MSR Lightning Ascent Snow Shoes

These are some great snowshoes! I bought them to complement my Tubbs Mountaineer 36s, and the 2 sets of snowshoes cover any conditions I could foresee myself encountering. The Tubbs, being longer and wider, are better in powder or soft snow, but when you get into firm or packed snow is when the MSRs really shine. The 360 Degree Traction frame and 3 braking bars underneath the deck give incredible traction on ascents & descents, and allow you to stick to side slopes like a fly on a wall. They're also made in America, which is a definite plus in my book.The 4-strap bindings are very secure and allow you to tailor the fit to just about any boot. They work great with my huge Sorel Conquests and with my much smaller Vasque St. Elias GTX that I wear late in the season. They're also very easy to adjust while wearing gloves, and don't come unfastened. A hint: if the open ends of the strap keepers on the 3 front straps don't face the front of the snowshoes, slide them off and turn them around so they do. The free ends of my straps wouldn't stay in the keepers when the open ends faced the rear of the snowshoes.I did run into 2 issues mentioned by previous reviewers. First, the buckle pins on the front straps do cut into the decking. An MSR rep said this happens with certain wide boots, that the cuts would only go so far and then stop, and that they were developing a new deck for the 2014-15 model that would eliminate this. I simply cut some decking material away with a razor blade and continued using them, and will exchange them under warranty when the new models come out.The other issue involved the tails I bought. Like another reviewer mentioned, with the tails on the rear of the 'shoes has more flotation and this makes the fronts seem like they're sinking farther. I personally think that with a pack on my weight would be more evenly distributed, and the same goes for if I was climbing uphill. In any case, until I lose a few pounds these won't see much use in powder or soft snow since my Tubbs provide better flotation.Next winter I plan on snowshoeing up some of the mountains in southern NH (Monadnock, Sunapee, and Kearsarge), and probably Mt. Greylock in Adams MA, and the MSR Lightning Ascent 30s will be my shoes of choice. I already know I won't regret that choice.

I'm on the bigger side being about 6'2". With a pack and winter gear I'm easily in the 250lbs range when loaded up; more for an overnight. What I needed was some snowshoes that would let me get out for a day hike. Too often I'd gone postholing because I didn't want to lug my enormous Atlas shoes out -- they're awesome and have gotten me through some intense bushwhacking in the dead of winter, but they're tough to carry when not on your feet. The MSRs are the perfect answer.I got them on a winter closeout and I strapped them on some deep late winter terrain. The grip was excellent thanks to the crampons integrated in the frame. Then I hit a steep incline and decided to try out the televator -- whoosh I went right up the climb and with so much less effort. MSR is rapidly becoming one of my key brands of choice for the outdoors.

I'm very happy with my purchase of the MSR Lightning Ascent Snow Shoes. They just work.I had my last pair of snowshoes for over a decade, and I had always wanted MSRs. Now I have them and can't believe I waited so long to get them. So far, I've taken them on three or four treks, one of which was a five mile hike with a nearly fifty pound pack.In fresh powder, going downhill, they don't have the greatest traction--they slip a bit, but once I got the hang of it, it was a bit like skiing down the hill. On packed snow and ice they worked fantastically, providing plenty of traction.The televators are great for steep ascents. They are really easy to flip up with the handle of a pole, and they make it much easier on the calves. I thought they would be hokey, but they were rock solid.The first time I wore them, I lost a shoe in powder, but ever since I've tightened them up extra tight, and my feet haven't moved from the bindings. The bindings are relatively easy to operate, though I prefer to buckle them without my gloves on. The hooks don't go all the way around the straps, so unless there's tension on the straps, they can fall off the hooks. Not a huge deal, but it does make it a bit more difficult to buckle them.I bought the tails and attached them once. They seemed sturdy enough and a great way to add extra floatation. Unfortunately, I left them at home on the only trip when I would have needed them, so I haven't been able to test them in the field.Overall, I'm very happy with my MSR snowshoes.

In thirty years of mountaineering in arctic conditions, I took it for fact that one limitation of snowshoes is that they do not grip on side slopes. Moving up or down a fall-line they were fine but moving across a crusty surface I expected to slip. These are designed to have a good grip at all angles from all angles. I have used them two winters and have replaced my others from four other manufactures. They are light and strong and are unaffected by deep sub-zero temps. For reference, I weigh 200 lbs and typically carry at least 50 lbs on my back. They are narrower than previous designs, therefore result in less frontal drag, yet support my weight as well as any of my others have. Highly recommend.

I love these snowshoes. They grip really well on the compacted snow. Up hill was a breeze and so was down hill. Didn't slip once. They are light weight and very durable. I have used other snowshoes in the past and they didn't have the 360 degree frame. They worked well enough but I had to be much more carefull when walking down steeper slopes. I didn't have to worry with these. They straps kept my feet from sliding forward and backward. I wish they would put another strap holder so I can tuck the straps in and not have them flapping around. If you are serious about snowshoeing I would highly recommend these.