Best Snowshoes for 2026: Top 5 to Buy

If you love getting outdoors in the wintertime, snowshoes let you walk, hike, or even run on snowy trails that would otherwise be tough to trek. Just like snowflakes, there are no two snowshoes that are exactly alike, which is why this best snowshoes buying guide will allow you to find your perfect fit based on your needs for this popular winter sport. Yukon Charlie’s is one of the premier snowshoe manufacturers in the country, featured in Snowshoe Magazine for their exceptional products, so we’ll highlight some of their snowshoes for this guide:

Best Overall: Yukon Charlie’s Minimalist Lift Snowshoe Kit

Best Snowshoes - Minimalist Lift Snowshoe Kit — **Minimalist Lift Snowshoe Kit**

Featuring an integrated heel lift bar, which makes extended uphill hiking easier, the Minimalist Lift is designed for all-day mountain hiking and trekking. On steep uphills, the heel lifts raise the back of your foot, which reduces calf fatigue, allows for a more natural step, and makes climbing more comfortable and efficient. The V-shaped tail tracks straight in deep snow and pulls less snow, saving your energy so you can stay out exploring longer. With the Minimalist Lift Snowshoe, you get the benefits of all of Yukon Charlie’s best features:

Ultra-strong 6000 Aluminum Rocker Frame provides strength and durability to the snowshoe
Patent Pending 1-Pull Minimalist binding system tightens snugly around your boot with a single pull of the heel strap for a secure, custom fit
HDPE (High-Density PolyEthylene) construction adds stiffness for maximum power when you’re breaking through deep snow
Sizes 8”x21” to 9”x30” available
User + Gear Weight Range: Up to 250 lbs, depending on which size you choose

Best Entry Level: Yukon Charlie’s Sherpa Adult Trail Snowshoes

Best Snowshoes - Sherpa Adult Trail Snowshoes — **Sherpa Adult Trail Snowshoes**

This user-friendly snowshoe is great for beginners and casual winter hikers alike. Getting in and out is a snap with the easy-to-use Quik Clik binding and Rapid-Lite Flex heel strap. The coated, forged steel crampons ensure secure footing on snow or tough terrain. Plus, the HDPE (High-Density PolyEthylene) construction adds stiffness for maximum power when you’re breaking through deep snow. Available in several sizes and can be purchased as just the snowshoe or as part of the classic Sherpa Kit, which includes the snowshoes, trekking poles, and a travel bag.

Quick Click II™ Ratchet Binding with Rapid Lite Flex™ Heel Strap
Lightweight & Slip-Proof Aluminum Heel Plate
Ultra-strong 6000 aluminum frame
All Terrain Forged Steel Crampons
Sizes 8”x21” to 10”x36” available
User + Gear Weight Range: Up to 300 lbs, depending on which size you choose
- Yukon Charlie’s Sherpa Adult Trail Snowshoes, 8″ x 21″
- Yukon Charlie’s Sherpa Adult Trail Snowshoes, 8″ x 25″
- Yukon Charlie’s Sherpa Adult Trail Snowshoes, 9″ x 30″
- Yukon Charlie’s Sherpa Adult Trail Snowshoes, 10″ x 36″
- Yukon Charlie’s Adult Trail Snowshoe and Trekking Pole Kit, 8″ x 21″
- Yukon Charlie’s Adult Trail Snowshoe and Trekking Pole Kit, 8″ x 25″
- Yukon Charlie’s Adult Trail Snowshoe and Trekking Pole Kit, 9″ x 30″
- Yukon Charlie’s Sherpa Adult Trail Snowshoe and Trekking Pole Kit, 10″ x 36″ – 80-5018K

Best Mid to Upper Level: Yukon Charlie’s Minimalist Adult Snowshoe and Trekking Pole Kit

Best Snowshoes - Minimalist Adult Snowshoe and Trekking Pole Kit — **Minimalist Adult Snowshoe and Trekking Pole Kit**

For winter adventurers looking for a step up in their snowshoe purchase, the Minimalist snowshoe is the perfect option. A solid shareable option that can fit the needs of several in your friend group, this snowshoe eeks out the previous entry-level option by featuring a Patent Pending 1-Pull binding system that tightens the binding around your boot with a simple pull of the heel strap and secures it for hours of hiking, no straps or ratchets necessary. Available in several sizes as part of a convenient kit, which includes the snowshoes, trekking poles, and a storage case—all in one easy-to-store package.

Ultra-strong 6000 Aluminum Rocker Frame provides strength and durability to the snowshoe
Patent Pending 1-Pull Minimalist binding system tightens snugly around your boot with a single pull of the heel strap for a secure, custom fit
Rapid Lite Flex™ Heel Strap
Snow Motion™ axle system gives the frame an additional 30% “torsional rigidity” for ultimate traction on double fall lines
Sizes 8”x21” to 10”x36” available
User + Gear Weight Range: Up to 300 lbs, depending on which size you choose

Best for the Runner: Yukon Charlie’s Run Adult Ultra-Lite Running Snowshoes

Best Snowshoes - Run Adult Ultra-Lite Running Snowshoes — **Run Adult Ultra Lite Running Snowshoes**

The Yukon RUN snowshoes are perfect for runners and racers. They have an incredibly strong, super-light aluminum frame and a shorter design for speed. You’ll love the smooth, enhanced performance provided by the Energy Flex™ axle system. Plus, the convenient one-pull bindings make getting a secure and firm hold easy for your entire run.

One Size (8″ x 22″)
Racing snowshoes feature a Rocker Frame V-Tail
Fast Fit II™ “Easy Pull” Binding
SPRINT™ forged front crampon
Ultra-strong and lightweight 7075-T6 aluminum frame
User + Gear Weight Range: Up to 225 lbs
- Yukon Charlie’s Run Adult Ultra-Lite Running Snowshoes

Best for the Kids: Yukon Charlie’s Sno-Bash Premium Youth Aluminum Snowshoes

Best Snowshoes - Sno-Bash Premium Youth Aluminum Snowshoes — **Sno Bash Premium Youth Aluminum Snowshoes**

The Youth Sno-Bash Snowshoes offer a comfortable and natural walking experience for your child, thanks to their durable, ultra-strong aluminum rocker frame and flexible axles. They’re designed to keep boots secure on snow, letting your family enjoy winter fun for hours. You can buy the snowshoes alone or as part of the Youth Snow-Bash Snowshoe Kit, which includes snowshoes, poles, and a travel bag.