Hey friends! I briefly talked about tails on snowshoes in this video, but forgot to mention that only a few snowshoe brands have this feature. Tails are great if you really need to share, but in my opinion, it's better to get the right size snowshoe rather than planning to utilize tails. Any other snowshoe basics that I missed? Comment below! - Miranda
I often go for day hikes, but sometimes also do longer backpacking trips. For me, tails are perfect to adjust according to my weight with and without a pack! :) Also, straps materials are an important point, some of them don't do very well depending on conditions. I had multiple plastic ratchet-type straps snap in half in cold Canadian winters. Nylon ones don't do well when they need to be adjusted in wet conditions.
One thing I never read about online but I think people have to know is that when you put on snowshoes, usually aluminum, straight from your hot car and pound them right into the snow, they get wet, freeze, and pick up sticky snow that you then have to carry around until you remove it. If you don't want to be knocking the snow off your boots as often, let them cool off in the winter air for just a min before you put them in the loose snow.
Hiya Miranda, I never thought I’d snowshoe, ever…then a friend suggested going snowshoeing in the moonlight ( during a full moon in February, it was -15C). It was an organized village outing about 100 km north of Montréal , about 50 people followed a couple of guides…with the snow twinkling in the moonlight…it was surreal, and absolutely breathtaking…I became a fan. So thanks for this vid, and hey I suggest you try it! Midway, they prepped a bonfire to warm everybody up and to give everyone a break! It was unforgettable 🥰 Cheers from 🇨🇦
I don’t think I knew snow shoes were like, a real thing people owned? Always thought they were a rental/gimmicky thing, or something in movies. Miranda out here educating me every week.
Depends what you're doing. Going any distance in super deep snow, they're invaluable and better than skis if you're cutting your own trail on flat terrain. For traveling in snow measured in inches or hard pack then you're generally better off without. If you simply want to get out and get a good exercise then bring snow shoes in any type of snow. To give you an idea, you'll burn roughly 4x as many calories snow shoeing as you would walking in sneakers on pavement.
I had the all plastic MSR ones but I gave those away because those are too noisy, then I got the MSR Lightning Ascent which are much quieter but not completely but it's a great pair.
Huge fan of the metal framed snow shoes. I do recommend though having a lighter boot when using them if possible (always waterproof). Easily repairable if needed in the wild, and last a crazy long time. Worth the money.
A friend gifted myself and another friend aluminum snowshoes one year. We've used them each year since, and I've loaned mine back to her so she can take her Dad out and I've borrowed her set to take my Dad out. It's pretty neat, especially in the snow, at night, the moon, and the forest. It snowed last night and first thing I though was "gotta get out the snowshoes".
Glad you're back!! Love the videos they are both informative and entertaining with a sprinkle of silliness 🤣. We just back from snowshoeing! Found a nature preserve tucked away in our urban area...sweet! Looking forward to your next vidz!
Omg, much better! Straightforward pros and cons of the different gear options. THIS is what I subscribed for. I like that you mentioned the price range and that tails let you share shoes. We bought expensive MSRs several years ago but super worth it, they’ll last forever. The northeast has a lot of icy snow for much of the season, so the traction is critical. Thanks for the excellent vid :)
.. Excellent information,, have a number of acquaintances ( some considered as friends) ,, getting into hiking and backpacking with snowshoes along ,, with discussions coming up about the topics you described,, as well as the different types of bindings offered.. Micro spikes ,, Crampons ,Snowshoes of many designs and some with or without fitted crampons ,, all have specific uses but can certainly be useful in a variety of applications..... Technology and materials have created a world of choices but as with many options available,, just as many do with snow ski's , make a decision but before spending the big bucks,, maybe rent what you pick, ,it might be the right choice or not.. And if in deep snow where you may never come in contact with the frozen icy ground ,, don't overlook the old traditional wood styles,, Bear Paws or other vintage styles with tails ,, designed to give more "floatation" .... and don't forget your poles .. a huge aid to help you get up when you fall .. Always fun topic with Professor Miranda giving the lecture ...
