Need a good pair of snow shoes for hunting

T90 said:
I walk at 235 without pack and 270 with pack. I wear MSR Lightning Explores, I put on a lot of kms in the bush in varying snow conditions, and while no snowshoe will allow you levitate on the surface of the snow I have found that the MSR Lightning Ascent and Lightning Explores give excellent flotation with the ability to add an additional 5 inches of flotation with optional tail if necessary.

I personally wear a 30" shoe and trek cross country as well as climb mountains with them. The scalloped flexible frame acts as an extra traction device over and above the binding crampons for exceptional traction on icy or packed snow conditions.

The only downfall that I can say about the MSR Lightning series of snowshoe is the cost, however for the quality of product and the expected life of the shoe I would say it is more of an investment in your outdoor winter experience.

PS. FWIT I also highly recommend Icebreakers Merino wool socks. They cost the same as many other high end Merino wool socks but carry an amazing original owner warranty in case you are not happy with the sock or end up blowing out a heel or ball of your foot, they will replace no questions asked.
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I must look into these
 
all depends on the weight you're planning on carrying and snow conditions . the biggest / lightest shoes you can find will be the best for heavy loads.

I made a set of snow shoes last year that resemble msr's LIGHTNING AXIS but made them wider and longer.

I compared them to the standard msr LIGHTNING AXIS and to the old CF military magnesium shoes this is in a nut shell what I found.

MSR :

1) sunk the deepest 10" - 12" or so
2) where the lightest , but when snow fell on to the shoe it added weight to each step but found it cleared fast.
3) smallest shoe 8" x 30"

CF;

1) sunk 8" - 9 "
2) where mid weight , when snow pushed up or fell on shoe it added weight and didn't clear very well/ quickly
3) mid sized shoe 11" x 36"

custom shoes:
1)sunk the least 4"-5"
2) heavy on the legs, but snow on the shoe was never an issue
3) largest shoe 14" x 36"


I made my custom shoes too heavy duty and added too much weight to them .
so now I'm planning on customizing my existing msr's to except removable light weight side extensions to increase surface area size of shoe to 14" x 30" , most of the time standard msr's are fine but if you get in to deep powdery snow you'll need more shoe, hence the extensions. I know msr makes a tail extension but I'm not sold on it doing what I need.
 
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BrotherRockeye said:
The ones I have come to like best are the white magnesium CF issue shoes. They have a higher lift in the nose than the old school wooden ones of the same pattern. I have a couple sets of Cree or Algonquin style but they aren't bush friendly.
There are a bunch of modified bear paw styles on the market these days that are worth looking at too.
I had my daughters ( 7, 10 )on snow shoes for the first time on Feb break, the did really well and loved it. I had us all take turns breaking trail so I think I was the only one worn out by the end. :)
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These are my favorites as well. I have several other pairs of various kinds but I am usually wearing these.
 
I use the gv wide trail and they work perfect. I am 205 pounds. I use them hunting jacks. With all my gear and I bring a extra rifle with my shot gun and wear the eberstock backpack so I am weighed down pretty good and they work great. I don't use the heel strap. My other hunting buddies have the same one with a similar amount of gear and they swear by them as well. One of them weighs about 280 and the other 160 pounds.
 
So much depends on snow conditions. Prairie snow equals wind blown, hardened snow conditions. Any snowshoe will do.
Northern BC equals snow that has never thawed or been wind blown. Two and a half feet, or so, of snow so soft and maybe grainy, that with only your normal shoes on, you would sink to near ground level. Completely different type and size of snowshoe needed.
 
I read the label on some of the tubbs snowshoes and they say the weight is based on trail not fresh snow. I bought some world famous ones because they were the largest in the store. Hate the ratchet binding and the cut out in front of the foot is way too large and only serves to pick up more snow. Personally I would pick up the army ones but my princess auto doesn't have them. Always buy things when you see them. Lol.
 
Ive only used the CF issued ones too and think that they work pretty good, just need a new set of bindings for mine.

I was also looking at those ski's to try out. Good to know that they can take a 280 lbs though.
 
