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Topic |
Winnipeg, MB
Canada
40 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2011 : 08:06 AM
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| I am looking at getting a pair of snowshoes from MEC. Is this a good idea? How well do the new generation of shoes hold up when compared to the old school shoe? |
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Burnaby, BC
Canada
1293 Posts |
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Van, BC
Canada
2789 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2011 : 08:24 AM
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No comparison - new school.
-Ryan |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
874 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2011 : 08:26 AM
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If by "old school" you are referring to the wood and leather type, the new ones are vastly superior. The aluminum frames and hypalon decks are almost indestructible. And they do not rot when they get wet. I smashed numerous wood and leather snowshoes when I was younger. I have yet to wreck my first pair of Atlas tubulars despite brutal treatment.
I think the Atlas tubular snowshoes may be a bit tougher than the MSR style. But the MSRs are much better suited to west coast terrain. If I were you I would buy the MSRs.
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2011 : 2:23 PM
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| MSR Evos (or Denalis if you can find some). Solid, and you can add tails for deeper powder. Aluminum frames bend or break - if you can bust a pair of Denails, you're really working at it. That's why MEC uses them for rentals, and all the schoolboards bought them. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3787 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2011 : 4:46 PM
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I have seen a lot of broken Atlas tubes. I have never seen a bent or broken Lightning aluminum frame. Quality makes a difference.
Old hug round wooden snowshoes are excellent at keeping you high on the snow in deep drifty powder. They have mediocre attachment systems, and terrible traction.
Modern aluminum-frame snowshoes are light, and (the good ones) have great traction on the bottom, so you can go up steep slopes without sliding around. |
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Winnipeg, MB
Canada
40 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2011 : 6:02 PM
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Thanks for the responses. Much appreciated.  I will be getting quality set for sure. I have too many cases of learning the hard way, by buying something less costly.
Cheers. |
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 | Dru
Mountain Grammar Police
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Sardonic sandbagging scoundrel, Cascade Climbers lobotomized spraymeister, space blanket flyer, new millennium vulgarian betaboy and friend to all squids
Climbing, a mountain
Canada
∞ Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2011 : 6:32 PM
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Lightnings have side traction further from your foot than Evos and slide more easily on traverses  |
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chinese hot-pot gourmand, costco pirate, 103 hikes completin', picture postin', commander of our newest canadian trekkers
Vancouver, BC
Canada
1740 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2011 : 8:43 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Dru
Lightnings have side traction further from your foot than Evos and slide more easily on traverses
I agree with you on that, but I found Lightnings kick steps better on the steep snow slopes than Evos/Denali (non-icy or hard packed snow)
IMO, backcountry snowshoers here should only buy MSR snowshoes or Tubbes Flex ALP snowshoes(say NO to tubular structure snowshoes). Pls correct me if I am wrong
btw: a couple of my group members bought a new model of lightening--Axis. I did find that you have to adjust its front belt before the trip in case they become too frozen to adjust during the trip |
Edited by - mazeGirl on 01/11/2011 9:37 PM |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3787 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2011 : 9:44 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by mazeGirl
btw: a couple of my group members bought a new model of lightening--Axis. I did find that you have to adjust its front belt before the trip in case they become too frozen to adjust during the trip
The idea in the new binding on the Lightning Axis and the Evo Tour is that you set it at home, and then you leave it there forever. It's a pain to set, but you do it once and then leave it set. It's great if you own your own snowshoes, but not a great idea if they are going to be used by a lot of different people. |
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North Vancouver, B.C.
Canada
84 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2011 : 10:18 PM
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So what would the ultimate snowshoe then be for the lower mainland ?
These (Evo Ascent's) :  These (lightning Ascents) :  or something like these (Tubbs Mountaineer) : 
Which would you pick and why ? Feel free to suggest others. Would your pick change if you were choosing for someone who is 150 lbs ? Would it change for someone who is 225 lbs ? |
Edited by - busguy on 01/12/2011 12:01 AM |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
874 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2011 : 10:25 PM
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Lightning ascents.
* Narrower footprint so they can traverse better and easier.
* Heel lift.
* Crampon teeth all the way around their perimeter for better traction.
The binding sucks though. |
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Powell River, bc
Canada
2534 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2011 : 10:26 PM
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I have the Evo Ascent's now,used to rent the Denali's,bombproof!!! Used tails twice,with clothes and pack I'm an easy 225  ,but I am 7'2" LOLOLOL |
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chinese hot-pot gourmand, costco pirate, 103 hikes completin', picture postin', commander of our newest canadian trekkers
Vancouver, BC
Canada
1740 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2011 : 10:27 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by busguy
So what would the ultimate snowshoe then be for the lower mainland ?
