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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 | Snowshoeing for Women
Spas in XC Ski Country | Skin
Care in the Cold
