Snow is awesome. Hiking is awesome. And you saw this page’s title so you know where I’m going with this. Heading out for some snowshoeing is an outstanding idea for when the hiker comes out in you during the winter. Enjoying the beauty of nature covered in a layer of white can make for some of the most scenic views in the world – and the exercise you get earning those outlooks is just as great! So, if you would like to try out some snowshoeing for yourself, you’ve get to get your feet into some of the best snowshoes for beginners to help you enjoy some of your first few jaunts.

What to Consider

As you would imagine, having uncertain footing during your first few attempts at snowshoeing is a great recipe for never wanting to go again. Sinking into the snow, having faulty equipment, or not being comfortable for whatever reason in your shoes makes for a bad time. Thankfully, our list for the best snowshoes for beginners doesn’t feature any products that these would be worries for.

 

Our Top Choices for the Best Snowshoes for Beginners
	The Overall Winner Tubbs Xplore Rotating Toe Cord for easier shoeing QuickPull binding Solid grip no matter the terrain
	The Big Value Award Chinook Trekker Lightweight and strong aluminum frame UV resistant decking Heavy duty crampons
	The Captain of Industry Winner MSR Evo Unibody design for lasting traction Freezeproof, glvoe friendly bindings Just 3 lbs, 9 ounces

To get the right set of shoes for yourself, you’ve got two things that you should think the most about. Certainly, there are other factors that come into play but the two most important characteristics of snowshoes for you to think about as you go to make a purchase are:

• Size: Now, we know that we are talking about shoes and right when someone sees size, you think about sizing your snowshoes to your foot. However, this is not the case. Rather, we are thinking about the size of the outside frame of the snowshoe. Snowshoes are sized based on their length. This is important because, of course, snowshoes are meant to keep your feet up on top of the snow. A longer length of snowshoe is going to create a larger surface area to keep you up above the snow. But at the same time, the larger the snowshoe, the more unwieldy they are to walk around in. So, make sure that you are getting the right size for the weight of load that you are carrying.
• Materials: This may not come as a shock to you but we are going to say it anyway: Some materials are better for snowshoes than others. For the best snowshoes for beginners – and everyone – it is best to search for shoes made of materials that are light but strong. It’s important for the shoes to be light because you’re going to be walking across squishy snow so any extra poundage that can be avoided should be avoided. Additionally, you are going to want snowshoes with strength because – well, you’re going hiking! You need durable tools for the rough going ahead. So, we want to seek out some shoes that are made off tough materials that also provide pound for pound strength.

Now that you know what you are looking for in the best snowshoes for beginners, let’s get to the top candidates for your choosing so you can get up on the mountain and have a great time.

Best Snowshoes for Beginners

Tubbs Xplore

Tubbs comes in with their own beginner snowshoe and makes our list for the best snowshoes for beginners with ease. The technology packed into these shoes practically qualifies the engineers behind them to work on space shuttles. Alright, maybe not, but they are still an awesome pair of beginner snowshoes. Tubbs’ own trademarked SoftTec decking gives you durable, lightweight floatation for easy pacing over deep powder. The Rotating Toe Cord drops snow off the tails making your walking easier. In fact, this technology reduces your cardio-respiratory workload by as much as 7%!

Get a grip on Amazon

There is a pivot point underneath the foot of these shows that makes the crampons on the toes bit deep into snow once they have weight on them. And, last, the QuickPull tech and the Fit-Step frame combine to give you a comfortable, secure, all-day-long fit that you would come to expect out of the best snowshoes for beginners. Looking at the whole picture, the Tubbs Xplore snowshoes are a great candidate for your first snowshoeing purchase.

Chinook Trekker

The first entry level snowshoes on our list come from Chinook. Their Trekker Series makes for a great option for those who are just getting onto the snowshoeing scene. The traction and comfort that these shoes produce work great on packed snow and moderate trains, perfect for hiking trails and forest during those long winter months. The heel straps have quick release buckles that keep feet stable on the snowshoes and prevent slippage. The lightweight and high strength aluminum frame are ergonomically designed for easy and comfortable walking. The UV resistant polyethylene decking and bindings are another great feature that keep the shoes flexible up to -40 degrees Fahrenheit (or 40 degrees Centigrade).

Check them out on Amazon

The ratchet bindings are freeze resistant and easy to use to ensure a secure fit – even with gloves! And lastly, those crampons are designed for getting the most traction possible on multiple types of terrain. They’re heavy duty aluminum and rotate freely so they can get outstanding bite on the snow. The tails even drop so that the snow drops right off, lightening your foot for more comfortable walking. Heel crampons, too, make your hikes more enjoyable for easy traction when you are heading down mild slopes. Altogether, these snowshoes are built for handling beginner terrain for the beginner snowshoe enthusiast. Great value with great traction.

MSR Evo

If you’re willing to get a little upscale on your beginner snowshoe equipment, you might want to take a look at the MSR Evo pair. They are a little bit pricier, we will admit, but if you intend on really enjoying your snowshoeing, you can’t go wrong with the value that these shoes provide. They are a favorite of snowshoers the world over and are legendary for their dependability and traction on snowshoe capable terrain. The traction bars molded into the UniBody deck provide excellent grip, even in more extreme conditions. The DuoFit bindings are glove-friendly, absolutely freezeproof, and work with just about any footwear you have. The steel traction rails are of the highest quality you could ask for and the modular tails (sold separately) give you the agility of a less sizable shoe without giving up traction.

Get them on Amazon

As if the materials and design of the product weren’t enough to speak for themselves, reviewers on all sorts of snowshoeing related sites will tell you that these snowshoes are great for beginners to experts and everyone in between as they provide serious traction at a truly light weight. If you truly want to experience the mountain and not have to worry about your footing, you are probably looking right at the best snowshoes for beginners in the world right here in the MSR Evos.

Wrap Up

Like we said before, snowshoes are all about weight and strength. Finding the right combination of the two is the key to getting your mitts on the best pair of snowshoes for you. If you are on the fence about which shoes to get, we’re willing to offer one piece of advice: The longer you wait, the longer it will be until you get to enjoy your wintery hiking. And if you don’t get any at all, well, we’re sorry for you because you’re missing out.