Couldn't help myself – Bought Clearance Snowshoes

[kevperro .]

I admit to a guilty impulse buy.    I’ve never even snowshoed but ever since the white has started flying I’ve thought it would be a good addition to my winter hiking gear.

From you experienced snow walkers.    Am I going to wish I had found something different?

MSR Denali Ascents are the flavor.  Wtih pack I’m about 200 lb. so I should probably go ahead and buy the extensions but I’m mostly in Cascade Crud and most snow walking is the result of running out of trail.

http://www.wildernessx.com/denali-ascent-smu-2016.html

[Jeffs Eleven]

My buddy uses them in Oregon.  He goes everywhere I go in my Lightning ascents.

He is a bean pole though, so being 200lbs and in WA I would say get the tails.  They dont weigh much.  Personally I think the Lightning rides better.  Also I think that the Ascent binding is a PITA but it works.  I keep my boots a bit looser (not loose) and use the bindings to hold the whole thing tight to my foot.

[Paul S.]

Washington snow is very wet and heavy so you don’t need as much floatation in my experience. I’ve gone well over the weight rating on my snow shoes.

[Jeremy and Angela]

For the first few years we did snow trips, the Denali Ascents were the models we rented.  Pretty sturdy and worked well.  In the Sierra I found the tails were often unneeded.

[kevperro .]

Good…good.   They will get used a couple times a year.   I’m thinking of buying the tails but I might put it off until I actually use them around here.

[Greg Pehrson]

I believe the Denali Ascents were the predecessor to the Evo Ascents (I have the interim model–the Evo Denali Ascents). The televator heel bar is great on steep terrain. One distinct advantage these snowshoes have over the Lightning Ascents is for winter bushwhacking. Vegetation gets stuck between the decking and the metal rim on the Lightning Ascents that can trip you up. But since the ones you have are a molded unibody design, that doesn’t happen. Great snowshoes.

[jscott]

i have the Evo Denali Ascents too. Great grip on the ascents/descents! They ‘walk’ better without the tails, imo. but the tails are worth it in fresh powder. In the Sierra I mostly don’t use them: I’ll be using skis instead in fresh snow fall.

[Eric Blumensaadt]

I’ve seen photos of our US Marine Expeditionary Force using them in an exercise in Norway. Must mean they are “Marine proof”. ;o)

I have the original Lightning Ascent ‘shoes with add-on tails. They work well.

[kevperro .]

Good enough for the Marines good enough for me!

[kevperro .]

Ok…. I totally love these things.   Why I waited this long to buy snowshoes is beyond me.    Spent the day thrashing through places I could never reach due to brush, timber and general off-trail madness.

Next on the list is a good snow shovel and I’ll tote a saw to make some snow caves.

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