Snowshoeing: the winter activity almost anyone can enjoy!

The first time you lace up your boots and strap on a pair of snowshoes, it's natural to wonder whether it's going to be exhausting, overly technical, or only suitable for the super-fit.

It really isn't any of those things. Snowshoeing is simply winter hillwalking. The snowshoe is an accessory (and sometimes an indispensable one at that), essentially an extension of your walking boot that allows you to keep enjoying summer trails even when they're hidden beneath half a metre of snow.

A few minutes is genuinely all it takes to feel at home.

We are the Nature and Mountain guides at Altimood, and every winter we take out dozens of people lacing up snowshoes for the very first time. This article brings together all the advice we wish we'd been given before our own first outings (none of us were born to it, after all!).

From choosing the right gear to managing a descent, plus what to wear and the loveliest places to start out, here is everything you need to know before heading off into the snowy hills.

What is snowshoeing?

A snowshoe is a piece of equipment that attaches under a walking boot to distribute your body weight and float on top of the snow (or at the very least stop you sinking knee-deep with every step).

The idea is ancient. In North America and the Alps alike, traces of wooden and leather snowshoes dating back several millennia have been found, used for hunting and getting about in winter.

Today's version keeps exactly the same principle but swaps wood for aluminium, technical plastics, or carbon fibre. Modern bindings fasten in seconds, and integrated crampons bite into hard-packed snow without any extra effort on your part.

In practice, snowshoes open up forests, alpine meadows, and mountain terrain where paths vanish under 50 cm of fresh snow. It's an activity that suits everyone from four or five years old upwards, and works beautifully for families on a day out or those keen on a multi-day traverse.

How do you walk in snowshoes?

Here's the good news: walking in snowshoes feels almost exactly like ordinary walking. The technique is quick to pick up, though a handful of small adjustments make a real difference to your comfort. The one golden rule? Never step backwards in snowshoes (a tumble is almost guaranteed if you do!).

Walking on flat ground

On flat or gently sloping ground, your stride stays perfectly natural. The only real change is to keep your feet a little wider apart so the frames don't overlap one another. There's no need to lift your knees high: a smooth gliding motion is plenty on firm snow.

Walking poles are a great help right from the start. They steady your balance, keep you moving rhythmically, and make it much easier to get back on your feet if you tip over into the powder.

Going uphill: using the heel lift

Most modern snowshoes come with a heel lift, a small metal bar that slots under the heel. You flip it up with the tip of your pole basket. It raises your heel, eases the strain on your calves on steeper ground, and makes the climb noticeably more comfortable.

On steep sections or hard snow, you can also use the kick step technique: strike the front of the snowshoe into the slope to anchor the front crampons. When the gradient gets too steep, switch to zigzagging up the hillside rather than going straight.

Going downhill: heel first

On the way down, most people's instinct is to lean back. This can help you stabilise in powder in the short term, but it puts strain on the knees. Staying upright, or leaning very slightly forward into the slope, keeps your knees working in their natural alignment. On hard snow, trust the crampons under the frame to hold your footing.

Traversing a slope

When crossing a hillside horizontally, your ankles take on a good deal of stress. Use the uphill edge of your snowshoe to tamp out a small flat platform in the snow. Use your poles for support and avoid crossing your feet. On hard snow, rely on the crampons and accept the natural discomfort of the ankle angle.

A word of honesty: snowshoes are wonderful on rolling terrain, but they do have limits. On very steep or heavily angled slopes, the flat frame doesn't grip the way ski edges do, and the leverage it creates puts considerable strain on the ankle. Progress can become tiring, unstable, and genuinely unsafe.

If the route steepens markedly or becomes very exposed, it is far better to stop, turn around, or swap to crampons for greater security.

From theory to getting out there: go for it!

You could read every article online and watch tutorial after tutorial, but honestly nothing replaces actually getting onto the snow.

