Avalanche forecasting increasingly relies on snow cover models. In this context, accurate information on the mechanical properties of weak layers is required to better represent the failure and fracture processes leading to avalanche release. In order to accurately determine these material properties, and link those to snow microstructure, we have developed two displacement-controlled testing machines to perform strength tests under multiaxial loading conditions. The first experimental setup is for field measurements, allowing us to test many samples of the same natural weak layer. The second experimental setup is for laboratory experiments where we can perform precise measurements in a controlled environment on a limited number of artificially created weak layers. Here we present both machines as well as some of the challenges we faced in designing them.