Do those snowshoes with the heel lift come with bell bottoms and a disco ball? 🤣 My dad had an old school pair of hand woven, wood snowshoes that I tried to learn how to use as a 7-8 year old. Hilarious doesn’t begin to cover the experience! If only the video camera had been around in 1973..... Excellent timing on this subject as I’ve been thinking modern snowshoes would be very useful for winter dog walks and getting outside to exercise more in winter. All joking aside I had never heard of the heel lift option nor did I know anything about different options for traction. Wonderful job! #MirandaBurp!
The “cheap plastic” snowshoe she showed are the second most expensive displayed. They are the MSR Evo Ascent. They are also the most durable snowshoe out of all of the ones showed.
I live in michigan and I literally just need something to get me to work when I walk constantly and it's snowing ridiculously. So the foam sounds adequate, we just get some surprise storms where i know my shoes aren't cutting it😂
I've never heard of foam ones. They might be an interesting pair to try out. :) Also, at 6:15 if you speed up the video to 1.75 when Miranda is chewing on the icicle, there be woodland creature sounds. :)
I took a high fall 20 years ago so my left foot has kind of a side step & a bit pigeon toed on that 1 foot. Is it even worth me spending money on snow shoes? I really hope you can help point me in the right direction to start in. Thank you Trent.
Another good tip is to buy your snowshoes in July! I can't find a pair online or anywhere to save my life...silly me, wanted to buy snowshoes in the winter...
Love your videos! But I have a couple of snowshoe nitpicks. The MSR Lightnings shown are a steel frame, rather than aluminum. Also, those plastic MSR Denalis *are available with other features like the heel lift and an upgraded binding. With those features they're actually really great mountain snowshoes, although some people will prefer other models for improved traction or for not being so gosh-darn noisy.
Any recommendations for search and rescue situations? I'm a member of a local SAR team. Variable conditions and variable terrains. Durability and features vs weight.
My Dad used the classic MSR Denali when he was a search and rescue volunteer. I think it's a great idea to buy a 22 inch snowshoe (unless you're close or over to 300 lbs) and then carry the 6-8" tails if the snow is REALLY deep. The 22inch snowshoes are generally easy to maneuver and light weight- weight matters much more on your feet than your back. If you sink a bit more than with a longer snowshoe, you still probably make out ahead with energy expended to move X distance. The only thing I didn't like about the Classic Denali (I own a pair as well) is the stretchy binding straps- they come loose unless installed perfectly- and the lack of a heel riser. So based on everything I just typed, if you're interested in a 22" with optional tails that you can carry in your pack just in case, I think you're looking at the MSR EVO Ascent, MSR Lightning, or MSR Revo. All that said, I just purchased a pair of Tubbs with BOA bindings and I think these will be my go-to snowshoe (for recreation) due to the ease of using the BOA system. I don't trust the BOA system not to break/malfunction in bad conditions, although I have not heard reports of that happening.
I've taken my dog snowshoeing, and the biggest concern is keeping her out from underfoot! Some dog owners opt for foam snowshoes for this reason. As for pulling, that depends on your dog, but if you can get them to slow down you shouldn't have a problem. - Miranda
Charming video but missing one of the main aspects of snowshoeing as experienced on the mid-Atlantic East Coast and where it's windy you will be hiking and you will come across large stretches with no snow if you bring those Snow shoes that have fabric wrapped around the frame that fabric will be destroyed in half a mile and everywhere I've ever been there are large sections where I have to hop from rock to rock or go down a long gravel stretch and that kind of snow shoe gets destroyed quick whereas those plastic ones just truck right along no problem so unless you live in a truly cold deep snow climate main or Minnesota the UP I wouldn't get that type with the fab wrapped around the frame and a lot of places out west it's windy and you come across Rocky stretches and do you wanna take your shoes off then put them back on and take them off and put them back on and take them off now you don't wanna do that just a thought
Funny fact, in europe framed snoshoes are usually cheap junk, and almost everything high end is plastic deck with lots of steel underneath. But alps are a bit different from colorado.
