Question for all you snowshoe experts

[BrianH]

I just bought my first pair of snowshoes.  A beautiful pair of old wooden shoes, with what looks like a new set of leather bindings.  The bindings go over the toe and around the heal with your boot sitting directly on the rawhide webbing.   My question is, do you have to worry about wear and tear on the webbing from your boots or is that a non factor?  Been out on them a few times and they work wonderfully.  Thanks for your help.

[Canadabowyer]

If the lacing is babich(rawhide)you should revarnish them when they start to sag. We mostly did them every spring. Also if you wear soft rubber boots like main guide boots or mocs with light rubber boots over them they won't wear out so fast. Did you know that in deep enough snow you can walk a moose down. Not reccomended today because it stresses the moose too much but in survival times here in the north it was a good way to get some meat. Bob

[jhg]

Yup, keep a good layer(s) of spar varnish on the webbing and wear is not an issue. Once that protective layer is gone the rawhide gets the brunt of wear. My shoes always needed extra attention under the heel and especially the ball of the boot. But touch up was easy and If yours are really nice do it whenever they need it. I sometimes touched up the wear areas on mine a couple times a winter and once a year the whole shoe got it.

Joshua

[ron w]

What the guys above said.......they should last a very long time with proper care.

[BrianH]

Thanks fellas, any particular varnish you guys use or recommend?

[Jim Curlee]

Spar
Jim

[jhg]

Any finish with "Spar" in the heading will be a more elastic formula, whether it is a urathane, a varnish or poly.

As Jim said. Spar.

[BrianH]

Thanks again.