Let he debate begin. I am looking at snowshoes, found a deal on apair of wood ones. What are the advantages or disadvantages of each material of shoes?

CB

Aesthetics.

Although, I have yet to see a good pair of Alaskan Snowshoes made from anything other than wood.

I use a large pair of red feather aluminums. Although I don't use them often.

Trygve

Those Redfeathers are made in LaCrosse by the same co that now owns Bell. The shoes I am looking at are the Ojibway model, from wilcox and somebody sold at Midwestmountaineering. Look like well made shoes. So you dont htink thier is much diff in shoes?

cb

I have two pair of wooden ones. One pair of Ojibwa and the other is shorter and oblong. I'm not sure but it's probably a modified Green Mountain Bearpaw.

It all depends on the type of snowshoeing you do that will determinethe correct snowshoe. Deep powder, open areas, brush, etc.

Generally, I think the larger models are wood and the smaller ones aluminum. The smaller surface area would be for shallow snow depth.

I agree with aesthetics as well.

Chuck

Yes, the major differences are that most wooden shoes use a leather weave, and almost all aluminum shoes use tough plastic or snythetic fabric in solid patches. If they do not have a claw toe, they REALLY like to slide down hills, like skis. Wooden shoes with weaves don't slip as easily.

Plus, branches get stuck in wooden shoes more often.

Plastic? The MSR Denali's are a molded plastic. One nice feature is you can get "tails" to expand the flotation somewhat to help deal with different snow conditions. Good traction as well.

I like the lightweight nature of a good aluminum shoe, but there is something about the flex, aesthetics and feel of a good wood snowshoe. I feel the terrain more in a wood shoe.

BTW trygve-thanks for starting this group and allowing me to join.

Here is a link (copy and paste) on how to select a snowshoe from Faber Snowshoes.

http://www.fabersnowshoes.com/vitrine/fabersite/activeservice?value=generic5&stl=en
Chuck