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Best Snowshoes for Mountaineering of 2023

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if purchases are made through those links. This adds no cost to our readers and helps us keep our site up and running. Our reputation is our most important asset, which is why we only provide completely honest and unbiased recommendations.
Best Snowshoes

Snowshoeing is one of our all-time favorite winter activities. The trails are less crowded, the air is crisp, and there’s a certain silence you don’t experience during other seasons.

We’ve donned dozens of snowshoes and hit the winter trails, from ice-laden slopes to fresh powder-packed hills, to bring you this list of the best snowshoes on the market.

Last updated: September 29, 2023

The bindings of the MSR Revo Explore are easy to adjust - even with gloves on.

The bindings of the MSR Revo Explore are easy to adjust – even with gloves on

Quick Picks

Check out this quick list of our favorite snowshoes, or continue scrolling to see our full list with in-depth reviews.

Taking some MSR Snowshoes on a test hike to compare. From left to right: MSR Lightning Ascent, MSR Revo Explore, MSR Evo Trail

MSR MAKES SOME OF THE BEST & MOST APPROACHABLE SNOWSHOES. From left to right: MSR Lightning Ascent, MSR Revo Explore, MSR Evo Trail

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.

A hiker putting on down booties in the doorway of a tent with TSL Symbioz Hyperflex elite Snowshoes next to them

TSL’s Symbioz Hyperflex Elite are pricey, but they’re comfy, easy to adjust & allow for a natural gait

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.

The single-pull lace bindings on the Atlas Montane Snowshoes are comfortable and easy to use.

The single-pull lace bindings on the Atlas Montane Snowshoes are comfortable & easy to use

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.

The traction on the MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes works well in most types of terrain.

The traction on the MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes works well in most types of terrain


Best Snowshoes for Mountaineering of 2023


MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes

BEST SNOWSHOES OVERALL FOR FLOTATION, TRACTION & COMFORT

MSRP: $390

WEIGHT (PAIR – 25 in.): 4 lbs. 5 oz.

LENGTH: 22”, 25”, or 30”; optional 5” tails

BEST USE: All-around, excels on mountain terrain

PROS: Good traction, option to lengthen with tails, good flotation, lightweight, comfy & secure bindings, heel lifts

CONS: Expensive

BOTTOM LINE: 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

MSRP: $280

WEIGHT (PAIR – 25 in.): 4 lbs. 5.9 oz.

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

BOTTOM LINE: With aggressive front crampons, deep-toothed traction rails, and heel lifts, the Tubbs Flex VRT (view women’s here) 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

MSRP: $170

WEIGHT (PAIR): 3 lbs. 10 oz.

LENGTH: 22”; optional 6” tails

BEST USE: Rolling terrain

PROS: Affordable, option to lengthen with tails, can accommodate large shoes sizes (up to men’s 15), lightweight

CONS: Bindings aren’t as comfortable or secure as some

BOTTOM LINE: 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 Snowshoes

VALUE-PRICED SNOWSHOE FOR ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS & MOST TYPES OF TERRAIN 

MSRP: $250

WEIGHT (PAIR – 30 in.): 4 lbs. 4 oz.

LENGTH: 25”, 30”, or 35”

BEST USE: All-around

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

BOTTOM LINE: With their teardrop shape and classic bindings, the Atlas Montanes (view women’s here) 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 Snowshoes

BEST SNOWSHOES FOR DEEP POWDER

MSRP: $240

WEIGHT (PAIR): 4 lbs. 15.2 oz.

LENGTH: 32”

BEST USE: Deep snow

PROS: Excellent flotation, easy-stride shape, can accommodate large shoes sizes (up to men’s 15)

CONS: Heel lift design isn’t as convenient as others, a bit heavy

BOTTOM LINE: 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 Snowshoes

FLEXIBLE SNOWSHOES THAT ALLOW FOR A NATURAL STRIDE

MSRP: $290

WEIGHT (PAIR – 23.5 in.): 4 lbs. 4.8 oz.

