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By Shoe-foot Shelly from Showdown, Montana on 11/05/2009 Pros: Compact Design, Lightweight Cons: Difficult Entry & Exit, Unstable Best Uses: Flat Terrain, Rolling Terrain Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational Sizing: Feels true to size Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend Comments: My boyfriend bought a pair of these on sale, and hates them so much it's like pulling teeth to get him to come show-shoeing with me.
First the good points: They're really not a bad shoe on relatively level terrain, and they provide decent floatation...but the bindings are awful. Once they're on, they're secure enough, but they're tough to get tightened properly, and it takes a lot of time. The crampons are smallish, but fine for gentle terrain. The snappy heel is nice for agility, and yet it doesn't fling too much snow. He might get snowballs thrown at the backs of his legs, but never up his back or over his head.
Now for the down side. These shoes are COMPLETELY lacking in lateral stability. When traversing a slope, my poor boyfriend's heels come ALL THE WAY OFF THE SHOE. Not just off the heel plate, but off the entire shoe. He's kind of duck footed (toes out) when he walks normally, and the bindings are too soft to keep the snow shoe aligned with his feet. Even on level terrain, the shoes point forward perfectly straight, but his feet point toes-out...meaning that his heels are treading on the frame, thus putting more weight on the inside of the shoe, causing it to tilt inward, and this makes his ankles hurt and his hips hurt, and because the shoes are entering the snow at an angle, he sinks in much deeper.
This is not a problem with all snow shoes. Some manufacturers make nice stiff bindings that keep the shoe aligned with your foot, no matter what your foot is doing. I'm as duck-footed as he is, but the stiffer binding on my snowshoe keeps my foot planted firmly over the heel plate, even when traversing.
In short, the bindings suck. If your feet point perfectly forward, and intend to spend most of your time on flat terrain, and you have the patience to fiddle with the bindings, then these might be the shoes for you. If you want to discourage someone from snowshoeing, put them in a pair of these and try to traverse a gentle slope. That'll teach them!
By farriersgirl from New Hampshire - snow country on 03/16/2009 Pros: Attach Securely, Compact Design, Easy Entry & Exit, Good Traction, Lightweight, Stable Best Uses: All Terrain, Deep Snow, Flat Terrain, Rolling Terrain, Steep Pitches Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational Sizing: Feels true to size Width: Feels true to width Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: The bindings can be operated with only one hand!
By Tom from Schreiber, Ontario, Canada on 03/16/2009 Pros: Attach Securely, Compact Design, Easy Entry & Exit, Good Traction, Lightweight, Stable Best Uses: Deep Snow, Icy Conditions, Off Trail, Rolling Terrain, Steep Pitches Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational Sizing: Feels true to size Width: Feels true to width Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: I use these snowshoes for work and so far I have found them to be great. I especially like the fact that the traction on an ice surface is fantastic. I have not found anything bad to say about them.
Gets me to the climbs, Keeps me Afloat By Scott the Ice Climber from Columbus, OH on 02/11/2009 Pros: Attach Securely, Good Traction, Lightweight Cons: Difficult Entry & Exit Best Uses: Deep Snow, Flat Terrain, Off Trail, Rolling Terrain Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational Sizing: Feels true to size Width: Feels true to width Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: I used this product to get to ice climbs in Canada. Most of the climbs were 1-2km from the road and we needed to break trail through 4+ feet of snow. These did a great job at keeping me (180lbs with a 40-50lb pack) afloat.
My only concern is the entry and secure straps. Other snowshoes have entire mesh basket that cinches over the front and top of the boot which secures tightly and keeps the shoe from twisting under foot. These only include two diagonal tiedowns and make them seem cheap. I did not have any problems, but I wish they were a bit beefier in those regards.
Bottom Line: A good shoe for recreational use and day hikes. Although they worked great, I would be a little hesitant to take these on a longer overnight backpacking trip, but that's just personal opinion.
By imasngr from Rockford, Illinois on 02/06/2009 Pros: Attach Securely, Stable Cons: Difficult Entry & Exit Best Uses: Flat Terrain, Off Trail Describe Yourself: Getting Started Sizing: Feels true to size Width: Feels true to width Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: I walked around my backyard in these to try them out since I'd never used them before. They stayed on and were fairly easy to walk in. I suspect the more I use them, the easier it will get. Need to get some poles that are the right size, though! Wish they came in "prettier" colors, like purple, pink, or topaz.
I would buy this product again and again By BHCC33 from Waverly, IA on 02/05/2009 Pros: Attach Securely, Good Traction, Lightweight, Stable Best Uses: Deep Snow, Flat Terrain, Icy Conditions, Off Trail, Rolling Terrain Describe Yourself: Getting Started Sizing: Feels true to size Width: Feels true to width Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: After living in Northern Iowa for 30 plus years
I GIVE! This is my first year partaking in
any outdoor winter activity (unless you count
running from car to house). I had no idea
what to buy nor what to expect. I LOVE IT!
So, you can take my review for what it is worth.
I have nothing to compare my snow shoes to but
they are easy for me to use and I enjoy this
activity very much.
By Fellers from CNY on 02/02/2009 Cons: Difficult Entry & Exit Describe Yourself: Collegiate/Pro Sizing: Feels true to size Width: Feels true to width Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend Comments: Do yourself a favor and spend more money on your shoes. The binding system on these sucks bad.
They are a pain to get on right. They tails swing no matter how tight they are. I use them for hunting. One day I took them right off and picked them up on my way out. It was easier to post hole than fight these to two pieces of junk.
By CapeCodFrank from Cape Cod, MA on 01/22/2009 Pros: Attach Securely, Lightweight, Stable Cons: Difficult Entry & Exit Best Uses: Icy Conditions, Off Trail Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational Sizing: Feels true to size Width: Feels true to width Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend Comments: The green paint on the deck has scratched off after one use. These snowshoes perform adequately for casual trekking in old hard snow. Same bindings as the really cheap model, so not a good value.
Redfeather Sport Trek bindings By TDS from Tacoma WA on 01/21/2009 Cons: Difficult Entry & Exit Describe Yourself: Advanced Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend Comments: Snowshoes themselves are okay but the bindings were difficult to use.
By Sugar Mama from Decorah, Iowa on 01/19/2009 Pros: Attach Securely, Easy Entry & Exit, Good Traction, Lightweight, Stable Best Uses: All Terrain, Deep Snow, Flat Terrain, Icy Conditions, Off Trail, Rolling Terrain, Steep Pitches Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational Sizing: Feels true to size Width: Feels true to width Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: I live on 500 acres of bluffs and woods. I snowshoe around everywhere on the acreage. These snowshoes get me through it all. Nice secure bindings, agressive cramp-ons for steep hills. Nice action on the tail.
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