Snowshoes are a must if you’re planning a winter hike. We’ve donned dozens of pairs and hit the snowy trails, from ice-laden slopes to fresh powder-packed hills, to bring you this list of the best snowshoes on the market. We consider traction, weight, ease of use, and durability in our assessments. After 500 miles of snowy trekking, we have recommendations for shoes from those that are best for beginners to ones made for serious alpine ascents.
If you need help on ice or hard pack, you’ll want to take a look at our review of the best traction devices and crampons for winter hiking. Either way, a pair of trekking poles will help with stability on uneven terrain. And to keep your toes toasty as you climb, we’ve reviewed our favorite winter boots for men and women.
Quick Picks for Snowshoes
Check out this quick list of our favorite snowshoes, or continue scrolling to see our full list with in-depth reviews.
Best snowshoes overall: MSR Lightning Ascent ($390)
Best snowshoes for steep mountain terrain: Tubbs Flex VRT ($280)
Best budget snowshoes: MSR Evo Trail ($170)
Value-priced snowshoes for all experience levels & most types of terrain: Atlas Montane ($250)
Best snowshoes for deep powder: Crescent Moon Gold 10 ($220)
Flexible snowshoes that allow for a natural gait: TSL Outdoors Symbioz Hyperflex Elite ($290)
Versatile snowshoes at a good value price: MSR Revo Explore ($270)
Most affordable snowshoes: FLASHTEK Snowshoes ($53)
What’s new
The CleverHiker team has been trekking through our favorite winter wonderlands to continue testing some reliable pairs while also adding some new top contenders to the mix:
- The MSR Lightning Ascent is our favorite pair overall for its superb flotation, traction, and comfort.
- The Tubbs Flex VRT take a top spot for their burly traction and durability in intense terrain.
- For those who are just starting out, the MSR Evo Trail is a solid budget pair that performs well and is relatively easy to put on and take off.
MSR Lightning Ascent
Best snowshoes overall
Price: $390
Weight (Pair): 4 lbs. 5 oz. (25in)
Length: 22”, 25”, or 30”; optional 5” tails
Best Use: All-around, excels on mountain terrain
Pros
- Good traction
- Options to lengthen with tails
- Good flotation
- Lightweight
- Comfy & secure bindings
- Heel lifts
Cons
- Expensive
MSR’s Lightning Ascent snowshoes (view Women’s here) are a great all-around choice for both beginners and seasoned snowshoers. These lightweight snowshoes are designed with a ton of quality features, like heel lifts that make traversing uphill a breeze, aggressive toe crampons to ensure solid footing as you ascend, and bindings that are comfortable and secure. One of our favorite things about MSR snowshoes is that they give the option to add flotation tails (sold separately), so you can adapt the length of your snowshoes to the terrain and conditions. The Lightning Ascents are the most expensive snowshoes on our list, but they provide the best all-around performance with their excellent balance of traction, flotation, and comfort.
Tubbs Flex VRT
Best snowshoes for steep mountain terrain
Price: $280
Weight (Pair): 4 lb. 5.9 oz. (25 in.)
Length: 25” or 29”
Best Use: All-around, excels on steep mountain terrain
Pros
- Aggressive traction
- Easy to adjust & comfortable Boa binding
- Lightweight
- Heel lifts
- Durable
Cons
- Flotation isn't as good in deep powder
With aggressive front crampons, deep-toothed traction rails, and heel lifts, the Tubbs Flex VRT (men’s / women’s) are an excellent choice for those who like to adventure in steep, mountainous terrain. The Boa closure system only requires a couple turns of a dial to provide a comfortable and secure fit, making the Flex VRT one of the easiest snowshoes to adjust out of any we’ve ever tested. The narrow width cuts weight and helps you maintain a natural gait, but it makes a small impact on flotation in really powdery snow. We recommend the Flex VRT for snowshoers who need maximum traction to tackle steep ascents when the snow hits.
MSR Evo Trail
Best budget snowshoes
Price: $170
Weight (Pair): 3 lb. 10 oz.
