MSR Denali Evo Ascent

Summary

Excellent snowshoes. Great traction, descent float for their size, durable, and versatile. Great for above treeline and crusty conditions.

I have used these snowshoes for the last three years on many trips in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. They excel in crusty and above treeline conditions. The have decent float for their size, just be sure to match them to the conditions, they are not designed for deep powder.

The traction is solid and they are very secure on crusty snow and ice. They are very durable and show only the normal dings and scratches after three years of use. One nice feature is that they pack flat so they are easy to strap to a pack. They fit a wide range of boots.

They are a great value and a very versatile snowshoe.

Good quality snowshoe. What I like the most with these is the heel bar which is awesome for going uphill.

The grip is great too. Don't expect to be able to glide down the trail.

The buckles stay on well and are very customizable and seem easy to fix if they break. The buckles are a bit hard to handle when it's really cold and you need to keep gloves on, but then again everything is a pain with gloves on.

These are my first ever snowshoes -- I'm using them for backcountry snowboarding. They feel very light and compact on my feet, and I hardly even notice I'm wearing them. I get the feeling I can run and scramble in these shoes without them getting in the way.

The straps are secure, and allow me to put on and take off the snowshoes without removing my gloves. There is plenty of room to accommodate my snowboard boots. The grip is secure on icey surfaces, even while traversing. Though I don't have the floatation tails, I was surprised to find how well the shoes worked in powder, even though I probably weigh over 170 lbs. when loaded. The heel elevation lever is a nice feature to have when ascending steep slopes. It is easy to flip up and down, yet stays in its intended place.

The shoes are compact enough to fit in my 1500 cu. in. daypack (Gregory Halo). So, when I reach the top of a hill, the shoes are off my feet and stashed in no time, and I'm ready to shred.

Excellent general purpose snowshoe. Light, great traction and "biting" ability on frozen slopes. Improved binding in comparison to Denali Classic. I do light running at coast mountain terrain and so far (2 years) no problem.