Anyone use snowshoes?

[ruffy71]

Thinking of finding something new to help keep active now that hunting season is over. My wife and I love being outdoors, thinking of getting some of these metal snowshoes, would be fun to head out after fresh snow.

I would think about cross country skis, but that's a bit more of a commitment, and I've heard it can be a slog if you are not on a pre-existing trail.

Experiences?

[270hunter]

I use them. They were awesome when my hunting area got 14 inches of snow. not a single person seen that day or vehicles hunting because without snowshoes you would give up in a couple of steps. I go snowshoeing outside of hunting season and still enjoy it too. make sure you get snowshoes that can handle your weight plus more because sinking sucks especially in lots of snow.

[huntinstuff]

I have Huron style. I think the metal ones would be better though

[silver]

I have an old wooden pair of my dad's hanging on the wall. A couple of years ago when we had a lot of snow, I bought a pair of metal ones. Haven't had much snow since.

[59whiskers]

Have a old set of bear paw snowshoes I used for hunting. Better than sinking up to your crotch. But when hunting becomes that difficult I prefer sitting by my wood stove.

[Mb-MBR]

I snow shoe a lot in the winter when we have snow. I've bought different types over the years but the ones I keep going back to are the white military style with wire cable for mesh.

[Battle Rat]

The old style are good but the spikes and toe cleats on the modern ones makes walking up very steep river banks a breeze.

[coy coyote]

I spent hundred of hours on snow shoes , but we had the aluminum ones. I believe they were army surplus, with canvas binding. I use to have a few set of wooden ones with rawhide webbing and leather binding, but we would have to keep to leather binding conditioned and the rawhide we would coat with marine spar varnish. The army ones had kleats on them and were nice if you were in hilly terrain. After the first week of banging the snot out of our shins we could run fairly well with them .

Sent from my SM-G981W using Tapatalk

[Ken3134]

I have a very good pair of MSR, but really don’t use them a lot. The snow has to be close to knee deep or I’d rather post hole it without them. Not sure what your plans are for them, they are nice to have when needed.

[ruffy71]

Looking for recreational use. Not looking to climb mountains or run a trap line. They would last us forever. Hoping you get that day where you get a dump of snow and then the next day you get a blue sky, so bright on the perfect snow. Just want to go for a tromp and breathe fresh air, sip some hot chocolate and tromp back. Love the snow, and the reassurance that the sloughs and lakes will have water and be full of nesting birds come spring.

[Off in the Bushes]

MSR all the way. Buy the lightest you can afford. Your legs will thank you at the end of the day.

[obsessed1]

I have a few sets. 25" 36" army surplus.... those army ones are as good as any in deep snow on open ground. In tight bushy areas I prefer shorter versions without tails....they turn corners much better. I used them for coyote hunting in winter mostly.

[icecold]

If it's in the budget and you can find them definitely get MSR. There's also a tail like thing you can attach if it's deep powdery snow.

[Mavrick]

A little, I have 7 pairs. 4 traditional style, 2 modern, and a pair of the white military style. I hunt rabbits and coyote, winter bush camp, and do family get togethers on shoes. Ok a lot, in winter I’m trying to find the snow to play in. Just like a ski bum ( snowshoe bum) I guess. I can tell you this it keeps a guy in shape, at 62 I can do 10 to 15 km in a day on a pair, depending on snow conditions.

[Vacation]

I have aluminum framed, steel cabled snowshoes. Upgraded to a better boot bindinglast year. Amazing. Had them since 97. I think I’ve seen them advertised as Canadian military snowshoes. Indestructible.

[calgarychef]

I’ve used the military ones a LOT, they’re pretty decent. Not great for going uphill though. Princess auto used to have them for a good price.

[MyAlberta]

Originally Posted by ruffy71

Thinking of finding something new to help keep active now that hunting season is over. My wife and I love being outdoors, thinking of getting some of these metal snowshoes, would be fun to head out after fresh snow.

I would think about cross country skis, but that's a bit more of a commitment, and I've heard it can be a slog if you are not on a pre-existing trail.

Experiences?

Two different tools for different environments. Shoes exceed in the bush, skis in the open. I shoed extensively in my teens, but once converted to the ski, never went back. Type of terrain will dictate the level of ski you need. I cruise with a cheapo set, but target that snow. There’s a certain ‘nirvana’ attainable with skiing. Nothing like it in shoeing.

[HunterDave]

Those Military snowshoes are actually magnesium and not aluminum. Useful for starting fires.

I put many miles on my Military snowshoes but when I retired, I retired them as well. I find the civilian style snowshoes much easier to walk in and better suited for recreation. I bought a pair Similar (if not the same) as these ones that are on sale at SportChek until December 1 and keep them on my Skidoo in case of a breakdown:

https://www.sportchek.ca/categories/...D=333282994_10

[Whipper Billy]

After seeing some comments - went to the MSRGear.com website & all but kids snowshoes out of stock.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by HunterDave

Those Military snowshoes are actually magnesium and not aluminum. Useful for starting fires.

I put many miles on my Military snowshoes but when I retired, I retired them as well. I find the civilian style snowshoes much easier to walk in and better suited for recreation. I bought a pair Similar (if not the same) as these ones that are on sale at SportChek until December 1 and keep them on my Skidoo in case of a breakdown:

https://www.sportchek.ca/categories/...D=333282994_10

Went the same route too....many miles on winter ex with snow shoes and bangy boards lead me to believe there is better out there.

[creeky]

We've got the old beaver tails, MSRs, aluminums, I default to the MSRs. Binding system is superior and with the crampon cleats a person can go anywhere.

Downsides are they're expensive, and they're noisier than most other snowshoes on icy snow.


Creeky....


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[elkhunter11]

I never used mine last year, but the year before, I used my modern aluminum/plastic snowshoes almost daily for months. It doesn't take long to get used to them, an it's much faster and easier than breaking through knee deep snow for miles.

[ruffy71]

Thanks to all of you and the people that PM'd. Awesome advice as always.

[TrollGRG]

I have used both for 50+ years and the best advice I can give you is that thy are both good in different environments and for different uses.

The snowshoes are great in deep snow and heavily brushy areas. I wouldn't even consider going without them.

The skis are great for clear areas and little snow. If you want them for the fun and exercise they can be used in snow that is only an couple of inches deep. You can travel far and fast on them. You can even get Xcountry skis with metal edges like downhill skis for the occasional time you want to travers some icy terrain and "skins" for climbing slopes.

[ruffy71]

I hear you on the x country skis. Years back, my wife and I cross country ski'd into Skoki. There's a stretch where you cross a lake and it's ringed by peaks.

We crossed on bright blue, cloudless, windless afternoon. Spectacular.

We'll probably end up with both skis and shoes, but gotta start with one or the other.

[MOUNTAIN MICKEY]

I put snowboard bindings on my military set and use them in swampy muskeg areas if needed for recovering an animal. Sucks to fall over. Have a couple sets of other shoes for snow. I have put a few miles on my Yakima snowshoes. Used to do a lot of snowshoe/cross country ski day trips Skies for flat and down hill and shoes for up hill. Seems like I was always the one breaking trail.

[Big Grey Wolf]

Always use good old style snowshoes on trap line. They have been the gold standard for years.