Length: 22”; optional 6” tails
Best Use: Rolling terrain
Pros
- Affordable
- Option to lengthen with tails
- Can accommodate large shoe sizes (up[ to men's 15)
- Lightweight
Cons
- Bindings aren’t as comfortable or secure as some
The MSR Evo Trails drop all the fancy extras, like heel lifts and sophisticated bindings, in favor of simplicity and good flotation at an affordable price. The wide, consistent shape is good for keeping you above the snow in most conditions, and MSR gives the option to add tails for extra flotation if you’ll be hiking in deep powder. The Evos work best for easy-to-moderate hikes on rolling terrain, but they’re not the best choice for steep traverses since they don’t have heel lifts to help you ascend. Whether you’re looking for something simple, or you’re a beginner who’s just getting started with snowshoeing, the Evo Trails are a great quality option for the price.
Atlas Montane
Value-priced showshoe for all experience levels & most types of terrain
Price: $250
Weight (Pair): 4 lb. 4 oz. (30 in.)
Length: 25”, 30”, or 35”
Best Use: All-aroud
Pros
- Good value
- Comfy binding
- Good traction on ice
- Heel lifts
Cons
- Flotation isn’t as good as others of the same length
- Binding straps can freeze & become difficult to adjust
With their teardrop shape and classic bindings, the Atlas Montanes (men’s / women’s) feature a tried-and-true design that will appeal to a wide range of hikers. The nylon strap bindings are comfortable and do a great job of minimizing pressure points that can lead to cold and sore feet. The tapered shape makes these snowshoes weigh less than you would expect for being so long, but it also means less surface area for flotation in the really powdery stuff. Overall we think the Atlas Montanes are a great value option that are comfortable and work well in most conditions.
Crescent Moon Gold 10
Best snowshoes for deep powder
Price: $240
Weight (Pair): 4 lbs. 15.2 oz.
Length: 32″
Best Use: Deep snow
Pros
- Excellent flotation
- Easy-stride shape
- Can accommodate large shoe sizes (up to men's 15)
Cons
- Heel lift design isn’t as convenient as others
- A bit heavy
The Crescent Moon Gold 10 snowshoes have the largest surface area of all the snowshoes on our list, making them the best for deep powder conditions. While the Gold 10s are the heaviest and widest snowshoes we tested, we found the stride ergonomics to be pretty good thanks to the teardrop shape. The one minor complaint we have with these snowshoes is that the heel lift snaps on and off instead of pivoting up and down. So you would need to store them in a pocket when they’re not in use, then physically snap them back on when you want to use them. That’s not a dealbreaker though, and we still highly recommend the Gold 10s for those who snowshoe in rolling terrain areas that are consistently subjected to heavy dumps of fresh powder.
TSL Symbioz Hyperflex Elite
Flexible snowshoes that allow for a natural stride
Price: $290
Weight (Pair): 4 lb. 4.8 oz. (23.5 in.)
Length: 20.5”, 23.5”, or 27”
Best Use: Mountain terrain
Pros
- Easy-stride shape
- Flexible frame
- Comfy & secure binding
- Heel lifts
- Good traction
- Can accommodate large shoe sizes (up to men's 15)
- Comes with carry bag
Cons
- Flotation isn’t as good as some
- Expensive
The TSL Symbioz Hyperflex Elites are the most flexible snowshoes on our list and they have exceptionally comfy bindings that “remember” your shoe size. The unique shape of the decking allows for a more natural stride, making them more comfortable to walk in than many others. But because the frame is tapered, the flotation isn’t as good in powdery snow as snowshoes that are consistently wide through the whole length. We recommend the Hyperflex for snowshoers who like to move fast over packed mountain terrain.
MSR Revo Explore
Versatile snowshoes at a value price
Price: $270
Weight (Pair): 4 lbs. (22 in.)
Length: 22” or 25”; optional 5” tails
Best Use: Rolling terrain
Options: 5" Flotation Tails
Pros
- Option to lengthen with tails,
- Shape helps maintain a natural gait
- Heel lifts
Cons
- Bindings aren’t as comfortable as some
MSR’s Revo Explore snowshoes (view Women’s here) are an excellent value option since they have most of the features of more expensive snowshoes (like heel lifts and toothed side rails) at a more accessible price. They have less surface area than many of the other snowshoes on our list which makes them pretty lightweight, but this also has an impact on flotation. We recommend buying the optional flotation tails if you’ll be snowshoeing in deep snow. The Revo Explores are a good in-between option if you like the features of our top pick, the MSR Lightning Ascent, but don’t mind switching to a plastic decking and a slight downgrade from steel crampons to save some money.
