Recreational Snowshoes

Featured review by Hume Vance

I bought these this morning because after weeks of snow here in Boston they were the only snowshoes available at the local EMS store. I just went out for an hour and a half tromp in the woods. They passed the first test easily, which was whether I could secure my boots in the bindings. The adjustments both around the toes and on the strap that runs behind the heel were simple and straight-forward. The heel strap is made of some sort of rubberized material. You adjust it by stretching the strap over a metal prong.

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Reviewed by G00se

As a relative novice to snowshoeing, I found the Redfeather Hike to be easy to put on, natural to hike in, and comfortable. They outperformed the snowshoes I rented from REI.

Once a year, I get to attend a conference in Boulder, CO. Each year, the conference organizer (Tom) invites attendees to arrive a day early for a bit of snowshoeing in the front range of the Rockie Mountains. My first year, I rented snowshoes from the local REI (I'm sorry to say, I can't remember the brand). They were "okay," but were not easy to put on or adjust. The next year Tom loaned me a pair of 30" Redfeather Hike. I'm pretty much a novice, but Tom snowshoes regularly. He takes newbies out regularly, and the back of his truck is filled with 5 or 6 pairs of Readfeather Hike.

Read more: Redfeather Hike review (1)

Featured review by Utah Backpacker

About the only thing that would hurt these snowshoes is throwing them in a fire! They're made of bomb-proof, injection molded, high impact plastic and can take more abuse than anything I've seen. Best for on-trail hiking but be forewarned — plastic is LOUD, especially on a packed trail.

I like getting the cons out of the way first so I can go on and list all the really good stuff.  So, here you go... Con: These snowshoes are heavy. They're made of high impact, injection molded plastic, so once you put the shoe, the deck and the bindings all together, you're looking at over 3.5 pounds. Definitely not the lightest shoes out there... Con: Being made of plastic, they're also very loud on packed and icy trails — so loud in fact, it's difficult to hear your hiking partner over them.

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Reviewed by Eric Billard

The Atlas Access Series snowshoes are great for all-day use, as well as for light hiking on and off trail in rolling terrain. They are very versatile and easy to use, with a moderate amount of traction, while still being light and very comfortable to wear for extended periods. Would highly recommend for use in the backcountry of Eastern Canada and United States, as well as for day-to-day use.

The Access Series, part of Atlas's Day Hiking line, are an excellent choice for those looking to get out and explore, whether it be a quick walk in the woods or for hiking in moderate terrain. They are very comfortable and easy to use, while still being able to stand up to hard use. They handle hills really well due to traction from the "twin-trac" toe crampons, which provide a solid grip in combination with the "advanced aft-traction" heel cleat along with the sturdy built in heel lift which provides a "step" of sorts when traversing up steep inclines, in turn reducing fatigue on your heel.

Read more: Atlas Access review (1)

Featured review by Shane Kelly

This is my first pair of snowshoes and I'll have to say I'm impressed with the quality and ease of adjustment these snowshoes have.

I bought these snowshoes three years ago and have had a blast with them, both in the woods and open fields. So easy to just step in, tighten, and away I go. The built-in crampons mean ice (which I've used these on) is no problem whatsoever. I'd recommend these to anyone. There may be better out there, but for entry level and price these are tough to beat.

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Reviewed by Bigskyrunner

A great little shoe in firm snow, not just for kids.

These shoes are sold as youth snowshoes, but they perform very nicely for adults looking for light shoes in firm snow conditions (think spring in the Rockies). MSR lists these shoes as fitting youth up to 125 lbs and up to a Men's size 7. I took a bit of a gamble and ordered up pair as I was looking for a lightweight shoe (but still wanted good traction) for spring trips where you often carry your snowshoes more than wear them, but when you need them you really need them. The price is also very nice :) My pair weighs 38 oz and are 20" in length.

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Reviewed by Joe Nathan

Versatile kids snowshoe for serious winter exploration and fun jaunts. Similar design to Tubbs full-size Flex series but scaled down.

Versatile kid-sized snowshoes for serious mountain exploration in both powder and icy trails. These are scaled down versions of the full-sized Flex series with polymer decks and stamped crampons. The straps include a single ratcheting strap/buckle across the toes and a rubber belt across the back. There is a full toe slot and metal pivot pins that allow full flexibility while going up steep, icy terrain. These are light enough that our kids had no issues carrying them on their packs when they were 5 years old.  There is only one size available but they currently work with our 3-year-old and 7-year-old twins alike.

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