Winter Hiking - Snowshoes vs Icespikes

At Wilderness Union, we hike throughout winter in some seriously remote, snowy places. How many times do you think we needed snowshoes in 2024? Once.

There’s so much winter gear you can buy to make life more comfortable—this is one area where you can probably save some money. Snowshoes provide greater surface area, allowing you to walk on top of deep, powdery snow rather than sink into it. If you’ve ever found yourself exhausted, walking knee-deep in snow and struggling to make each step, congratulations—you’ve discovered what postholing is. You’ve also encountered the rare situation where snowshoes are actually helpful: fresh, powdery snow that’s at least knee-deep.

Why You Probably Don’t Need Snowshoes
Conditions like this are vanishingly rare in Ontario. In Southern Ontario, winters are becoming less and less, well, wintry. Snowfalls are small affairs. When we get a foot of snow, it’s a big deal—but even at that depth, you’re probably better off without snowshoes. Why? Because snowshoes are cumbersome. They’re heavy, unwieldy, and a pain to carry. The only thing more tiring than walking in a foot of snow is walking in a foot of snow, tripping over snowshoes, and struggling to attach them to your backpack after realizing you’re better off without them.

What about when there’s a ton of snow? Even then, you probably don’t need snowshoes. Most people stick to established trails that are already packed down. There could be a metre of snow underfoot, but if it’s compressed, you won’t need them.

When Snowshoes Shine
Now, if you’re itching to experience conditions where snowshoes are essential, I say bravo—this is where things get exciting. These are the conditions you’ll start seeking out as you grow more adventurous.

One of my favorite things about winter is getting out early in the morning after a fresh snowfall and being the first person to break a trail. If there’s enough snow, snowshoes become invaluable. Another perk of winter is the ability to go off-trail. Venture off the beaten path, and you’ll find yourself in snowdrifts with uncertain footing underneath—prime conditions for snowshoes. Walking across snow-covered lakes during winter camping is another scenario where snowshoes shine, opening up the backcountry for further exploration.

‍Winter Hiking Gear You Really Need
Just because snowshoes are rarely necessary doesn’t mean you can ignore your footwear. Grip is the name of the game, and ice spikes (aka ice cleats) are your answer. These devices fit over your existing shoes, providing extra grip in icy conditions. What you may not realize is they’re incredibly useful for almost all winter hiking. Whenever there’s snow on the ground, we recommend that all Wilderness Union members wear ice spikes—they’re light, comfortable, and versatile, offering extra grip in most wintry conditions.

What to Buy
You may have seen black rubber ice cleats at Canadian Tire or Dollarama—don’t waste your money. While the grip might be fine, they’ll fall off within minutes on a proper hike. There’s a reason you constantly see orphaned cleats on the trail.

Many swear by MICROspikes, a Kahtoola product that’s practically a generic term for ice spikes. They have an aggressive tread pattern and are well-reviewed. However, cheaper knockoffs often break quickly—the rubber tears, and the links fall apart. Save yourself the hassle and buy the real thing.

That said, Microspikes aren’t our top recommendation. They tend to clump with snow, leaving heavy, icy balls attached to your feet that are tough to remove.

This is why we use and recommend Kahtoola’s EXOspikes. These have small, tough tungsten carbide studs on the soles with a slimmer profile that handles everything we’ve encountered in Ontario. We’ve never found a scenario where the more aggressive teeth of MICROspikes were necessary.

At $80, Exospikes aren’t cheap, but they’ll last years, making them a sound investment. Other brands, like Yaktrax, are popular with trail runners, but we’ve found they lack grip and wear out more easily. If you’ve found something else that works well, let me know—I’d love to hear about it.

2025 is shaping up to be a vintage winter. Get kitted out appropriately and you’ll be able to truly enjoy it.