Excellent thread, I am also shopping for snowshoes.
Would like something to hold up 3 Bills.

I am considering the following:
- Atlas 1035
- Faber 16x48 Hurons
- Military 12x42
- GV Wide Trail

Need a pair that are comfortable on my feet if that exists.

A few years ago I tried out a pair of huge Faber Hybrid Winter Guides and returned them. Absolutely hated everything about them. Killed my feet, hard to maneuver, poor floatation, noisy.
That experience left me thinking that a snow shoe large enough for me does not exist. I gave up, but now I am dreaming again...
 
The GV wide trail seems to be my jam. I don't think the hok ski's would work for me although they seem great in a prairie setting. I may buy a second pair , maybe the surplus ones or something smaller to bring and tie on my pack as spares.
 
I am a trim slim 200 to 220 and have 2 pair magnesium CF and both are broken and too heavy for me. They are no good in a cedar swamp for yote hunting. I use the cheap CTC crap ones and they do a great job for me. They are light, stay on, easy to lift and turn, step between dead falls and also keep you on top.
 
I have Faber snowshoes. mountain expert 10X36. this is my 3rd season on them. light and comfortable. My only suggestion is if you plan on walking on any hard pack trail a aggressive crampon is a little annoying.

OH and made in canada
 
You state you want them for hunting which means you need something as quiet as possible. Traditional snow shoes in my opinion are your best bet for quiet walking, good floatation, and durability with some yearly maintenance. I have a pair of Faber 14"x42" that I have used every year since 1973. The webbing has been repaired a few times and they have had many coats of varnish, but there still going strong, and with lamp wick as harness strapping.
I tried a pair a the newer metal framed synthetic ones. Poor floatation, and so noisy you couldn't hear yourself think when walking in the bush. Pure junk. Then again I like cedar canvas canoes as well. With the right wind you can paddle right behind a moose. With the right traditional ash and gut laced snowshoes you will not be disappointed.
 
The sizes being quoted on here do not match the old traditional shoes I was used to.
In my snowshoeing days I was a lean 175-180 and a size 11 x 54 was the best size for combination of trail breaking and on the trail.
Next size up was 12 x 60.
With the shape of those snowshoes, if one took reasonably long steps, you could use almost a normal walking width between your legs as you walked. The inside of the shoe in the air would just clear your other leg and when you put the shoe down, it virtually fit in the curves of the other shoe. This is far and away the most comfortable walk.
I'm looking at a quoted size above of 16 x48 inches. It seems to me one would be walking in those like a fat duck.
Another showed a picture of ones about 48" long and the same width from end to end. Again, it would take a duck to spread his legs wide enough so as not to step on your own snowshoe as you put a foot down.
 
Bruce; you have a excellent point, my Faber 14"x 42" that I bought by Eatons mail order ( if anyone remembers that) are as wide as you would want. You are correct, the average mans normal walking gate will not tolerate anything overly wide or it interferes with your walk. Mine at 14" the inner edge of the shoe would at times tick on the inside of my leg. So a 12' shoe would have been better. But for me it was not a big deal, so I stuck with what I had as the curve of the shoe was correct in that when I put my foot down I was not stepping on the other shoe The first pair of shoes I had where long and narrow probably in the 11"x60" range, they were for open country, crossing lakes etc. not good in tight bush. But you could maintain a good pace with a long narrow shoe and they gave good floatation. They had a generous up curve at the toe and the heel always dragged due to the length.

There was a family named Avery's in Whitney Ont. that used to make snowshoes. They would custom make them for you if you wanted. I remember being there as a young man and my uncle was getting a pair made. They had him walk up and down the path out side the shop just to watch him walk, took a few measurements and made him a pair of shoes from that. I remember the fella saying each man walks different and has a different purpose for a snow shoe. So I build the shoes for the man and the purpose.
 
These snow shoes will be to get to our hunting spot , setting a trap line and checking it and hunting. I think I'll
Go
With a set of GV wide trails , if I don't like
Them I'll sell them and get a pair of traditionals.
 
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