yes, they have 8inch flotation tails

There are women's specific snowshoes out there which may be lighter for you. Over all, this MSR snowshoe offers great traction and is Extremely durable! I say try them out.

You WIll need the extra flotation tails. Go for the 8 inch ones.Really it all depends on snow conditions. If you hike where it is snowpacked, then all you need, even for hilly terrain, are the Denali Classic snowshoes. However, if you find yourself in deeper snow, you might need tails. I always try to get away with the smallest snowshoes possible because they are lighter on the feet, easier to maneuver in, don't drag behind me as much, and allow me to pick myself up after a falll. The general rule is if your in 30 inches or deeper of powder snow, you probably need tails. Otherwise you should be fine. The five equal qualities of the Denali Classic snowshoe are: traction, durability, float, field maintainability, and modularity. Personally I would give up some float for maneuverability, weight strapped to my feet, ease of walking in, etc., but that's me... The great thing about the Denali Classics is it's up to you! If you like a longer shoe and believe float is important, throw on the tails. If not but would rather have an easier time hiking through the snow without fighting the extra length, don't use 'em. Beautiful!----I still disagree - 30 inches of fresh is unheard of in the east. I needed 4 inch tails to stay near the top and off of the rocks underneath. Now that I live in utah, I find that the 4 inch tails work well because I am less worried about what's underneath. I still think I should have 8 inch tails when I carry a heavy pack.

NO, but the poles are good ones. And you get the free tote bag

Snowshoes of course, insulated winter boots, the smaller the profile the better, gaiters, ski poles will help your balance, & a good selection of layering clothes, wool socks & warm headgear. I like to bring one or two pieces for my head-a full beanie and a headband or something to cover my ears. for the most part you are moving and keeping warm. your head is a great way to regulate body temp so the headband works well for that. when you stop though the full beanie is nice.My preferences are: a pair of sturdy hiking boots (non-insulated and gore-tex or eVent is preferred), expedition merino wool socks, two pair of gloves (a lighter pair for the ascent, a more insulative pair for the descent), a warm hat, merino wool or synthetic baselayer, a fleece jacket with or without a shell dependent on the weather, softshell pants (my favorite are Polartec PowerSheild pants but you can get away with fleece pants with or without a shell dependent on the weather), water-resistant gaiters, sunglasses, trekking poles, snowshoes (of course), a thermos with hot choco or your favorite hot beverage, a small package of fig newtons (or whatever snack you like), a first aid kit, a liter or more of water, and a day pack or fanny pack to put it all in. The reason I don't think it's necessary to bring insulated boots is that your feet generally stay warm due to the physical exercise you will experience. The only thing that gets cold for me are my hands. Avoid taking off your gloves if you can help it (unless they are sweating and uncomfortable). Snowshoeing is great because you really don't need a lot of specialized equipment and there really isn't a learning curve.

based on the weight of your boyfriend i would recommend the tails. the tails add like 8 inches of surface area. which means you stay on top of the snow better-especially in soft powder. The other thing you need to remember is if he weighs 230 normally you need to figure more weight for all his gear-whether it is just more clothes and a small day pack or a larger pack. Since he is already over the recommended weight i think it is a must to get the tailsA larger snowshoe profile is probably better for someone his size. Try a 10x35 & remember to add in pack weight.