We live in North Dakota, and that means long, cold winters with lots and lots of snow. Sabrina is a California girl who is used to outdoor adventures year round and Rusty is (almost) always up for something new. So, we decided to start snowshoeing.

Our first big outing

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The Equipment

Him: FLASHTEK Light Weight Snowshoes

Her: ALPS 14/17/21/25/30 Inch Lightweight Snowshoes

Both sets of these beginner snowshoes came with snowshoes, poles and a carrying bag. The snowshoes themselves were very similar to each other and on the lower-end of the price scale. We priced out snowshoes in this category at about $50-$70. With some shopping prowess, you may find them for half off during holiday sales.

Rusty’s Thoughts

The mechanism for putting the shoes on is very simple – just put on your snowboots, place them on the right spot on the snowshoe and fasten the the two front straps and the behind-the-heel strap. Easy enough when sitting in your living room and trying them on, a little harder when you’re out in the snow with cold fingers. I figured out the best method is to leave the front two straps attached and slide my boots into place, then tighten them up. The heel strap has to be unfastened each time.

When I first put them on, I kept falling backward. Sabrina noticed my boot was farther back on the shoes than hers was, and she was standing fine. We adjusted the placement and no more falling. The key is to line the heel of your boots up with the back of the metal brace and not go farther back than that.

Once properly locked into the boots, they were easy to use. They’re lightweight but sturdy and perfect for the trails we want to follow. I recommend them for people starting out.

FLASHTEK Light Weight Snowshoes – Rusty recommends

Sabrina’s Thoughts

Truth be told, pink is my favorite color and the reason I chose this brand for my snowshoes is because I don’t know anything at all about snowshoeing, but they came in my favorite color. Honestly, all the snowshoes I looked at on Amazon seemed nearly identical.

As Rusty pointed out, the shoes are easy to put on…in the living room. In the snow, it’s a little tougher. I’m in my late 40’s and not as flexible as I once was. After a little grunting and perhaps a swearword or two, I did get both shoes on and managed to stay upright.

We later figured out that we can actually help each other with our shoes and it’ll be a lot easier.

Using the shoes was easy-you just walk. I felt balanced and secure the whole time. I like the poles for some additional security and to get my arms a little movement. The shoes are very light, which I wasn’t expecting. they seem perfect for beginners.

ALPS 14/17/21/25/30 Inch Lightweight Snowshoes – Sabrina recommends

Over all…

Snowshoeing is fun! We love to walk and hike together during the warm months and now we have an outdoor activity we can do together during the winter. We’re hoping to use our snowshoes several times a month during the rest of winter (which, here in North Dakota, can last until May).

We’ll come back later in the season and update how the equipment is holding up.