Snowshoes really are a lot of fun. They’re also easy for newcomers to use and you’ll quickly get to grips with the right technique. You can then relax and enjoy the feeling - as if you’re walking on clouds.

Modern snowshoes have a binding with straps that you can adapt to virtually any type of shoe (high heels and flip flops are at your own risk). Affixing them will become child's play.

Meanwhile, most market leaders in the area of snowshoes rely on synthetic material. The snowshoes are very robust due to new technologies, lighter than models made of aluminium, and the sharp edges of the plastic frame provide significantly more support when crossing a steep slope at an angle.

Tips for snowshoe rental

Narrow snowshoes

Narrow snowshoes are more comfortable to wear and you needn’t expend as much energy in order to climb summits.

Little snowshoes

Smaller snowshoes are especially recommended for alpine terrain because they are much more agile for the foot ... ahem ... to handle. However, for the heavier ‘Bigfoots’ among us, we would recommend snowshoes with a larger surface area, because they have more lift - especially on powdery snow.

Snowshoe binding

When binding the snowshoes to your feet, you should make sure that they have an easy-to-use quick release. Models with cumbersome eyelets or buckles would only cost you unnecessary time and nerves.

If you plan to do a lot of walking, you'll need a binding that will allow lateral tilting because it’ll place less strain on your ankles and also last longer on extended trips.

Proper equipment for snowshoe hiking

It’s best to wear windproof winter clothes and take along a change of clothing for underneath, so that the ‘Bigfoots’ among us do not catch a cold. Trekking poles with large plates are ideal for snowshoe trips.

Emergency equipment with an avalanche transceiver, avalanche shovel, probe, lamp and first aid kit are also not to be neglected. Nothing will then stand in the way of you having fun on the summits.

By the way, did you know that snowshoes have been around for longer than the wheel?

According to the most recent accounts, the wheel turned for the first time around 3,500 BC, while snowshoes have stomped proudly through history for 2,500 years longer. And in an already fully functional way, as an impressive find in Norway shows. And this is what the first models looked like at that time: