Heel lifts are generally found on higher-end recreational snowshoes, as well as pretty much all backcountry snowshoe you’ll find on the market. Heel lifts are the metal bar you’ll find underneath the heel area, and you can raise them up and lock them in place when you climb. If you know you’ll be hiking on some steep terrain, heel lifts can really help when you are going uphill on a steep mountain.
The raised bar on snowshoes with heel lifts will help keep your heel from falling or dropping as you climb up, and help you scale steep uphill climbs more easily while preventing your legs from experiencing fatigue. Still, many people wonder if they are worth the money, although the demand for them has increased in popularity recently.
If you know you’ll be doing a lot of hardcore uphill climbing, then a heel lift can be a very beneficial feature, especially if you like adventuring and hiking for long periods of time. Many people that use heel lifts on their snowshoes find that they do assist with uphill climbs. However, if you are shopping on a budget, and know you won’t be doing a lot of hardcore uphill climbing, you can probably live without this feature.
So, when determining whether or not you’ll need a heel lift, consider the types of things you’ll be doing when you’re outdoors, and the types of terrain you’ll encounter. Once you know that, it should be easy for you to make your decision.