Why I Hate MSR Snowshoes + What I'm Using Instead

[@gejzapasusta6651]

I agree with you re tubed snow shoes, they are good for flat or not very steep terrain. Anything more technical is no go. I snowshoe in usually very steep terrain (sometimes 100% slopes), often icy or crusty. I use MSR Lightning Ascent, aggressively, and already worn down two pairs over years. I rarely have problem tripping in them, I walk in them as in my regular mountaineering boots. I cannot imagine how any plastic snowshoes can survive the 'abuse' I'd put on them. Or how well would they grab when traversing icy slopes, kicking in steps, or 'avalanching' downhill where rigid snowshoes are a must. I am definitely open to testing something better if it comes around, though.

[@NUMBER_74]

I love my MSR snowshoes. I have 30in Lightning Accents that I bought in 2010. They literally have been bomb-proof. I've actually used them to dig two cars out of a snow drift a few years ago😂 they are basically tank tracks for your feet in the snow. I just updated the bindings to the new style 2023 bindings for $90. I don't have the issue of them clanging together when I walk. My wife and daughter have them as well. And they are what I recommend to everyone. Thanks for your time on the review!

[@mattnorris529]

I love my lightning ascents. And I love their plastic ones too. I have a tube construction pair and I only use it in 3 feet of fluff, they are my super floaters and they are big and bulky. I climb steep mountains and end up putting on crampons so that’s why I like msr. I enjoyed listening to your opinion. Thanks!!!👍

[@coldwhitespring5004]

Wow that is so useful information! I've never tried the MSR, but I had Atlas,such long ones with the tubes, and they did clash into each other and were also heavy to walk with. Now I have Tubbs Flex, and they do have a shape, they are shorter and lighter and easier to walk with, and they have the teeth on the sides too, so they are better for my use since I need them for a variety of circumstances and not only for long walks in powder.

[@backpackingcapebreton]

Agreed. I’ve used the MSR Revo Ascent 25 for a couple years. Way too heavy. 2.35lbs per snowshoe. Using the Atlas Helium Mountain 26 now. A full lb lighter per snowshoe.

[@xbalance]

I need to replace the snow shoes I got at Costco years ago and never used until recently. I discovered they are not good for going up and down moutains, which is all I do. I was thinking of getting the MSR Lightning Ascent until I watched this video. I just ordered the TSL Highlander Adjust. I am really looking forward to them arriving. Thanks for the video!

[@victorkonstantin]

Excellent comparison review. I have the Msr Evo Ascent in 23 length. I do find them very clunky and heavy. They seem way too heavy actually. That's my main complaint. I will go for the Atlas race ones as my next pair. I think the metal crampon in the middle is enough for non technical mountain travel. I can always switch from snowshoes to crampons if needed. The TSL snowshoes are very popular in Europe. And like you pointed out,they seem more superior than the Msr. The only problem with those plastic teeth is than once they wear out a bit and become rounded instead of sharp then they won't have a good grip on icy traverseses or steep slopes and might actually slide worse that other models. But only time can tell.

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

You can always sharpen them with a knife, mine are still sharp 3 years later. It really comes down to what kind of terrain you are doing, really dangerous stuff like you mentioned you'd want to transition to crampons anyways. Weight wise you can't beat those atlas race at only 1 lbs each.

[@SteveMartinUSA]

I was pretty skeptical about these this morning but I found a pair on eBay for $154 and figured what the heck. These will replace my MSR Evo Ascent, which I've used for almost 20 years (those finally rusted and broke). What I don't like about my MSRs is: hard to disengage heal lift (without a hammer), noisy, straps take too long. But otherwise they were great. We'll see how it goes... BTW: we use Kahtoola Microspikes more frequently than snowshoes. Also, I rarely trip on my MSRs. They're a good size and can squeeze into a narrow path.

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

Lots of different tools between the snowshoes, microspikes and crampons just heavy is all. Its always a guessing game of what to bring trying ot save weight. Which ones did you get on ebay?

[@SteveMartinUSA]

@@IdRatherBeHiking I got the TSL Symbioz HyperFlex - Access Snowshoes - Medium, $154.04 (no returns). I don't think "Access" includes their best bindings, but I never liked the executive bindings on my Atlas, so maybe these will be a good hybrid compared with MSR Evo Ascent. I heard another reviewer say she thought the Hyperflex was quieter, which would be a big plus for me.

