I have a pair of the 25in Northern Lite "Quicksliver"s. I weigh 160 lb and typically carry a 25lb or less pack. However I snowshoe mostly in the Olympic Mountains where the snow is wet and dense. In most cases these snowshoes are fine but in light snow they do sink in. If I lived in somewhere with softer snow and colder temps (meaning heavier packs) I would definitely go with a pair of 30" snowshoes. Sinking in with snowshoes burns a lot of energy, it seems to me more than hauling heavier shoes around.