Snowshoe advice

I think you've gotten a lot of bad advice, but then I'm not really familiar with your particular area or exactly what you plan to do with them. If you just want to cut a short trail on flat ground then wear anything you like. I hike in steep timber and brush area and rarely take a trail twice. I've used wood and aluminum and they're tough to use in the brush climbing over timber, side hilling and climbing up out of creek bottoms. I've went through a lot of shoes and finally settled on MSR ascents with tails. These things aren't the tubular aluminum that will ski down the hill and slide on the logs you step on and across. The outer edge is a single bar all the way around with teeth cut in that will stick to a log so you can hop over it and not slide backwards off it. You can side hill and climb out of a nasty creek bottom, they really grip on the snow.

They are spendy, but they are the best in my opinion. If they save me an injury or get me further in the back country with less effort they're worth every penny.

MSR_LightningAscent25_Blk_1011.jpg


The tails just clip on and stay put
snowshoe_tail_lightning.jpg
 
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You're definitely right about sidehilling, accents and descents. The military surplus are not for that. I've mostly used them on relatively flat or rolling ground. The few times I've gotten myself down in a creek bottom with them it has been a beast getting out. Darn near dangerous on any significant slope. So good advice... Depends on where you're gonna use them.
 
Check out Maine guide snowshoes, all handcrafted from white ash and have quick on-off bindings. Don't make any noise like the aluminum framed ones. Buy once cry once
 
You wouldn't be disappointed with a pair of 36" aluminum. Easy to get on and off and makes walking though the snow fun again. Cabela's sales are all over for now.
 
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