Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Snowshoe advice

Looking to upgrade my from my old Sherpa Snow claws. Looking for a good all around snowshoe, trails, off trail, etc. I weigh 185 without gear or pack. What do you guys like?

I like the traction and lightish weight of my MSR's. Model is the "Revo Explore" and they measure about 7" wide & 25" long. I did get the extensions that can easily be added on for more flotation, I'm about 6' & 225, and usually hike with a pack. They do great on firmer snow. A little more flotation would be nice in the soft stuff, but they still work.

I particularly like how quick and easy the bindings are to use. Pretty quick getting the snowshoes on my boots, and they stay on securely.

Last winter I was "guiding" people on easy hikes at the local ski resort as well as doing my own recreational snowshoeing and hunting a bit on them. About the same as my norma winter usage, but with the guiding added in two or three days a week.

The shoes were 3 or 4 years old - and Both Bindings Broke! MSR gave me a good price on the replacement bindings, but they weren't free. The new bindings appear to be stronger, better built/engineered than the old ones.

So - good & bad - mostly good. I'd buy 'em again.

Guy

Maine Guide Rabbit Hunters.

MSR revolution ascent. I bought the tails too. Im 6 feet 225. They work good going up and down hill. Steep down hill in deep snow is a bit tricky. I have to really sidehill. Ive tried in waist deep snow and you did sink down quite a bit. 4 years and no issues. If using in exclusively deep ( 3 feet snow) maybe get feedback on a another brand too. Otherwise pretty happy with them. I think MSR usually has a Holiday sale. Ive never tried with a heavy pack. Most Ive carried in pack was around 15 lbs. The bindings work better with a stiffer hiking boot compare to a softer pack boot it seemed.

https://www.msrgear.com/snowshoes/ascent-series/revo-ascent-snowshoes/revo-ascent.html

I agree and really like MSR. I think it was Brad who pointed me to MSR about 15 yrs ago. Replaced my traditional Native Canadian Cree handmade snowshoes which now hang above the fireplace.

I'd go this route: https://www.msrgear.com/snowshoes/ascent-series/lightning-ascent-snowshoes/lightning-ascent.html and get the 30" model which would allow you to carry a heavy pack, pull a heavy sled or give you more loft.

MSR Lightning Ascent hands down the best shoes you can have

Got a pair of ash and rawhide modified bear paws from my old forestry days. Hanging on the wall now

Yup, I still have my old 10x56 wood & rawhide snowshoes that I bought used in the mid 1970's. They're fun to use now and then, but I need some new bindings for them. Can't beat the cool look of a traditional snowshoe.

Guy

Personally, I don't think they can be beat from a use standpoint, let alone looks.

I have yet to try a synthetic snowshoe that works as well as a quality traditional woven set, to include MSR.

That said from a hunting standpoint I have found few hunts that they're useful for l, except spring bear, ptarmagin and one late season cow tag I had. If the snow is more than knee deep, the critters usually have migrated out of there anyhow. I am sure other exceptions exist, but I can't think of any.

Me and several colleagues are staying with the storied, old school Atlas 1033s.

For all round use in traditional wood/rawhide I would recommend Iverson and their 10"x36" modified bear paw. My first pair of snowshoes were Snocraft Alaskan trail model 10"x56" and found they worked good in open country but in brush/timber not so good. My Iverson works great in most conditions and they look good on the wall, too.

https://iversonssnowshoes.com/

Really nice ceiling.

Is that a snakeskin?

Things get really dry up there?

I

Use the hell out of them for coyotes.

Thanks for the input.

Then keep on keeping on....I guess.
I've called coyotes a lot in the southern Idaho desert and foothills and have never needed snowshoes. How high up in elevation do you go for them?

Rattlesnake. Normally we are on the humid side in warm months and in winter we get a lot of heavy wet snow.

Go where they are. 5000-6000.

Similar elevation to where I've called, in Cassia County and the Owhyees. Different experiences I guess.

Good luck.

Fremont, Butte, Bonneville , Lemhi counties

I like the MSR Lightnings as they are available in 30" length; if you're in packed snow conditions all the time you can go shorter- if you encounter powder much you want the 30" length AND the tails

30" is plenty nimble for snowshoes

I have shorter snowshoes and if I know for sure it's going to be packed snow, I'll take them, if it's powder or a question mark- then the Lightnings; if I was forced to own just one pair, it would be an easy choice

the long skinny ones

I have the atlas 1033 mentioned above. Good all-around shoe.

If powder, big pack, etc, that adds weight, go 36”.

If hard pack or thin snow, you can get away with smaller.

This is for bear claw style.

Msr lightning ascents are the best. Great traction, good float, lightweight. I have used/own most brands from northern lights, atlas, tubbs, local good quality wooden shoes. Pickup some lightning ascents.

When in powder, I haven't found anything that beats a traditional woven set. It can certainly be made from modern materials, but the woven design allows powder that caves in on top of the snowshoe to fall back out, which every modern design that I have played with didn't do well, at all. I don't like to lift my foot up and have it be twice as heavy because I am lifting a bunch of snow up too. For me the MSR Lightening, various modern Atlas models, etc. are a no go. YMMV.
Stride and leg length may have something to do with it v.s. a shorter person....I dunno.

Except for the heel bar, they appear to have copied the original ATLAS design.

We always get a good laugh at urban snowshoers that proudly sport their high tech snow shoes....on a packed trail.

......... the 1st snowfall after Christmas while I blow by them in my Muck boots.

Northern lites....

I'm still using a pair of old Sherpa Snow Claws, lighter and better function than a lot of the newer designs. Northern lite would probably be my current choice, basically a modern version of the Sherpa. Like someone mentioned, the old rawhide web shoes work well. The best flotation I've ever had was with a long Alaskan pair of these, but they get a little difficult in the brush.