help with snowshoe gear!

I would check out the MSR Snowshoes. They're light and have a removable tail depending on the weight that you are carrying. Keep in mind that warm, as well as staying dry are key. Other than that, it sounds like you are on the right track. I would have warmer layers available for rest stops. You can chill quite quickly if you do not keep your warmth that you have made whilst hiking. Are you planning multi day trips or just day snowshoe trips? If you need more tips then let me know. Nothing is better than a night in the woods during winter!!!!

I have been to yellowstone, but not in the winter. But what shoes you wear depends entirely on where you are going and what you are doing. Are you breaking trail? Is so, in how much snow? Are you climbing steep slopes and mountains?

I believe I have now 7 pairs of snowshoes scattered around my house and barn. Each serves a function or fits a person. The MSRs are great for climbing packed trails, but would be almost useless in breaking trail in 2-3 feet of powder. Add a winter pack, and you may need serious floatation to break trail. The northern lites (I don't have any of those) offer models in various sizes for different conditions so which model there really depends too.

yes, this will be a 3-4 day trip, probably 3 nights. What do you recommend for rest stops and camp? I have a patagonia r4 fleece which is almost unbearably warm but it is somewhat bulky. Are you suggesting a down garment?

john

hi michael

I assume I will probably be on trails, but how packed they are I have no idea. I'm not going to go crazy; I just want to get out and enjoy the park in the winter, and get away from the snow machines…

john

I just took a look at the northern lite website and so have some more comments:

1) the bindings look very much like the MSRs, which is good. They are easy to use and work well. The complicated bindings systems on many shoes can just drive you crazy if they come off with cold hands.

2) the crampons look ok, more than adequate. They will not climb like the MSRs, but I doubt you need MSR level climbing.

3) I don't know your chances of seeing wild animals in YS in the winter, but I would want quiet shoes. The plastic on the MSRs clack and creak up and down the trail. I would not want that there (assuming the grizzlies are now sleeping and you don't want to broadcast your position to the entire valley). Classic wood framed shoes are very quiet and very satisfying in the woods in deep snow.

4) weight in snowshoes really does matter, but also how much they accumulate snow on the frame and tails can also add a ton of weight. I like the look on the NLs, but they don't seem to have any built in features to shed snow, particularly off the tail. The open mesh of the classic shoes do not accumulate snow, but the solid decking of most modern shoes almost always do.

5) if you don't own shoes already, and I assume you don't and that is why you are posting here, I would seriously consider renting them. A local outfitter would be able to give you an accurate assessment of what you need based on the actual conditions in the park at that time and where you are going, and that is going to better info than anything I say here.

Enjoy.

not sure why I didn't think of that…

thanks for the insight and great advice!

john

I highly recommend checking out the snowshoe reviews on this site- some really informative information there.

Best of luck!
Doug