What To Look For
Check the tag attached to the snowshoes or posted sizing charts. Women's snowshoes come in different sizes, and each size is rated to float a certain amount of weight above the snow. Don't fudge for the sake of modesty--select snowshoes that are large enough to carry your full weight, plus at least an extra 10 or 20 pounds in case you decide to carry a pack. Online stores will have this information in the product description. Wear your snowshoeing boots to the store or at least bring them with you. Try on the snowshoes before you buy them, making sure that the bindings fit snugly around your boots. You shouldn't be able to wiggle your boots inside the bindings; the entire snowshoe should move with you when you try. Take a few steps in the snowshoes, and check to see whether they allow a halfway normal gait. Walking in snowshoes will be different than walking in street shoes no matter what, but women's snowshoes are designed to be narrower than men's shoes to accommodate a woman's smaller stature.
Common Pitfalls
Sometimes snowshoe buyers forget to factor in the added weight of their pack and any gear they'll be carrying while on the snowshoes. A 125 pound woman carrying a 40 pound pack needs snowshoes that will float 165 pounds, not 125. Another common problem is getting out on the snow and then discovering that the bindings don't adjust properly to your foot or the boots you're wearing; that is why it's so critical to wear the same boots you plan on snowshoeing in when you try on snowshoes in the store. Bindings and decking may also snap in extremely cold weather; this won't be an issue for the majority of users, but if you're planning on snowshoeing in low sub-zero temperatures, you'll need to purchase a high-end snowshoe that states it's specifically tempered for extremely low temperatures.
Where To Buy
While you'll find snowshoes for sale in almost every general-purpose or department store during the winter, they're usually of low- to mid- quality paired with high price. You're also not likely to find women's snowshoes in these stores--they usually take a generic one-size-fits-most approach. Your best bets for finding women's snowshoes will be retailers, such as like REI and Sierra Trading Post, that sell both online and through brick-and-mortar stores. Online retailers like Backcountry.com typically offer a wide selection of discounts, but not being able to try on the snowshoes in the store makes selection difficult. If you can find snowshoes that fit well in the store, you can always check for deals on that particular snowshoe online before buying at a brick-and-mortar store.
Cost
Women's snowshoes typically range in full-price cost from about $100 to $350 or more. A good general rule is that you get what you pay for; the least expensive models will usually be made of less-sturdy materials and have less-effective crampons (or none at all), and you'll find their strap-and-buckle systems to be inconvenient at best, highly uncomfortable at worst. With that being said, most recreational snowshoe users don't need features, such as titanium crampons or add-on tails to increase float, that come with extremely expensive snowshoes. Expect to pay in the neighborhood of $200 for a good-quality recreational snowshoe, although you can sometimes find them for sale on the return or clearance racks at about $100.
