How-To Tutorials
How To Choose the Right Style of Snowshoe
High quality, traditional full grain hide snowshoes, made in Canada, built to last. Bearpaw, Ojibwe and Huron Snowshoe styles available.
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Snowshoes & Bindings
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Like the canoe and toboggan, snowshoes were originally developed by the First Nations, and allow for travel in winter terrain where it would be impossible to travel on foot without them. Our preference are for traditional wood and rawhide snowshoes, as they provide superior floatation over more compact modern styles, are much, much quieter than modern ‘shoes, and if properly maintained, will provide a lifetime of service.
The style of snowshoe one chooses is dependent on the type of terrain one will be travelling on, while the size of ‘shoe is dictated by the overall weight and to a lesser degree, height of the user. View our tutorial if you're not yet sure which snowshoe is right for you.
Bearpaw Snowshoes
GV Modified Bearpaw Snowshoes are a variant of the “bear paw” style of snowshoe. Best suited for use in dense brush, it’s short, round profile and lack of a tail makes turning around, or climbing over deadfall and up steep inclines much easier than with other styles. The circular shape of the standard bear paw requires one to change their walking gait (walk with legs more apart) when using, so the narrower, more elongated modified bear paw style was developed to facilitate a normal walking stride. The lack of a tail, while a definite boon in tight spaces in the woods or when ascending steep hills (as the whole ‘shoe can be lifted off the ground easily), will add to the amount of drag the ‘shoe incurs over flat, open spaces. The modified bear paw snowshoe is your best choice if you spend your time walking in steep, densely forested areas, with few open trails, fields or lake travel.
Ojibwe Snowshoes
GV Ojibwe Snowshoes are the antithesis of the modified bear paw. Approaching a ski in terms of size, and function, the Ojibwe’s long tail assists with glide when walking over frozen lakes, muskeg, or in open fields, while the upturned tip ensures that the front of the ‘shoe doesn’t catch in the top snow crust that can form after heavy frosts. Difficult to use on steep inclines, but well suited for carrying heavy loads, the Ojibwe is the best choose for wide open spaces, in sparsely forested areas, for winter lake travel, or for travel on established trails.
Huron Snowshoes
GV Huron Snowshoes can be described as a hybrid of the bear paw and Ojibwe styles. Useful in a both forested and open terrains, the Huron’s tail provides glide when on flat terrain or over long distances while it’s shortened front end allows for maneuvering when in forested areas. Excellent for travel on varied terrain through forest, muskeg, on lakes or on established trail, the Huron style is the most popular model of traditional snowshoe due to it’s versatility and flexibility in many winter terrains.
Our Snowshoes & Bindings
We stock only the best in Snowshoes & Bindings so you can rest assured knowing you're COEC Equipped.
Traditional Modifed Bearpaw SnowshoesThe GV Snowshoes Modified Bear Paw model is a traditional hybrid design featuring a shorter shape for moving in forested areas, but an elongated outline to facilitate easier movement in open fields - well suited for mixed terrain travel.
Traditional Ojibwe SnowshoesThe Ojibwe model has the most unique shape of all traditional snowshoe models - well suited for distance travel in open forest or fields. The lifted nose is perfect for crusty or icy snow, and the long narrow tail is great for providing gliding properties down hills or on hard snow. Quiet and stable, it's a good all around snowshoe for long distance adventure.
Traditional Huron SnowshoesThe Huron is the most well known shape of all traditional snowshoe models - well suited for distance travel in more open forest or fields. Very quiet, easy to maneuver, and features a geometry that provides great flotation in soft snow, and a long tail to assist in a natural walking movement.
Esker Traditional Snowshoe BindingsEsker's Traditional Snowshoe Bindings are made from 9 oz vegetable tanned buffalo hide for the ultimate in durability and weather resilience. Once installed, they don't require the tying of laces, or removal of mitts to get in and out of - making them highly functional for both work or recreational applications. Made in Canada.
Traditional Snowshoe Bindings - NeporeneIverson's neoprene snowshoe bindings are available in two sizes, mount to all sizes of snowshoes, and allow for quick and easy entry and exit of the binding when in use. Made in the USA.
