Snowshoes for Kids

[kircal01]

We received a grant to purchase snowshoes for our K-2 school. We are looking for snowshoes that will last a long time and are durable. We also want to make sure they are kid-friendly. If one adult is getting 25 pairs of snowshoes on, we would want the bindings to be as kid-friendly as possible. Any suggestions?

[REI-JenK]

@kircal01 what a cool grant and thanks for reaching out to us for help! To start, you might find this article about snowshoeing with kids to be helpful!

Next, let's jump in with a few things to consider when buying snowshoes for kids:

• All models will require some sort of buckling/tightening around the kids' boots and determining ease of use can be somewhat personal - some folks prefer a slide-in binding, others prefer individual straps...ultimately, all models will require 2-3 tightening points per snowshoe.
• A kiddo's weight and shoe size will matter in determining which snowshoe will work for them - some kindergarteners may be too light and/or their feet may too small to use the same snowshoe that your second graders can, so it may be a stretch to buy 25 identical pairs and have them work for all 3 grades. If possible, you might want to consider 2 models that would span the age and weight range a bit better.

With that said, here are a few styles to consider:

• MSR Tyker Snowshoe is a durable and easy-to-use option, good for kids up to 90lbs, good for flat terrain. Each snowshoe has 3 quick-adjust straps to fasten over/around the boot, which accommodate different sized feet/boots nicely. These snowshoes are often easy to maintain and typically the straps are available to purchase separately as replacements. The only downside is they may be a little clunky for your smallest kids.
• For smaller kids: Tubbs SnowGlow Snowshoe is designed for kids ~4-8 y/o, up to 50lbs, and good for flat/rolling terrain. Each snowshow will require 2 points of adjustment.
• For bigger kids: Tubbs Storm Snowshoe is designed for ~6-10 y/o, up to 90lbs, and good for flat terrain. These are similar to the smaller Tubbs option above in that each snowshoe will require 2 points of adjustment.

Because there is some complexity with this purchase, you might consider connecting with us in-person at your local REI store or over the phone at 1-800-426-4840. Hope this helps to get you started and good luck!