Snowshoeing is wonderfully intuitive: the body learns by doing. Clipping in, testing your grip on a gentle slope, feeling the frame underfoot, finding your breath on the way up, this hands-on discovery will teach you more than any guide ever could. Don't wait until you feel fully prepared. Head out on marked trails or go with a guide, at a pace that suits you, and let your instincts do the work.

Which snowshoes should you choose?

This is often the question that holds people back before a first outing. There are plenty of options and the prices vary quite a bit. Here are the criteria that genuinely matter.

Size based on weight

Snowshoe size is based on your total weight including your rucksack. The heavier you are, the greater the surface area you need to stay on top of the snow.

Note: In very cold, dry powder (with no firm base underneath), you'll sink further than usual. If you're between sizes, go with the larger one.

Small frame or large frame?

• Small frame: Ideal for marked paths, packed snow, and moderate gradients. Light and less cumbersome, these are a perfect match for beginners. Good too if you're heading out in a group and want to keep things manageable.

• Large frame: Designed for off-trail walking and deep snow. Heavier, and require a slightly wider stance.

Hire or buy?

If you're heading out once or twice a season, hiring snowshoes is the sensible choice: up-to-date gear, no storage headache, lower cost. If you're going out five or more times a winter, buying becomes worthwhile.

For brands, TSL (made in France), Inook, MSR, Tubbs, and Atlas are all reliable options.

A reminder: for guided outings with Altimood, snowshoes and poles are included. You don't need to hire or buy anything at all.

Women's snowshoes: what's the difference?

Don't get too caught up in Men's or Women's labels. It really comes down to build and body type. Models sold as Women's (narrower and lighter) are well suited to any walker, male or female, who has a slighter build, a narrower foot, or simply wants a more nimble snowshoe on tighter paths. What matters most is that your foot is held firmly in the binding without any sideways movement.

What to wear and bring for snowshoeing?

The most common mistake? Showing up in a ski suit. Snowshoeing is hillwalking, an active pursuit that warms you up quite quickly.

Clothing: the three-layer system

For your upper body, layer as follows:

1. A moisture-wicking base layer (long-sleeve thermal top, merino wool or synthetic). No cotton: it holds sweat and will leave you chilled at every stop.
2. An insulating mid layer (fleece or a lightweight puffer jacket) to keep in the warmth.
3. A protective outer layer (waterproof, windproof jacket, Gore-Tex or similar) kept in your pack and pulled on in wind or on the descent.

For your lower half: winter walking trousers or regular hiking trousers with thermal leggings underneath. Ski trousers work well if they have ventilation zips.

Footwear: comfort above all

1. Technical socks: Merino wool or a synthetic blend (ski socks are perfect).
2. Ankle-high boots: Waterproof walking boots (Gore-Tex) are more than adequate for day walks. Avoid Moon Boots or après-ski-style boots that are too wide and soft: they offer no ankle support and constantly pop out of bindings on slopes.
3. Gaiters: A very handy addition to keep snow from slipping in at the top of your boot. Sometimes built into the trousers themselves.

Essentials to carry on you or in your pack (20 to 30 litres)

• Poles: Adjustable, with wide snow baskets.
• Sunglasses (Cat. 3 or 4) and sun cream: Snow glare can cause photokeratitis (corneal burn) even on overcast days.
• Gloves and a hat: A lighter pair of gloves for the ascent and a warmer pair for the descent works well.
• Water (at least 1.5 L) and snacks: Cold, dry mountain air dehydrates you just as effectively as summer sunshine.

Safety when snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is still a mountain activity. The most common incidents aren't related to slopes but to hypothermia, fog (loss of direction), or avalanches.

Avalanche risk

Questions about safety equipment (beacon, shovel, probe) come up regularly:

• On marked trails or managed Nordic areas: Risk is managed by patrol staff and safety equipment isn't required.
• In the backcountry (off-trail): The beacon-shovel-probe kit is essential. More to the point, you need to know how to use it. Carrying the gear without having trained with it provides nothing more than a false sense of security. And it's worth keeping in mind: this isn't safety equipment, it's rescue equipment.

