Foam Snowshoes Vs Aluminum Snowshoes. Which Snowshoes Should I Get?
Posted by Crescent Moon on Jan 14th 2022
You may be asking yourself, "What kind of snowshoes should I get and why?"
This is one of the most common questions we get asked! Understandably, since foam snowshoes are relatively new to the market, not everyone has heard of them yet. We aim to change that and encourage more people to get out on the trails and enjoy the winter weather more.
Foam Snowshoes
Foam snowshoes are incredibly easy to use and put on. It doesn’t get much simpler or more intuitive than hook and loop! The Velcro-like material is “military-grade,” specifically designed to resist snow and ice buildup. These foam snowshoes are so lightweight that it feels like you're walking on clouds, and, unlike other snowshoes, they are much quieter. A silent snowshoe helps immensely if you are looking for wildlife.
Foam snowshoes were introduced in 2017 after our co-founder Tamara Laug, a life-long runner, was inspired by the rocker-shaped Hoka running shoes. We wanted to make a snowshoe that was comfortable, lightweight, quiet, and made snowshoeing more like wearing a pair of your favorite running or hiking shoes. Snowshoes that both beginners and enthusiasts alike could appreciate. In short, nothing less than disrupting the entire category of traditional snowshoes.
It doesn’t get much simpler or more intuitive than hook and loop! The Velcro-like material is “military-grade,” specifically designed to resist snow and ice buildup. These foam snowshoes are so lightweight that it feels like you're walking on clouds, and, unlike other snowshoes, they are entirely silent.
Eva Snowshoes are a more traditional snowshoe with the teardrop shape perfect for light packed trails.
Luna Snowshoes have more flex built into the sole along with more rocker on the toe and is narrower making them perfect for the running enthusiast.
Aluminum Snowshoes
Aluminum snowshoes are the more traditional snowshoes that you are accustomed to. Our aluminum snowshoe frame is made from lightweight aircraft-grade aluminum tubing for strength, durability, and reliability. The aluminum snowshoe decking is made from an ultra-durable material called TGS which won’t tear or fail. These snowshoes have the only three-claw crampon traction system on the market and feature the only genuine toe claw found on any snowshoe.
Each set of our aluminum snowshoes comes with a pair of heel lifts. What is a heel lift? It's an optional feature for your snowshoes, which adds 2 inches of platform under your heel and makes climbing more efficient, comfortable (by reducing the strain on your calf muscles), and improves traction.
If you're located in the mountains and you're snowshoeing up long, sustained climbs, a heel lift might be exactly what the doctor ordered. If you're spending most of your time on flatter or rolling terrain, you probably don't need the heel lift.
If you still have questions about what kind of snowshoes are right for you, use our Snowshoe Finder Guide, it will walk you through finding the perfect pair of snowshoes for you!