A snowshoe (1500) is formed from multi-density foam materials. The snowshoe (1500) generally includes a deck 1502 and binding 1504 mounted on the deck 1502. The deck 1502 is formed from layers of flexible multi-density foam materials and has a continuously curved bottom surface to promote forward rocking motion. Consequently, it is not necessary to provide a pivot plate with crampons or to provide an opening in the deck 1502. The deck 1502 further includes a traction plate 1510. The traction plate 1510 is formed from a material that is harder than the lower layer of the deck 1502. The traction plate 1510 includes a number of cleats 1512 distributed from side-to-side and front-to-back across the traction plate 1510. Each of the cleats 1512 includes a number of spikes 1514 for penetrating snow or ice to provide enhanced traction.

A snowshoe having a binding for a downhill ski boot on a binding platform which can pitch, i.e., rotate about a transverse axis of the snowshoe. The binding platform is supported on a front strap which is attached to the sides of the framework for the snowshoe, which is of sufficient flexibility to pitch and, preferably, roll, i.e., rotate about the longitudinal axis of the framework. Decking between the binding platform and the framework has a front aperture to permit the binding platform to pitch and roll; is of such length as to permit extension of the framework, which is made possible by having the framework be a tubes separated on its first and second sides and containing an insertable tube in the areas of the separations; and has such flexibility as to enable the decking to fold underneath the binding platform when the tube of the framework is unextended.

A snowshoe comprises a frame defining a periphery of the snowshoe. A deck is secured in a stretched state to the frame, a cutout being defined in the deck. A binding is connected to at least one of the frame and the deck and being aligned with the cutout in the deck. A footwear support portion is adapted to receive footwear of a wearer and being pivotable relative to the deck along a pivoting range so as to allow a tip of the footwear to plunge through the cutout below a plane of the deck. An unbiased hinge is between the frame and/or the deck and the footwear support portion to allow unbiased movement of the footwear support portion in a proximal portion of the pivoting range. A biased hinge is between the frame and/or the deck and the footwear support portion to allow biased movement of the footwear support portion in a distal portion of the pivoting range.