FLASHTEK Snowshoes w/ Trekking Poles & Tote
Most affordable snowshoes
Price: $53
Weight (Pair): 3 lb. 11.2 oz. (25 in.)
Length: 25” or 30”
Best Use: Groomed trails and light powder
Pros
- Very affordable
- Comes with trekking poles & carry bag
Cons
- Not as durable as others
- Traction isn’t as good as others
- Flotation isn’t as good as others
The price of the FLASHTEK Snowshoes really can’t be beat, especially since they come with a carry bag and trekking poles. The traction and flotation of these snowshoes aren’t on par with the others on our list, but they’re good for first-time snowshoers who want to try the sport before making a big money commitment.
What’s Most Important to You in a Pair of Snowshoes?
PRICE
You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a good pair of snowshoes, but we’ve found that the flotation, weight, and comfort tend to be better if you spend a little more.
Best value snowshoes
Best budget snowshoes
Best high-end snowshoes
WEIGHT
Snowshoeing can be quite the workout, so keeping the weight of your snowshoes lower can save energy and help you go farther. That said, heavier snowshoes tend to be more durable because they’re typically made with metal parts instead of plastic.
Best lightweight snowshoes
Best heavy-duty snowshoes
USE
Long, wide snowshoes work best for deep snow in the backcountry. If you mostly hike in mountainous terrain, you’ll want a pair of snowshoes with heel lifts to help with ascents. For groomed trails with mild terrain, a simple pair that’s flexible and affordable will work nicely.
Best snowshoes for deep snow
Best snowshoes for mountain terrain
Best snowshoes for rolling terrain
THE BINDINGS OF THE MSR REVO EXPLORE ARE EASY TO ADJUST – EVEN WITH GLOVES ON
THE SINGLE-PULL LACE BINDINGS ON THE ATLAS MONTANE SNOWSHOES ARE COMFORTABLE & EASY TO USE
THE TRACTION ON THE MSR LIGHTNING ASCENT SNOWSHOES WORKS WELL IN MOST TYPES OF TERRAIN
THE SHAPE OF THE ATLAS MONTANE SNOWSHOES MAKES THEM LIGHTWEIGHT & EASY TO WALK IN
CHECK OUT OUR LISTS OF THE BEST WINTER BOOTS (MEN’S / WOMEN’S) FOR SNOWSHOE-COMPATIBLE BOOT RECOMMENDATIONS
THE SHAPE OF THE TSL SYMBIOZ HYPERFLEX ELITE MAKE THEM EASY TO WALK IN
Critical Snowshoe Considerations
FOOTWEAR
The footwear you choose will have a big effect on your overall comfort while snowshoeing. We tend to go for lightweight boots that are waterproof and lightly insulated so that we’re protected but not overheating while hiking. Check out our Best Winter Boots for Men and Women and our Best Hiking Boots for Men and Women lists to find the perfect pair for you.
LENGTH/WIDTH
The longer and wider your snowshoes, the easier it is to stay on top of the snow.But it can also be harder to walk naturally in snowshoes that are wider or longer than necessary. We tend to prefer snowshoes that are around 25 inches long with a tapered shape to get the best balance of flotation and ease of use. MSR gives you the option to add Flotation Tails to their snowshoes, which allows you to easily adapt the length to the snow pack.
TRACTION
The style of crampons and decking on a pair of snowshoes will help you determine what conditions they’re best for. Toe crampons are what give you most of your traction on icy and hard-packed snow; deep, steel toe crampons are the best for really icy conditions. Side rails, or traction bars, are featured on most snowshoes and help with lateral traction tol keep you stable as you traverse across a slope. Snowshoes with crampons and siderail teeth that go in multiple directions will provide the best traction on steep inclines.
TREKKING POLES
Trekking poles aren’t a necessary item, but they help a lot with momentum, circulation, and stability while snowshoeing. We use trekking poles for most of our winter adventures – check out our Best Trekking Poles list to see our top recommendations.
GAITERS
Gaiters help keep snow and ice from building up in your boots. Snowshoeing can be hard on gear, so we recommend going with a high-quality pair of durable and waterproof gaiters. Our favorites are REI Backpacker Gaiters and the Crocodile Gaiters from Outdoor Research. If you’re on a tight budget, some rain pants can function as both an insulating layer to stave off wind and wet and a way to keep snow out of your shoes. Some rain pants also feature a boot hook that clips to your laces to keep the wet stuff out.
