Women's Snowshoes

“I'm expecting to buy some new snowshoes to replace desteroyed ones. I had two pairs that my wife or my kids would use. Now, I see all kinds of women's snowshoes advertised.

My questions: Is there any way in which women's snow shoes are any better for women than "men's" snow shoes or snowshoes that are not sex specific?

Is there any benefit of "men's" or non-specific snow shoes for guys vs. the women's snow shoes?

Is it all just style fashion and marketing as my instincts tell me, or am I missing something?”

“No, it is really real-for some snowshoes :-)
In Atlas ones for example, it does make a difference-the shoe is narrower, etc.
Buuuttt....if you buy say a pair of MSR Denalis, no there isn't a difference.
Personally..I'd have her pick them out ;-)”

“I don't know if there's a real difference or not. Three years ago I purchased the Atlas 1030's for myself and the Elektra 1025's for my wife. She seems to like them although has never used another pair of snowshoes. Atlas claims that wome have a different stride and that these snowshoes were designed with that in mind.

I'd go with sarbar and have her pick them out. Although EMS is having a sale right now...at least 20% off on everything.”

“The main reason is probably the weight to snowshoe size ratio...I think that's the only reason that they advertise "womens" snowshoes...I don't even see why narrower ones would be specifically for women although I like the idea of narrower snowshoes....”

“It's supposed to be becaus ew e have a narrower gait or something. I did yse Atlas Elektras for 2 years-and they did cut down on tripping-and I could back up in them...so they did work. I destroyed them though ;-) oopsie!
So now I am getting MSR's to match Ford's new MSR's. Figure I'll have a harder time breaking them. Hopefully!”

“Pretty certain the inseam of the snowshoe on the womens' snowshoes is a little narrower to account for a womens stance vs. the mens. Then you've got the smaller feet(on some women), such as Skeetah Bait, that have shorter strides as well, so the bindings are a little different too. Skeetah Bait got Tubbs that are working great!”

“I guess I should let her choose one. It would be nice just to have a couple pair that anyone could use, but maybe one pair of guy shoes and one that she chooses is the way to go.”

“Women do have a different stride because our pelvis' are different. Our femurs angle down to our knees much differently than a mans. We often end up w/ knee problems much sooner than a man does.

I don't know how benefitial womens' snowshoes are; I've always used my regular old atlas 1225s. I haven't ever had any issues with them so don't feel the need to replace them w/ a womens' model.”

“I have been using Atlas Elektra 1025's for a couple of years - I really like them. They are much easier to get around in than my lost snowshoes, which were much wider.”

“Any suggestions for a good, well-priced pair of womens rec. shoes (120- 130 lbs. cap.)?”