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The Curious Shape of Modern Snowshoes by the eSnowshoes.com Staff
There are two main shapes: Rounded Tails, and Pointed Tails. So what's the difference?
The other option in snowshoes is the pointed tail, like Redfeather and Crescent Moon snowshoes. The pointed tail is designed to make the walking process much easier. By cutting some of the snowshoe off the tails, you can take more natural strides without having to worry about tripping on your snowshoes. Your legs can be closer together, more like a normal walking position. The disadvantage to the pointed tail though is the loss of some flotation in deeper snow. They are also not quite as stable at the rounded tails, but if you have good balance, you won't notice the difference.
So what's best for you? That depends on what you plan to do with your snowshoes. Many people have more than one pair, for different kinds of conditions. The choice is up to you; both designs have their positive and negative aspects. But you will want to make the choice. Snowshoeing is fun, it's easy, it's good exercise, and you don't pay for lift tickets or stand in lift lines! Need help picking snowshoes? Visit eSnowshoes.com and try the new Snowshoe Finder!
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Snowshoes
have made a lot of progress since the old days! Traditionally, they were
large and oval, but now their size has been reduced and the shapes are
more streamlined. Yet still, snowshoes all have very different shapes.
The rounded tails (brands
like Tubbs, Yuba and some Redfeather snowshoes) are designed to give you
maximum flotation and stability. By having a rounded tail, the
snowshoe is more balanced and has more surface area to keep you "on
top" of the snow. The downside is the loss of
maneuverability. It is easier to trip on your snowshoe tails as you
are walking since there is so much snowshoe in the way. Your stride has to
be widened a bit more, which can make it more difficult for some
snowshoers, (especially those with shorter legs!).
Crescent Moon has taken the
difference even further by introducing the first teardropped-shaped
snowshoes. They are skinnier and longer than most. This gives you a great
deal of maneuverability while still giving maximum flotation.