Snowshoeing with Trekking Poles (No Sink, No Fuss)

Good poles make snowshoeing smoother, especially in soft powder and side-hills. Here’s a quick setup.

Baskets: snow vs. mud/sand

• Snow baskets are wider for float; thread them on by hand (clockwise).
• Swap back to mud/sand once trails firm up.

Length & slope

• Flat: 90° elbows.
• Climb: shorten 2–4 in (5–10 cm).
• Descend: lengthen 1–2 in (2–5 cm).
• Side-hill: shorten uphill pole, lengthen downhill pole.

Cold-weather lock tuning

• Use the tension knob to snug lever locks—gloves make flips easy.
• Wipe ice from shafts before collapsing.

Shop the gear

• Telescoping Carbon 3K (wide adjustment) → https://freevane.com/products/telescoping-carbon-trekking-poles-3k
• Snow baskets (5-pack available) → https://freevane.com/collections/trekking-pole-accessories

FAQs

• Do I need rubber tips in winter? Not in snow; they’re for pavement.
• Will carbon get brittle? Quality carbon handles winter well; keep baskets on for float.