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Inflatable Snowshoes?


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  • #1269756
    Dale Wambaugh
    BPL Member

    @dwambaugh

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    I came across a post on the NW Hiker's forum mentioning these inflatable snowshoes. The mountaineering-oriented folk there were amused, but I could see this having merit for a thru-hiker. They were evidently designed for ski-boarders.

    Inflatable snowshoes

    http://www.tomsguide.com/us/any-exit-inflatable-emergency-snowshoes,news-9887.html

    #1701871
    Rick Dreher
    BPL Member

    @halfturbo

    Locale: Northernish California

    Impressively goofy–can they possibly work? Nice find! :-)

    Cheers,

    Rick

    #1701881
    Bill Fornshell
    BPL Member

    @bfornshell

    Locale: Southern Texas

    Hi, Great idea.

    Check out this one, It is a different shape and has a crampon of sorts and I expect better.

    Link

    #1701905
    Sean Staplin
    BPL Member

    @mtnrat

    Locale: Southern Cdn Rockies

    I wonder what they weigh.

    #1701906
    Franco Darioli
    Spectator

    @franco

    Locale: Gauche, CU.

    Flatlanders…
    Franco

    #1701914
    Dale Wambaugh
    BPL Member

    @dwambaugh

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    The ones with the crampons look like a viable idea to me. I'm thinking of a thru-hiker dealing with late season snow. It would sure beat post-holing for hours. I don't think it is any goofier than crossing an icy fiord in a packraft (looks like one too).

    Inflatable snowshoe with crampon

    #1701960
    Franco Darioli
    Spectator

    @franco

    Locale: Gauche, CU.

    The Small Foot type (the Bulgarian ones from Bill's link and Dale's pic) do look interesting, however I can only find generic terms like 'light" and "small packed size" but no real specs.
    Franco

    #1701976
    Bill Fornshell
    BPL Member

    @bfornshell

    Locale: Southern Texas

    Franco,

    I sent an email to the one from my link. If they answer I have a bunch of questions for them.

    Did you find the videos of the guy wearing them. I would like to see someone wearing the snow shoes and a person walking along side them with only boots on. I want to see how deep the snow is.

    It is a clever idea but I bet they are not much lighter, if any lighter at all, then say my Northern Lites.

    How about a Cuben Shell and a couple balloons or a small bike intertube for floatation?

    #1701990
    James holden
    BPL Member

    @bearbreeder-2

    stick and stones will break my bones … and pop my inflatable snowshoes

    i bet ya can walk on water with em though ;)

    #1702019
    Dale Wambaugh
    BPL Member

    @dwambaugh

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    I think size/space was a consideration– these guys are snowboarding.

    #1704037
    Rick Stafford
    Member

    @goldmizer

    Ok, Here is the scoop. If you want to stomp post holes in the snow get these little foot or small foot inflatables if you want but first check out the full size inflatables at http://www.airlitesnowshoe.com these things are awsome. I used a pair of the prototypes to pull a 12 1/2 foot christmas tree out of the woods here in Alaska at -4 in over 5 foot of snow. Not packed snow either. talk about tough, I stomped all over deadfall trees trying to see how well they hold up. Not a scratch. Check em out, these are cool.

    #1704049
    Franco Darioli
    Spectator

    @franco

    Locale: Gauche, CU.

    I don't see any traction with those so I still think that the Small Foot may work in more situations.
    Franco

    #1704163
    Rick Stafford
    Member

    @goldmizer

    I belive the web site said they were designed mainly for emergency but can and do work well for most situations but arn't ment to take the place of normal snowshoes. Given that, I think they would give a person a good chance at survival. I like the fact that they kept me on top of the deep snow even in deep stuff and I can put one in each coat pocket. Don't mean to soap-box here it's just that I got to test a prototype pair and loved em.

    #1722602
    Rick Stafford
    Member

    @goldmizer

    Check out the web site again. They came up with an addition to the Airlite Snowshow. That tracion device looks like it willk work for just about anywhere. Notice that the nail has a hard time putting a hole in the material. If these things are this tough and now traction for most all situations, I'm sold. Only 17 oz's each.

    Also, I have it on good authority, that the Little Foot Snowshoe built in Bulgaria can NOT be sold in, shipped through, or made available to the USA because of Patent infringment laws. Go figure.

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