SUL – Snowshoes – MYOG – Part 1

Very interesting Bill!

A few questions:
– Where did you get the Polygal?

– Looks like the flat metal route is a good idea, and better than tubing. Tubing is tricky to bend without the proper tools.

– Where did you get the titanium? I have bought from Thru-hiker.com and for other applications bought from different large suppliers.

– How thick of titanium will you be using?

– What grade of titanium will you be using?

– I was actually thinking about making my own titanium crampons, in the future, but snowshoes would be nice too. I just don’t think I am an extreme SUL in the winter!

Good luck on the snowshoes. I am looking forward to your progress. Looks like they will be pretty expensive snowshoes, but certainly light!

Thanks AK Hiker for your interest.

A few questions:
Q1- Where did you get the Polygal?

A1- I buy it at a local Plastic Supply Company.
Here is the web site for PolyGal I was able to buy a half sheet (2′ x 8′) left over from a job and I got it real cheap.

Q2- Looks like the flat metal route is a good idea, and better than tubing. Tubing is tricky to bend without the proper tools.

A2- For me and the tools I have the flat metal route may be my only solution.

Q3- Where did you get the titanium? I have bought from Thru-hiker.com and for other applications bought from different large suppliers.

A3- The flat sheet Titanium I use all comes from
Thru-Hiker. This should answer the next 2 questions.

– How thick of titanium will you be using?

– What grade of titanium will you be using?

Q4- I was actually thinking about making my own titanium crampons, in the future, but snowshoes would be nice too. I just don’t think I am an extreme SUL in the winter!

A4- I have a pair of the steel Kahtoola crampons and they only weigh 23oz for the pair. They fit my trail runners well and work fine for how I use them. I thought about trying to make a lighter pair out of some of the Thru-Hiker Titanium and one day I might. I was ready to buy a new pair of Northern Lites ” Elite” snowshoes but when I called the store where I bought my last pair there were out of stock. The store will call and see if NL’s has any left. It was during this time that I realized the new Kahtoola product was an Over Boot (1 pound +/- each boot) for a trail runner and a new shoeshoe. While I wait to see what they look like I decide to try and make a lighter snowshoe. The “Elite’s are 18oz each so my first goal is something half that weight or in the 9oz range.

My SUL (might be able to call it that) snowshoe is not for heavy duty snowshoeing. It is to have a very light snowshoe to carry while hiking and for the time I might need them to get past a deep place or just hiking on a snow covered trail. Testing will be necessary to see what the limit might be for these.

The next trick will be a lighter Over Boot that works on my shoeshoes like the Kahtoola Flight Boot and also has some kind of crampon on it. For this I need to see the Flight Boot up close.

Q5- Looks like they will be pretty expensive snowshoes, but certainly light!

A5- What ever the snowshoes cost me to make it will be less than buying a new light weight set. I had to decide how much I wanted to spend per ounce for these. I could have made the deck out of Carbon Fiber Sheet but it really costs a lot and I mean a lot.

The PolyGal cost around $25 I think, it was a cash deal and I don’t remember for sure. I also will not use very much of the half sheet. I could have used Aluminum and might still make one out of some I have and see how it works. I am sure the points will not hold a sharp edge as long as the Titanium but I might have a plan for that. I have to call the place I buy my metal from and see what grade Aluminum I have. I know they carry several grades. The cost of the Aluminum vs the Titanium is a lot. Not a lot of money just a big percentage difference. There would also be some difference in weight on the Aluminum version.

ever make them?

I started this project a couple of years ago. I stopped working on it when Thru-Hiker.com ran out of their stock of Titanium sheet material. I had enough to make the snow shoes but decided I might want to use that material for other things.

I received a question this week that asked about the status of the project. I replied with an answer close to the above comment. I was asked about using Aluminum instead Titanium. Back when I started this I had made part of an Aluminum full size pattern. I can buy aluminum that should be strong enough.

I have steel replacement crampons from another set of snow shoes to attach to the shoe harness part that would provide grip on ice so an outer frame of Aluminum could work.

About this same time I was able to buy at a very deep discount a pair of both the Northern Lites – Backcountry Rescue and a pair of MSR – Lighting ??

I don't live close to an area that gets snow very often. With these two different types of snow shoes I have what I need when I can get someplace to play in the snow.

I have played with several different designs since I stopped working on this and one day I may dust off this project, go to aluminum and finish it.

This was to be a pair of SUL snow shoes for "normal" trail use.

How thick is the aluminium of your prototype and how did you cut it???

Very nice work and thx for the photo.