Best Heel Crampon Snowshoes of 2025

Jason Kiser Avatar
Jason Kiser
Last Updated: Jan 8, 2025

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Heel crampon snowshoes are a popular choice among winter sports enthusiasts. These snowshoes feature a crampon on the heel that provides excellent traction on icy and steep terrain. The crampon is typically made of steel or aluminum and is designed to grip the snow and ice, allowing the wearer to climb steep hills and traverse icy slopes with ease. Heel crampon snowshoes are also lightweight and easy to maneuver, making them a great choice for both beginners and experienced snowshoers alike. Whether you're hiking through deep snow or exploring icy trails, heel crampon snowshoes are a reliable and effective choice for winter adventures.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Retrospec Drifter Plus Snowshoes Cover #TOP 1
Retrospec Drifter Plus Snowshoes
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Tubbs Mountaineer 25 Snowshoes Cover #TOP 2
Tubbs Mountaineer 25 Snowshoes
ftb score rating icon 9.8
CRESCENT MOON Trailhawk 27 Snowshoes Cover #TOP 3
CRESCENT MOON Trailhawk 27 Snowshoes
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 3 Heel Crampon Snowshoes

#TOP 1

Retrospec Drifter Plus Snowshoes

5429
Summit
Retrospec Drifter Plus Snowshoes Cover
Retrospec Drifter Plus 23/25 Inch Backcountry and Mountaineering Show Shoes, Durable All Terrain with Secure Double Ratchet Binding, Steel Toe Crampons, and Heel Lifters for Winter Hiking

Retrospec Drifter Plus Snowshoes are designed for backcountry and mountaineering. They feature a rigid one-piece deck and hardened manganese steel frames for extra durability, double-ratchet binding system for fast and secure strapping, improved steel toe crampons for additional traction, full-length dual edge traction for support on rough terrain, and functional comfort such as heel lifters, full-floating pivot system and EVA padding for comfort and protection.

What We Like
Durable with hardened manganese steel frames
Fast and secure double-ratchet binding system
Additional traction with improved steel toe crampons and full-length dual edge traction
#TOP 2

Tubbs Mountaineer 25 Snowshoes

X190100101250
Green
Tubbs Mountaineer 25 Snowshoes Cover
Tubbs Mountaineer 25

The Tubbs Mountaineer Snowshoes are designed to enhance your winter adventures. Their Pro-Step Frame provides a sturdy base, allowing you to traverse various terrains with ease. The Soft-Tec Decking ensures comfort underfoot, making long treks more enjoyable. With the R2 Revolution Response articulation, you’ll experience smooth movements, helping you navigate tricky slopes effortlessly. The Anaconda Toe Crampon and Python Heel Crampon deliver excellent traction, giving you confidence on icy or uneven surfaces. This combination of features makes the Mountaineer Snowshoes a reliable choice for outdoor enthusiasts.

What We Like
Sturdy frame
Comfortable decking
Smooth articulation
Excellent traction
#TOP 3

CRESCENT MOON Trailhawk 27 Snowshoes

CRESCENT MOON
Trailhawk 27
Blue
CRESCENT MOON Trailhawk 27 Snowshoes Cover
Crescent Moon Trailhawk 27 Ultralight Snowshoes for Men and Women with Advanced Spin Binding, Heel-Lift & Steel Crampons – Ideal Mens & Womens Snow Shoes for Snowshoeing

The CRESCENT MOON Trailhawk Snowshoes are designed with an Advanced One-Pull Spin Binding system, allowing you to secure your feet quickly with just one dial. Getting in and out of the binding is a breeze, taking only 5 seconds. The teardrop frame provides a natural stride, optimal flotation, and maneuverability for both men and women. With a weight capacity of up to 195lbs, these snowshoes are suitable for various users.

What We Like
One-Pull Spin Binding
Quick On/Off
Athletic Design
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What does heel lift do on snowshoes?

The Snowshoe Heel Lift is most helpful when climbing steeper terrain. Raising the heel lift bar reduces calf fatigue by keeping your foot more level and often improves traction while climbing by weight pressuring the rear traction.

2. Can you add heel lifts to snowshoes?

What is a heel lift? It's an optional feature for your snowshoes, which adds 2 inches of platform under your heel and makes climbing more efficient, comfortable (by reducing the strain on your calf muscles), and improves traction.

3. Can you wear crampons with snowshoes?

Snowshoes also have integrated crampons on their undersides that help provide traction on ice or packed snow and can be used instead of crampons in low-angle situations.

4. What is the difference between crampons and snowshoes?

With their large surface area, snowshoes are designed to keep you afloat in the snow, preventing you from sinking in and expending a bunch of energy. In contrast, boot crampons are designed for traction on icy, steep and low-snow terrain. In winter travel, you will often come across a mix of snow and ice.

Editor's Notes

During our heel crampon snowshoes research, we found 24 heel crampon snowshoes products and shortlisted 3 quality products. We collected and analyzed 5,329 customer reviews through our big data system to write the heel crampon snowshoes list. We found that most customers choose heel crampon snowshoes with an average price of $105.34.

The heel crampon snowshoes are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of heel crampon snowshoes, including Retrospec, Tubbs, CRESCENT MOON. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 385 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

Written by
Jason Kiser Avatar

Jason Kiser is an editor who lives in California, he previously worked in a travel agency for ten years, which enabled him to travel a number of interesting countries and experience several different cultures along the way. His range of job and travel experiences grant him expertise in hiking, camping, outdoors and fitness.