Snowshoeing for Beginners: From Choosing a Pair to Marked Trails

22 inches (56 cm). That’s the snowshoe length gear maker MSR recommends for an adult weighing 125 to 175 pounds (57 to 79 kg), gear included, on packed snow [1]. Way smaller than the giant snowshoes most people picture, and that’s a good thing: a small snowshoe is easier to walk in. Getting started comes down to that choice, and then to choosing where you walk.

Float and grip: what snowshoes are for

Handed down from the trappers of the Far North, snowshoes let you get around on snow whatever the terrain and snow conditions, out in the wild or on a groomed, marked loop, explains Nordic France, the federation of France’s Nordic ski areas [2]. They do two jobs. First, flotation: keeping you from sinking too deep into the snow. Second, traction, from crampons underfoot and, depending on the model, steel traction rails or aluminum frames along the edges [3].

U.S. gear maker MSR sorts its snowshoes into three families by terrain: recreational models for flat and rolling terrain and established trails, then more aggressive models for slopes and variable snow, with heel lifts that raise your heels on steep climbs, and finally lightweight models for high mountains [3]. To get started on marked trails, the first family is plenty.

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Choosing your size by weight and snow

The heavier you are, the more flotation you need. MSR says to count your weight with your clothes and backpack on, and suggests adding 10 to 15 lb (4.5 to 7 kg) for gear as a starting point; French manufacturer TSL assumes an average backpack of about 18 lb (8 kg) in its online size finder, which asks for your weight and shoe size [1] [4]. Snow matters just as much: the lighter and deeper it is, the more surface area you need.

Here’s the detail that changes everything: MSR advises choosing for the snow you’ll see on most of your outings, not for that once-a-year Snowmageddon. If you spend 80% of your time on existing tracks or packed snow, a giant pair will have you regretting your purchase 80% of the time; that’s where removable tails come in, added on light-snow days [1] [3]. TSL says the same thing another way: a bigger snowshoe for powder, a smaller one for following a track [4].

Bindings, boots, and poles

There are two main types of bindings. A fixed binding, attached to the snowshoe with straps, keeps the snowshoe close to your foot; a hinged binding pivots on a rod, so the tail of the snowshoe drops with each step and sheds snow [3]. MSR bindings fit men’s US sizes 6 to 13, which covers regular winter boots; its women’s models are a bit narrower, by about 3/4 inch (1.9 cm), for a more natural stride [1].

Poles, on the other hand, aren’t optional: MSR considers them essential for stability and safety. They should be adjustable, so you can shorten them on steep climbs and lengthen them on descents, with a locking mechanism that resists freezing and works with gloves on [3].

Where to start: marked trails at Nordic ski areas

Nordic France brings together more than 160 Nordic ski areas across every mountain range in France: the Northern and Southern Alps, the Jura, the Vosges, the Massif Central, and the Pyrenees. At these areas, different types of trails are laid out so that people on snowshoes, or on foot, can explore the mountains without getting in the way of skiers [2]. A groomed, marked loop is the ideal terrain for a first outing: the track is already broken, the route is maintained, and getting back is a sure thing.

These areas charge a fee for Nordic activities. Nordic France’s national pass covers the cross-country ski trails at member areas [2] [5]: for snowshoe trails, check with each area at the trailhead. And if you want to head beyond the loops, Nordic France recommends going with a professional [2]. For a look at the cross-country trails, see also our guide to choosing between classic and skate skiing.

Avalanches: why we stick to marked trails

Snow can turn deadly when it slides as an avalanche. In France, avalanches kill an average of 31 people and injure 26 a year, and more than 90% of these accidents are caused by a dry slab avalanche, most often triggered by the victim or someone in their group, according to Météo-France, France’s national weather service [6]. That’s why, for beginners, we only recommend marked, maintained trails.

Before every outing, check the avalanche bulletin, called the BERA (bulletin d’estimation du risque d’avalanche), which Météo-France forecasters publish all season long for the Alps, the Pyrenees, and Corsica. It uses the European avalanche danger scale, adopted in 1993 by every country in the Alpine arc, which runs from 1, low, to 5, very high [6].

Family outings: snowshoes for kids

Manufacturers make snowshoes sized for kids. MSR offers two types: a very simple starter model for toddlers, with a solid deck and a fixed binding, and a more complete model with a hinged binding, for shoe sizes up to a US men’s 7 [3]. TSL also has a junior line [4]. On a marked, groomed loop, a first family outing is just a walk, paced for the youngest legs.

A pair that fits, two well-adjusted poles, a marked loop from a Nordic center: all that’s left is to wait for the first real snowfall, and go make your first tracks.

Worth watching

REI walks first-timers through snowshoe anatomy, materials, and how to pick the right type and size, with links to its guides on snowshoeing basics and avalanche safety.

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Nolwenn Bastide

Trail running, snow, water, nature and destinations

Nolwenn covers trail running, snow, water, nature and destinations for Outfarer. Curious about everything, from meteor showers to night-train schedules, she has a knack for digging up the one detail that changes everything, and nailing it in a single sentence.

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