Everytime I go to the Winter Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City I marvel at the number of snowshoe manufacturers that exhibit.  They all look pretty much the same to me and I always wonder how big that market can be anyway.  Snowshoes are big, awkward and generally a pain to lug around until you need them.  Then they turn into the most wonderful inventions ever devised, worth their weight in gold and completely undeserving of the many colorful curse words uttered previously about them.

The first snowshoes I ever used were a set of old LL Bean trappers that were the classic tennis racquet shape with criss crossed leather straps and wooden frames.  They work OK but they are wide and clumsy.  The next ones I used were military surplus that were the same old design but they were white and made of aluminum and cabling.  They will keep you on top of the snow in the flats but are useless for any sort of climbing. 

In 1995 Mountain Safety Research aka MSR came out with their Denali models.  A radical departure from earlier designs and vastly superior especially in the steeps because of steel cleats built into the bindings and horizontal traction rails running lengthwise along the decks.  Lightweight, sturdy, easy to walk in and extremely effective in all conditions and terrain thanks to the ingenious screw on tails for increased surface area.  They were game changers then and still the best on the mountain in my opinion.

MSR has continually improved the Denali to the current state of the art Lightning Ascent series and frankly I am not sure how they can get any better unless they add some super ultra lightweight, self propelled tank track mechanism that whisks you to the top of the mountain with out so much as breaking a sweat.


Modern MSR snowshoe bindings are easy to put on and adjust even with gloves on and they stay put giving the user total control over the decks.  Especially important in difficult terrain with heavy loads.  Note the optional floatation tails are attached.

I also own models from Tubbs and Atlas and they are fine but I prefer, believe in and trust the MSR units because they have always performed for me in the field whether I was just goofing around or on an actual mission. 

Snowshoeing is a lot of fun so if you have never tried it you should.  If your first due area or recreational goal includes terrain that could require the use of snowshoes I highly recommend any of the MSR models, even the old Denalis if you can find them, but especially the Ascents for use in the mountains.  And as always, for you green horns, learn how to use them before you have to depend on them.

Sorting through the fads and fashion of the outdoor equipment industry to identify and promote the very best wilderness gear for high end recreational users, backcountry professionals and government agencies. 

We can be educated and persuaded but not bought, bullied or bs'd.  Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who can't or won't turn back.