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Add These Shoes to Your Closet

If you can walk, you can snowshoe--and get one heck of a workout. Here's help to pick the right pair and easy-to-follow tips for stepping out this winter.

As the temperature dips below freezing and the ground becomes covered in snow, don't hit the snooze and hibernate. With snowshoeing, you can shake up that snow-globe world and turn it into your personal exercise machine. "Snowshoeing is an excellent toning exercise," says Mark Elmore, sports director of the United States Snowshoe Association (www.snowshoeracing.com), who has been stomping in the white stuff for 17 years. "It develops your core abdominals along with quad muscles. It's a great activity that can allow you to work hard without pounding your body with every step." Snowshoeing can burn about 540 calories per hour, which is similar to the amount burned when running for an hour (at a 12-minute mile pace). During more-intense outings, the calories burned may be even higher, but there's more to snowshoeing than the toning and calorie-burning benefits. "You go places you wouldn't normally go in the winter," Elmore says, "and you can enjoy the solitude of a chilly morning or the company of the whole family with this winter activity."

Be Sure-footed
First, you'll need to find the right pair of snowshoes for your interest and snow conditions. Elmore suggests visiting a sporting goods specialty store instead of a chain store. You'll be able to tap into the knowledge of sales people, who can recommend the best shoes for your particular conditions. Many stores offer demo days in conjunction with Winter Trail Days (which take place in January and February), which can give you the opportunity to try different brands and models. When you're ready to buy, Elmore suggests following this checklist.

Size. The standard shoe is 9 inches wide and 30 inches long, but the size you'll need varies with the load you'll carry, the intended use, and type of snow. For dry, deep snow you may want a bigger shoe that's 10 inches by 36 inches, and for maneuvering established trails, a smaller shoe at 8 inches by 25 inches would be better.

Load. A larger person will need more "floatation," which is accomplished with more surface area from a bigger snowshoe sole. When factoring how much weight you'll be carrying, consider whether you'll be hauling a backpack for overnight trips or just making jaunts around your neighborhood.

Stomping ground. Another factor in selecting the shoe size depends on where you'll be stepping out. For example, the snow in the Rocky Mountains is powdery, like confectioners' sugar. In the Northeast, the snow tends to be moist and packed. The more packed, the smaller the shoe you'll need, says Elmore.

Bindings. When trying on shoes, look for bindings that feel secure, don't slip, and are comfortable. The binding should also pass the glove test: You should be able to remove and adjust a binding while wearing your gloves.

Cost. If you'll be hoofing around fields once or twice a month, look for models in the $100 to $150 range. For more ambitious snowshoers, Elmore says that models costing $150 to $225 may endure the wear and tear better. 

Ready, Set, Snow
Once you have snowshoes, you'll need to do a little preparation. You should dress warmly in layers, and always carry water. Once outside, warm up for 10 to 15 minutes in packed snow or snow less than a foot high. The deeper the snow, the greater the effort, so warm up but don't tire yourself out in the first few minutes, Elmore says. He suggests keeping your initial outings to about 30 minutes to get a feel for the intensity of the effort and so you don't return home exhausted.