snowshoes

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hornhead

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not sure if this is the right place for this post.
in that most hunting seasons around here are now closed i'm pondering my small game season.
i have 2 pairs of snowshoes -
canadian army surplus (metal-cree style)& and a set of ojibways (wood , pointed at both ends)
has anyone tried the new styles of snowshoes ? - alloy frames etc.
i've had mine for years, but i don't know how the new tech snow shoes would track without tails. pretty expensive if one buys the wrong set.
thx
 
I think it's be very difficult to beat the CF issue snowshoes. They are an alloy frame. I have a pair of wood snowshoes that are round on the back. No problem moving with them. Heavy compared to the CF shoes. They kept me on top of 4 feet of snow in the bush.
 
the thing i have heard about the CF shoes is keep them away from fires as there is magnesium in the alloy. yes they are light, but i find the ojiways better for snaking through buck brush and willows cuz of the pointed fronts.
that's what concerns me about the new high tech shoes as they seem to have borrowed the design of the "bearspaw" shoes. after a couple of hours on bearspaws i'm bowlegged and tired cuz of the width.
 
The new style (alloy frame) snowshoes look like the ideal compromise between snowshoe weight and size. My only concern is that because of my gravitational handicap, to the tune of 215 lb. (minus all the winter clothes and firearm) that they will sink too deep.
I've tried the CF shoes and wasn't happy with their performance, for the above reason. I've been using a pair of Faber (teardrop pattern) for years and am very happy with their performance, they are relatively light and easy to walk with.
I only use them in open fields and fencerows however and wouldn't recommend them for any bush walking. On the plus side, they offer more than enough "buoyancy" on most types of snow.
 
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I have a pair of the 7 series, 730 good for 250 lbs. Now selling for $200 at Crappy Tire, seem to come on sale all the time tho'. Easier to use, imo, than the military ones. Haven't put too many K's on them but no signs of trouble so far in 3 years.
 
well i'm hunting when i wear mine. usually looking for small game.
i like to have something handy where ever i snowshoe cuz there seems to be a lot of cougars around. (not the single scene ones).
i was just at MEC this afternoon. saw the atlas shoes. nice bindings. just don't know how to do an emergency repair on them if you put a willow thru the deck.
nice piece of kit tho. altho the CF shoes are tuff, i was never all that impressed with the flotation of them. my old ojibways are better.
 
I have used the military snowshoes, and I have found them to be well made and durable, however the only thing that stops me from sinking deeper in the snow when I'm wearing these things is the ground! I have a pair of the new high tech snow shoes - Atlas the model escapes me - and they have pretty good floatation. When I'm all geared up in the cold I'm probably pushing 300 pounds, so just finding snow shoes that work has been a challenge. The plastic binding get a little stiff when the temperature hits the mid 30's, but I love the ratcheting tightener. I was a little concerned that snow would stack up on the solid cover, but it's slipperty enough that it hasn't been an issue. On the down side, when you are walking across ponds or small lakes the ice picks can leave you with sore feet after a short distance. The biggest plus for the high tech snow shoes, aside from the light weight, is that if you get into slush or water they won't fall apart.
 
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sounds like you have the atlas frontier with the snowboard ratcheting system.
that's the set i was impressed with. they hold tight for flipping them around. high end on cost tho. $345 at MEC.
finding it hard to justify but SIR sells the ojibway now for $120.
mine were $60 but about 20 years ago.
kinda funny but i'm SURE my salary hasn't doubled ??? :(
 
I have a pair of FABER ash and rawhide traditional styled shoes. I bought them 15 years ago when I was 180 lbs, Now that I've managed to get to 265.....yah a bit of baby fat, I hope they will keep me floating on the deep stuff.

Rabbit or chicken hunting with snow shoes sure is fun though, just like in the old days.
 
"265",lol.
I've only use the CF type so I have nothing to compare them with,but for small game with bow,snowshoes can prove real challenging,especially when your climbing into a valley(Batlle River Valley) to the bottom,climbing up is
not as fun,it's good the Army keeps me in shape to say the least!
 
My wife and l both use atlas rigs and been very happy with everything about them.

On the down side, when you are walking across ponds or small lakes the ice picks can leave you with sore feet after a short distance.
Click to expand...

Haven't tried hard surfaces before, but l can see exactly what you mean......
 
Great... something else on my wish list. I must have about 10 pairs of old style snowshoes lying around, but never used them much as the bindings on most of them are rotten or missing.

Maybe I should sell em all and get one good modern set... sounds like a plan!
 
i tried XC skis w/o skins chasing bush bunnies. poles/waxes etc and going downhill on XC skis is an extreme sport in my mind, esp with a rifle slung on your back.
180degree turns in the bush?? ... i look like a drunken line dancer at a western bar.
on the other hand XC skiing could be a good excuse to buy one of those biathlon 22s. (they have those cool muzzle covers and i spend a lot of time on my butt XC skiing)
snowshoes are much easier. put them on and walk. use a sapling for stability if need be. or 1 XC ski pole.
 
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