Today snowshoes are mainly used for recreation, mostly by hikers and runners. Snowboarders, cross country and downhill skiers will sometimes use snowshoes to reach hard to access pristine areas in the backcountry. Snowshoeing is safe and easy to learn, unless one tries to snowshoe in steep and icy terrain which is obviously not safe.

All North American Indians had snowshoes of some sort for travel and hunting. They were often designed specifically for the conditions the walker needed to traverse. Iroquois tribes needed shorter designs to hunt and maneuver around in the Adirondack forests while the Cree could use longer designs which let them make longer strides and float more over the snow.

Snowshoes were made with wood and leather bindings up until 1972, when aluminum tubing replaced the wood frame and neoprene and nylon decking replaced the bindings. Eventually, technical advances in plastics and injection molding made for a lighter and more durable snowshoe. They require little maintenance and can incorporate crampons which allow for better grip in the snow.

How does one walk in snowshoes? You lift the shoes slightly and slide the inner edges over each other slightly with each stride. There is no need to use an especially wide (and tiring) step once you become accustomed to walking in snowshoes. The terrain will determine your pace - the more steep the trail, the more intense your snowshoeing becomes. Generally, your stride should feel natural and you will find yourself lifting your knees a bit more and steeping just a bit wider whether you are walking or running.

In general, the snowshoer must step forward with their weight more on the ball of their foot and take into account the size of the snowshoe in length and width. On hills, one may need to use a herring-bone step or stair-step sideways if the hill is steep enough. All of these techniques are easier to accomplish if one has poles to rely on for leverage in the snow.

There are little adjustments to make. If you are starting a new trail, one person must serve to slightly stamp down each new step in the trail with a momentary pause at the end of each step. This is very, very tiring and the duty is often rotated among those snowshoe hiking together. A broken-in trail may deceptively look like one could easily walk it without snowshoes but this often leads to boot holes where the hiker's concentrated weight pushes down knee deep (or more) in the trail - much the same as a snowmachine trail looks like it will bear a hiker's weight but it won't. This damages the snowshoe trail and makes it more difficult for everyone to use it, including snowshoe users. In the same way, ski trails will not support the weight of the snowshoer and the damage to the trail is much the same.

With those few adjustments, snowshoeing gives an excellent opportunity to spend time in nature and provides for great winter exercise. In fact, snowshoeing is easier on the feet than walking or running because the snow acts as a cushion. Snowshoers also do less damage to the trails due to the snow cushion and can easily follow their own trail back out of the woods so few get lost. Sometimes trails can be easier to navigate on the winter because obstacles can be more easily be traversed. Steep hills can be climbed using a diagonal path that might be all but impossible in hiking boots. Be sure you do not use the snowshoes as a bridge step - they are designed to support your weight across their whole surface.

The first few times snowshoeing each season often lead to sore calves and thighs for several days afterward. In the past with heavier snowshoe designs, excessive snowshoeing sometimes led to lameness of the feet and ankles. Today's snowshoes are much lighter and the condition is much rarer. There are snowshoe races and competitions for those who really want to take things to a more robust level.

Note that it is possible to slip in snowshoes if you lean backward, so keep your weight over the center of your snowshoes. When going downhill, take shorter steps and when going uphill, lean forward. You will sink in deeper snow, so you may want a larger snowshoe to help you float higher in the snow. All snowshoes work in any snow but some are better designed for different conditions. Make sure you consult with a knowledgeable snowshoe dealer about what to expect if you are inexperienced.