Does anyone have plans as how to make snowshoes?

Interesting project. I know that Bear Grylls (Man vs. Wild guy) made some snowshoes with just a knife and some twigs, so it must be doable.

I am interested to see what people have made and how it compares to commercial stuff.

I assume you mean from scratch. If not you can get a kit from Country Ways. Country Ways

gil gilpatrick has a how to book on snowshoes and snowshoe furniture. there is a class here in central wisconsin every year at sandhill skills center that you can spend a weekend building your own.

the MN DNR has some classes for this. I cut and paste this fron their online calander

Snowshoe Lacing Workshop

Date:
01/19/2008 to 01/20/2008

Time:
9 AM to 3 PM

Location:
Fort Snelling State Park

Description:
RESCHEDULED (from November 10,11) - Snowshoe Lacing Workshop January 19 & 20, 9-3 p.m.
Get ready to explore winter by learning to lace your own pair of Ojibwe-style snowshoes. This workshop will consist of two consecutive day sessions. Cost is $125 incl bindings per kit. Reservations by January 11, 2008 (612) 725-2724.


Directions:
Take the Post Road exit off Highway 5 and follow the signs.

More Information:
Call (612) 725-2389 or Visitor Center (612) 725-2724.


Also:

Snowshoe Making Workshop

Date:
01/22/2008

Time:
6:30 PM to 9:30 PM

Location:
Lake Maria State Park

Description:
Make your own snowshoes using a kit! In this two night class you'll learn how to lace a pair of Ojibwa style snowshoes - pointed at both toe and tail. The frame is already formed, you'll learn how to lace them in class. Information will also be provided on varnishing the completed shoes at home.
Class fee includes the snowshoe kit, rubber binding material and pattern, lacing instruction and park fees.
To register contact Monticello Community Education at 763-271-0320. Please indicate snowshoe size when registering. Registration and prepayment deadline is January 14th.
Contact Lake Maria at 763-878-2325 for further information.

Directions:
The park may be reached from the south via Highway 39 and Wright County Road 111, or from the north via Highway 8, 39 and County Road 111.

More Information:
Call (763) 878-2325.

i have seen Bear Grylls and Ray Mears who you can watch on utube making snowshoes DEEP SNOW SURVIVAL is the catogory.Personally i disagree with the way most modern commercial snowshoes are made with circular aluminium poles and the the lashings going over and around them its stupid the lashings are bound to slide down the pole over time and more to the point the lashings will get worn down more quickly.It makes more sense to put the lashings through the aluminium or wood so they dont get worn down,also creates a tighter more secure lashing and reduces drag.I designed my own snowshoes from material i could find rather than spending money on them,i came up with the idea of making them from racing bike wheels which i cut in half using a angle grinder then i tampered them into shape on a log,this is more beneficial than using a anvil or stone as if tampering aluminium onto a hard surface it will break,the log being wood has give to it so doesnt break them.I bolted the two halfs together then cut the cross sections for the inside of the shoes from a aluminium aerial pole,bolted them in also,which is easy as the wheels have holes in them from the spokes,used some brided nylon netting which i found on the beach and paracord which ok i bought but i think i was about 14 at the time when i was in the army cadets before i went into the military so is a good 16 years old lol,lashed the netting to the frames using the spoke holes then went to the local garage and asked for a old tractor inner tube and made the bindings of those and cut some crampons from scap plastic coated steel cladding fixed them to the bindings and i had my snowshoes and they work fantastic the glide i get from them is amazing,if i had put the lashings round the frame it would have just created drag,i guess the old style wooden ones did it as they used raw hide and it was for grip but not needed in a modern version

Try Ray Mears DEEP SNOW SURVIVAL on youtube he shoes how they are made on video

I have Gil Gilpatrick's book.

I tried to make a set, but while bending the ash I broke it. I couldn't find green ash (not kiln dried) so I tried to bend kiln dried, which doesn't work well. If I tried to use kiln dried again, or green for that matter, I'd soak it for several days before steaming.

Overall, unless you have woodworking experience and some equipment, I'd suggest buying a kit. You will need a bandsaw at minimum, probably a thickness planer as well.

I've made about twenty pairs, using Gil Gilpatrick's plans. All of them have been made from kiln dried ash. I soak the strips overnight before I put them in the steamer. So far, I haven't had any split too bad that I had to toss them away, other than the first pair that did not get properly steamed (But I did!). I've made mostly the Michigan style, a few pairs of Ojibwe (my favorite), and helped a kid make a pair of Bear Paws. I've got some pics on another post here. I've got a couple of students of mine and some adults that want to start working on some this fall.

Double post. Sorry.

I have made two pairs using the kits from Country ways. They turned out quite nice. There is a lot of satisfaction in going off trail on shoes you built yourself. I have also made snowshoes from 3/4 inch PVC conduit with reinforced nylon sheeting laced with 550 cord. The bindings were cut from old innertubes. Fun project for kids.

Steam bent a couple of pairs of Bear Paws today with help from a couple of my students. Not my favorite type to make or use but they turned out better than the last ones of this type I tried to make. Steamed up a pair of Ojibwes too but didn't have time to put them on the frames. Maybe this weekend.