Best Snowshoe Brands

Snowshoeing is an exciting outdoor activity you can engage in during the winter season. And, having excellent snowshoes lets you enjoy moving around in the snow much more.

But which brand of snowshoes should you choose from when buying your own?

person in red jacket and black pants riding ski blades on snow covered mountain during daytime

In this article, I will introduce you to six of the most well-known brands in the snowshoe industry. To help you with snowshoes selection, I will also share my favorites from each brand’s product lineup.

I hope that through this guide, you will learn a bit more about these famous companies and snowshoeing in general.

Let’s get started!

Best Snowshoe Brands

Atlas

The Atlas brand of snowshoes began as an idea in 1990. Budding entrepreneurs Perry Klebahn and Jim Klingbeil were working on a Spring-Loaded Suspension (SLS) technology for their Stanford graduate project – now the foundation of Atlas snowshoes.

Atlas makes snowshoes for all types of activities, whether for snowshoeing in the backcountry or simply for recreational purposes. The Atlas company is also one of the few brands that make snowshoes for running. Furthermore, Atlas is one of the first companies to make snowshoes specific for women. The company even created the Atlas Elektra, which is a line of women’s snowshoes. The brand also offers snowshoes for kids.

One of the features of the Atlas snowshoes that is well-known is the V-shaped tail. The frame is shaped as such to allow users to move more quickly in the snow and save energy. The Atlas brand is dedicated to developing even better technology for their products to provide their customers with a better outdoor experience.

Atlas Montane

The Atlas Montane uses a Spring-Loaded Suspension (SLS) system which helps the snowshoes absorb shock, flex laterally, provide better traction, and offer higher mobility.

These snowshoes come with All-Trac crampons located on the front, back, and sides and provide you with multi-directional grip. Also, a Stabilock crampon at the heel portion helps distribute your weight evenly, especially when snowshoeing over more technical terrain.

Other features included in the Atlas Montane are Aluminum Reactiv frames, which have an elliptical design that increases load capacity and provides better flotation. There is also an intuitive Wrapp Swift binding system that provides your feet with more comfort. A heel lift is also included to help reduce fatigue when you climb over steeper slopes.

Atlas Spark

The Atlas Spark is perfect for your kids, as they are straightforward to put on and are very comfortable. The Spark’s Grom binding system is one of the main features contributing a lot in this regard.

The Grom system incorporates EVA foam padding, which is soft and comfortable on the feet. The EVA foam also helps distribute weight evenly, relieves pressure, and provides warmth. There are also Grom straps that are intuitive to use so that your kids can quickly put on or take off these snowshoes.

Other features included in the Atlas Spark are heel cleats and toe crampons made of highly durable material. These crampons provide a much-needed grip on terrain, especially for energetic children who like moving around in the snow. Maneuvering is also made easier with the snowshoes’ V-Frame that provides enhanced flotation over deeper snow. The Atlas Spark is also ultra-lightweight and budget-friendly.

Atlas Run

The Atlas Run is one of the best snowshoes made for running available on the market. This product includes plenty of features that help provide an excellent running experience.

The Atlas Run comes with an enhanced Speed V-Frame that is durable, lightweight and provides maximum flotation over even deep powder. This feature enables you to run over any flat and rolling terrain at top speed. The snowshoes’ Spring-Loaded Suspension (SLS) system also helps provide shock absorption and lateral flexing for better maneuvering.

This incredibly lightweight pair of snowshoes come with solid and lightweight Dual-TRAC crampons and heel cleats to provide traction and stability over snowy or icy terrain. Furthermore, a Boa closure system and Speed Helix bindings – the fastest binding in the Atlas line of snowshoes – help provide quick adjustability while keeping your feet properly secure.

Mountain Safety Research (MSR)

The Mountain Safety Research (MSR) brand was formed in 1969 by Seattle engineer and mountaineer Larry Penberthy. Larry was dedicated to improving the safety of climbing equipment, and this passion resulted in MSR becoming a gear company known for its cutting-edge engineering and inventions for the outdoors. One of these products was snowshoes.

