If you’ve been eyeing up any snow covered hiking trails this season, you’re probably considering getting some extra traction underfoot to keep you from slipping and falling. But can you get away with the wide snowshoes favored by winter walkers or do you need to strap on some rugged-looking crampons used by mountaineers? We go the distance on the question of snowshoes vs crampons to help you figure out what kind of traction you need this winter.
What is the difference between crampons and snowshoes?
Crampons and snowshoes are both types of footwear that you put on over your hiking boots to help you walk in wintery conditions, however, they are actually quite distinct in terms of both function and appearance.
Snowshoes have a wide surface area that is quite a bit larger than your bootprint composed of a frame, usually made of aluminium, and webbing made using plastic or a fabric like canvas. The wide design spreads out your weight over a larger area, providing flotation in deep snow. The flotation allows you to walk at a somewhat normal pace, instead of sinking in with each step which slows you down and saps your energy.
In comparison, crampons have a metal frame that is roughly the same size as your bootprint with large, sharp metal spikes which bite into ice to give you traction. Depending on the type of crampon, they might have as many as 12 spikes that are usually between half an inch and two inches long. They’re great for hiking icy and steep terrain.
Are crampons good for snow?
Crampons really work best on icy terrain and hard packed snow. They were originally designed for ice climbing and are now commonly used by mountaineers to stay surefooted on steep icy slopes and for frozen activities such as glacier hiking. There are hiking crampons these days that have shorter spikes. They won’t, however, keep you afloat in deep snow, so if you’re looking for something to hike on low angle, snow-covered trails in places like Colorado and Vermont, you’ll definitely want a pair of snowshoes.
Can you use snowshoes on ice?
Since snowshoes provide flotation, rather than traction, they won’t do a lot to help you walk on a smoother, icy surface, and in fact may be even more burdensome than just doing it in your winter hiking boots. Many snowshoes these days do come with a crampon so you can use them for traction in mixed conditions where there is both snow and ice. However if you’re walking on hard packed snow or ice for a long distance, and on steep slopes, they’ll only slow you down and you’ll do better with the traction of crampons or even Yaktrax or Microspikes.
Remember that snowshoes come in a variety of styles and sizes these days for different types of walking and even running, so be sure to read our article on how to choose snowshoes before you buy.
Snowshoes vs crampons: what kind of winter footwear do you need?
As you can see, snowshoes are a flotation device whereas crampons are for traction, and which you need depends on the conditions where you’re going to be exploring. If you’re going to be walking in deep, powdery snow, you’ll want snowshoes to keep you on the surface or you’ll just tire out before you get anywhere. If you’re likely to encounter hard packed snow and ice, wear a good pair of winter hiking boots and put on your crampons when you encounter those conditions, particularly on steep terrain.
The good news is that in most places, you’re unlikely to encounter both of these conditions on the same adventure, so it will usually be obvious which one you need.
