Maybe not fortuitous because it's come and gone, but it's something. I wanted a new pair of snowshoes and was traveling to Southern Utah this winter. 100% decided on the MSR lightings with the tail. Landed in Vegas and drove to REI. To my great disappointment the MSR lightings were sold out. But they had 1 pair of Atlas Montanes left. Reluctantly bought them because I need snowshoes for my trip. Used them on some legit terrain in Pine Valley Utah. Absolutely loved them, even though I had not compared them to the MSRs, I knew I was very happy. I watched your last hunt when the MSRs broke and I even thought to myself "ha, glad I never bought those" then when you picked up the exact model of the ones I did get... made for a good connection with your video. Thanks for making me feel better about buying the "alternate" snowshoe.
Very timely review! I've been working through the tangle of snowshoe options after my 17 year old MSR Denalis finally broke (no complaints there). At 195lbs with a size 14, finding something that fits my boots, provides sufficient float for rugged off trail use, has plenty of traction for the steep, and is durable enough to last has been tough. MSRs new bindings are too small and few provide enough float. Confidently placed an order on a pair of 36" Montanes today. (BTW, Backcountry has a great price on them right now).
FYI, Sportsmen's Guide has military surplus MSR Denalis for $120 that include new MSR bindings. I bought a pair, one looked like new the other was well used but in good shape. Every review I have read indicates that the rubber bindings will crack and break in about 3 to 5 years. How did you handle this problem? My plan is to remove the bindings every spring, clean and spray them with Armor All and store them in a Ziplock bag.
@@retirednobaddays456 The straps did eventually start breaking after 10+ years. I purchased a new set of bindings from msr for about $50 that worked well until the decks finally gave up. BTW, I ended up passing along the Montain snowshoes in favor of Tubbs Mountaineers which have been superb.
From the U.K. I use snow shoes rarely and for a short time. I was going to go for the MSR Lightning Ascent, but I'm not a small guy and my packs in winter are heavy. I like to purchase goods that will last! You have changed my mind and now I most definitely going for the Atlas Snowshoes! Thankyou for such an unbiased review. Liked and Subscribed
Great review and appreciate your actual findings on these two popular snowshoes! This helped me immensely in making my decision and I purchased the Atlas over the MSR's based on your experiences.
Thanks for an excellent review. MEC recently put the Montanes on sale so I grabbed a pair of 30" to replace my Atlas Helium which had rivets tear out of the decking. Bad design unfortunately but I loved the Heliums because of their light weight. Surprisingly the Montanes are only an ounce heavier, and appear to be very well built, I look forward to using them next winter.
Nice straight-up no BS review. Wish you had one of these for everything I'm looking into & also Wish I would've watched this one last night before I bought the damn Lightning Explore snowshoes. Time to look at Moosejaw's return policy. Keep up the great content.
I was so close to buying these snowshoes because like you said, all the top gear review websites and reviewers online herald this as the best snowshoe. I also heard that MSR customer service is kind of trash and your experience sort of reinforced that idea for me.. like wrf they didn't believe you and thought you drove over them? 😂 Thank God I found your video, love to find authentic and genuine creators. Atlas Montane all day
You should receive an official letter from the CEO of MSR thanking you for this detailed feedback and field test. MSR should send you all their snowshoes to test including the ones for ladies ! I have been looking for suitable snowshoes for years. I wish i could find durable, powerful, lightweight snowshoes for a tall heavy filmmaker wearing bulky alpinism boots and carrying heavy loads of gear and equipement at high altitudes on hybrid terrain including steep slopes. at least MSR has the decency of allowing negative reviews on their page although they send them to the bottom and the last pages and one has to actively look for them through hundreds of 5 star reviews that were clearly deliberately prioritized. The majority of other major brands do not have reviews and hide critical information from their website and when contacted by email they deliberately ignored serious inquiries because they reveal a lot. The same applies to major online shops that sell different brands. I will continue look for the right snowshoe for alpinism.
Dig the review man! Really appreciate the top not reviews you do, the non bias is great, it is shit out there when everyone is bought and paid for, nd their Content is basically just adds 👌
I got the MSR Lightning Ascent last winter and after my first hike the nylon deck was already cut by the transversal frame under the heel. I contacted MSR support and I am still waiting for their reply one year later... needless to say I've returned them to REI. For the price this is highly disappointing.
@@MindfulHunter I’ve been waiting.. I think my new packs going to be the k4 5000 but can’t decide if it’ll be big enough for winter trips with the bulkier gear and the hot tent option when it’s possible.
This is the third bad review I've seen with MSR's. I have a pair of MSR Lightning Explore (gimmicky with the lateral pivot in the binding. Had to bolt it down) and they are super for recreational, and they do shine on forest grades in very deep snow. I weigh 200lbs, but no 60lb pack. Another blogger had big problems with his MSR Revo Explore where the binding pivot/frame junction cracked. I don't know how heavy his pack was, but a solid guy. MSR just strung him along then ignored him. He is a well know blogger. Ouch! Ouch! OUCH!!
