Homemade Snowshoes

I wondered if anyone has ever made themselves a pair of homemade snowshoes? If you were out in the woods in winter with the bare minimum how would you make your snowshoes? As you can tell I have winter on my mind. I never made a pair in my life but I sure would like to know if anyone has.

Ok I found some information here which says:

Use snowshoes if you are traveling over snow-covered terrain. Snow 30 or more centimeters deep makes traveling difficult. If you do not have snowshoes, make a pair using willow, strips of cloth, leather, or other suitable material.

I get the picture now.

I also found information with photos and diagrams here

[edit on 10/11/2008 by BindareDundat]

you need the power of the god of survival

Ray Mears, his survival skills are so awesome he still manages to stay a little on the large side and can pretrty much survive everywhere and tie any knot ever invented including the gordian knot which he then untied blindfolded in 15 seconds

uk.youtube.com...

Thanks noobfun! That was a great video. Making his snowshoes the way he did made it look less complicated and fairly straight forward.

I know snowshoes can be long and narrow and then also round and short. I just wondered if there was a reason for that? Two different snow types perhaps?

i think its to do with how you walk

the round you have to lift and place down as they wont slide to well

the long slim ones will slide better giving a more natural stepping action

just a guess though we dont get enough snow in the uk to warrant the effort for them

Homade snow shoes would be easy to make with just some sticks and string/wire. But homede skis would be better and easier to move around in.

This is one of the most awesome links with demo pics I've seen.

Not just snowshoes,but comfy warm shoes too.
Birchbark, lined with the down from Cattails.

For more 'buoyancy' in snow just widen.
wildwoodsurvival.com...

I was going to post a similar thread,but couldn't do this guys work justice.
Just plain brilliant.



[edit on 12-10-2008 by AGENT_T]