In order to move swiftly and effortlessly over snow covered ground without falling waist deep into the snow, specialized shoes were required. The resolution was to think up special wide soled shows that were given the suitable name, snowshoes.

The examples for the first snowshoes came from local animals whose feet were adapted to the setting for over-land travel. A snowshoe rabbit’s hind feet were the muse for a couple of diverse styles of snowshoe.

For those who like categorizing objects the snowshoe can be broken down into 5 basic categories: Yukon, beavertail, Ojibwa, bearpaw and Western. This doesn’t take into account the range of unique sizes or overlaps in regional names which can blur the lines concerning the various types.

Snowshoes can be made either as wood-framed or the more recent metal-frame. Early models were webbed with animal hide and were made to look like animal tracks such as those made by the lynx or bobcat. Some were also made to be like bear tracks, even though bears left much deeper tracks than those made with snowshoes.

For over-land travel through soft, deep snow, there was not anything that could beat a well made pair of snowshoes.