Mountain Safety Research began innovating on snowshoes when it partnered with Bill Forrest, a big-wall climber and also a mountaineer. One of Bill’s first contributions was the introduction of the injection-molded polypropylene plastic deck. And with the inclusion of parallel traction bars, the snowshoes were provided with superior traction and durability. MSR then launched this innovation in their Denali line in 1995.

Then in 2004, the brand’s legacy – the MSR Lightning Series – was introduced to the world. The Lightning model improved on the Denali by moving the traction further out and replacing the parallel bars with a continuous, laser-cut piece of ultralight 7000-series aluminum riveted in one spot. This innovation on traction is now known as MSR’s 360° Traction technology, which provides an all-perimeter grip on any terrain type.

Since the partnership of MSR and Bill Forrest, many technological innovations for snowshoes were born. And through their partnership, the MSR brand was able to deliver on its goal of creating functional, efficient, and reliable gear for everyone.

MSR Lightning Ascent

The Lightning Ascent truly delivers when it comes to providing you with excellent traction on almost any kind of terrain. One of the snowshoes’ main traction features is its 360° frames, which act similarly to traction rails. The frames do not have round structures like with other snowshoes but are vertical and serrated instead. This unique feature allows the MSR Lightning Ascent to provide you with the best grip of any snowshoes available on the market.

Another prominent traction feature of this pair of snowshoes is its durable steel DTX crampons, which is found under the forefoot and heel parts. Under the forefoot area, there are two rows of these steel crampons. The first row has two major claw-like points, while the second row has two prominent claws with several smaller claws.

Some other features in the MSR Lightning Ascent include a Paragon binding system, which provides comfort and has straps that are resistant to freezing. There are also heel lifts to help reduce fatigue when you climb steeper terrain.

MSR Evo Trail Hiking Snowshoes

The MSR Evo Trail Hiking Snowshoes is an excellent choice for beginners, as they come with plenty of features that provide you with stability when snowshoeing on trails and rolling terrain.

One of these stability features is a single UniBody deck made of polypropylene, made for maximum stability on flat terrain. Powder-coated steel crampons and steel traction rails provide you with enhanced grip. The snowshoes’ crampons are also attached to a 360-degree pivot binding system, which helps provide you with a more comprehensive range of movement. Furthermore, several brake bars are molded into the UniBody deck, providing you with more grip options on slightly steeper terrain.

Another feature included with the MSR Evo Trail are DuoFit bindings. These bindings are freeze-proof, accommodate different types of snow boots, and help provide stability and control when moving over rolling terrain.

MSR Revo Explore

The MSR Revo Explore is one of the best snowshoes in terms of ease of putting on or taking off. This pair of snowshoes comes with Ratcheting HyperLink bindings, part of a very intuitive two-strap binding system. There is one ratchet strap each over your foot and your heel, making it relatively straightforward to use and adjust.

The MSR Revo Explore is made of a durable ExoTract plastic deck, which offers an excellent grip on snow. The deck is also lined with serrated teeth, made of martensitic steel, from the front to the back for providing more enhanced traction.

This pair of snowshoes come with Ergo Televators, heel lifts that help reduce fatigue when climbing steeper slopes. All of the MSR Revo Trail features make it excellent for snowshoeing in either the backcountry or on the trail.

Tubbs Snowshoes

The Tubbs brand is one of the oldest in the business of snowshoe making. The company was founded in Norway more than a hundred years ago, in 1906, making it a pioneer of and very experienced in the snowshoeing industry. Tubbs Snowshoes first made its snowshoes using fine white ash wood. Now, the company specializes in making snowshoes using both aluminum and modern composite material.

Tubbs Snowshoes claims to be the first company to create snowshoes specific for women in 1998. The company knew that there were a number of differences between men and women when it came to snow wear, such as the stride length, stance width, foot size and morphology, and others.

And through innovating their snowshoes, Tubbs also went further and created even more specific snowshoes for both beginners and more experienced users. They also developed frameless snowshoes made to be lightweight but durable.

