Snowshoe Recommendations

“I am thinking of buying a new pair this winter. Mine are totally old and prolly going to fall apart. Any favorites?”

“I am trying out the MSR Lightnings this winter (that is if we actually get some frikking snow this year!!)”

“I use the Northern Lites "Backcountry" for the past four years and I'm very happy with them.”

“Hikin Mike: 2,000 Pounds Less Weight To Lift Over Every Mile!

Now there is a selling feature that rings in my ears!”

“I was happy with my Tubbs Altitudes while I was living in Colorado. I don't think I'll get much use out of them here in Tennessee :-(”

“They are pretty light! I did have a rivet pull out on one trip, but the factory fixed it no charge.”

“I use Red Feathers.

Heard good things about Tubbs too. The MSR Denali Ascents are the 'gold standard', pricey, but very durable and solid.”

“I have Atlas 1022s. They're pretty nice, holding up very well.”

“I have MSR Denali Ascents, which I am very happy with. One thing I would note with them is that they don't float as well as other shoes due to there narrow profile, but that narrow profile and the excellent traction that these shoes offer make them great for hiking up mountains. On flatter terrain I would go with something else.”

“My wood framed gut snowshoes will always be my favorite, but I've used Cabell'a metal frames for the last 10 years.”

“What is this, a backpacking question???

I bought a pair of Cabela's Alaskan Guide Snowshoes.....Made In Canada
These shoes have a solid bar for the foot pivot that runs from rail to rail.
That is where my $80 shoes failed after three FYAO trips.
The cheaper shoes have a non-solid pivot.....two "eye pins" that did not quite meet in the middle and are held under the foot by bolts.

I carry a 40+ pound pack in winter and that puts 260 pounds or more on the shoes.

At $160, for the 10 X 36 shoes is about what one might pay for shoes made in China.

I don't know, I like that they are made in Canada.
I have plenty of sleeping bags made in China.”

“I have Tubbs.
Not applicable to you pitts, but they are the only snowshoe that has women specific shoes. Nice for me, cause I have tiny mutant feet.”

“love my atlas”

“Geez pixie, I have the oposite kind of feet.”

“And they've yet to see a single step into snow :(”

“I really like my Atlas 1030's. Nice strap system and great durability.”

“Ooooh I love talkin' winter! Great topic, pitts.

I have the Atlast 1025s. They've taken me many winter miles so far. In wet and dry snow. In deep and not as deep snow. Over flat Michigan terrain as well as rocky hilly Adirondak terrain. I have zero complaints.”

“I find the MSR's to be the most versatile. You can add floation tails if needed for softer snow. They have great ribbed metal edges for traction on crusty snow and a heel bail you can engaged for making it easier going up continuous steep slopes. Plus they're light. And they do your laundry for you in the off-season while you're busy at work.”

“What are floatation tails?”

“I have MSR Denali Ascents with 8" floatation tails. The snowshoes themselves are 22" long and great for packed trails or moderate amoutns of snow. The floatation tails provide extra levitation support on deeper or more powdery snow. I picked up the 8" tails for a total of 30", being that, at 230 lbs, I'm a bigger guy and if I'm going to need extra levitation, I should probably go all the way.

I've only got to use them once last year in about a foot of snow on a pretty well packed trail. But without the floatation tails, maybe about 260 lbs with my backpack and 22" of support, they performed beautifully. Hopefully this winter I'll get some chances to try out the tails in some deeper snow...
last edited: 9/19/05 6:55:28 PM”

“Every morning I ask my cat to do some laundry and pick up around the house. But I always come home to find it not done. Lazy little girl! I better get some MSR's. LOL!”

“MSR Denali Ascents. I love them.”

“I love my Atlas 1033's. The crampons are very aggressive and they're really durable. However, I am drooling over the MSR Lightning because they are lighter and the crampons are supposed to just as aggressive, if not more aggressive than my 1033's.”

“I borrowed a pair of Altas? snow shoes for my first trip. I found it difficult to walk in them as they are rather wide. Surprise!!
I liked snow camping so bought a pair of MSR's. They're a LOT easier to walk in. They're easier to put on. The floatation tails help in power. The heel bail will be handy when I do go uphill for a long ways.
And you can paint flames on them!!!





Downside - they are noisy.”

“Another Denali user / fan. I also have a pair of Tubbs shoes, they are fine for basic "Shoeing", but I really Prefer my Denali shoes for The Mountains.... steep slopes, icy-hard surfaces, etc. You can't beat their traction, I'm a huge fan of their side-rails and The traction they provide!”

“Atlas 10's or 12's
last edited: 9/19/05 10:47:10 PM”

“Hey Pitts! I just realized you're in Illinois. I think Atlas or Tubbs shoes would be just fine for your environment. I will give you 'a real deal" on my Tubbs shoes if you're interested, I always take my Denali's in the mountains here, I just feel safer with them because one can never know exactly what you'll run into in the Sierra! - your situation is a Little more predictable.”

“Pixie? That isn't true...Atlas has women specific snowshoes. Both Rainrunner and me had Atlas Elektra 825's for a long time-and they are made for women.
They were good shoes, but I needed more flotation for heavy packs so now I use genderless 930's. Blech. But they work.
I am getting a new pair of MSR's for when I have just a daypack and are sidehilling.”