I live in Alaska so snowshoes are an important transportation tool for me. Those foam Crescent Moon shoes are awful. No traction. Fall all over the place. We have airy, powdery snow here till late in the season, and deep. My Winter backpacking is done with snowshoes.
Hello you! I like your videos a lot, always learn something. Thank You for that and please, don't ever stop ...but I have to say that I don't like "the burping" 🙃
Completely untrue. Max load for snow conditions is the most important criterion in choosing snowshoes. More-packed snow = smaller snowshoes are acceotavle, and softer, deeper snow = larger snowshoe needed.
To me sizing is the most confusing factor. Too few companies give a chart that tells what weight goes with which size. Another confusing factor. The size you want depends on the trail conditions you normally walk on. If you are walking on a well travelled trail you can use smaller shoes, because packed snow supports your better. But if you plan on trekking through fresh deep powder you need much larger shoes because they give much better flotation on soft snow. I weigh 250 lbs with my pack on when I go out with scouts on fresh snow, so I need huge (11x36 inch) shoes.
Look into the MSR snowshoes with modular tails or find a snowshoe you like and buy two sizes! I think you will benefit from a 22-25" snowshoes for avoiding post-holing on groomed/packed trails and then using the tails to provide close to a 30" snowshoe for deep powder. Maybe rent a 28-30" snowshoe to test with all your gear in deep powder before buying. Keep in mind you aren't supposed to float perfectly on top of the powder like Jesus walking on water- snowshoes are a tool for avoiding post-holing and designed to help you expend less energy than if you were walking. In DEEP powder, you may sink down close to a foot but that's okay. Also, the recommendation to round down to the nearest size is an excellent recommendation IMO. You will be disappointed with 36" snowshoes.
I’m going to recommend rounding UP if you’re between sizes and plan on going off-trail. Rounding down is fine if you’ll be on heavily-traveled packed down trails and carrying a very small pack. I’m 260lb without my pack and 98% of the time I’m bushwhacking in the mountains of northwest Maine. 1036s are my go-to snowshoes (Tubbs Couloir/Mountaineer and Garneau Blizzard II/III), these are tube-framed snowshoes with huge toe crampons that grab extremely well after 2 or 3 stamps. I used Lightning Ascent 30s for 4 winters, often with tails, and was very underwhelmed by them. The decking is paper-thjn, anything bigger than a hiking boot (like Sorels) abrades the decking in the very narrow foot opening, and your heels rested directly on the decking. After 4 years with mine the reinforcement was worn through and the decking was started. One thing I didn’t like about the tails is they caused the back of the ‘shoes to ride higher than the front. Plus, even at 35” long with tails attached they only had about 80% of the surface area of my 1036 snowshoes. I sold them in 2018 and haven’t looked back. When the snow is compacted a little more late in the winter I’ll use GV Mountain Extreme 830s when in steeper terrain. In my experience these are MUCH better snowshoes than MSR Lightning Ascents, with better bindings, stronger frames, stronger decking, and serrated aluminum cleats sticking through openings in the decking for your heels to rest on. There’s a choice of 3 bindings - standard ratcheting (2 straps over the foot), a Spin binding similar to BOA, and a lighter-duty day-hiking binding called Alligator. At $280CDN/$206USD they’re just over half the price of Lightning Ascents. I have GV Wide Trail 1242s for extremely soft snow or heavy packs. They’re heavy (7.3lb) but immensely strong, with large frame tubes and a rigid 5/8” diameter cross-tube that the binding pivots on.
Why not cover wooded snowshoes? Your video gives the impression that they don't even really exist anymore. Though you did hold one up, it gives the impression that they're not an option. For snowshoeing in deep snow, traditional wooden snowshoes (bear paw, Ojibwa, etc.) are a necessity. For the most part, any of the ones you covered are no bueno for deep snow.
The vast majority of people who snowshoe do so on established trails, where smaller snowshoes are fine. You’re 100% correct that bigger snowshoes will always float better, if 98% of my snowshoeing wasn’t bushwhacking in steeper terrain I’d have a pair of large Hurons or Ojibwes but I need the traction provided by modern ‘shoes. I use 1036 about 75% of the time, 1242 15% and 830 10%.
