I've been thinking about getting a pair of snow shoes and wondered if anyone has any experience with them? Pictures would be good too. thanks guys!
I'm curious too, Is it hard to walk through brush with those things?
Alot depends on the area your in,if on trails long narrow snowshoe are the ticket for smooth and effortless movement. In the thick stuff shorter wider shoes get the job done. I have several styles that I have used over the years and seem to like the Green Mountain style the best. The new high tech one that are Alum-and synthetic have there place but I lke the old look better. Bindings are also a matter of personal taste.
I'll post some pics later, but snowshoes are perhaps the coolest thing I have in my "hunting arsenal." I love going out in the snow, riding on top of it, cruising through and over brush, walking across frozen streams, etc. I can spend a whole day out on snowshoes and never take a shot and still be grinning from ear to ear when I get home.
They are super easy to walk in providing you've got a good pair of snowshoes and bindings (which I think are more important than the shoes themselves). I can cover ground very quickly in them...I can even run in them and gliss (slide) down steep grades. They are a BLAST!
Tubbs, Red Feather, and Iverson are all great brands of Snowshoes. Iverson and Red Feather are USA made! Iverson makes the Traditional wood frame shoes! Tubbs and Red feather are built on Aluminum frames! Mens sizing is either 30in or 36in!Although I am over 200lbs I prefer 30in length because of the manueverablility! 36in will give the the most float in deep snow! I have a pair of Tubbs Wilderness great snowshoe!
I use them all the time. Faber white ash snowshoes are high quality and and very good price. Vermont Barre Army Navy Store is a dealer. Just got a pair of 5 footers for $135. The heavy duty bindings add another $54 but still a great price.
Smoke,look 4 the Bob Makee bindings,they r like a x-country skibinding they work great for those type of snoshoes.I like my alaskan outfitter snoshoes,tubbs make a great shoe 2.
I love to walk with snowshoes looking for Hares - couple findings from my use: The wider and longer - the more float (obvious ;) ) if your conditions are such, that there is lots of powdery snow, I would go to bigger framed snowshoes. The more rugged the terrain, where you use your snowshoes, in my opinion you should look closely the bindings of the snowshoe. Old school versions dont usually give lots of sideway support, so thats a thing to consider. And look also to the bottom of the snowshoe - if there is not any "claws" to bite to the snow/ice you will glide surely to downhill - even if you plan to walk uphill...some modern snowshoes do make some noise, when you walk with them - if you plan to use them to get close to animals take most silent pair (usually the traditional models in my expireience) I have used Tubbs (very good) but my no. 1 pair is US army surplus snowshoes - silent, cheap, sturdy...not so very good in rugged terrain, but I move slowly anyway.
Just try them - its very good exersise too!
Don't scrimp. Make certain they are large enough to support your weight.
ChuckC
Diamondback, I've use the Makee's that are the rubber slip ons in the past and have had some problems pulling them on. One set I had, had thicker rubber than the other and were almost impossible to pull on in the cold. That's why I went back to the heavy duty leather.
I used bear paws, green mtn's and the narrow cross country types. I used to snowshoe a lot in Maine and the bear paw and green mtn designs wil carry you through anything you care to try to navigate in the woods.
A couple of pointers though.
I prefer the old style boot harness- if it hinges correctly the shoe just floats off the ball of your foot in effortless walking motion, dragging the tail in the snow. I do not like the bindings that lift up the back of the shoe. I think the design criteria for those was athletes who wanted to run with snowshoes on. Not real applicable to hunting or exploring the woods.
It is important to stay aware of what you are walking over. The most dangerous thing (besides crossing streams) is crossing a blowdown or tree top that is covered over in snow. sometimes these are very hard to detect if the snow is deep enough.
A branch can impale itelf into the shoe webbing and its not always an easy thing to get out of and sometimes can be dangerous.
A binding that allows the foot to twist seperate from the shoe is a big plus here in protecting against broken lower legs/ankles. Another nod to old style bindings that are set up correctly.
I read of a woman in New Hampshire that took a broken branch in her torso and was lucky to live to tell about it, so just keep a heads up. Being aware will head off almost all mishaps like that.
Regarding bodies of water that are frozen and snow covered- always carry a six foot staff that you can lay across the hole if you start to go through. The important thing is not to let your waist go below the ice. If you go in so far that your shoulders are in you are very unlikly to get out without a rescue team.
Its a skill to "read" snow coverd ice. Learn it over time. Clear ice is easier to read but it still takes some knowlege to really know its secrets.
Joshua,
who grew up on a river, snowshoed many a stream and who thinks a full moon snow-walk is one of lifes most wonderous experiences to ever behold.
Some good points so far.Snowshoes really are a great way to access some great places in the winter.
