Q. See questions above. Can one wear snowshoes on Shabbos where there is no Eruv?
A. Snowshoes are usually just large area footwear for walking over snow. Snowshoes work by distributing the weight of the person over a larger area so that the person’s foot does not sink completely into the snow, a quality called “flotation”. Snowshoeing is a form of hiking.
Traditional snowshoes have a hardwood frame with rawhide lacing. Some modern snowshoes are similar, but most are made of materials such as lightweight metal, plastic, and synthetic fabric. In addition to distributing the weight, snowshoes are generally raised at the toe for maneuverability. They must not accumulate snow, hence the latticework, and require bindings to attach them to the feet. (From Wikipedia).
As mentioned on the questions above, Poskim in general, have not addressed yet the usage of crampons, microspikes and snowshoes during Shabbos, although in some areas they are common and needed.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that in the locations where they are needed, they may just be similar to the common rubbers, galoshes or overshoes. These last ones, as we know, are usually a type of a rubber boot that is slipped over shoes to keep them from getting muddy or wet and are generally permitted and extensively used during Shabbos where there id no Eruv.
Snowshoes these days resemble more a large slipper or even a small ski attached and tied to one’s boots. If they are usually not removed until one reaches the destination and are properly attached, the Rov maintains that they can be similarly used during Shabbos.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit’a