Modern snowshoe crampons are designed to provide traction going up, down and across a hillside. The key to achieving traction is to have the crampon engaged as fully as possible into the snow, which means placing the snowshoe as flat as possible on the snow. The stability of the snowshoe is due in large part to the binding. The more rigid the binding, the more stable the snowshoe will feel, but these rigid bindings are heavier. Flotation Flotation is a result of the combination of the size and shape of the snowshoe, the type of snow and the weight of the user.
Larger snowshoes provide better flotation, but the trade-off is less maneuverability.
On packed snow, flotation is not a big issue, and for individuals whose primary activity is packed-trail use, a smaller snowshoe is ideal. The density of snow also plays an important role in how much flotation the snowshoe will provide. High snow density provides better flotation for a given size, therefore a backcountry user in the East may be able to use a smaller snowshoe than someone in the Rockies. Keep in mind that snowshoes provide flotation, but that doesn't mean they won't sink in the snow. Some degree of penetration into the snow is natural.