The MSR snowshoes were meant for deep snow. I understand they say for use out of groomed trails, but I think the intent is deep alpine snow, perhaps preferably with some icing. The horizontal bars and toothed metal frame are meant for uphill and for traversing, a mountaineering terms which means to walk on the side of a hill, with the slope going left-to-right (or inversely). I wouldn't use them with a high risk of debris (rock or fallen trees high underneath the surface); at the same time I wouldn't choose to traverse hard or packed snow with the Atlas model. The tube body is surely better for lower altitudes backcountry with uneven ground. I feel the stars system on the reviews does not take into account where they were used and how, they tend to make (or imply) a single category for all snowshoes. Sorry you lost some money over this... anyway, these are my two cents on the issue
I think you nailed the inherent issue with an all purpose Mountian snowshoe. You’ve got to compromise on something. For me I’ll take the reduced alpine performance for more reliability through the broken country.
You said you weigh like 850? People your weight watch TV in their rascals so they can drive to the bathroom. Just saying. Not a typical weight for outdoor activities. Anyway back to your commercial.
@@MindfulHunter " just sayin" you weigh much more than most. They should stand by what they say however. You come across a little bias but what do I know. I have Evo accent
@readyalready4697 hunters always will. A 175lb man might come out weighing 280 including pack after a successful hunt. Also hunters go where the animals are, not where the snow conditions are good. Maybe the MSR are adequate for less rigorous uses.
I'm so glad I found this video. I'm 6'4" and 340 pounds currently. When I started hiking a month ago I was 360. Now the snow has hit and I want to keep hiking. I had the MSRs in my cart and was about to check out, but decided to see what RU-vid said. Thank you for the review. Saved me a bunch of money and disappointment.
Finally! Some in depth analysis on gear for bigger dudes. I’m 6’4 260 and was about to buy the lightning ascents when I stumbled on your review. Won’t be buying them any more. I also hunt and hike and put my equipment through rigorous testing. I will say this though. Most brands cater towards sub 200lbs folks who mostly pack light and stick to the trail, so most equipment will just not be very specific or applicable to us. Shame because equipment that is to be used in an all round way, like tents, are freaking amazing! It’s only when the gear is made for more individual use, that most of these companies fall out on.
Or many that "think" they are under 200 lbs. ,,then complain about a product performance ... most snowshoes today are designed for recreation use not deep snow where floatation is key to a good snowshoe ...
I work exploration in northern Mb in winter months in extreme cold and thick brush conditions. It’s doesn’t take long to separate the “weekend bird watching” shoes vs the “get the job done” shoes. Honestly the best I’ve ever had are a cheap pair I picked up from giant tiger 15 years ago, no joke!! Still haven’t broke a part on them, only $50 at the time and super comfortable, go figure… Anyhow, I’m about to pull the trigger on the Montanes and wondering how they’re still holding up for you? Also, what’s the width of these shoes? I’ve emailed Atlas and am still waiting for reply. Great Review. Thanks, Fred.
I've seen similar issues with the flat-sided MSR shoes. I ordered the Atlas Range-MTN, and I'm hoping the more T-profiled aluminum solves the issue. If not, my tubbs mountaineers will stay in the lead for my AK goat and sheep hunts, but I"m really hoping for strength and rail teeth in the Range-MTN.
@@MindfulHunter And you state below, " I believe what I said was I weigh 260 and have a 90lbs pack so put 350lbs of weight on the snowshoes." So, you did overload them, by your own admission. I prefer the side traction of the MSR shoes as I use them on trails where I encounter windfalls blocking the trail and have to sidehill to get around them, or in deep enough snow deadfalls laying on the ground are not much of a concern. But, like everything esle, what works for me may not work for you. Thank goodness there is a variety of equipment out!
@@JohnSmith-zk5pq I did not overload them based on MSR specs. They are rated for 300+ lbs. so apparently MSR thinks they can carry an infinite amount of weight. 350 is not more than 300+
@@MindfulHunter So, you think 300+ means 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 lbs???? With that said, I see they rate them for 300+ with the tails, 280 max without. I understand that is the float rating for deep snow, not bridging between logs, rocks, etc. I guess the funny part is when I am crossing several down logs, I plant my shoeshoe on top of the log where my foot is in the shoe, just like when I wear boots. I never bridge two logs when wearing plain old boots, placing my toe and heel on two different logs, and don't do the same with any snowshoe I have ever owned. But, I guess I prefer a more versatile snowshoe over one I can just stomp through the brush with not watching wear I am placing my feet. Have a good day.
