Best snowshoes? Tips? Recommendations?

Hi Eric,

It took me several pairs of snowshoes to figure this out, but for maximum enjoyment, you want to go as light as you can on your feet. My recommendation is to get Northern Lites Quicksilver 25s. If you have money to burn get the Elites, but IMHO they are not needed. I’ve been using the same pair of Quicksilvers for almost 11 years, including some early and late season rock bashing. The look a bit beat up, but functionally they are the same as when I bought them.

Snowshoeing is incredibly popular at RMNP, so the trails will already be packed down before you get there. The larger sizes of snowshoes are not needed unless you plan to go off trail.

Start with the trails around Bear Lake and Glacier Gorge. Two of my favorite trails to take beginners on are Bear Lake to Emerald Lake and Glacier Gorge to Mills Lake. The scenery on both hikes is stunning.

Just one caveat on Northern Lites: the crampons are not as aggressive as on some other snowshoes. If you’re snowshoeing to The Loch, there is one section that is pretty steep and sometimes icy. I’ve done it with my Northern Lites but would have felt more secure with my MRS Denalis.

But for 90% of the trails in the park, I think you’ll be much happier with the Northern Lites.

There really isn't one right answer. It depends where you are going and what you are doing. Can you rent shoes from an outfitter there and try them? they might have what works best for those conditions.

If the trails are packed and you are doing a lot of climbing, the small, aggressive MSRs are maybe best. But they won't work at all if you are breaking trail in several feet of new snow. To break trail, you will need a much larger shoe that provides serious floatation.

If you are carrying them most of the time, then light is really important, and the northern lights get good marks (I think they have a really favorable review here).

Although they are popular and cheap and readily available, I don't really like the rec snowshoes with the nylon decks: they work fine mostly roaming around in the woods, but generally don't have the crampons for real climbing or the floatation for trail breaking, plus the nylon deck can be slippery and can accumulate snow (I have 7 pairs of a snowshoes now, including several of those kind).

I agree, I have done a fair amount of trekking on "misery slippers" and have three pair now. I prefer my Crescent Moon Gold Expedition shoes for most BC uses, but, would prefer MSR Denalis on packed trails or late spring snow above timberline.

I still like the traditional wood/babiche "Ojibway" style shoes for really deep snow in severe cold and when making trails in such conditions. So, far, my favourite makers are Faber of Canada, Crescent Moon and I like the Northern Lites very much from handling a few, but, have never actually used them.

I should add to this, that "Artic Trekker Snowshoes" are now made and sold in Prince George, B.C.; these are an improvement of the original gold framed "Sherpa Snowshoes" and are expensive, but, superb.

I have an original pair of Sherpas with LOTS of hard mountain miles on them and while the bindinds show a little wear, they still work like new, at 35 yrs. old….wish my legs would last like that. I highly recommend these ATS shoes for serious use.

Stay away from the cheapos, the low price ain't worth the grief.

For mountainous use I would really suggest snowshoes from MSR as their traction is the best.

I used to use Tubbs Sierras with the optional crampon (that most have standard these days) which worked great in flat Minnesota. When I moved back to California in 2003 and took them into the mountains they did not work so well. On a dayhike to the Mt San Jacinto area they let loose while traversing and something gave in my knee. I ended up having to turn around and limp out. A month (and a few more feet of snow) later I used them on a trip to summit Mt San Jacinto. Heading back down the snow was not solid enough for crampons and I had the shoes spin out on a traverse dumping me. I had my ice axe on my pack as I thought we were safe and it was one of the scariest moments of my life. Thankfully I broke through the snow and stopped about ten yards down the slope instead of at the bottom. Watching my brother-in-law on his MSRs with no problem made me decide to switch once we got back. (I took the Tubbs off and plunged-stepped down the mountain rather than take a chance on another fall or twist. And I had surgery on the knee that fall for an almost torn through meniscus.)

I now use either MSR Denali EVO Ascents or Lightnings. I love ‘em.

Last year during an AVY 2 course I had a snowshoe accident. (Yep!) While using 30" Atlas 800 series 'shoes, I slipped on a steep mountain pitch I was traversing in the Spring Mountains, north of Las Vegas. I was stopped by large saplings and re-injured my left shoulder. Obvbiously the Atlas 'shoes were not suitable for such terrain. They did not have enough LATERAL traction.