Remember that if you carry gear (backpack) to add that weight into the sizing of your snowshoes. For hills over a 4 degree slope, a shoe with a heel catch and extra under-claws is nice (catch keeps foot from sliding back, more support for uphill).
Atlas makes some nice gear, and MSR also has a couple of lines of more utility type shoes.
There is a great romance to birch and leather beavertails (and i still use mine from time to time), but in thick bush or hilly terrain the newer style of bearpaw is better.
Trekking on a clear cold night under a full moon listening to the coyotes howl makes it TOTALLY worth the price of admission.
Have three pair of snowshoes, 9X 36 greenmountain bearpaw by Iverson, with A bindings, large Ojibway style make from kit from snowshoe dot com with A bindings, and a 8 X 25 mondern alumium tube with decking don't remember the brand. Have used H bindings, and lampwick bindings, Perfer A bindings on traditioinal shoes. If your into doing your own or crafts look into the kits there not too hard to do. My Iversons GreenMtn Bearpaw get the most use, but not that I have A bindings on my Ojibway that may change. Don't use the small moderen ones much, best for packed trails, packed snow trails are different than regular ground or paved trails,
Snowshoes? Most fun you can have in winter
with your pants still on.
I love my old Iverson Alaskans with
neoprene bindings & webbing, snow
& ice is easily knocked off and the
ash frames are more traditional :scared:
Watch out where the huskies go....
If you have rubber bindings and are finding them hard to get on just make the opening bigger with a razor blade. Just have to make sure that the cuts are smooth and the corners round so that it doesnt tear
Can someone show us some different models of bindings--and explain --good-- better--best--in their uses.
Yep, been using the same pair of Michigans since I was 16 (52 now). These are traditional ash frame/rawhide webs. Go through a set of bindings every few years, but the rawhide has held up just fine. All I do is re-varnish them every Fall, and they're good to go...
i have a pair of iverson alaskans with the "cabela's heavy-duty binding", which is similar to the maki binding.
for the wet snow we have i like the neoprene webbing over rawhide, less up keep and wont stretch when wet.
i also have a pair of cabela's top-of-the-line "guide model" shoes which are better for icy conditions and sidehilling.
I just got my hands on a pair of Redfeathers this week. Haven't even had a chance to try them out yet. Sierra Trading Post has some really good deals going on right now. Saved about $110 on the ones I bought.
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo306/bhaukom/Ellensstuff075.jpg)
These are the "Work Style Faber Snowshoe binding"
I've got a few different ones. the ones I use the most are a set of bear paws, they work good in brushy areas (rabbit hunting) mod. bear paws will get you through the brush and work a little better in open spaces. I bought a set of the newer high tec ones last year...you know, metal frame with some kind of solid rubber for the webbing...don't like them, way to noisey for hunting. I'll stick with wooden frames and either rawhide/rope or neoprene for the webbing.
Like my bows, I like my snowshoes traditional. I started using them when I was about 10 yrs. old but my wife started with a pair her dad made her when she was about 5 and It wasn't for sport.
We use shorter, wider ones for the bush and longer, narrower ones for the river, bay, and other open areas.
I've tried many different harnesses, most of them are fine but the people here mostly just use a strip of tanned moose hide that we wrap through the snowshoe to make a loop for the front part of our foot and then simply encircle behind the heel and tie it on the side of the moccasin or boot.
I have a pair I made myself...Ojibway style. Same ones mjh made.
I took a class otherwise the directions are a bit confusing if you haven't done it before.
They were fun to make. I haven't tried them yet because I'm still putting on the last two coats of varnish.
I heard the modern types that you see in Cabelas, LL Bean etc are designed more for "working out"...walking faster on trails and such.
I use mine late season deer hunting. Winter stump shooting. Even working around the yard.
I love the look of traditional snowshoes but picked a pair of modern shoes (Yakima) a few years ago and haven't looked back. Better support in a smaller shoe and very comfortable.
I've had a set of MSR Denali's for as long a I can remember. They've never failed, grabbed slopes that some shoes wouldn't dream of, and can adjust the tails with added floats when it really gets deep.
I bought them years ago when I did a lot of back country skiing, but they were one of the best investments I made in outdoor equipment. If and when they break, I'll buy another set.
Hunting in MO I have never used snowshoes. Here's a ? I have never heard asked. How deep does the snow have to be before you experienced snowshoe guys put 'em on?
I use mountaineering Sherpas with the 1 1/2 inch crampon teeth on the bottom. The bindings rotate around a center strut and are held on with a hook and lace system, with a friction buckle to hold it tight. You can toe into a steep pitch with the toe of your boot with these, since your foot can rotate around the strut, and the heel of the snowshoe can drop to stay on the surface. The crampons work well on snow, ice, rocks, and downed trees.
I put mine on when I start sinking in to my ankles or when it is slippery. I find I usually leave them on longer than that point on the way out.