These (Evo Ascent's) : These (lightning Ascents) : or something like these (Tubbs Mountaineer) :
Which would you pick and why ? Would your pick change if you were choosing for someone who 150 lbs ? Would it change for someone who is 225 lbs ?
I would like to pick Tubbs Flex ALP 22- inch if I was choosing for someone who is around 150 lbs
I would like to pick Tubbs Flex ALP 24- inch if I was choosing for someone who is around 225 lbs
I am very curious with Tubbs Flex ALP Series which I do not have any direct/indirect experience with 
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Edited by - mazeGirl on 01/11/2011 10:46 PM |
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canine loving, machete-toting bushwhacking lake seeker, Indiana Jones hat-wearing off-road 4x4 guru
Surrey Hole, BC
Canada
6773 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2011 : 10:59 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by no quitting
I have the Evo Ascent's now,used to rent the Denali's,bombproof!!! Used tails twice,with clothes and pack I'm an easy 225 ,but I am 7'2" LOLOLOL
say waht?? 7'2?? shut up, no way? |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3787 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2011 : 11:36 PM
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I think the Evos have at least as much traction as the Lightnings, with the two bars running down the whole length.
The benefit of the Lightnings over the Evos is really just weight.
Either would serve you excellently. |
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North Vancouver
230 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2011 : 05:49 AM
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The OP lives in Winnipeg - I'm not sure I'd recommend MSR, great as they are in the mounains.
Flotation isn't one of their strong points. Talk to the locals. |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2011 : 07:12 AM
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Just a comment when considering weight calculations - I weigh about 150 lbs. However, with full winter gear and a daypack, I come in closer to 200!
Try this. Calculate your loaded weight. Figure the low end of the weight rating for the snowshoes is what the snowshoe will carry in deep powder, and the high end is what they'll carry on hardpack.
I have to disagree with these comments:
"I would like to pick Tubbs Flex ALP 22- inch if I was choosing for someone who is around 150 lbs
I would like to pick Tubbs Flex ALP 24- inch if I was choosing for someone who is around 225 lbs"
MSR Denalis without tails are 22" long, and I can only use them without tails on a packed trail. For deep powder, I have to go to a 4" or 8" tail, making them 26" or 30" long by 8" wide. Unless the Tubbs ALP are extra wide, I don't see how you can get adequate flotation on such a short snowshoe.
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| Dru
Mountain Grammar Police
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Sardonic sandbagging scoundrel, Cascade Climbers lobotomized spraymeister, space blanket flyer, new millennium vulgarian betaboy and friend to all squids
Climbing, a mountain
Canada
∞ Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2011 : 08:50 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by weedWhacker
Lightning ascents.
* Narrower footprint so they can traverse better and easier.
* Heel lift.
* Crampon teeth all the way around their perimeter for better traction.
The binding sucks though.
This point is exactly wrong. The teeth are a few inches away from your foot all the way around. On a tilted slope, the resulting normal force into the slope at the teeth is less than it would be if they were directly under your foot, and less than it is on the Evo models where the traction bar is near the edge of your foot. So, despite all the teeth, they slide around more because no matter how hard you stamp them, they don't transmit as much of the force of that stamp into the slope. More of it is wasted.
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Edited by - Dru on 01/12/2011 08:51 AM |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3787 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2011 : 10:52 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Dru
quote:
Originally posted by weedWhacker
Lightning ascents.
* Narrower footprint so they can traverse better and easier.
* Heel lift.
* Crampon teeth all the way around their perimeter for better traction.
The binding sucks though.
This point is exactly wrong. The teeth are a few inches away from your foot all the way around. On a tilted slope, the resulting normal force into the slope at the teeth is less than it would be if they were directly under your foot, and less than it is on the Evo models where the traction bar is near the edge of your foot. So, despite all the teeth, they slide around more because no matter how hard you stamp them, they don't transmit as much of the force of that stamp into the slope. More of it is wasted.
Depends on your point of comparison. It's not as direct as the Evos, but it's vastly better than the typical round aluminum tube around the outsides. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
874 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2011 : 2:13 PM
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It depends on the conditions. If the surface is ice, then it is better to have the crampons under your boot to maximize the bite. Ditto for crossing a patch of frozen bare ground. But if the surface is wind packed snow where the penetration is easy, then more teeth around the outside is better.
I suspect it is a moot point for the OP. As Rachelo pointed out he lives in Saskatchewan. |
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Topic |
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New school or old school snowshoes?
