.
- It offers quick and entry exit with its binding.
- Its frame provides great maneuverability without changing your stride or waddle.
- Its snowshoe frame is durable and is made of superior materials.
- There are no significant drawbacks that had been reported by its users.
4. Tubbs Snowshoes Wilderness Women’s Snow Shoes
The Tubbs Snowshoes Wilderness for Women is another highly rated pair that is suitable for hiking in the snow. Available at less than $200, it comes in white and green color scheme. This is your ultimate companion for a winter hike as it is designed and developed for superior performance and reliability.
The Fit-Step frame is the main feature of the Tubbs Snowshoes that makes it well-loved by its users. The frame also features soft-tec decking to ensure that it is comfortable when in use without compromising performance on snowy trail conditions. At the same time, it is equipped with the Rotating Toe Cord articulation with Rotation Limiter.
The 180 Pro binding secures any footwear onto the attachment without fear of getting loose while you are on the hiking trail. It is complimented by the ActiveLift heel feature that combines tech, comfort, and ease of use. Thus, it won’t hurt your feet even when you spend many hours hiking on the trail. It is the perfect companion for the adventure-seeking women out there!
- It is designed to fit any size of shoes.
- It is lightweight so it is easy to navigate the snowy terrains.
- It is easy to put on and take them off.
- It can accommodate a load ranging from 120 to 200 pounds.
- It is durable enough to handle the wear and tear of even rough hiking conditions.
- The clips designed to hold the straps can be annoying unless you tuck them in.
5. Chinook 80006 Trekker Snowshoes, 30
The Chinook 80006 Trekker Snowshoes complete the list of our best women’s snowshoes in the market. With less than $100 in retail price, it is a good value for your money given its performance and reliability on the trail.
Great traction is one of the most notable features of this snowshoe so you can rest assured that you will be safe when navigating snowy terrains. This enables the pair to be used on moderate terrain, as well as ones with packed snow. Aside from providing great traction, it also delivers in terms of comfort and support. You can use it for hours navigating the trails and forest during the winter months with ease.
The heel straps on these snowshoes come with a quick release buckle. This makes it easy to put on and take off while keeping the hold on your feet secure. The decking and binding material is made with UV resistant polyethylene material. It can withstand up to -40 degrees Fahrenheit.
The aluminum frame of the Chinook trekker snowshoe is both lightweight and strong. Plus, it is equipped with an ergonomic design that makes your strides easy and comfortable. The binding is freeze-resistant so you can ensure that it is built for winter hikes. You can easily adjust it even with your gloves on, too!
Finally, it is made with heavy duty aluminum crampons that bite into the snow. On the other hand, the heel crampons provide better grip when you make your way down mild slopes so you can guarantee no accidental slips.
- It delivers great traction on the snow.
- It is built for comfort and support.
- It can handle moderate terrains and packed snow.
- Its heel straps come with a quick release buckle for easy use.
- It comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
- It comes with a good price and great value for money.
- It isn’t the best but great for its price range.
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