Anchorage Daily News

Want to try snowshoeing but unsure whether to invest the money?

Resist buying an ultra-cheap pair. Often they perform poorly, lengthening your learning curve.

Instead, rent a pair. Several shops in Anchorage offer rentals, and usually the longer the rental, the better the rate.

• Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking offers one-day or weekend rentals of such higher-performing snowshoes as MSR, Crescent Moon and Atlas. Rates are $12 per day or $20 for the weekend. No youth sizes are available, but small adult sizes will fit some children. Call to arrange a rental or show up. (2633 Spenard Road, 272-1811)

• REI offers daily and weekly rates on Atlas and MSR snowshoes with child sizes available. Member rates are $15 per day for adults, $7 for each additional day. Child snowshoes are $8 and $4 respectively. Nonmembers pay about 20 percent more and must leave a deposit. Weekly rates for members are $50 for adults and $28 for youths. (1200 W. Northern Lights Blvd., 272-4565)

• Alyeska Hotel in Girdwood offers snowshoe rentals for guests as well as the public. It rents Atlas' Elektra snowshoes for women, and a variety of Atlas snowshoes for children and men. The rate is $15 for a 24-hour period. Poles are included for those who prefer them. (754-1111; ask for rentals desk.)

• Peter Glenn Ski and Sports rents Tubbs and Atlas snowshoes for $12 for one day, $15 for two days, $18 for three days and an additional $6 per day after that. There are small pairs, but none specifically made for children or toddlers. Stop by or call to reserve a pair. (1520 O'Malley Road, 349-2929).

• Try snowshoes for free during Winter Trails Day Feb. 16 at the BLM Campbell Creek Science Center off 68th Avenue and Elmore Road. Try out snowshoes, skis, avalanche beacons and geocaching 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m., courtesy of REI. (267-1247, www.blm.gov/ak

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