Why I Hate MSR Snowshoes + What I'm Using Instead

Camera Gear:

Photographers | Videographers - Stock Contributor Accounts I use:

#hiking

[gejzapasusta]

I agree with you re tubed snow shoes, they are good for flat or not very steep terrain. Anything more technical is no go. I snowshoe in usually very steep terrain (sometimes 100% slopes), often icy or crusty. I use MSR Lightning Ascent, aggressively, and already worn down two pairs over years. I rarely have problem tripping in them, I walk in them as in my regular mountaineering boots. I cannot imagine how any plastic snowshoes can survive the 'abuse' I'd put on them. Or how well would they grab when traversing icy slopes, kicking in steps, or 'avalanching' downhill where rigid snowshoes are a must. I am definitely open to testing something better if it comes around, though.

[suchys]

I have one pair of MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes and one pair of TSL Symbioz Elite (both in the largest size). I weigh 80 kg (95 kg with all my gear and backpack). The TSLs cause a significant loss of energy due to their spring-like bending—it feels similar to walking on sand. In contrast, the MSRs are stiff, making movement faster. With the MSRs, you can easily ascend steep hills, but that’s not the case with the TSLs. Traversing with the TSLs is also dangerous because of their lack of grip, whereas the MSRs provide excellent traction.

[NUMBER_]

I love my MSR snowshoes. I have 30in Lightning Accents that I bought in 2010. They literally have been bomb-proof. I've actually used them to dig two cars out of a snow drift a few years ago😂 they are basically tank tracks for your feet in the snow. I just updated the bindings to the new style 2023 bindings for $90. I don't have the issue of them clanging together when I walk. My wife and daughter have them as well. And they are what I recommend to everyone. Thanks for your time on the review!

[coldwhitespring]

Wow that is so useful information! I've never tried the MSR, but I had Atlas, such long ones with the tubes, and they did clash into each other and were also heavy to walk with. Now I have Tubbs Flex, and they do have a shape, they are shorter and lighter and easier to walk with, and they have the teeth on the sides too, so they are better for my use since I need them for a variety of circumstances and not only for long walks in powder.

[mattnorris]

I love my lightning ascents. And I love their plastic ones too. I have a tube construction pair and I only use it in 3 feet of fluff, they are my super floaters and they are big and bulky. I climb steep mountains and end up putting on crampons so that’s why I like msr. I enjoyed listening to your opinion. Thanks!!!👍

[keithcorliss]

I have many pairs of snowshoes. TSL included. I've broken a binding on one of my TSL shoes. And I have a crack forming on the deck of my other shoe. It's a common problem if you Google it. Also the flex design, although comfortable, will flex under load. In a snowshoe, unless you're just strolling along on a maintained trail, you're looking for flotation. This is an extreme example, but take a crazy carpet and lay it in deep, fresh snow. Now push down in the middle. Take a piece of plywood of the same dimensions (footprint if you will) and try the same experiment. You see where I'm going with this.
So don't get me wrong, I paid the bill and fixed my broken binding because I DO like my TSL shoes for comfort. But they aren't perfect by any stretch.

[Lostcanuck]

MSR are the bomb for mountain snowshoeing, which is all I do. Those toothy edges are a must and have saved me from side-slipping down steep slopes more than once. Terrain matters!

[exposureseries]

I’ve got a pair of the really old school MSR hard plastic ones that the military used to use and I’ve beaten the hell out of them for 25 years. Still work still bad ass and I’ll never stop using them. I wouldn’t trade them for anything. They even have the little bracket under the foot for going up steep hills. Plus the extension for heavy pack days. Hard plastic shell with big aggressive metal teeth running all the way down the bottom of the snowshoe with even bigger hard plastic teeth on the outside. Best snowshoes ever

[christopherschulz]

I just bought a pair of the TSL Highlander and happy that you had a positive review on them. I wanted the best as I want to Iive off-grid. That is my DREAM. Still haven’t used but these snowshoes caught my attention instantly.

