After getting your snowshoes, you’re just about ready to take on trail. While snowshoes function pretty well on their own, it never hurts to have some extra supportive gear. By adding certain accessories onto your snowshoe getup, you can really get the most of your winter backcountry adventure.
Here are your must-have snowshoeing accessories:
1. Snowshoe Poles
Trekking poles are a great way to aid your knees while hiking. They help you take the pressure off your joints so you can move more fluidly. And, even then, walking on a trail that’s not covered with snow is difficult. Add snow to that, and things just got a lot more challenging. Therefore, investing in a good pair of snowshoe poles will help you take some of the “edge” off. Some snowshoe brands come with poles, otherwise, you can buy them separately.
2. Flotation Tails
Snowshoe flotation tails are snowshoeing accessories that do exactly what they say they do. They add more flotation to your snowshoes so you can get more lift out of them, almost like how an airplane works. They are really good to have when the snow is soft or when you’re carrying a heavy load on your back.
3. Foot Warmer Kit/Heated Insoles
This is a given! Those feet are going to get cold outside, no matter how warm your hiking boots or socks are. One of the main goals of snowshoeing (besides having fun) is to hike from one destination to another in the snow. That means you’ll be outside for a long time, and you don’t want to have to give up early because your feet got cold. One of the most important must-have snowshoeing accessories is a foot warmer kit or heated insoles, to make sure your feet stay warm for the duration of the hike.
4. Snowshoe Tote Bag
Don’t get all bamboozled with trying to carry your snowshoes! Snowshoes, though they come in ultralight styles, are still big and bulky and can unfortunately be annoying to carry. To make things much easier, get yourself a snowshoe tote bag. If you don’t have one of these, what are you waiting for? Certainly, don’t wait until your snowshoes get ruined from lack of proper protection!
5. Snowshoe Gaiters
Sometimes, the outdoor elements are like magic. No matter how hard you try to defy mother nature, things still have a way of “showing up” when they’re unwanted. Though little pebbles, dirt, and cold snow up your leg isn’t as bad as a blizzard or an avalanche hitting, it’s another factor that can make hiking outside during the winter a bit uncomfortable. The answer? Snowshoe gaiters. These guys help give you a little extra layer of security when you’re out on the trail, making sure your legs stay dry.
Snowshoes are a great piece of gear to invest in. But, if you want to make the most of your snowshoes, then you should consider adding on these must-have snowshoeing accessories to your hiking wardrobe.