It is handy to have a couple of ski poles in hand in deeper snow or on a steep slope. I have the Black Diamond kind that telescope, so I can make one shorter than the other on long side slopes, and they have claws on the grips to self arrest with if you fall. They also fit together to make a probe, to check for crevasses (or for someone buried in an avalanche).
Snowshoes are the ATVs of winter footwear!
How deep? The deeperthebetter!
But probably 6-8 inches minimum. When it gets hard to walk in snow with boots it will
ALWAYS be easier with nicely set up snowshoes.
Joshua
John K, once it get hard to walk. Up here in N.Y. the snow is'nt lite and fluffy like out west at higher elevations. Once we get 18" or more the shoes come out and are put to work. Late winter I have been out when the snow was over 7' in the Adirondacks, but with snowshoes you could go anyplace. Hunting Snowshoe hare they are a most have.Not a bad work out either.
Here's some traditional wood snowshoes made in Michigan.
http://www.northwoodsoutfitters.com/Pages/AdvStore/Snowshoes.htm
(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/Shrew_Shoes.jpg)
How much more effort to walk? Just a little more, half again as much or less than walking?
Not alot more unless the snow is real deep. You have to kind'a change your gate more than put more effort in. Not sure I said that right, its hard to explain.
After sinking waist deep yesterday, I borrowed my husbands today. Wow! Love them.
Different sizes, width and lenghth and your own wieght all dictate what shoes you should use. Snow conditions also make a differance. If you go kind'a middle of the road you can cover most situations. Its hard with a bow, but a ski pole can also help you out when you first start out. It will help you keep your balance and also help you get up if you fall down.....and when your new to this you will fall down at some point...lol!
I have a pair of Crescent Moon snowshoes. They are aluminum and vinyl, and made in Colorado. They make it much easier to get around in the snow, and are a blast to use.
John Krause,
If you are refering to how much easier snowshoes make walking. If the snow depth and condition is not tiring you out without snowshoes there is no real sense using them. However if the depth and condition of the snow is wearing you out or making it impossible to walk, then snowshoes will make a huge difference. If the snowshoes are of sufficiant size to support your weight and the bindings fit well they are easy to learn how to use.
Take care,
Brian
A lot depends on the terrain you are in. Flat or rolling hills without a lot of underbrush require a different shoe/binding set-up than steep and/or brushy conditions. After much experimentation my wife and I setteled on the MSR Denali. We live in a very mountainous area and nothing else works as well. The MSR shoes have huge surface area for their small size which helps with floatation in deep and dry snow. You can add tails of 4" or 8" if you need more floatation. They also have built-in campons for steep ascents. If you want a more traditional shoe I recommend contacting Country Ways. They like the Ojibwa and it comes in 4 sizes according to weight. They are very nice and helpful folks as well. Their web-site is www.snowshoe.com (http://www.snowshoe.com) and the have a toll-free number if you want to ask questions.
I got a pair of 30" Tubbs a couple years ago, and can't believe I didn't have some sooner. I now go to places both hunting and scouting that I'd stay out of otherwise due to snow depth. Even a poor day of bowhunting still has its rewards when snowshoes are involved.
I have 3 pair of Odjibwa shoes and 2 pair Green Mountain stlye plus 1 pair of Tubbs for the wife. All of mine have A-style bindings.The wifes are trail shoes. The Objibwa's are great because the narrow point on the front works like the bow of a canoe going through soft snow. The Green Mountains a very good in firmer snow.
I use the Red feathers-an excellent shoe but they are noisy-you won't be sneaking up on anything wearing them.
Don
They are a real workout, however. Much easier than trudging through snow for sure but they take some getting used to. I like narrow styles, (longer rather than narrow) since you don't have to keep your feet so far apart. Seems like you tire less with a narrow show
Be sure you have some device in the shoe to stop backsliding. That can be a really nasty experience especially with a pack on. A nice add to snowshoes is a pair of ski poles with big baskets. Makes a big difference on the uphill. So you need a bow carrier on your quiver. Be sure to layer your clothes so you don't get overheated also.
I found out that on the older birch and ash style shoes, you have to watch out for mice and other rodents. They love to eat the webbing for some reason. The newer synthetic models are lighter and less prone to get chewed up, strech the web, etc. Seem to be stronger and have nicer bindings.
sam
sam
Atlas is the brand I've had for a few years now and they have served me well and I'd recommend them.
This is the Ojibwa style made by Iverson in the U P of Michigan. Iverson went out of business a couple years ago but you can still get this style from Northwoods Outfitters also in the U P.
(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/Michigan%20winter%20002.jpg)
Iverson is back in business..I think
http://www.iversons-snowshoes.com/snowshoes.php
Eric
QuoteIverson is back in business..I think
Again? :saywhat: I hope they can STAY in business this time.