If you are purchasing a first pair snowshoes for you or your child, it might be a good idea to rent snowshoes first. After you have tried snowshoeing once or twice and decided that it is for you, the next step is to get your own. Rented snowshoes are often less comfortable and always a lower quality product than ones you will purchase new. So, if you enjoyed snowshoeing on the rented pair, you will love snowshoeing on a new pair. A good tip is to buy new, and try to avoid buying used snowshoes.
There are quite a few different types of snowshoes on the market. When selecting which snowshoe is right for you, it is wise to shop for quality and stick to the leading names in the industry. Snowshoes for adults can cost anywhere from $75.00 to $250.00 depending on your taste and skill level. On the other hand, kids snowshoes will be less expensive.
Decide on where you will be snowshoeing. There are kids snowshoes and adult snowshoes that are designed almost exclusively for flat trails. You can get snowshoes that are designed for specific uses like, running, icy trails, mountaineering, back country, etc. Unless you are very experienced or racing competitively, a good quality middle of the road snowshoe will be more than adequate.
Some features to look for are steel toe claws, lightweight construction, and possibly poles. Most snowshoes today are made of lightweight materials like aluminum so finding lightweight snowshoes should not be difficult. Steel toe claws are an absolute necessity for going up or down hills. Poles are more of a personal preference. Some snowshoe kits come with poles. However, if you have to buy poles separately you might want to wait and see if you really need them. If you or your children have difficulty with balance or coordination then poles are a good idea, otherwise poles are probably not necessary.
One last aspect to consider is the size of the snowshoe. Basically, the area of one snowshoe in square inches should equal your weight in pounds. Your weight includes you and the all the gear or equipment you will be wearing or carrying.
| Don't scrimp when purchasing kids snowshoes or your own. Buy a good pair of snowshoes with quality easy to use bindings and every time you use them, you will glad you did. Now, just think snow. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thord_Hall | |
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