Snowshoeing Tips
Choosing The Right Snowshoe Is Easy
Start by comparing your weight, including pack, with the recommended guidelines.
What size is your foot? If it’s larger than a men’s size 10, choose the larger version of the binding which comes standard on the Gold Model 10 and 17.
Gold or Silver? The difference is in the components used. Gold means stainless steel crampons and cam and ratcheting buckles, Silver means aluminum crampons and tension lock and cam buckles.
Snowshoeing Is For Every One
It’s a great experience you can do at your own pace with virtually no learning curve. It’s invigorating, relaxing and best of all, outdoors.
How To Snowshoe
Snowshoeing is as easy as walking. It will take a few minutes to get used to the feel of snowshoes on your feet, but within a couple of steps, you’ll be an expert. Crescent Moon’s unique 3 claw traction system makes walking, climbing, and traversing easy, natural, and secure. There are a few techniques that will help you enjoy your experience even more. When climbing, engage the toe claw into the hill. When going downhill, engage the heel claws. When traversing a hill, kick into the hill to make a flat spot to shift your weight to. Walk naturally; the teardrop shape will help you. And stop looking at your feet – you know how to walk. Look up and around, that’s why you’re out there.
Be prepared. Wear comfortable, layered clothing, including a bottom layer with wicking properties and a windproof, waterproof top layer. Wear socks made of wool or other moisture wicking material and comfortable, waterproof hiking boots or sport shoes and neoprene booties. And don’t forget your hat, gloves and hiking poles.
Bring lots of water and snacks. Snowshoeing can take you away, sometimes all day. Be sure you don’t run out of steam.
Be safe. If you are going into the back country, be careful. Check local weather conditions before you go and be aware that conditions can change very quickly. Tell someone where you are going and when you will return. Bring basic equipment, including a map, compass and first aid kit. If you are in the mountains, familiarize yourself with avalanche danger areas and safety precautions, www.fsavalanche.org USDA Forest Service – information on avalanche safety, education, and current snow pack is a great place to start. If you’’re spending time in the backcountry, an avalanche safety course is a good idea.
Be responsible. Your adventure should leave an impression on you, not the landscape. Crescent Moon believes in protecting and preserving our environment for all to enjoy—now and in the future. We are partners with Leave No Trace, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating outdoor enthusiasts about protecting natural areas. Please visit their Web site at int.org
We’re also members of the Protect our Winters (POW) movement. Be a part of this, and other environmental conservation and protection groups for the next and future generations of outdoor enthusiasts. Join us.
Begin! For ideas about where to go snowshoeing, you can call us directly at 303-859-5216, or log on to:
- Trails.com - A comprehensive listing of hiking trails throughout the US.
- Recreation.gov - Information including hiking trails and recreation opportunities in the US wilderness, park, and BLM lands.
- Nps.gov - A list of all National parks with links to individual parks State parks, the USDA Forest Service, recreational areas, wildlife preservation centers, nature centers and local tourism information centers will also have this information. Most of the trails you can hike on in the summer, you can snowshoe on in the winter. Be aware, though, that it may be very difficult to follow a trail when it’s covered with snow. A map and a compass will keep you on track.
How To Put On Snowshoes
All Crescent Moon Snowshoes are LEFT and RIGHT specific. So get off on the right foot by putting it in the right shoe.
Eva Foam
The heel strap and across-the-foot straps always close to the outside. in other words, when you’re adjusting your snowshoes the right shoe will close to the right, and the left to the left. And the Eva Foam binding is made of hook and loop material – pretty straight forward. We suggest you use a “loose” setting and walk around before you decide on a final, or further adjustment. We have found the most comfortable setting is one that’s “not particularly tight”.
Follow these guidelines for the best fitting if you have snowshoes from the Silver Series
- Center your foot in the binding before you make any adjustments
- Wrap the heel strap around the back of your foot, through the spring cam buckle and pull on the end of the strap to tighten. Tuck excess strap into the “strap keeper”.
- Pull upward on the loop strap to tighten the harness over your foot until comfortable but snug.
To take off your snowshoes, lift the ends of the over foot buckles and the release lever of the heel strap buckle to loosen straps. Step out of binding.
Shop Men’s and Women’s Snowshoes
Follow these guidelines if you have snowshoes from the Gold Series
Just in case you missed it, Crescent Moon Snowshoes are left and right specific – the adjusting buckles, including the ratcheting heel buckle will always be on the outside of your foot for easy access.
- Center your foot in the binding before you make any adjustments
- First adjust the length of the heel strap with the cinch buckle located at the instep side of each foot. (you will only need to do this step once). Tuck excess strap into strap keeper.
- Wrap the heel strap around your heel and put the ratchet buckle on the plastic ladder strap. “Ratchet” toward the front of your foot with a forward-backward motion of the lever until snug.
- Pull upward on the large loop strap over your foot until comfortable.
To take off your snowshoes, pinch the release lever of the ratchet buckle mechanism and slide toward the back of your foot until completely disengaged. Pull upward on the mini-cord loop over your foot to loosen straps and step out.