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Snowshoeing for Women
Snowshoes
Designed Specifically for Women
More
than half of all snowshoers are women, who snowshoe for different reasons:
for backcountry access, to experience nature, to exercise with friends
and family and, above all, to have outdoor fun all winter long. The
various snowshoe companies have been and continues to cater to this
market by delivering a broad selection of women's-specific snowshoe
technologies for hiking, backpacking, or backcountry snowboarding and
recreation/fitness use that go far beyond just a change in cosmetics.
Tubbs pioneered the development of women's-specific snowshoes in several
ways; by offering patented binding technologies that custom fit women's
boot sizes and by ergonomically engineering frames that are tapered
at the tip and tail to accommodate women's shorter strides. The result
is lightweight, comfortable, high-performance snowshoes and many of
the other brands have followed suit.
Atlas Snow-Shoe Company conducted gait
studies and biomechanics research to create snowshoes that enable women
to hike and run with the most natural stride possible, while making
the snowshoes both comfortable and lightweight. The research revealed
that women have a greater Q-angle (at the knee where the thigh bone
angles in from a woman's wider hips) and abducted gait that create specific
issues when snowshoeing. Women also tend to pronate (collapsing arches)
pointing to the need for bindings to support the arch of the foot.
Winter
Fitness - The Benefits of Snowshoeing
Endurance, Strength and More
Snowshoeing may very well be one of winter's greatest pleasures. Lighter,
more durable materials, streamlined shapes and easy-to-use bindings
combine for more efficient snowshoes that appeal to athletes of all
levels. Snowshoeing, whether running, hiking or walking, is an excellent
low-impact winter exercise.
The physical demands of snowshoeing can build
up endurance levels and strengthen quadriceps for runners. Climbing
in snowshoes works the hip flexors and extensors, crucial muscles for
cyclists.
The use of poles gets the upper body moving, lending stability to your
stride in variable terrain, steep ascents or descents, and heavier snow.
It also helps condition your arm, shoulder and back muscles. Snowshoeing
is a great rehabilitative therapy for people suffering from knee or
ankle injuries, since there is little or no impact due to the snow's
cushioning effect.
Other Women's Pages on XCSkiResorts.com:
Women's
XC Products | Women's Events
Skin Care in the Cold