Currently, Tubbs Snowshoes is based in Seattle, Washington. The company is also a member of K2 Sports, a world leader in winter sports and outdoor recreational brands. Tubbs’ mission continues today, which is to provide high-quality snowshoeing gear so that more people would be encouraged to get out and enjoy all that nature has to offer.

Tubbs Mountaineer Backcountry Snowshoes

Suppose you are looking for a pair of snowshoes you can use for almost any type of terrain. In that case, the Tubbs Mountaineer Backcountry Snowshoes are an excellent choice for you.

The Tubbs Mountaineer Backcountry Snowshoes come with excellent traction features that provide excellent grip for different settings. An aggressive Python crampon made of carbon steel is found under the heel, which gives you traction when descending slopes. On the other hand, a carbon steel Anaconda crampon is located under the toe part and has eight sharp teeth which provide a consistent grip for whatever terrain you might be on.

These snowshoes also come with excellent shock absorption features. The Tubbs Mountaineer has a continuous Pro-Step frame which has longer and lower nose height and tail bend. These features help enhance flotation and reduce impacts to your joints. An R2 articulation system also helps to absorb shocks coming from the sides. Furthermore, the snowshoes’ SoftTec decking provides your feet with a smooth and comfortable feeling.

A heel lift is also included to help you climb over steeper terrain.

Tubbs Flex VRT Snowshoes

The Tubbs Flex VRT is one of the best snowshoes to provide you with the best wearing comfort while still being suitable for both the trail and technical terrain.

The Tubbs Flex VRT has a plastic Torsion deck that helps provide maximum articulation of your feet and lets you walk more naturally on the snow, compared to other snowshoes. A DynamicFit binding also incorporates soft and firm EVA foam, which helps distribute pressure evenly on your feet.

Another comfort feature includes a rotating toe-cord limiter articulation system. The system allows you to shed snow from the tail of the snowshoe so you can have a much lighter walk. An ActiveLift 19-degree heel lift also helps reduce fatigue to your calves when climbing steeper slopes. There is even a BOA Closure Fit System that makes use of a dial you can easily use to adjust the snowshoes to your preferred fit.

The Tubbs Flex also incorporates Viper 2.0 carbon steel toe crampons with jagged teeth and 3D-curved traction rails for enhanced traction on steep and icy terrain.

Crescent Moon

Crescent Moon is a relatively young snowshoe company founded just over 20 years ago in 1997 in Boulder, Colorado. Still, the brand has established itself as a manufacturer of uniquely designed, high-performance snowshoes that it makes available only through specialty retail stores. And, all of its manufacturing processes, from assembly to finishing, are all done in their factory in Boulder.

The snowshoes of Crescent Moon all have aircraft-grade aluminum frames and unique plastic decks that have excellent resistance to tears and abrasions. The decking material also isn’t noisy on the snow, unlike other snowshoes. The company also boasts award-winning products such as its Gold 9 and Eva Foam snowshoes. Crescent Moon even shows its confidence in its products by offering lifetime warranties for its Gold Series and 2-year warranties for its Silver Series.

Some of the innovations developed by Crescent Moon include the loop binding, which helps you make easy adjustments on your snowshoes. The company even created a unique teardrop shape for their snowshoe frames which help provide a more natural stride and more enhanced flotation over snow. Crescent Moon also developed a harness system that maximizes both comfort and security.

Crescent Moon continues to improve on its unique designs while maintaining its performance, comfort, ease of use, and reliability.

Crescent Moon Gold 10 Backcountry Snowshoes

The Crescent Moon Gold 10 Backcountry Snowshoes have a unique teardrop design, wherein the shoes are wider at your forefoot and narrower at your heel. This teardrop shape helps with a more natural body weight distribution and stride and helps to maximize flotation over even deep snow as well. The frame and decking, made of lightweight and sturdy aluminum and TGS nylon, also help enhance flotation.