[backpackingcapebreton]

Agreed. I’ve used the MSR Revo Ascent 25 for a couple years. Way too heavy. 2.35lbs per snowshoe. Using the Atlas Helium Mountain 26 now. A full lb lighter per snowshoe.

[jimvick]

I'm a pretty big guy (6'6" 280lbs) and have been using 30" MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes with the 5" addons for years... My legs are long enough and gate wide enough that I've never had a problem marching straight up a mountain or traversing a mixed snow ice slope using them. I'm fairly confident that anything made of plastic or composite would be something I would obliterate inadvertently... One man's clunky is another man's stability I suppose.

[paleolith]

The old “1lb=5lbs” canard is inaccurate. See a video by The Skeptical Backpacker for explanation.

[dandrury]

Thank you for the snowshoe explanation David. Last time I snowshoed was as a young child in northern Alberta with the heavy wood and sinew shoes. They were pretty heavy lol. Good review !

[edvanmil]

REI originally acquired MSR in 1981. In 2001, REI sold MSR to Cascade Designs and soon after the legendary customer service and warranty response MSR had been so successful with went completely to hell. As of Feb of 2025, their service department is still totally inept and incompetent. What I've read online is that Cascade Designs fired most of the staff and what is left is completely inundated and unable to handle the workload. Whatever is the cause, I'm now going on 8 months for a warranty issue with my MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes and our season will be over soon and I still won't have snowshoes that I can use.

[danielzwarren]

I jsut bought some MSR Evo Ascents for $162. Gonna test them out in a couple days climbing Mt. Lafatette in New Hampshire.

[zachfraunhofer]

Sounds like you have a narrow gate. MSR offers more narrow shoes for that very issue. Its their woman's shoes

[woodchip]

I still use my hand crafted native snowshoes. I hate the way those newer smaller metal snowshoes function. I love the three foot native wooden ones with a long tail that drags in a straight line. If ever you’re in a winter storm on a flat lake you’ll see why it’s better. With the small metal ones you’re all over the place. With the long native ones you can go as straight as you want. For that there is a trick. Loosen the strap just enough so that the tail drags on the snow when you raise your feet. The tail will drag in a straight line because it’s long. Another feature is that if you walk on thin ice, the ice will not crack open as easily as with a small snowshoe since your weight is distributed on a bigger surface. Also a big snowshoes will let you cross small crevices with less danger. Another trait of the smaller shoes is that after a while the snowshoe gets loaded with snow. With the older shoes the snow falls through the leather mesh, unless they’re wet.😮

[SteveMartinUSA]

I was pretty skeptical about these this morning but I found a pair on eBay for $154 and figured what the heck. These will replace my MSR Evo Ascent, which I've used for almost 20 years (those finally rusted and broke). What I don't like about my MSRs is: hard to disengage heal lift (without a hammer), noisy, straps take too long. But otherwise they were great. We'll see how it goes... BTW: we use Kahtoola Microspikes more frequently than snowshoes. Also, I rarely trip on my MSRs. They're a good size and can squeeze into a narrow path.

[xbalance]

I need to replace the snow shoes I got at Costco years ago and never used until recently. I discovered they are not good for going up and down moutains, which is all I do. I was thinking of getting the MSR Lightning Ascent until I watched this video. I just ordered the TSL Highlander Adjust. I am really looking forward to them arriving. Thanks for the video!

[nofearxjs]

MSR Lightning buy the women's version they are much more agile. I`m 160 LBS, 6 foot, 31 inch inseam they are much better than men`s version that I also have now used as spare for friends.

I have the 25 inch in both. I also just bought tails this year at clearance price of less than 1/2. they do help with steep climbs in deep snow but if you rarely encounter knee deep snow not worth it.

Living in Vancouver having access to backcountry mountain ranges...

My 40 liter Backpack usually weighs about 20 to 25 LBS when I do Full day snowshoe trips up to mountain peaks. so total weight 180 to 185 lbs.