Before every outing, make it a habit to check the local weather and the avalanche risk bulletin from Météo-France (risk rated 1 to 4 for walkers).

💡 Want to build a better understanding of snow and avalanche risk? We offer a snow and avalanche safety course lasting one day, designed specifically for snowshoers.

Where to go snowshoeing in the Alps?

The Alps receive generous snowfall, and several massifs offer gentler terrain that's ideal for those starting out.

• Champsaur-Valgaudemar: Our favourite patch of mountains! Snowshoeing in the Champsaur takes you through preserved valley floors, enchanting larch forests, and wonderful views over the Écrins from high-altitude hamlets (1,200–1,800 m). There's a lovely "Far North" quality to the atmosphere.
  • Ancelle & Chaillol: Family-friendly resorts above Gap, with marked and well-maintained snowshoe routes.
  • Orcières-Merlette: A higher resort (1,850 m) with very reliable snow and long walks across the Rocherousse plateau.
• Dévoluy: Far less visited than the bigger resorts, the Dévoluy offers a genuinely unspoilt mountain atmosphere. A great choice for a snowshoeing day in the Dévoluy well away from the holiday crowds.
• Villard-de-Lans / Corrençon: Located a little further north in the Vercors, this Nordic area is rightly considered a benchmark destination. Its vast plateau is perfectly suited to snowshoeing in the Vercors without any technical difficulty.

When to go? The season generally runs from mid-December to late March. January and February tend to offer the best snow quality, whilst March brings long sunny days with spring snow (firm in the morning, heavier by afternoon).

Going out with a guide?

For your first outings, going with a mountain guide truly transforms the experience. Not because snowshoeing is in any way extreme, but because a local guide brings things that no blog article can:

• The right route, every time: They choose the day's walk based on actual snow conditions, the weather, and the group's energy.
• Nature immersion: Reading wolf or chamois tracks in the snow, spotting wildlife, and learning the stories of the massif.
• Safety taken care of: The guide manages navigation, avalanche risk, and the pace. All you have to do is soak in the silence and the scenery.

At Altimood, we offer introductory snowshoeing outings as half-day or full-day experiences. Equipment (quality snowshoes, poles, and safety gear when needed) is always included. For those looking for something more adventurous, we also organise multi-day snowshoeing trips with nights in mountain refuges. The only prerequisite for multi-day trips is being in good physical shape.

Frequently asked questions about snowshoeing

Is snowshoeing difficult?

Not at all, it's the most accessible winter activity going. If you can walk, you can snowshoe. It takes only a few minutes to find your balance. The three things to keep in mind compared to a summer walk are managing the cold (layering, avoiding heavy sweating), navigation (paths disappear under snow), and avalanche awareness. On marked snowshoe routes, none of these usually causes any bother.

What age can children start snowshoeing?

From around four or five on flat ground, with small snowshoes sized to fit them. The key is having a motivating goal: reaching a hut, following fox tracks, or having a snack in a sunny spot. From ages eight to ten, children can comfortably manage two to three hours on varied terrain. For very young children carried in a back-carrier, bear in mind they get cold far more quickly than the adult who is moving.

How fast do you walk in snowshoes?

On packed snow, expect 3 to 4 km/h (close to a normal walking pace). In deep powder, progress slows to 1.5 to 2.5 km/h and becomes very demanding when you're breaking a new trail. For elevation, an average walker ascends around 200 m/h and descends 300 m/h. The simple rule: always add 30% to your time estimates compared to a summer outing.

Do you need a beacon (DVA) for snowshoeing?

Not always. On marked trails or managed Nordic areas, avalanche risk is controlled and safety equipment isn't required. However, as soon as you leave secured zones and venture under slopes of 30° or more, the beacon-shovel-probe kit becomes essential, and you really do need to know how to use it. Before any backcountry outing, check the avalanche risk bulletin from Météo-France.

Further reading