Styles of Snowshoes Over the Years

Snowshoes have been used for thousands of years to aid in foot travel over snow. Two basic designs have persisted through the years. The beaver tail shaped snowshoe has a long, straight tail that extends behind the heel, looking somewhat like a tennis racket. The bear paw design is ovular in shape. Traditional snowshoes -- of which there are five styles -- are typically made of a wooden frame of white ash or white birch. Traditionally, snowshoes are laced with rawhide, known as "babiche," which must be heavily treated with spar varnish so that it does not become soaked with snow melt. Modern snowshoes are typically made of synthetic materials and aluminum.

  1. Tear Drop

    • This versatile tear drop design is also known as the "Algonquin" design snowshoe. The tear drop features a rounded toe and long tapering beaver tail. The weight of the tail helps to bring the toe up above the snow with each step. The tear drop design is great for trailbreaking in deep snow or for long treks. The long tail may interfere with tight radius turns or navigating through thick brush.

    Bear Paw

    • The bear paw snowshoe design is shorter than the tear drop and does not have a long tapering beaver tail. This design can be difficult in deep snow because the toe may have a tendency to dive under the snow. The bear paw design is best suited for walking through brush or fallen timber.

    Modified Bear Paw

    • The modified bear paw snowshoe design is basically a bear paw that has been stretched. The waist of the snowshoe is thinner, but the overall length is greater. The modified bear paw doesn't provide as much flotation as a wider snow shoe, but offers the advantage of working well in brush.

    Ojibway

    • The Ojibway snowshoe is typically very long -- up to five or six feet. With an pointed toe that is upturned and long beaver tail, the Ojibway is a great trail-breaking snowshoe. The design must be modified -- made shorter -- in order to function well in the brush.

    Montaignais

    • The Montaignais snowshoe is short and round with a stubby beaver tail. Looking somewhat like an enlarged racquet-ball racquet, the Montaignais snow shoe design was traditionally used by the Innu of northern Quebec for deep snow and slushy conditions.

    Modern

    • Modern designs may appear to have little variation --- most are thin, bear paw style snowshoes. Modern snowshoes used for mountaineering in icy conditions will have crampons below the ball of the foot. Crampons are metal spikes that provide extra traction. Other uses, such as walking on soft snow, do not require crampons. Some modern snowshoes are made entirely of plastic, with very few moving parts. Other modern snowshoes are basically traditional designs replicated with synthetic materials.