Thanks for mentioning my website. You should know that Aldi are selling the composite snowshoes in that article this week.

I made some other notes about buying snowshoes :

http://swissmountainleader.com/books-gear/buying-snowshoes/

You might also be interested in Morpho who are based in Thonon, I wrote a little about them for Snowshoe Magazine & we'll review some of their models in more detail soon.

http://www.snowshoemag.com/2011/12/04/morpho-snowshoes-le-style-francais/

We offer free rental of TSL's for clients and I've some the Aldi & MSR ones if anyone wants to try them. I'm pretty sure we'll have enough snow for a little adventure by next weekend!

"Thanks for mentioning my website"

Thanks to you for creating it !

Ok, this might seem like a silly question but what's the best way to dress for this activity? Thanks!

I have Tubbs Flex Alp24 that I have just bought but the reviews of these were pretty good. I hope to try them out soon ;)

It's tough to say what to wear, if you just want to try some snowshoeing you shouldn't have to run out and buy a whole new wardrobe. Most people find ski clothes work well for shorter trips. Once you start making bigger trips you find some more layered clothes work, base-, mid- and an outer-layer etc.

Footwear, something warm and waterproof, hiking boots are ideal and some snow-boots are OK.

Heidi, I hope you'll try them this weekend! The forcast looks good to me, if it stays on track we'll have snow in the week and clearer skies for the weekend.

"hiking boots are ideal"

With what I have seen this summer, I think I'll laugh this winter.
It seems that the term " hiking boots" is not the same for everyone.

Following the paths we take, remember this:

in french : Guetres

That's true, for me the problem is I can't tell people to go out and buy special boots just to make one trip. For the sessions we do just to take a taste of snowshoeing the trails are usually like the TSL ones and have been pisted. So, if someone comes with trail shoes it's not a big, big problem.

Normally, or often, people who are interested in making a bigger journey, say to see the ice caves at the glacier in Zinal, are already experienced hikers and have great gear.

It's OK to have snowshoes for the clients but we can't really provide boots. If there's a real problem we've a local store who rent some.

For me, I use some Sportiva Nepal's but this is too much boot for recreation!

Right now, there's enough snow to make a snowshoe trip, I have to go to Migros first though!

Yes, I think you're right.

The solution:
The first two "snowshoes day" that I organize is for beginners.
I choose a place where they can rent snowshoes and shoes.
Then it's the person whether he likes it.
If yes, then he can buy shoes for snowshoes,
if not ..... we'll see next spring for hiking

the problem is the meeting point, when it's in a village with a shop for snowshoes and boots rental, it's ok.

but when the meeting point is a tree in the middle of nowhere....
It's not the same thing.

I am the same in winter and in sommer (good new!), i don't like the "snowshoes higway for tourists". I prefer some place more....quiet, wild.

The ice cave in Zinal is realy very nice and not realy hard.
Maybe not for complete beginners....but, depending who....

Have you see ? the snow come this week !