Hey friends! I briefly talked about tails on snowshoes in this video, but forgot to mention that only a few snowshoe brands have this feature. Tails are great if you really need to share, but in my opinion, it's better to get the right size snowshoe rather than planning to utilize tails. Any other snowshoe basics that I missed? Comment below! - Miranda
I often go for day hikes, but sometimes also do longer backpacking trips. For me, tails are perfect to adjust according to my weight with and without a pack! :)
Also, straps materials are an important point, some of them don't do very well depending on conditions. I had multiple plastic ratchet-type straps snap in half in cold Canadian winters. Nylon ones don't do well when they need to be adjusted in wet conditions.
One thing I never read about online but I think people have to know is that when you put on snowshoes, usually aluminum, straight from your hot car and pound them right into the snow, they get wet, freeze, and pick up sticky snow that you then have to carry around until you remove it. If you don't want to be knocking the snow off your boots as often, let them cool off in the winter air for just a min before you put them in the loose snow.
Hiya Miranda, I never thought I’d snowshoe, ever…then a friend suggested going snowshoeing in the moonlight ( during a full moon in February, it was -15C). It was an organized village outing about 100 km north of Montréal , about 50 people followed a couple of guides…with the snow twinkling in the moonlight…it was surreal, and absolutely breathtaking…I became a fan. So thanks for this vid, and hey I suggest you try it! Midway, they prepped a bonfire to warm everybody up and to give everyone a break! It was unforgettable 🥰 Cheers from 🇨🇦
I will never need, want or use snowshoes, but Miranda is just so entertaining I had to watch the video anyway.
I see Miranda, I click. this isn't difficult.
Does she have a OF?
It doesn't even snow here but Miranda thinks I need the information so I watch.
same.
as a desert dweller i had no idea there was so much nuance to snow shoes! dang. thanks for the well presented info!!
Yeah. Miranda is back!!! Yeahhhhh!!
I don’t think I knew snow shoes were like, a real thing people owned? Always thought they were a rental/gimmicky thing, or something in movies. Miranda out here educating me every week.
Depends what you're doing. Going any distance in super deep snow, they're invaluable and better than skis if you're cutting your own trail on flat terrain. For traveling in snow measured in inches or hard pack then you're generally better off without. If you simply want to get out and get a good exercise then bring snow shoes in any type of snow. To give you an idea, you'll burn roughly 4x as many calories snow shoeing as you would walking in sneakers on pavement.
the humming in the intro is one of my favorite edit
I enjoyed this.. that's cool about bar for the heal of the one pair.. Thank you. Have a good day.- Melanie
I had the all plastic MSR ones but I gave those away because those are too noisy, then I got the MSR Lightning Ascent which are much quieter but not completely but it's a great pair.
These foam snowshoes look like flip-flops for bigfoot. :)
Huge fan of the metal framed snow shoes. I do recommend though having a lighter boot when using them if possible (always waterproof). Easily repairable if needed in the wild, and last a crazy long time. Worth the money.
Lighter boot than what?
A friend gifted myself and another friend aluminum snowshoes one year. We've used them each year since, and I've loaned mine back to her so she can take her Dad out and I've borrowed her set to take my Dad out. It's pretty neat, especially in the snow, at night, the moon, and the forest. It snowed last night and first thing I though was "gotta get out the snowshoes".
Thanks REI and Miranda! I am very excited to try the foam snowshoes on groomed trails and just trekking around the snow by my house!
Let us know how it goes!! Thanks for stopping by, Leah!
Glad you're back!! Love the videos they are both informative and entertaining with a sprinkle of silliness 🤣. We just back from snowshoeing! Found a nature preserve tucked away in our urban area...sweet! Looking forward to your next vidz!
My MSR Lightning Ascents ROCK !
