Depending on where you live, snowshoes can be essential for getting around. But with so many companies outsourcing production to countries like China, it can be difficult to find a pair of quality snowshoes made in the USA. Well, in this article, I’ll be looking at the companies that manufacture American-made snowshoes.
Companies Selling Snowshoes Made in the USA? (The Short Answer)
After doing a little digging, I found 4 companies that manufacture snowshoes in the USA. They are MSR, Redfeather, Northern Lites, and Dion NeviTREK.
American Made Snowshoes (The 4 Brands That Sell Them)
Now that we know which companies manufacture American-made snowshoes, let’s take a look at each one in a little more detail.
MSR
MSR is a very well-known mountain gear company that manufactures everything from camping stoves and trekking poles to snow tools and snowshoes. It was founded in 1969, although it wasn’t manufacturing outdoor gear back then. It started as a mountaineering newsletter, but it quickly grew in popularity, and soon after, the founder, Larry Penberthy decided to start making the gear instead of just writing about it.
Today, MSR is popular with adventurous people all over the world. With it being such a large company, it won’t come as a surprise to learn that not all of MSR’s products are made in the USA. The company has facilities in countries all over the world. That said, as for its snowshoes, if you purchase a pair from within the US or Japan, then it will have been made in the US. If you buy a pair in Europe, then it will have been partially made in Ireland.
MSR has plenty of options when it comes to snowshoes, here’s a link to its snowshoe product page.
Redfeather
Redfeather was founded in 1988. The company is based in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this is where all of its snowshoes are manufactured. Redfeather manufactures more than just snowshoes, the company makes tents & tarps, a variety of hats and t-shirts, and the company will soon be releasing its first line of canoes.
As mentioned, all of its snowshoes are made in the USA, and each pair is handcrafted using only the highest quality materials and components. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find where Redfeather gets its materials.
For those wanting to take a look at some of Redfeather’s snowshoes, I’ve got you covered. Here’s a link to its snowshoe page. Redfeather has snowshoes for men, women, and children, so there’s bound to be a size and style to suit everyone.
Northern Lites
Northern Lites has been manufacturing snowshoes in the US since 1992. The company is based in Wisconsin. All of its products are made in the US, so no matter which pair of Northern Lites snowshoes you buy, they are guaranteed to be American-made.
Something that sets Northern Lites apart from all other snowshoe manufacturers out there is that it manufactures the world’s lightest snowshoes. They are durable, sturdy, and they weigh next to nothing.
Northern Lites makes snowshoes for a variety of different activities. Here’s a link to each of the company’s snowshoes arranged by activity.
- Day Hiking – Beginners
- Ultralight All-Terrain
- Ultralight Running & Racing
- Extreme Terrain – Convertible
Dion NeviTREK
Finishing off this section we have Dion NeviTREK. It is an American company that got its start in a small workshop in New York. These days, the company manufactures all of its snowshoes in Vermont.
The founder of the company, Bob Dion is a competitive snowshoe racer, so it’s safe to say that he knows how to make a good snowshoe. Whether you have plenty of experience with snowshoes or none at all, Dion has plenty of options to suit everyone.
Here are a few of Dion’s snowshoes for those wanting to take a closer look.
Honorable Mentions
There are more American snowshoe companies out there. However, they manufacture old-fashioned/traditional snowshoes. Since most people will be looking for a pair of modern snowshoes, I’ve put the traditional US snowshoe manufacturers on their own list.
Country Ways
Country Ways is a small yet well-known company based in Minneapolis, Michigan. It manufactures traditional snowshoes and snowshoe kits. Its snowshoes are all handmade and made using traditional methods that date back through generations.
The company is very passionate about its shoes and every pair of snowshoes that it makes is built to withstand even the harshest of weather conditions. From what I found, its products are manufactured at its company facility in Duluth, Minneapolis. Here’s a link to its snowshoe page for those wanting to take a closer look.
Iverson Snowshoes
Iverson Snowshoes was founded in 1954 in the state of Michigan. It’s an American manufacturer that produces handmade traditional snowshoes. On top of snowshoes, Iverson manufactures fishing nets, bindings, and even pieces of furniture.
Since its inception, Iverson has been manufacturing its snowshoes in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The company offers 17 different models of snowshoes in a whole range of different sizes, so there’s a little something for everyone. Here’s a link to Iverson’s snowshoe page.
Snowshoes People Think Are Made in America, But Aren’t
I came across one company that used to manufacture its snowshoes in the US but has since moved its production overseas. Here’s what I found.
Tubbs
Tubbs is a pretty well-known snowshoe manufacturer. Its headquarters is located in Seattle, Washington, and from what I was able to find, Tubbs used to manufacture its snowshoes across various facilities throughout the US. Unfortunately, around 2005, the company moved its manufacturing to China in a bid to reduce costs and increase productivity.
This is fairly common knowledge, a quick Google search turns up lots of information from company officials discussing the big move. But there are still some third-party sites out there that have Tubbs down as being an American manufacturer. So, keep in mind, if you buy from Tubbs then it’s made in China.
