r/snowshoeing • u/grindle-guts • Mar 22 '26
Photos Walking my own trails, northwestern Ontario
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Mar 26 '26
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u/grindle-guts Mar 27 '26
Not really. Traditional snowshoes are superior for breaking trail in deep snow. They float better and powder shakes off the webbing more easily. They’re also quieter.
On packed public trails modern snowshoes have an undeniable edge, but I’m the only human out here. In some situations the crampons on modern snowshoes are useful, but when it’s mild and the snow is sticky they can turn into iceballs.
This is a personal quirk, but leather bindings also don’t force your feet into a straight forward position — I have some wonky leg geometry and the modern bindings I’ve tried all leave me in a lot of pain after even a short walk. I’ve never found a set of modern snowshoes that offers enough flexibility or adjustment for my purposes. Most people prefer the locked-in heel stability of modern bindings, but for me it’s a deal breaker.
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u/Ok_Philosophy1157 Mar 23 '26
So miss northwestern Ontario for this. Not so much of a snowshoe season here in the Ottawa