Omg, much better! Straightforward pros and cons of the different gear options. THIS is what I subscribed for. I like that you mentioned the price range and that tails let you share shoes. We bought expensive MSRs several years ago but super worth it, they’ll last forever. The northeast has a lot of icy snow for much of the season, so the traction is critical. Thanks for the excellent vid :)
Excellent and timely, I’m a beginner and love hiking year round❤️ thank you for sharing ❤️👍 xx Jesse
I was here, just signing the guestbook.
captivating and informative.more please
.. Excellent information,, have a number of acquaintances ( some considered as friends) ,, getting into hiking and backpacking with snowshoes along ,, with discussions coming up about the topics you described,, as well as the different types of bindings offered..
Micro spikes ,, Crampons ,Snowshoes of many designs and some with or without fitted crampons ,, all have specific uses but can certainly be useful in a variety of applications..... Technology and materials have created a world of choices but as with many options available,, just as many do with snow ski's , make a decision but before spending the big bucks,, maybe rent what you pick, ,it might be the right choice or not..
And if in deep snow where you may never come in contact with the frozen icy ground ,, don't overlook the old traditional wood styles,, Bear Paws or other vintage styles with tails ,, designed to give more "floatation" .... and don't forget your poles .. a huge aid to help you get up when you fall ..
Always fun topic with Professor Miranda giving the lecture ...
Good info 👍 Thanks!
✔️ Acting goofy
✔️ Sings
✔️ Burps
❌ Farts
We draw the line at farts around here.
Do those snowshoes with the heel lift come with bell bottoms and a disco ball? 🤣 My dad had an old school pair of hand woven, wood snowshoes that I tried to learn how to use as a 7-8 year old. Hilarious doesn’t begin to cover the experience! If only the video camera had been around in 1973..... Excellent timing on this subject as I’ve been thinking modern snowshoes would be very useful for winter dog walks and getting outside to exercise more in winter. All joking aside I had never heard of the heel lift option nor did I know anything about different options for traction. Wonderful job! #MirandaBurp!
Gloves, no gloves... MAGIC!!
Thank you! Very helpful.
The “cheap plastic” snowshoe she showed are the second most expensive displayed. They are the MSR Evo Ascent. They are also the most durable snowshoe out of all of the ones showed.
The only problem with them is that when they start cracking at the rivet holes there’s nothing you can do to repair them.
🤗 Thank you guys for another great and informative video!! ❄️🥶🥶🥶❄️
Thanks for the info just wish we got snow!
Miranda is the lifeblood of this show.
Liked and subscribed in less than 30 seconds 🤣🙏🏻 thank you so much for the info! Immensely helpful AND entertaining 🤞🏻
Thanks so much, Sara! Be sure to stay tuned and check out some of our other content. 🙌 We're sure you'll love it! 😍
I live in michigan and I literally just need something to get me to work when I walk constantly and it's snowing ridiculously. So the foam sounds adequate, we just get some surprise storms where i know my shoes aren't cutting it😂
I've never heard of foam ones. They might be an interesting pair to try out. :) Also, at 6:15 if you speed up the video to 1.75 when Miranda is chewing on the icicle, there be woodland creature sounds. :)
Hahahahahahahaha!!!!! Too funny!!! Thanks, Mike!
Miranda is so great ahaha I loved that intro
Thanks for the great tips!
Once again thank you Miranda. =)
I took a high fall 20 years ago so my left foot has kind of a side step & a bit pigeon toed on that 1 foot. Is it even worth me spending money on snow shoes? I really hope you can help point me in the right direction to start in.
Thank you Trent.
TY for this video it helps a lot!
Does REI have them back in stock? Seemed like most this winter everyone was sold out of the good snowshoes.
PS, I love these Miranda in the Wild videos, they are both fun and informative without taking things too seriously.
I got my first pair of snowshoes years ago as a gift. Today is the first day I’m realizing snowshoes are sized by weight and not shoe size.
Another good tip is to buy your snowshoes in July! I can't find a pair online or anywhere to save my life...silly me, wanted to buy snowshoes in the winter...
My kind of people!
