If snow hasn’t hit your local mountains yet, don’t worry, it’s coming! While you wait, this is a great time to get your winter gear out of storage and assess it (you don’t want to be to be surprised, while standing at the base of the mountain, with a broken binding).
Hopefully you’ve been storing your shoes in a cool, dry, place all summer. Your shoes will last longer if they stay dry, and even better if you have a hook or rack to store them at an elevated level. Not only does that clear up floor space, but it provides safety both for you (no one wants to trip or fall on a crampon) and the shoes themselves.
Once you’ve dug the snowshoes out of storage, assess them. This means looking over them, ensuring there are no cracks in the decking, frame, or crampon. Then, check the bindings. Our bindings are made from different materials depending on what shoe it is, and when you bought it. Fabric, plastic, and wires can all wear over time. Does your shoe have a BOA binding? Use it a few times to make sure everything’s running smoothly. Make sure everything secures as it should and you’ll avoid any day-ending surprises outside of the house.
Does everything look good? Then it’s off you go! But don’t think your work has ended once the hike is over. Make sure you wipe your snowshoes off after use, and store them back in their cool, dry, space (hanging or in a snowshoe tote is even better).
Not sure if your snowshoes are fit to hike in? Your local dealer can help you assess them. Just use our dealer locator at the bottom of our website.
Happy SAFE Hiking Everyone!