Its all in the bindings.
Written: Sep 23 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The shoes are tough and light, very secure.
Cons: It's all about the bindings.
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| RONinPC's Full Review: Tubbs Katahdin |
I have the katadins, my wife has the sierras. We typically snowshoe for about 3 miles per hike, every two weeks or so.
I love the weight and balance of my shoes, but will tell you immediately that it does not matter. The most important element of your snowshoe is the binding, and the boot(and sock) you wear with it.
Oh, you want to hear about the shoes... they are great climbers, a bit oversized. Lousy runners, they are much too long. I got this size because I used to carry my son in a backpack while wearing them. Downhill, they are superior for surfing, but their size means that you have to be prepared to do exactly that. The crampon is overpowered by the surface area of the shoe.
My Katadins came with tubbs strap system. They are annoying to adjust, but once set properly, provide a good secure hold in the binding.
My wifes though, are a nuisance (same binding!). They always slip off her boot, need adjustment etc.
I highly recommend the following. Try on several pair of snowshoes. The one that most easily adjusts to your shoe, and will not shake off no matter how much you throw it around is the starting point. Look at how your boot fits in... the pivot should be behind the ball of your foot, not in front of your toes. If your boots dont fit in snugly, get better boots. I recommend truuks. I have three different pair of winter walking boots that all work poorly, and a pair of timberlands that are OK. I look forward to trying my Garmont boots. Next, walk around the carpeted store in the snowshoes. Feel your socks walking down your legs? It is a snowshoe thing, but socks want to slide down your feet when you snowshoe. I recommend Smartwools.
My shoes have not changed, but now you have a binding option, to go with a buckle type. Try this one, It has to be better. Do you see where I am going? I have never had a problem with my snowshoes, so I highly recommend them, but be sure that they are the right bindings for you. (mine are three years old).
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
RONinPC
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 - Top 500 |
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Member: Ron Shepard
Location: Park City, UT
Reviews written: 133
Trusted by: 136 members
About Me:
Skiing, Biking, Sailing and Hiking are the passions of this Park City Family.
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