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Review for MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes - Men's
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Phil S.'s Review of MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes - Men's
MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes will get you any place you have business being, and back again. They're lightweight, attach securely to any kind of boot, and provide unparalleled traction. This will be my 3rd season using them, and they've become my go-to snowshoes even for deep powder despite the fact that they give less flotation than my 36" Tubbs. You're going to sink regardless, and I found that having smaller snowshoes to pull OUT of the snow (within reason) offsets the loss of flotation.
The first thing you notice about these snowshoes is the frame. It's made of bent and welded aluminum bar instead of aluminum tube, with teeth and notches on the bottom for traction. They call it the 360 Degree Traction frame, and that's exactly what it gives you. Crusty snow, the occasional bare rock, fallen trees, the frame teeth grab whatever you step onto and stay there until you step off. They work to a limited degree on ice, but for extended ice travel you should really be using crampons or spikes.
Depending on the length of the snowshoe, there are 2 or 3 transverse toothed braking bars connecting the sides of the frame together and providing rigidity as well as traction. One is directly under the ball of the foot, another under the heel, and on the 30" models there's a third bar about 5 inches behind the second.
At the front of the binding there are 2 large toe crampons for punching through ice and crusty snow, and levering your way uphill. Behind the binding and attached to the frame is the Heel Televator, a wire bail that, when raised, elevates your heel off the deck to make extended uphill climbs easier on the calves and shins. It also puts your weight on top of the braking bar under your heel, increasing traction. They're easily raised by hand, or with the grips of your trekking poles if you use them.
The binding is simple, consisting of 4 freeze-proof rubber straps and open-ended metal buckles with fixed pins. Simply slip the strap into the open end of the buckle, pull to the desired tightness, and slip the closest hole over the fixed pin. Secure the loose end in the plastic clip and you're ready to go. The clips are just for neatness, the straps won't loosen up if not in the clips. With one strap over the toes, another over the instep, a third at the foot/leg junction, and the heel strap, you can customize the fit of the 'shoes on almost any boots and however is most comfortable for you. I use mine with my large, bulky Sorel Conquests as well as my slender (by comparison) Asolo and Vasque hikers and they're all locked into place despite the size differences.
If hills and mountains are on your snowshoeing to-do list, these are the 'shoes for you. You won't be disappointed, other than when winter comes to an end.
The first thing you notice about these snowshoes is the frame. It's made of bent and welded aluminum bar instead of aluminum tube, with teeth and notches on the bottom for traction. They call it the 360 Degree Traction frame, and that's exactly what it gives you. Crusty snow, the occasional bare rock, fallen trees, the frame teeth grab whatever you step onto and stay there until you step off. They work to a limited degree on ice, but for extended ice travel you should really be using crampons or spikes.
Depending on the length of the snowshoe, there are 2 or 3 transverse toothed braking bars connecting the sides of the frame together and providing rigidity as well as traction. One is directly under the ball of the foot, another under the heel, and on the 30" models there's a third bar about 5 inches behind the second.
At the front of the binding there are 2 large toe crampons for punching through ice and crusty snow, and levering your way uphill. Behind the binding and attached to the frame is the Heel Televator, a wire bail that, when raised, elevates your heel off the deck to make extended uphill climbs easier on the calves and shins. It also puts your weight on top of the braking bar under your heel, increasing traction. They're easily raised by hand, or with the grips of your trekking poles if you use them.
The binding is simple, consisting of 4 freeze-proof rubber straps and open-ended metal buckles with fixed pins. Simply slip the strap into the open end of the buckle, pull to the desired tightness, and slip the closest hole over the fixed pin. Secure the loose end in the plastic clip and you're ready to go. The clips are just for neatness, the straps won't loosen up if not in the clips. With one strap over the toes, another over the instep, a third at the foot/leg junction, and the heel strap, you can customize the fit of the 'shoes on almost any boots and however is most comfortable for you. I use mine with my large, bulky Sorel Conquests as well as my slender (by comparison) Asolo and Vasque hikers and they're all locked into place despite the size differences.
If hills and mountains are on your snowshoeing to-do list, these are the 'shoes for you. You won't be disappointed, other than when winter comes to an end.
This review was written in the old system and had content requirements that are different than reviews written today.
Would Recommend:
Yes
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