This year I bought a new pair of MSR Lighttning Ascent 30" 'shoes from REI in Boulder, CO. They are ALL teeth and the grippiest 'shoes on the planet and likely among teh most durable. I recommend them for western mountain use. I had previously purchased my Atlas 'shoes when I lived in Pennsylvania where the terrain is gentler. Live and learn. I'm SO glad my slide didn't end with me going over a cliff.

BTW, I feel 30" snowshoes are sufficiently long for 90% of the conditions you'll encounter in the west. Also, the "Ascent" designation means that particular model of MSR Lightning 'shoes have a flip-up heel rest that is essential on long ascents.

I have used snowshoes in the Can. North West for 15 years, and back East for another 20+ before that, wood, Magliners, Sherpas…and now, MSR Denalis.

The detachable tails mean you really can take only the amount of snowshoe that you need, attach the tails for hauling pack on deep powder, go tail-less for 'outhouse snowshoes' on packed trails.

The Denalis have survived countless use and abuse in rental programmes as well.

If you are wearing Bunnie Boots or Chimo boots (military mukklukks) you will need to lengthen the heel strap to fit—the stock one is not long enough.

I have read some criticism of the MSR Lightening Ascent in coastal or crusty conditions, as some have found that the 'all teeth, all round' frame can neatly cut through thin frozen crust, resulting in post-holing down into snow when similar size snowshoes without the 'cookie cutter' edges, don't posthole. But maybe the traction is worthwhile…

Good Kit! Get the Ascent version with the heel support if you are going up steep mountain slopes….I mostly use them for packing down foot and bike trails in deep snow!

Well, "different strokes for different folks" and all that; I started snowshoeing in 1958 and wore Chestnut traditional models for years,while working in deep snow and steep country doing timber mapping for the Forest Service here. I still like these in really deep cold powder snow for making trails and Faber makes the best I know of at present.

My Crescent Moons have both side and transverse crampons and are about 9.5"x36", they have simply outstanding traction in any condition and are capable of keeping me afloat wearing a heavy pack, in fresh snow. MSR shoes won't do that for me and my major use for a lighter shoe like that is on spring trails and only because they "thump" less on such a base.

I would also strongly suggest using good poles, with "ski baskets" whenever you snowshoe, I have a pair of "Kerma" poles from 1974, that have kept me from nasty long falls in steep country many times. I just got some Black Diamond Carbon whatever trekking sticks with snow baskets as my Komperdell C3s collapsed once and these will be getting a workout soon as it is snowing hard in the high country here and I expect to go out in about two weeks.

All in all, I seriously doubt that there exists a better shoe than the Crescent Moons and I am glad I bought mine. My buddy, a guy who has climbed in the Himalayas, Alps, Rockies and other places, has some molded shoes with attached boots, very nice on trails, but, I wouldn't want them in deep powder. YMMV, of course.

I recommend that you rent snowshoes for your first few trips. Try some different kinds to narrow your choices.
You can see from the comments above that it is largely a matter of personal preference.

I didn't realize there were so many variables involved with snowshoeing. I bought a used pair of the northern elites 25" to try and found a location close to the park to rent the msr's as well. I'd like to try a few kinds. Thanks again. Eric

I really dilike snowshoes with a tubular outer frame, if you are doing any sidehilling/traversing. Some of my worst experiences were in such a situation.

I really like the MSR Lightnings, for me they have such good traction I have to be careful not to twist a knee.

However, I have the most experience with MSR Denalis. They worked extremely well, in a variety of conditions – crossing meadows covered in light snow, crossing creeks where there were a bunch of branches on the water, walking over rocks. For any longer trip where I don't know all the conditions in advance, that is what I would take.

If you are looking at the Denalis, try to get an older model that hasn't been used much – the underfoot crampon has a front and back set of teeth, unlike the newer model which only has the front set of teeth. On steeper descents, it makes a huge difference.

edit to add: highly recommend using poles, I never go without them

I have used MSR Lightening. Very grippy. If you move quickly or run, careful of faceplants. Real problem in the heavy stuff. Great for steep traverses. The binding is sweet for quick on and off with mittens. Too clunky for quick feet though.

I switched to a Crescent Moon model. Quicker. Lower profile.

Hartley, which Crescent Moon Model do you use, and how do you find it for traverses? Wondering if there's anything out there that will handle steeper traverses and good-paced travel on flats equally well.