Kick Winter Up a Notch with Northern Lites Snowshoes

Winter has finally arrived and with it the opportunity to have a little fun under the chilly sun. Why not make this year the year of the snowshoe?

Snowshoeing is a fun winter activity for families and adventurers. "If you can walk, you can snowshoe," the saying goes, making it ideal for everyone from toddlers to active seniors. You don't even need a packed trail to enjoy this sport...just point your snowshoes in the direction you want to go and start walking.

Northern Lites started making snowshoes in 1992 and focuses on making the sport accessible by crafting lightweight, durable snowshoes for both casual strollers and hard-core racers. Here's a bit more about this Colorado-based snowshoe maker.

Be Weightless

Northern Lites uses an ultra-lightweight, aerospace-grade aluminum frame to build their snowshoes, and their snowshoes are 100% made in the USA. That sounds fancy, and it is, but here's what you really need to know: Northern Lites says their snowshoes are up to 75% lighter than their competitions. The biggest complaint about snowshoes, in general, is that they are cumbersome and heavy. Northern Lites wanted to do their part in making the outdoors accessible to everyone; they made it their mission to simplify their snowshoe designs so additional weight could be left off. What they created is an ultralight and simple snowshoe that provides floatation on the snow to take you where you want to go. 

Lighter snowshoes mean that your legs can work more at getting you where you want to go. This great for novices, serious users, and racers alike.

Strap in With Speed Bindings

In 2018, Northern Lites introduced a new "speed binding." The speed binding reduces the overall weight of the snowshoe and conforms to your footwear for comfort and security. Also, the speed bindings are so easy to use that you can put on or take off your snowshoes in less than 30 seconds for the pair, according to Northern Lites.

Who wants to fuss with their snowshoes instead of getting on the trail? Not us.

Easy Sizing

For a snowshoe newbie, finding the right pair can feel a little bit like rocket science. How much float will you need? What the heck is float, anyway? What's the right shape? 

Northern Lites cuts through the jargon with an easy-to-use, interactive snowshoe buying guide to help you pick your model, and each product page marks the sizing by weight. They make snowshoes for kids, too!

Handcrafted in the USA

Each pair of Northern Lites snowshoes is handcrafted in the USA, using materials sourced from American manufacturers. On-site production allows for exceptional quality control, so you don't have to worry about your snowshoes busting a rivet halfway through your next adventure.

But don't take it from us. Pete Ripmaster, the 2018 Iditarod Champion, said, "My Northern Lites snowshoes held up to 800 miles of abuse in the longest and toughest winter race on the planet. I wouldn't trust using any other snowshoe."

Check out Northern Lites' snowshoes, and make this the winter of fun!

All photos courtesy of Northern Lites