Suggestings on snow shoes

[CHRIS]

I am going to be looking at getting some snow shoes but I have never bought any before so I am looking for suggestions and any pros and cons on what people have now. I have seen some snow shoes @ the LL Bean store near me that say they just click into their boots. You do have to buy them seperately, it makes it look good but not sure how reliable they are. Any help would be appreciated because I am finally done with my remodeling in the house so I am trying to get prepared to get out there again. I am going to be ordering in some Kahtolla Microspikes soon from Basegear they seem to be pretty popular.

[Bill O]

I'd personally stay away from those new click-in systems. It doesn't give you much freedom. Unless you snowshoe everyday I'd get ones with bindings that work on all types of shoes and foot sizes.

[Brad]

I agree with Bill. You want the flexibility of wearing different boots. So, an adjustable binding works well. We have 7 - 8 pair of old wooden snowshoes - we use all the time. Yes, they are what you see at antique stores. They are great for out on the lake, but not really for hiking.

We have found Kahtolla's work extremely well. Love them.

[KD Talbot]

It depends on what you want them for. If you're only going to use them at the town forest, fine, but if you're going to do any serious hill climbing go with something else. A very popular type among the people I hike with is the MSR Denalis. I have the Lightning Ascent model, but if I was to choose again I'd get the Denalis. I had a crampon failure about 6 miles out in the woods at 3500'. The crampon broke right off. It was a tough hike back out. The Denalis are built better. Though the Lightnings are lighter, they are flimsy.

Be sure to go somewhere where you can check out several different types. Atlas and Tubbs also make great snowshoes. Make sure you can talk to somebody that has experience with different types of snowshoes. I suggest REI or EMS. If you go to LL Beans, (if I'm wrong on this, someone please correct me) all you will see is LL Bean stuff.

http://www.rei.com/category/4500305

As for the Kahtoola microspikes, they are the best thing going. They are in no way a replacement for true crampons, but if you want traction in the snow, this is the way to go. Don't waste your money on YakTraks, they bust very easily. Forget Stabilicers unless you're a mailman. The Kahtoolas can take a beating. I've proven it with mine.

KDT

[Bill O]

I second that. I have one of the first pairs of Denali's with the add on flotation. Excellent snowshoes if you want to travel in the hills.

[CHRIS]

Thanks for your help. I was looking @ the Denali. I see @ REI the EVO Ascent have pretty good reveiws. http://www.rei.com/category/4500305
But the Classic is on sale right now to http://www.rei.com/product/690363 also with fair reveiws. Oh decision decisions. Thanks again for the help.

[Bill O]

If you're going to be climbing any hills make sure they have heel risers. I honestly think they produce more energy than you put it...its like perpetual motion.

[mtruman]

Depending on your use you might want to check these out: http://www.rei.com/product/759922. My wife and I each got a set of these (the womens model for her) at the beginning of last winter and have been pretty happy with them. The bindings are pretty easy to deal with and seem like they will hold up pretty well. We aren't able to get out a huge amount so I'm pretty confident that these will get us through at least a few years. At the current sale price of $89 they are a great deal. If I was getting out every weekend or doing a bit more extreme stuff I might be investing more...

[CHRIS]

Thanks for the reply Mark I will take a look @ them to. Nice price.

[krummholz]

I am the proud owner of a pair of Sherpa snowshoes. I love them. Unfortunately, the company has gone out of business. But anyway (moving right along...) one thing about them is that I had some serious claws put on them at the store--this is claws under the ball of the foot, not the heel risers that someone mentioned, though those are good, too. A couple of times I have been out with friends that had Tubbs snowshoes with wimpier claws, and they have been backsliding while I was able to just sink the claws in and go right up a steep slope. (The first section of the Wildcat Ridge Trail up from the ski slope is one place where this happened.) So look out for that option whether you're buying at a store or online.