Snowshoe hiking

What it is

Snow that swallows an ordinary boot to the knee will hold you up if you spread your weight across enough of it. That is the entire principle behind snowshoe hiking. You strap wide frames to your feet, the load spreads, and deep powder that would be exhausting to wade through becomes walkable. It is hillwalking's winter cousin, and it opens up landscapes that are otherwise sealed off for months.

Modern snowshoes have almost nothing in common with the old wooden tennis-racket shape. Today's are aluminium or composite, often under 60cm long, with metal crampon teeth underneath for grip on icy slopes. You walk in them more or less normally, just with a slightly wider stance, and the technique takes about ten minutes to absorb. If you can walk, you can snowshoe by lunchtime.

What you get in return is winter on foot, quietly. Forests under fresh snow are genuinely silent in a way few other environments manage, and animal tracks read across the white like a printout of who passed through overnight. The effort is real, deep snow is hard work, but the barrier to entry is low. Rentals run around €15 to €25 a day across most Alpine resorts, far cheaper than ski gear.

It rewards going slowly, which suits people who find downhill skiing too fast and too expensive.

How it works

Most first-timers expect snowshoeing to be hard to learn, then realise within ten minutes that if you can walk, you can do this. Snowshoes strap onto any sturdy hiking or winter boot, and rental runs around €15 to €25 a day at most ski resorts and outdoor centres, so the barrier to trying it is almost nothing. The only real adjustment is stance.

Walk with your feet slightly wider apart than normal so the frames do not clip each other and trip you. That wider gait feels odd for the first few minutes and then disappears into muscle memory. Modern snowshoes are aluminium or composite, often under 60cm long, with metal crampon teeth underneath that bite into hard or icy slopes, which is what lets you tackle gradients that would be a slithering nightmare in boots alone.

Going uphill, lean forward and let the front teeth dig in. Coming down, keep your weight back slightly and plant your heels first. Deep, fresh powder is genuinely hard work even with the flotation, so plan shorter distances than you would on a summer hike and double your time estimate. A 6km snowshoe route can take as long as a 12km trail walk.

Dress as you would for winter hillwalking, in moisture-wicking layers, because you will work up a real sweat on the climbs and then chill fast on the stops. Poles with snow baskets help enormously with balance and take load off your legs in deep snow.

Benefits

Winter Wilderness Access Excellent Low-Impact Exercise Extraordinary Seasonal Landscapes Winter Mindfulness and Calm Year-Round Outdoor Practice Sociable Group Activity

What you need

Here's what to gather before you start. The essentials are marked.

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Snowshoes

Waterproof winter boots

Trekking poles

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Trekking pole

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Warm moisture wicking layers

Waterproof outer layer

Sunglasses and sunscreen

Navigation app or map

FAQs

Do snowshoes actually make a difference, or is it a gimmick?

They make an enormous difference in deep snow. Without them you posthole, sinking to your knees or thighs with every step, and burn out in minutes. Snowshoes spread your weight so you stay on the surface. On packed or shallow snow they matter less, but the moment it gets deep and soft, they turn an exhausting slog into a steady walk.

What do I look for when choosing snowshoes?

Match the size to your weight including your pack, because that is what they have to float. Bigger snowshoes give more flotation in powder, smaller ones are easier to manoeuvre on packed trails. I use MSR Lightning Ascents with heel lifts, which are a small bar you flip up under your heel on steep climbs. They save your calves on long ascents and are worth seeking out.

Do I need poles with snowshoes?

Yes, in my experience, and with snow baskets fitted. Poles give you balance on uneven snow, help you test depth, and take load off your legs on the climbs. Standard trekking poles work fine as long as you swap the small summer baskets for wide snow ones, otherwise they punch straight through the surface.

How do I stop getting cold and wet on a snowshoe hike?

Layer properly and manage your sweat. You generate a lot of heat moving through snow, so I start slightly cold and shed layers early rather than soaking my base layer. Waterproof boots, gaiters, and merino socks keep your feet dry, which is the thing that ends most winter walks early. Carry spare gloves, because wet gloves in the cold are miserable and slow.

Can a complete beginner just strap them on and go?

More or less, yes. Walking in snowshoes is intuitive within a few minutes, with a slightly wider gait being the only real adjustment. The harder part is the winter environment, not the technique. Start on flat, low-risk terrain near home before heading anywhere remote or steep.

⚠️ Safety warning: Snow-covered mountain terrain carries avalanche risk on slopes. Check local avalanche forecasts, avoid steep loaded slopes if untrained, and carry appropriate safety equipment in avalanche terrain. Days are short in winter, so carry a headtorch and turn back early.