How to make comfortable snowshoes for hunting from plastic pipes with your own hands

For walking in deep snow in a forest or open area, special devices are used - snowshoes. They prevent the foot from falling into the mound, thereby reducing the effort applied. You can purchase a factory model or make snowshoes for hunting from any plastic pipes with your own hands.

The latter option is preferable, since the design and its parameters can be adapted to a specific person.

Requirements for snowshoes made of plastic pipes

The principle of their operation is quite simple - by increasing the area of ​​​​the foot, the pressure on the snow embankment decreases. This allows you to maintain the optimal speed of movement, levels out small differences in the terrain. But for manufacturing, it is necessary to formulate requirements for design, technology and production at home.

Snowshoes must have the following qualities:

Until recently, sheets of plywood were used to make snowshoes. But they quickly fell into disrepair due to constant exposure to moisture. Therefore, a design option made of plastic pipes was chosen. They do not lose their properties in extreme cold, they are characterized by mechanical strength. But the most important factor is ease of manufacture.

Tools and materials for manufacturing

Polypropylene pipes are considered the best option for self-production of snowshoes. They have sufficient ductility and mechanical rigidity. The connection of elements with each other occurs thermally. However, they are subject to gradual destruction under the influence of direct sunlight. Therefore, after the manufacture of snowshoes, it is necessary to consider a way to protect the structure.

You can make snowshoes from plastic pipes at home using the following materials and tools:

If the welding machine is not available, it can be rented. After that, you can start independent production.

How to make a camouflage net for hunting with your own hands, read here .

Making snowshoes from plastic pipes

At the first stage, it is necessary to choose the right place for the work. When connecting plastic pipes, the air in the room is saturated with harmful components. Their volume is relatively small, but in order to avoid ill health, it is recommended to ensure good ventilation while maintaining normal room temperature.

The dimensions of snowshoes depend on the mass of the hunter - the larger it is, the higher the construction area. The shape can be chosen traditional, based on a suitable factory model. According to its parameters, a drawing of the future design is drawn up.

Frame manufacturing

First, cut the pipe into blanks. A standard snowshoe will consist of a front and two laterals. To reduce the resistance of snow and create the effect of sliding on it, the frontal area should repeat the shape of a conventional ski - tilt upwards by 15-20 °.

Frame manufacturing procedure:

1. Cutting blanks.
2. To form a curved front, a piece of pipe is placed in hot water and then deformed. For this, it is best to use a flexible metal rod.
3. Connecting elements with a soldering iron.
4. Checking the frame for strength and rigidity.

On this basis, the stage of work is completed.

final stage

Knotting is necessary to evenly distribute the hunter's weight over the entire surface of the snowshoe. The closer the ropes are located to each other, the more stable the structure. To prevent the appearance of the sliding effect, the surface of the pipes can be treated with sandpaper to obtain roughness.

The base for shoes can be made independently or you can buy a ready-made element from skis. It is attached to the partitions of snowshoes with a rope. If during the hunt there is a possibility of walking on ice, you can make a removable base. These may be metal plates with small notches. They are fastened with rubber bands.

The advantage of do-it-yourself snowshoes for hunting made of plastic pipes lies in the variability of production. Instead of welding, structural elements can be connected to each other in the traditional way - using a rope. But this will reduce their mechanical strength.