We actually use Kahtoola microspikes most of the time except in new snow. If the snow is packed down then they're much better than snowshoes. However, I used the Atlas 1030s for a few years, in steep terrain. Those had no heal lift and they were really goofy big and awkward. I frequently stepped on the other snowshoe and fell over, or couldn't fit into a path. I did put enough mileage on them to make anyone proud, but they are clodhoppers and I save them only for guests. A year or two later I added a pair of MSR Evo Ascents into the mix. One thing I didn't like about the Evo is that it's hard to glide downhill because the cleats are so aggressive. Also don't like using individual straps for each snowshoe while trying to keep my hands warm. They're a hassle, but once they're on all is good, and they're around $230 new. 20 years later I finally broke my Evos and now need a new pair. Given the choice between my two pairs, and a couple pairs of Redfeathers, the choice was clear. MSRs, every time, every mountain, every day. But we're talking about 25 years of history across five pairs of snowshoes, on the same steep mountains in Park City, UT. I'm open minded enough to consider something new, but I'd never go back to the Atlas tube style, even if mine did have a heel lift.
I agree. I have the atlas montane 10/35" and have more than 8 years on them. They are fantastic. I do lots of snowshoeing up mountains. I bought them primarily for the bindings which are easy to put on and easy to take off and don't slip off. There is nothing worse than fussing with bindings at -35c. I am 225 lb 6 2" and carry 30-50lbs. And unmentioned - on a packed trail, the slide easily vs your msr's which makes a long 10km hike much less effort at the expensive of slightly less traction on extreme slopes (I did >20% yesterday an no problems).
Subscribed. Now looking at my winter gear purchases for 2024 and was bought-in on the M$Rs.... til now. Not nearly as big as you, but definitely use my gear and the Montanes are the ones that won't leave me stranded. Thank you very much for the review!
I really like your testing . you have been really honest and yes I was looking in buying MSR ascent but not any more. I think my second choice Tubbs flex and maybe Atlas helium. will be my choice yes I was looking at TSL but there too expensive. thank again
Thanks for this review. Very helpful. I have been trying to decide on a first pair of snowshoes for a while now. Just placed an order for the Atlas Montanes, which were on a significantly better sale than the MSRs. Too bad to hear that MSR snowshoes didn't hold up well, their gear is usually pretty darn good.
Thanks so much for this review! Luckily I hadn’t taken the MSR’s out of packaging…..just returned. Your info is transparent and rock solid. Much appreciated. Keep it up.
It's great how you continue on with the review and compare the two products as if the total failure of the MSR frame isn't a complete and instant deal breaker. Awesome review!
Snowshoes! Probably one of my 3 favorite things to talk your ear off about. Jeeps and non-snowshoe outdoor gear are the other 2. I’ve had MSR Lightning Ascents and was very underwhelmed by them. The decking is paper-thin, the frames seem cheap and flimsy, and the 4 straps on older models like I had just weren’t very comfortable. I wouldn’t trust the thin mesh of the Paragon binding. I sold them after about 4 years because I just didn’t use them. MSR has great marketing, if nothing else - ask “what snowshoes should I get for my 84 y/o mother who wants to walk a mile at the golf course 3x a week?” and half the replies will be “$390 MSR Lightning Ascents!” Their snowshoes are meant for snow that’s packed almost enough to just use crampons. In softer snow halve the MSR weight ratings. (GV gives useful off-trail weights for theirs.) The traction-framed snowshoes I’ve been using for the last 8 years or so are GV Mountain Extremes. The difference between these and the Lightning Ascents is like night and day. - With Lightning Ascents your heel rests directly on a double layer of decking, with the GVs there are serrated aluminum cleats sticking up through openings in the decking that are riveted directly to the frame so you can really stamp into crusty snow. - Speaking of decking, the GV decking is about 3/32” or 2mm thick, and isn’t woven like MSR’s. I’ve used my Mountain Extremes as traction boards under my stuck Jeep, the spinning tires abraded but never punctured the decking, the frame rails were pretty badly bent in places but I was able to straighten them with Vise Grips. Rocks and sticks don’t stand a chance of puncturing it. - You mentioned your large boots - GV bindings have 2 ratcheting straps over the foot, a non-ratcheting heel strap, and a plastic toe stop that’s molded into the binding foot plate. Wearing large winter boots (size 11 Sorel Conquests or Oboz 10” Bridgers) there’s at least 4-5 inches of free strap left, even white USGI bunny boots would fit in these things. - They do weigh about 1/2 pound more than equivalent-sized Lightning Ascents, but that extra weight is in the much more beefy build. - And to top it all off, they cost about half what Lightning Ascents do. I’m 5’11”, 260lb, and generally have a
@@MindfulHunter You’re welcome. I think the only MSRs I’d consider would be Denali Ascent or Evo Ascent, with 8” tails you’d have a 30” snowshoe. That’s not nearly enough for 300+ pounds unless the snow is very packed. Plus I’ve found the tails make the rear of the snowshoe ride higher and the toes sink deeper. It felt like getting used to wearing loggers, though I never got used to it. Even with tails my Lightning Ascents still only had about 80% of the surface area that my Mountaineers did.