Love your videos! But I have a couple of snowshoe nitpicks. The MSR Lightnings shown are a steel frame, rather than aluminum. Also, those plastic MSR Denalis *are available with other features like the heel lift and an upgraded binding. With those features they're actually really great mountain snowshoes, although some people will prefer other models for improved traction or for not being so gosh-darn noisy.
Actually, I take that back! The MSR Lightnings *do have an aluminum frame, just a very different one. It's a very high-strength aluminum alloy.
Any recommendations for search and rescue situations? I'm a member of a local SAR team. Variable conditions and variable terrains. Durability and features vs weight.
My Dad used the classic MSR Denali when he was a search and rescue volunteer. I think it's a great idea to buy a 22 inch snowshoe (unless you're close or over to 300 lbs) and then carry the 6-8" tails if the snow is REALLY deep. The 22inch snowshoes are generally easy to maneuver and light weight- weight matters much more on your feet than your back. If you sink a bit more than with a longer snowshoe, you still probably make out ahead with energy expended to move X distance. The only thing I didn't like about the Classic Denali (I own a pair as well) is the stretchy binding straps- they come loose unless installed perfectly- and the lack of a heel riser. So based on everything I just typed, if you're interested in a 22" with optional tails that you can carry in your pack just in case, I think you're looking at the MSR EVO Ascent, MSR Lightning, or MSR Revo. All that said, I just purchased a pair of Tubbs with BOA bindings and I think these will be my go-to snowshoe (for recreation) due to the ease of using the BOA system. I don't trust the BOA system not to break/malfunction in bad conditions, although I have not heard reports of that happening.
@@chrisE815 Thank you very much Chris! Great information and exactly what I was looking for. Todd
We hike daily with our dog on a leash. How would it be snowshoeing with a leashed dog? Would the pulling be too tricky on snowshoes?
I've taken my dog snowshoeing, and the biggest concern is keeping her out from underfoot! Some dog owners opt for foam snowshoes for this reason. As for pulling, that depends on your dog, but if you can get them to slow down you shouldn't have a problem. - Miranda
The foam snow shoe would be great for bigfoot pranks.
GoodStuff! Keep up the good work.
Charming video but missing one of the main aspects of snowshoeing as experienced on the mid-Atlantic East Coast and where it's windy you will be hiking and you will come across large stretches with no snow if you bring those Snow shoes that have fabric wrapped around the frame that fabric will be destroyed in half a mile and everywhere I've ever been there are large sections where I have to hop from rock to rock or go down a long gravel stretch and that kind of snow shoe gets destroyed quick whereas those plastic ones just truck right along no problem so unless you live in a truly cold deep snow climate main or Minnesota the UP I wouldn't get that type with the fab wrapped around the frame and a lot of places out west it's windy and you come across Rocky stretches and do you wanna take your shoes off then put them back on and take them off and put them back on and take them off now you don't wanna do that just a thought
Funny fact, in europe framed snoshoes are usually cheap junk, and almost everything high end is plastic deck with lots of steel underneath.
But alps are a bit different from colorado.
Wow
Zero interest in snowshoes. I just like watching Miranda, she's so funny 🤣👍
We wear Nike mall walkers here in Mississippi
I like her!
I live in Alaska so snowshoes are an important transportation tool for me. Those foam Crescent Moon shoes are awful. No traction. Fall all over the place. We have airy, powdery snow here till late in the season, and deep. My Winter backpacking is done with snowshoes.
Hello you! I like your videos a lot, always learn something. Thank You for that and please, don't ever stop
...but I have to say that I don't like "the burping" 🙃
Do you need special boots for snowshoes?
No, but you will want waterproof boots and warm socks. I'd also recommend using gaiters, especially in deep, fluffy snow. - Miranda
I was told that max load isn't that important. How true is this?
Completely untrue. Max load for snow conditions is the most important criterion in choosing snowshoes. More-packed snow = smaller snowshoes are acceotavle, and softer, deeper snow = larger snowshoe needed.
To me sizing is the most confusing factor. Too few companies give a chart that tells what weight goes with which size.