[@SteveMartinUSA]

I do a lot of nighttime hikes in the mountains with my headlamp this time of year, which can be pretty peaceful. My MSRs were my loudest of five different sets, but the only ones with a heal lift...

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

@@SteveMartinUSAAccess are the same ones I have, come in black or blue. Just stick your toe in grab the strap pull up to tighten then fold the strap in. Its the simplest one and only one i'd think an average person could fix without the companies help if the strap broke.

[@SteveMartinUSA]

That’s so cool to hear and I appreciate your work.

[@GrumpysAlaska-ue2lp]

The "old design" and crappy statement pretty much labels you as a " trendy" look at me non snowshoer. The truly old designs ( crappy wooden 56" Maine guide) are the only ones that actually work in the snow.

[@DaveNesbitt-kl7el]

Nailed it! You knocked this one out of the park!

[@higler.]

I've been thinking of getting some snow shoes(I live in Colorado why the hell don't I have snow shoes??) so this video came just in time and had some helpful tips and tricks. Thanks!

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

Perfect!

[@filmic1]

I'm a 200lb guy and my Lightning Explore (with the older gimmicky pivot, unreliable!) handled like a champ on very deep forest snow. Kept me well above forest floor debris. I have a pair of TSL 328's I picked up second hand. Have yet to use. I've heard a horrible story about MSR Revo Explore ? with a toe joint/frame that cracked. Lied to the owner (very well known back country user) and didn't honour the warranty.

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

yikes snowshoeing with a broken snowshoe isn't fun! Always bring zip ties!

[@filmic1]

it was just a pivot that was pretty much 'vestigial' adding no real measurable functionality. Bolting it down and putting it out of commission was an easy fix. Minor annoyance. MSR discontinued it in subsequent iterations of Lightning Explore. They work fine.@@IdRatherBeHiking

[@GenX_outdoors]

So helpful!

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

I'm glad it was!

[@HoneyandMe]

I have no idea what brand my snowshoes are, lol! I've never really given them much thought, assuming that they were 'okay'. Now I need to go out and think more about how they actually perform. I use mine only snowshoeing on our frozen lake here in the Yukon, so no hills. The snow up here stays powdery for most of the winter and doesn't pack well, so my trails are usually soft. I usually just walk my daily 2 miles in my boots (like walking on soft sand) and get a great workout. But, maybe with a really decent set of snowshoes, I'd be able to walk longer?? I'm off to investigate your links! Do you head up to Mt. Washington to snowshoe?

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

Ya Mt. Washington is the go to on the island for most of winter because of the snowpack. When it really snows hard I have 500+ logging roads around my house I can use as snowshoe tracks.

[@HoneyandMe]

@@IdRatherBeHiking Nice!! I used to ski up on Forbidden Plateau, back in the day, then Washington. Haven't downhilled in years though. I found I enjoyed X-country much more, so use my skis here on the lake too. And snow shoeing! Lots of exercise once the snow arrives.

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

@@HoneyandMeSnow is the king of exercise

[@Miderguy_]

I had a crappy pair of Atlas Snowshoes and one of the tines on the main crampon bent flat. Total garbage. Nice review!

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

haha that's crazy, did you step on a rock? Even still it shouldn't do that

[@Miderguy_]

@@IdRatherBeHiking they were aluminum and thin. Just garbage. The ones I have now are steel. I can walk on a dry road. LOL.

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

@@Miderguy_ah yes alumnimum ones aren't great, same going for crampons.

[@zachfraunhofer508]

Sounds like you have a narrow gate. MSR offers more narrow shoes for that very issue. Its their woman's shoes

[@Emily-cj9nc]

My thoughts exactly. Also, the video footage almost always showed the lower-tier MSR products in use and relied heavily on stock footage. Showing actual side-by-side comparisons of the two products in question on actual terrain would have been much more convincing than seeing shots of a barefoot girl bouncing around in the summertime.

[@paulmartin5889]

MRS snowshoes are way over-priced. Very poor customer service. The shoes are wide and a snowshoer has to adjust their gait or you will stumble. The crampon on my Lightening Accent slit in two like slicing cheese. MSR didn’t want to address my issue after I spent lots of money on this brand and model. I am going to purchase Atlas Mt. range shoes in the near future. More surface area covered on the snowshoes and less money spent. Check out the new Atlas snowshoes line-up. Think you will be impressed.

[@tgbuckley482]

go ski touring ya narc

[@backpackingcapebreton]

Baha. A narcotics officer on snowshoes? We need the narcotics officers on skis! 🥴 A narc 😂

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

narc lol?