Snowshoe Size & Load Calculator
Enter the weight you will put on the snow, including worn winter gear and the pack you normally carry. The result applies MSR’s adult chart to your usual snow condition, then checks a selected pair and its binding range.
Total snowshoeing load185.00 lb (83.91 kg)
- MSR weight band
- 175–225 lb
- Recommended configurations
- 22 in
- Best compact configuration
- 22 in
- Selected snowshoe check
- 22 in without tails is chart-approved for packed snow.
- Binding fit check
- Within MSR's published nominal men's/unisex US 6–13 binding range.
This uses MSR’s adult sizing chart; tails must be compatible with the snowshoe model.
Large-shell snowboard or plastic mountaineering boots can need a fit check even within the nominal binding range.
How to use this calculator
- Enter body weight, then add the boots and winter clothing not already included in it.
- Enter the loaded pack weight you expect on most snowshoe trips, including food and water.
- Choose the snow condition you encounter most often rather than an occasional extreme day.
- Optionally select a base length and whether compatible flotation tails will be attached.
- Choose the boot’s printed size scale and US boot size to see the nominal binding-range check.
How snowshoe size is calculated
Snowshoe length is about flotation: spreading the total load over more snow so each step sinks less. This tool follows MSR’s adult sizing chart, which starts with the weight that will actually be on the snow. That means body weight plus worn boots and winter clothing, plus the loaded pack—not body weight alone.
Let B be body weight, C boots and winter clothing, and P loaded pack weight, all in pounds. The chart load is:
W = B + C + P
The tool also shows kilograms as kg = W × 0.45359237. It assigns 90 to under 125 lb, 125 to under 175 lb, 175 to under 225 lb, or 225 lb and above. A load of exactly 125, 175, or 225 lb moves into the higher band. Loads below 90 lb are outside this adult chart, so the calculator does not invent a recommendation for them.
How snow and tails change the result
The MSR chart gives a set of acceptable base-length and tail combinations for each band and snow condition. Packed or established trails usually need less flotation than soft snow. Soft, deep snow asks for the most surface area, which can mean a longer shoe, compatible flotation tails, or both. The recommended configurations row deliberately lists every chart option so you can compare a compact base pair with a longer setup.
The compact recommendation chooses the shortest chart-approved base length and prefers no tails when the base length is the same. That follows MSR’s advice to choose for the conditions you use most, then add tails when an occasional deeper day or heavier load calls for more flotation. A tail is not interchangeable with the same base shoe without a tail: it must be installed to count.
What matters beyond this chart
Snow density and trail packing can matter as much as the number on a scale. Dry, unconsolidated powder generally needs more flotation than dense or well-traveled snow. Snowshoe width, deck area, model construction, gait, terrain, and the exact manufacturer load rating can also change the practical choice, so do not transfer an MSR chart result directly to another brand.
The binding check is only a nominal MSR size-range check: men’s or unisex US 6–13, and women’s US 5–13. A bulky snowboard boot or plastic mountaineering boot can still be too large in volume even if its marked size falls within that range. This tool does not assess traction, terrain, weather, avalanche conditions, route safety, or whether a particular snowshoe model and tail are compatible.
Worked example
Suppose a person weighs 165 lb, wears 8 lb of boots and winter clothing, and carries a 12 lb loaded pack. Their snowshoeing load is 165 + 8 + 12 = 185 lb, or 185 × 0.45359237 = 83.91 kg. That falls in the 175–225 lb band.
For soft snow, MSR’s chart lists a 25-inch base shoe or a 22-inch base shoe with tails for that band. The calculator highlights 22 inches with tails as the compact configuration. A 22-inch shoe without tails does not match this soft-snow recommendation, while a men’s/unisex US 10 boot is within MSR’s published nominal 6–13 binding range.
Common questions
Do I include my backpack when sizing snowshoes?
Yes. Use the weight you expect to put on the snow: body weight, boots and winter clothing, and the loaded pack. MSR advises considering the gear and clothing worn most of the time, including backpack contents. For an occasional overnight, use the load for your usual trips if that is what will drive your main purchase.
Should I choose 22-inch or 25-inch snowshoes?
The answer depends on total load and the snow conditions you use most often, not height or boot size. A 22-inch base shoe is often the chart’s compact option, while 25 inches adds flotation in softer snow or at a higher load. Use the configurations listed for your calculated band and condition rather than treating either length as universally better.
When do snowshoe tails help?
Tails add flotation to a compatible base snowshoe without requiring a longer base pair on every outing. They are useful for a heavier pack, softer snow, or deep powder when the chart calls for them. They only count if they are installed and made for the specific snowshoe model.
Should I size up when my weight is on a boundary?
This calculator places an exact 125, 175, or 225 lb total load in the higher MSR band. If your normal trips vary around a boundary, consider the softer snow and heavier load you expect often, not a rare outlier. Compatible tails can give a smaller base shoe extra range when the manufacturer supports them.
Does boot size determine snowshoe length?
No. Total load and snow conditions determine the flotation recommendation. Boot size matters separately for binding fit; MSR lists nominal ranges of men’s or unisex US 6–13 and women’s US 5–13, but bulky boot shells can still need a model-specific check.