Another confusing factor. The size you want depends on the trail conditions you normally walk on. If you are walking on a well travelled trail you can use smaller shoes, because packed snow supports your better. But if you plan on trekking through fresh deep powder you need much larger shoes because they give much better flotation on soft snow. I weigh 250 lbs with my pack on when I go out with scouts on fresh snow, so I need huge (11x36 inch) shoes.
Look into the MSR snowshoes with modular tails or find a snowshoe you like and buy two sizes! I think you will benefit from a 22-25" snowshoes for avoiding post-holing on groomed/packed trails and then using the tails to provide close to a 30" snowshoe for deep powder. Maybe rent a 28-30" snowshoe to test with all your gear in deep powder before buying. Keep in mind you aren't supposed to float perfectly on top of the powder like Jesus walking on water- snowshoes are a tool for avoiding post-holing and designed to help you expend less energy than if you were walking. In DEEP powder, you may sink down close to a foot but that's okay. Also, the recommendation to round down to the nearest size is an excellent recommendation IMO. You will be disappointed with 36" snowshoes.
I’m going to recommend rounding UP if you’re between sizes and plan on going off-trail. Rounding down is fine if you’ll be on heavily-traveled packed down trails and carrying a very small pack. I’m 260lb without my pack and 98% of the time I’m bushwhacking in the mountains of northwest Maine. 1036s are my go-to snowshoes (Tubbs Couloir/Mountaineer and Garneau Blizzard II/III), these are tube-framed snowshoes with huge toe crampons that grab extremely well after 2 or 3 stamps.
I used Lightning Ascent 30s for 4 winters, often with tails, and was very underwhelmed by them. The decking is paper-thjn, anything bigger than a hiking boot (like Sorels) abrades the decking in the very narrow foot opening, and your heels rested directly on the decking. After 4 years with mine the reinforcement was worn through and the decking was started. One thing I didn’t like about the tails is they caused the back of the ‘shoes to ride higher than the front. Plus, even at 35” long with tails attached they only had about 80% of the surface area of my 1036 snowshoes. I sold them in 2018 and haven’t looked back.
When the snow is compacted a little more late in the winter I’ll use GV Mountain Extreme 830s when in steeper terrain. In my experience these are MUCH better snowshoes than MSR Lightning Ascents, with better bindings, stronger frames, stronger decking, and serrated aluminum cleats sticking through openings in the decking for your heels to rest on. There’s a choice of 3 bindings - standard ratcheting (2 straps over the foot), a Spin binding similar to BOA, and a lighter-duty day-hiking binding called Alligator. At $280CDN/$206USD they’re just over half the price of Lightning Ascents.
I have GV Wide Trail 1242s for extremely soft snow or heavy packs. They’re heavy (7.3lb) but immensely strong, with large frame tubes and a rigid 5/8” diameter cross-tube that the binding pivots on.
Would help if literally any good snowshoe was in stock 😂
When I was a little kid my brothers, cousin and I tried to make snowshoes out of tennis rackets and duct tape.
Great! BUT NO DEMOS??? Show the small and large shoes in the snooooooow!!
Shoe Shoeing is SO HARD, very tiring.
🐈
Why not cover wooded snowshoes? Your video gives the impression that they don't even really exist anymore. Though you did hold one up, it gives the impression that they're not an option. For snowshoeing in deep snow, traditional wooden snowshoes (bear paw, Ojibwa, etc.) are a necessity. For the most part, any of the ones you covered are no bueno for deep snow.
The vast majority of people who snowshoe do so on established trails, where smaller snowshoes are fine. You’re 100% correct that bigger snowshoes will always float better, if 98% of my snowshoeing wasn’t bushwhacking in steeper terrain I’d have a pair of large Hurons or Ojibwes but I need the traction provided by modern ‘shoes. I use 1036 about 75% of the time, 1242 15% and 830 10%.
Video goes to black a couple of minutes in.
All those snowshoes seem to small for deep snow.
Hunt bigfoot with big shoes
i hate functional! i only want cute!!
Torturous to listen to, grow up and just tell us what we kneed to know about snow shoes.