“I tried snowshoeing with women specific snowshoes and they made my butt look fat. Plus I got cold and someone gave me their jacket. It also felt really awkward throwing a snowball and I found myself squatting behind trees just to go pee. I'm gonna stick to men's snowshoes.”

“I bought a pair of MSR Denali Ascents last year right before the season ended so I only got to use them once. They worked well for me with and without the 8" tails on packed and unpacked snow. One thing I like about them is how easy they are to carry in a daypack.”

“I did an adirondack trip with a pair of rentals which were so crappy I vowed "never again"

I wanted a pair of Northern Lites .. but could not justify the cost for how often they get used.

Got Redfeathers from Sierratradingpost on clearance for $100, and have been very happy with them. Got the narrow tailed version, a little less flotation but they track much better.”

“I do most of my hiking in Northern Wisconsin. I wouldn't say it's totally without hills but its sure not mountaineering. I can only dream, such is life in nearly-flatland. I will say this much, given the snowfall the last several years it hardly seems worth it. Yet as sure as I am typing this if I don’t get a new set this winter we’ll have a record snowfall.

The Tubbs also look good and are on sale an Snow Leopard Sports. Hey Wanderer, what model do you have?”

“Flat land snowshoeing? Wow..I'd love that! Out here it is always up up up up and more up...sigh!”

“Hehe, when I was a kid in Fargo, North Dakota (I only lived there two years, but talk about flat!) we would walk home after walking back from school frozen stiff like boards. My dad would say, "Aww, poor kids. They had to walk to school... uphill both ways!"”

“This thread reminds me, it won't be long before I can break out the snowshoes again.”

“How about these?

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?memberId=12500226&productId=39154960

They are on sale. I may not need the 36, but with winter gear I can see my total weight coming in over 200 lbs.”

“I have the Atlas Elektra 1025's - they're a very pretty green and purple and they work great.”

“Over 200lbs?!!?
Better get a sled too!





Buck, I thought you were doing that before you tried the girly snow shoes.”

“I have a pair of Tubbs Altitude also....great pair of snowshoes...well, I can't really say that because I haven't tried out the other brands. It floats good, light, and easy to put on...and they stay on.

Bad point is four or five rivets popped out from each shoe. Some of them popped out after I had stored them over the summer.

I use small stainless steel bolts and nuts to bind them. Now I always carry extra bolts and nuts on any trip....just in case some other rivet pops out.”

“Thinkbubelz and I got our at Sam's Club last year. I think it was "yukon Charlie's" or something like that... not as lightweight, but didn't lighten the pocketbook too much either.... We figured if we liked them, we would invest in better ones at a later date... :-)

We did go snowshoeing with tarabull and had a blast on a nice winter morning in a snowstorm of large fluffy snowflakes! What fun!!!”

“Over 200lbs?!!?
Better get a sled too!

Oh nice, hit me in a sensitive spot!

(If you are going to hit, why strike anywhere else?)

…but I'll weight 175-180 nekkid on a good year. My pack can easily pass 30 lbs in the winter with the larger pack, heavier stove, additional fuel for melting snow, heavier clothes, and additional calories I will carry. My winter tent is much heavier as well, if I choose to pack it. So I can easily see me coming in over 200 lbs. Those numbers I saw were for total weight, I thought.”

“How about these: Atlas 1030 Snowshoes

http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8001&catalogId=40000008001&productId=47939336&parent_category_rn=22000465&

Since REI = Return Every Item I may just order them and return them if I change my mind...”

“Oh nice, hit me in a sensitive spot!

Hey! I wasn't hitting!
Dang kids!

Wanna see my sled? It's the only way to carry all that stuff you mentioned plus the ice cream maker. Oh, and enough tequila for the weekend.”

“i just sold my brand new atlas 1025 on ebay.
I had 2 pair, don't need 2 pair. kids are wusses.”

“I have the Atlas 1222 and Loved them. I was able to go just about anywhere on the mountain with them and I loved the easy in/out of the ratchet buckle bindings.

...I haven't used them in a couple of years though, (not sure what is the NEW thing) because I now use my Volkl Vertical teleskiis to access the mountain.”

“Looks like Ebay is the place to buy them. Seems like an item a lot of people buy and only use a few time. Ebay was made for stuff like that...

I just bought a sleeping bag and am a little strapped for cash for gear. I ain't going to be buying new if I want a nicer pair I think...”

“Pinkbubblez...I have a pair of those Yukon Charlies also-actually pretty decently made! For weight hauling they are great. And cheapcheap!!”

“I am putting off buying my shoes until later this year. I have a feeling the winter will be crappy so why bother? Anyway, I wanted to point out that REI Outlet has a good deal on Atlas snowshoes if anyone is shopping. I forget the model but you all know the URL.

I am really hoping for a good, strong winter. I have a host or projects for the scouts I want to do on Winter camping (make an Qunizee (sp) and a snow cave, winter survival and rescue, showshoeing, etc). Gotta get some winter to actually do this stuff.”

“I like the Tubbs Mountain 30's. They are the most aggressive of their line. I'm comparing them to atlas 1030's and the MSR lightnings. ANy help would be appreciated”

“make your own, there are classes all over wisconsin in the next few months”