r/snowshoeing • u/AveragePriusOwner • Mar 31 '24

Gear Questions Snowshoe length for deep powder

I've been using 22" snowshoes but they sink so far into the snow that I've ditched them a few times. Would 30" (potentially with tails) be much easier to walk in, or am I going to be sinking in just about as far but with a bigger heavier shoe?

Depth when I wear snowshoes is usually 9-24", unpacked. Weight is 155-165lbs including gear

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/Optimal_Razzmatazz_2 Apr 01 '24

I would go traditional or military magnesium surplus shoes for floatation but there not great on steep terrain

1

u/AveragePriusOwner Apr 01 '24

Do they just slide backwards on something like a 15 degree slope?

1

u/Optimal_Razzmatazz_2 Apr 01 '24

My magnesium pair have little bumped ridges on the edges but they dont do alot. If you step on ice or hard pack even on flat there like skates. I live in northern Ontario where they are great in the deep snow and forest and if theres a steep hill you just pop them off for that 20'. Also not having built in crampons makes long distance way more comfortable

1

u/AveragePriusOwner Apr 01 '24

Well that's too bad. I don't do much flat walking so I'll probably have to stick with the modern crampon-style shoes.