Do you want to know what the differences are between men’s and women’s snowshoes? Wondering if you really need one over the other, or if it’s just a marketing ploy? This quick video and posts tells you the main differences and how different snowshoe standards can improve, or frustrate, your day snowshoeing in the mountains.
Snowshoe Construction and Walking Patterns
When you first look at snowshoes, one thing is obvious: they’re wide. This is to disperse weight over a wide area so you float on top of the snow, instead of sinking through.
But, although a wider snowshoe has benefits, it can also cause issues if you walk with your feet relatively close together. This, you’ll see, is an aspect that typically affects women more so than men, because of anatomical differences.
Women have more of an angle between their hips and knees, which tends to push their feet closer together. This results in a narrower step pattern, which is where women (or anyone snowshoeing with their feet close together) can run into issue with “standard” or “men’s” snowshoes.
It isn’t uncommon for a new snowshoer, with a narrow gait, to have problems with the snowshoes contacting each-other mid stride. Not only is this annoying if you have to manage it your entire day of snowshoeing, but it could lead to injury if you end up tripping and falling.
What’s the Difference Between Women's and Men's Snowshoes?
Women's snowshoes are tapered through the mid foot and heel, creating room and clearance for snowshoes to walk closer together without contacting.
When comparing the two, the difference in width is noticeable. Although modern designs are beginning to incorporate the tapered heel in both men's and women's snowshoes, it is definitely more pronounced in women's. Throughout your day snowshoeing this difference is going to make for easier travel, with less tripping and falling.
Come in to AQ Outdoors and try out our great selection of snowshoes today!
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