Need a good pair of snow shoes for hunting

It's important that traditional snowshoes are balanced from to back correctly for you with the harnesses that you will be using. You want the tail down when you lift your shoe.
 
I've got the MSR lightning ascents in the largest size.....I weigh 185+or- ....these snowshoes are NOT good for deep powder snow. They have their place but deep, soft, fresh powder snow isn't it!
 
Same day is the only way to compare...... quite the difference in performance! What's the size difference in the shoes?
Were you using the deep snow/ heavy load extensions on the MSR's? My buddy is considering a pair of the latest MSR's so it's good to hear feedback....

I think someone above posted that the ideal thing is to have different shoes for different conditions and terrain, at some point compromises are necessary unless you want to have several pair.
 
I have many pair of snow shoes and none of them will provide flotation in "deep, soft, fresh powder snow" unless I am misunderstanding "deep, soft, fresh powder snow"... which I must be.

The best shoes I own for those conditions are about 5ft long, pointed at both ends and made of traditional materials. They are a nightmare in bush but are great open country movers.

My Uncle has an ancient set of bear paw shoes that are great in the bush and on most game trails, but don't give much flotation, and if you aren't careful will actually let you "fall off" the side of a packed game trail into soft snow.

I say run whatever works best in the conditions you are in.
 
MSR lightning ascent 30" shoes compared to wooden Huron style measured at 48" with the tail. The ligthning ascent don't have a heavy load extension available that I'm aware of....I believe those are for the EVO model.
When I bought the MSR's I read a lot of reviews and I guess I was expecting more than I got for deep snow performance.
I should add my location is in the north coastal mountains of BC.
 
South coastal mountains here and most of my winter travel in snow is on skis.
A foot of penetration is not a bad thing when you are going up steep hills..... :)
 
Can-down said:
South coastal mountains here and most of my winter travel in snow is on skis.
A foot of penetration is not a bad thing when you are going up steep hills..... :)
Click to expand...

Now that I'm too old to dog sled most of my winter travel is on my old long track toboggan...my snow shoes are like a spare tire...can always follow the snow machine trail back home so it's easier going. :)
 
Can-down said:
South coastal mountains here and most of my winter travel in snow is on skis.
A foot of penetration is not a bad thing when you are going up steep hills..... :)
Click to expand...

I tried the x-country ski thing last year....wiped out pretty good coming down a steep slope on very icy snow....took the skis off and carried them the last 4 miles or so to the truck. This year I bought a snowmobile and use it to get to my backcountry hunting areas and then put on snowshoes for the hunt.
If I try x-country again I"ll get some touring skis and practice more at the local downhill resort before going back into the backcountry by myself. Ha, never hurt myself with snowshoes yet!
 
It's been a while since I was on traditional cross country gear hawk.... My ski touring skis are fatter alpine skis with dynafit bindings.
BrotherRockeye, it's good to be prepared for the walk home... :)
 
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Here is a picture of them , I will be trying them out after , have to do errands with the wife first:rolleyes:
 
I friend of mine has a set of those, i believe he likes them but I do recall him having issues with the heel strap breaking in cold weather.
 
The GV wides are a pretty tough snowshoe. Don't expect them to stay the color that they are, all the logo and paint chips off pretty quick. The back heel strap is quite long and may or may not last a while. What I did with mine was 'shorten' the strap by folding it on itself, and tying it off with string and taping it together. Then when the strap eventually breaks at the hole it is always sinched up to, you can untape, untie and lengthen your strap a few times over their life. Then when it is completely toast, you can buy a strap at MEC or any place that sells skiis and use one of the stretchy binding straps as a replacement. I use mine at work every day so can't be held up with dealing with warranty/repair. We bushwack lots (forestry work) and they seem to hold up pretty good. I also find that the back strap that is meant to tie the snowshoe to the harness and help lift the tail of the snowshoe, while good in theory, always pulls my heel strap off of my boots and it doesn't matter what pair I wear, even the ones with a lip on the heel. The harness is easy to use. This time of year we are taking the shoes on and off lots as the snow disappears in a lot of spots.
 
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