The history of snowshoeing.

Some 4 to 6 thousand years ago, our clever ancestors in Central Asia didn't want to end up with frozen feet and soaked socks (if they had any 😅 ). So, without missing a beat, they cobbled together giant foot sieves. With leather or wooden surfaces, this was the beginning of snowshoeing.

Meanwhile, some snowshoers (not the naughty ones at recess, eh! 😜 ) head north, gradually trading in their snowshoes for the ancestor of Nordic skiing. Others, adventurers at heart, cross the Bering Strait to land in North America.

Imagine the scene: wide, white spaces, the silence of the snow, and you, walking as if on a cloud with these ancestors of modern snowshoes. Sure, back then it wasn't a leisure activity, it was more about survival and practical travel. 🥾

This is the first chapter of a long story, in which snowshoes are a companion for every winter, every hike and every discovery. ❄️

Our snowshoes are now in North America, and each tribe has its own personal touch.

The Inuit go for functionality with triangular or almost circular models, perfect for deep powder. The Cree opt for snowshoes as long as a day without bread (1.5 meters, no less!), ideal for hunting in the snow. And then there are the Iroquois, who prefer maneuverability with shorter, narrower models, perfect for zigzagging between trees in the snowy forest. 🌲

These snowshoes were essential for winter hunting. The hunters, wearing shoes on their snowshoes (repeat this sentence starter quickly to see... 🤣), were faster than the bison mired in the snow. A significant advantage when it came to filling the pot!

This is how snowshoes became a symbol of survival and ingenuity, a trait common to all these tribes braving the harsh winters. A beautiful lesson in life and technique, where each snowshoe tells a story, each step in the snow an adventure. 😎

When Europeans landed in North America, they quickly discovered that to avoid sinking into the snow, it was best to follow the local code. In the 16th century, our French friends became experts in snowshoeing, stealing the idea from the people of the St. Lawrence River (real snowshoers, in fact 🤣 ).

By the way, these teardrop-shaped snowshoes are a bit of a must-have for Canadian lumberjacks and trackers. Long, narrow and with a tail at the back, they're perfect for running in the snow or hunting steep terrain. 🗡️

For hiking enthusiasts, there's nothing quite like bear paw snowshoes, shorter and more maneuverable, perfect for slipping between fir trees. With their durable wooden frame and leather weave, they're the ideal combination of tradition and functionality. 🪓

These snowshoes became a strategic issue during the Seven Years' War. The Canadians, wearing their snowshoes, outwitted the British in the snow. Eventually, even the British learn to maneuver on these large wooden feet. 👑

If snowshoes were once a must-have for hunters and hikers, today it's a different story. We've left behind the era of traditional snowshoes to enter the era of leisure and style. 🏞️

It all began in Quebec, with snowshoe clubs that combined hiking, gastronomy and refinement. By the 19th century, tourism was already embracing the practice. 🍁

The real revolution arrived in the late 1950s. Goodbye traditional snowshoes, hello modernity with Tubbs' Green Mountain Bearpaw. A snowshoe that focused on compactness, lightness and maneuverability. Then, in the 70s, came the big bang with the Prater brothers' "Western" snowshoes. Aluminum tubes, neoprene and nylon bindings, and even crampons to tame steep slopes. ⚙️

The trend doesn't stop there. Snowshoes are going plastic, with stronger bindings and climbing wedges to tackle the toughest terrain. And style-wise, we're seeing everything: round, square shapes, and bright colors to stand out on white snow. 🎨

France, by nature sporty and competitive, is not to be outdone. With therise of snowshoeing in the Alps, the market exploded in the 1990s. Models like the TSL 225 became mountain stars, with their wasp-waist shape and metal crampons. And ski resorts, always on the lookout, created dedicated snowshoe trails to appeal to winter hikers. 🏔️

Today, snowshoes are no longer just tools for keeping out of the snow, they're true stars of winter leisure. 🌟

In ski resorts, they're the new queens. We rent them, we try them out, we stroll with them on snowy trails. And what a variety! From feather-light running snowshoes to rugged mountaineering snowshoes for steep trails. There's something for every taste and every foot. 🏃‍♀️🏔️

If you're a little husky, don't panic: there are snowshoes for every weight. Wider and longer, they provide perfect load-bearing capacity, even in the deepest snow. And if you're a heavy hiker, there are snowshoes with extensions to save the day (and don't forget your poles, too). 🏋️‍♂️❄️

So snowshoeing is no longer just a simple walk in nature. They've become real sports, activities in which every step is a discovery, every track in the snow a memory. Whether you're in France, Canada or elsewhere, modern snowshoes invite you to rediscover winter, to play in the snow, and above all, to enjoy every moment, with family, friends or alone. ⛷️🌲