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 shoes sizes (up to men’s 15), comes with carry bag

CONS: Flotation isn’t as good as some, expensive

BOTTOM LINE: 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 Snowshoes

VERSATILE SNOWSHOES AT A VALUE PRICE

MSRP: $270

WEIGHT (PAIR – 22 in.): 4 lbs.

LENGTH: 22” or 25”; optional 5” tails

BEST USE: Rolling terrain

PROS: Option to lengthen with tails, shape helps maintain a natural gait, heel lifts

CONS: Bindings aren’t as comfortable as some

BOTTOM LINE: 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 with Trekking Poles and Tote

MOST AFFORDABLE SNOWSHOES

MSRP: $54-70 (depends on size)

WEIGHT (PAIR – 25 in.): 3 lbs. 11.2 oz.

LENGTH: 21”, 25”, 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

BOTTOM LINE: 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.

The shape of the Atlas Montane Snowshoes makes them lightweight and easy to walk in.

The shape of the Atlas Montane Snowshoes makes them lightweight & 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.

A hiker wearing Salomon X Ultra Mid Winter Boots with MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes going uphill

Check out our lists of the Best Winter Boots (Men’s / Women’s) for snowshoe-compatible boot recommendations

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.

A pair of TSL Symbioz Hyperflex Elite Snowhsoes sticking up out of the snow in front of a mountain view

The shape of the TSL Symbioz Hyperflex Elite make them easy to walk in

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.

Comparing crampons on some of the best snowshoes. From left to right: Tubbs Flex VRT, FLASHTEK Snowshoes , MSR Evo Trail & Atlas Montane

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.

We almost always use trekking poles for snowshoe treks. Pictured above: Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork Trekking Poles.

We almost always use trekking poles for snowshoe treks for added stability & increased momentum

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.

Using the REI Co-op Backpacker Gaiters to keep snow and ice out of our shoes.

Using gaiters, like the REI Backpacker Gaiters, keeps snow & ice out of your shoes

Need More Gear Advice?

If you liked this list, you’ll love the CleverHiker Gear Guide where we test and recommend tons of outdoor adventure gear from a variety of categories. here are some links to popular articles:

We own and use all of the snowshoes we recommend.

We own & use all of the snowshoes we recommend

Why Trust Us?

We fully understand how tough it is to find trustworthy gear advice, and that’s one of the main reasons we built CleverHiker. We live for outdoor adventure, and we take these guides very seriously. Here are some of the reasons you can trust us:

  • Our choices are completely independent and based on personal experience.
  • We’ve logged over 10,000 trail miles and test outdoor gear for a living.
  • We own and field test every product we recommend, which is sadly not the norm.
  • We travel to industry trade shows to learn about upcoming product innovations.
  • We constantly update our guides when new products launch.
  • We treat our recommendations as if they were for our family and friends.
  • We’re lifelong learners and we’re always open to constructive criticism. If you think we’ve missed a product or got something wrong, we’d love to hear your feedback.
Heel lifts, like those on the MSR Revo Explore above, make traversing uphill much easier.

Heel lifts, like those on the MSR Revo Explore above, make traversing uphill much easier

More Information

We hope this guide helps you find the perfect gear for your needs. If you have more questions or a suggestion, we’d love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on our latest posts then visit our Facebook page and Instagram to join the community conversation.

If you found this guide helpful, please give it a share on social media! Also, be sure to check out our CleverHiker Gear Guide to see all of our top gear picks.

Thanks for reading and happy trails!

Taking the felxible and secure TSL Symbioz Hyperflex Elite out for a hike.

Taking the felxible and secure TSL Symbioz Hyperflex Elite out for a hike



Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may receive a modest commission if purchases are made through those links. This adds no cost to our readers and helps us keep our site up and running. Our reputation is our most important asset, which is why we only provide completely honest and unbiased recommendations.