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Tubbs Frontier Series

rated 2.5 of 5 stars
photo: Tubbs Frontier Series recreational snowshoe

Good bindings. My Easton Artica trails broke and these were available. Seems to be just as good a binding and better crampons. Good buy.

Pros

  • Simple bindings
  • Track well

Cons

  • Not made in America
  • Like all shoes, bindings rivoted so difficult to replace. I wish manufacturers would make allen screwed on bindings so they can be repaired at home.
  • Plastic front instep clip might be a durability issue

Good shoes for the price. They seem on par with the Easton Articas I have.  The heel straps are a bit easier than the Easton ones as my articas (Easton) have nylon/web straps and when they get cold and wet they can stretch a little and make it hard to adjust heels. Not an issue with Tubbs as they use synthetics that feel like biothane to me, so they do not get hard to adjust in wet/cold. 

I have not had them long enough to speak on durability, but anticipate no issues. As mentioned above there is a black plastic clip that secures the instep strap. It is designed with ridges that lock in to tension the system for one snap on/off of shoe. This is all well and good, but hate to see plastic clips on a stressed thing like that — would rather see AL or light steel.

I would not let that be a deciding factor as most shoes use a like mechanism, just an observation. That was the one good thing about the Easton ones as they used plastic tensioners to hold the nylon strapping, but not a plastic clip inserted into it — less chance to wear out/break. 

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $118

Error-prone. Very poor quality.
Totally unsuitable for difficult terrain, steep hills with deep snow, walking beween the trees with deep snow.

Pros

  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Binding very primitive and unreliable. Loosens very often
  • Build quality is like the quality you find on toys.

The binding is very primitive and error-prone. Never go on steep hills with deep snow using these. Never go in the forest in deep snow. The buckles release all of the time.

I often use snowshoes in very demanding terrain in Norway. Tubbs Frontier is totally unsuitable and even hazardous for this. I have had Tubbs XD Hunter, and these are absolutely wonderful for all circumstances. Frontier costs 50% of the price of Hunter XD. The quality of Frontier is not 20% of the quality on Hunter XD.

Background

- hills with deep snow
- between trees on hills with deep snow
- flat, easy terrain

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: 120 $

Nice looking snowshoe, but prone to failure.

Pros

  • Style
  • Binding
  • Comfort

Cons

  • Materials
  • Squeaking

These were good snowshoes in terms of comfort and performance, and had good bindings that were easy to do up.

However, I had two sets in a row that failed in the field. The frame separated on one and the cleat broke on another, just with regular use on snow. One of them squeaked constantly as well.

Both pairs went back. Now I'm using a pair from Atlas. We'll see how those hold up.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $99

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Specs

Men's
25" 30" 36"
Price MSRP: $169.95
Current Retail: $67.72-$195.96
Historic Range: $31.98-$269.46
Reviewers Paid: $99.00-$120.00
Sizes 25, 30, 36
Snowshoe Category Trail Walking
User Weight 120-200 lbs / 54-91 kgs 170-250 lbs / 77-114 kgs 220-300 lbs / 100 -136 kgs
Women's
21" 25" 30"
Price MSRP: $169.95
Current Retail: $67.93-$179.95
Historic Range: $67.93-$179.95
Sizes 21, 25, 30
Snowshoe Category Trail Walking
User Weight 80-150 lbs / 36-68 kgs 120-200 lbs / 54-91 kgs 170-250 lbs / 77-114 kgs
Product Details from Tubbs »

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