The Gold 10 offers you its easy-to-use, single-pull loop (SPL) binding system for securing your feet. This innovation of Crescent Moon allows you to simply place your foot on one snowshoe and pull the loop to secure it in your preferred settings. A sliding ratchet heel buckle also secures your foot in place and allows for different types of snow boots to fit.

Some other features with the Crescent Moon Gold 10 include a unique three-claw crampon system for traction. Unlike other snowshoes that only have a two-crampon system, the Gold 10’s three crampons provide better control and grip. These crampons are found in key locations such as under the foot, heel, and toe ball. This pair of snowshoes also come with a lifetime warranty.

Crescent Moon Eva Foam Snowshoes

The main feature of the Crescent Moon Eva Foam Snowshoes is its dual-density, flexible, EVA foam which provides extra cushioning for comfort and insulation for warmth. The EVA foam is also very lightweight and easy to walk in. The Crescent Moon Eva Foam Snowshoes are best used for packed powder conditions and well-worn trails.

The Crescent Moon Eva Foam also incorporates a teardrop shape for its frames, which help provide a more natural stride and weight distribution while helping provide flotation and maneuverability. The snowshoes also use simple hook-and-loop straps for ease of putting on, taking off, and adjusting. An updated footbed also helps to reduce pressure on the heel strap and provides better comfort.

This pair of snowshoes comes with multiple cleats and durable rubber lugs to provide you with traction. The shoes even have a limited one-year warranty for any defect in their materials.

Northern Lites

Northern Lites has been making snowshoes since 1992 and is based in the USA. The brand believes that the perfect snowshoe is one that allows its user to float on top of any snow type, is ultra-lightweight, easy to put on, has excellent traction, is very affordable, and lasts a lifetime. As such, the company has committed itself to developing snowshoes that fit all these criteria.

Northern Lites worked on their snowshoes’ deck material, deck attachments, and frame material for several years. And, were finally able to get the perfect combination that offered both an ultra-lightweight and durability. The company’s answer to the components of an ideal snowshoe were multiple movable deck attachments, a free-floating tail plug, and a gentle convex-shaped frame. These movable components allow the user’s weight to be distributed throughout, absorb forces evenly, and keep the shape of the snowshoe when pressure is relieved.

Northern Lites also used ultra-lightweight aluminum framing, which is made to be half the weight of regular metal frames, a tough polyurethane-coated nylon mesh decking, and nylon deck clips to keep their snowshoes as light as possible while still being very durable. This brand truly is committed to its vision of the ideal snowshoes.

Northern Lites Tru-Trak Backcountry Snowshoes

If an ultra-lightweight and easily packable pair of snowshoes are what you’re looking for, then look no further than the Northern Lites Tru-Trak Backcountry Snowshoes. These snowshoes have a low weight of only 2 pounds and 14 ounces in total.

The Northern Lites Backcountry is made of materials that maximize both being lightweight and durable. The decking is made of CoolThane material, a very sturdy PU-coated nylon mesh with high resistance to puncturing. The frame is also made of an ultralight but durable aluminum alloy. Furthermore, the traction features of these snowshoes are made of very strong and highly abrasion-resistant duraluminum.

Other features of the Northern Lites Backcountry include a heel strike plate that provides you stability for your footing. A Tru-Trak binding system also lets these snowshoes grab onto different kinds of snow boots while keeping your feet secure.

Northern Lites Race Snowshoes

Another pair of excellent ultra-lightweight snowshoes for you are the Northern Lites Race Snowshoes. This product is even lighter than the Northern Lites Backcountry, weighing only 1.5 pounds per pair – one of the lowest weights you’ll find for any kind of snowshoes.

The Northern Lites Race is not only ultralight but quite durable as well. These snowshoes have an aerospace-grade aluminum frame that uses a more rigid and lighter aluminum alloy for added durability and reduced weight. The decking material is also made of durable CoolThane that is smooth enough that it prevents snow build-up, which would otherwise contribute to added weight and a more challenging time moving through the snow.

One of the main features of this pair of snowshoes is its direct mounting system. Unlike regular snowshoes, the Northern Lites Race has its bindings removed. Instead, you are provided with stainless steel mounting hardware that lets you mount your snow boots directly to the suspension strap and front cleat. In this way, more weight is reduced, and you can also have a more natural stride.

Another feature of these snowshoes is its TruTrak binding system, which uses flip hooks instead of ladder locks to help prevent slippage.

TSL Outdoor

The TSL Outdoor brand was founded in 1981 in Thônes, Haute-Savoie, France. Inspired by the snowy surroundings of his hometown, the founder came up with the acronym ‘TSL,’ which stands for “Thônes Sport Loisirs” and later became “Technique Sport Loisirs.”

The company’s first snowshoe model was the JCB, a plastic version of the classic design of the wooden snowshoe. From there, TSL Outdoor continued developing more technically sophisticated snowshoes. They then created their unique hourglass shape in the 1990s, which is now the main feature of TSL’s composite snowshoes. This hourglass form helped give firm support for the feet while providing comfort as well.

Then in 2013, TSL Outdoor created the TSL Symbioz snowshoes, which adapt to its user’s stride and to whatever terrain they are snowshoeing on. The TSL Symbioz is made to have people interact with or be in “total symbiosis” with nature by providing a more natural stride in snow. The importance that TSL Outdoor puts on the environment is also shown in its manufacturing methods. For example, renewable energy is used for running their production sites, and recycled polyester straps are used to make their snowshoes.

TSL Symbioz Elite Snowshoes

The TSL Symbioz Elite Snowshoes are made to help you have the most natural walking experience possible on any type of terrain. Its main feature is its Hyperflex frames which adapt to uneven ground and provide grip. There are also front teeth, eight stainless steel crampons under the foot, and vertical blades that provide you with excellent traction anywhere you go snowshoeing.

These snowshoes also have multiple features that provide adaptability for the user and the user’s environment. There are flexible carbon reinforcements that store energy when they bend and then release it to propel you forward, helping you save your strength in the process. The reinforcements also help reduce vibrations and shocks and keep your feet comfortable.

Other features in the TSL Symbioz Elite include a Memory Lock system that memorizes the shape of the front of your snow boots, allowing for a more efficient securing for the next time you wear the snowshoes. The bindings are also adjustable both in length and width. The snowshoes also have a Sound and Shock Absorbing System (SSAS) that help eliminate noise while you walk.

TSL Symbioz Racing Snowshoes

The TSL Symbioz Racing Snowshoes are similar to the Northern Lites Race Snowshoes in that they are both extremely lightweight and are made for racing. This pair of snowshoes is very lightweight with only 1.4 pounds per pair, excellent for moving around quickly in the snow.

The TSL Symbioz Racing has a Hyperflex frame that provides you with a natural stride so you can run without having to worry much about making adjustments. The snowshoes also store energy and help propel you forward when the energy is released. Furthermore, the extreme flexibility of these snowshoes allows for excellent weight transfer for each step you make.

Other features of the TSL Symbioz Racing include adjustable bindings that can be pre-set so you can easily slip your feet in and out of the snowshoes at any time. The snowshoes also come with a storage bag and a manufacturer warranty of two years.

FAQs

What should I wear for my first time snowshoeing?

The following are some of the primary clothing you should have when you go out snowshoeing:

Can I use my regular hiking boots for snowshoeing?

It is not recommended to wear your regular hiking boots when you go out snowshoeing. Traditional boots can usually not handle low temperatures, so wearing them in deeper snow can lead to your feet feeling cold and uncomfortable.

Instead, you can wear snowshoeing boots which contain insulating material that keeps your feet warm and cozy. Most snowshoeing boots are also waterproof to protect you from the elements.

Conclusion

The best snowshoe brand for each person will differ based on what factors an individual considers important for snowshoes.

Such factors include traction, weight, flotation features, and comfort, among many others. Some brands even cater to more specific needs.

In general, though, if you know what you want in your snowshoes, then any brand offering such wants can become the best brand for you.