MSR snowshoe detachable tails

[cody6510]

So I've never owned a pair of snowshoes and just bought a pair of MSR revo ascents. I'm 6'1, 190ish without a pack. The guy at REI convinced me the a 25" was the way to go and suggested that I could get the tail extensions to take the shoe to 30" when needed. My first question is does anyone have any experience with the MSR tails? Do they work well/are they durable? My second question is would I just be better served with a 30" shoe? I'm going to be using them in the backcountry for camping and shed hunting, so groomed trails won't be the norm. My gut says the 30" is probably the way to go but I want to make sure im not ignoring potential benefits to the 25" w/tails setup.

 

[Randle]

Have the setup you are looking at and find it works well for me. Most ly just like you shed hunting and there are sometimes shorter are better for working thru thick stuff. . I don't think you will go wrong with this setup . The tails are as durable as the shoes themselves I have shoed with guys with aluminum frame shoes and my traction was much better then their s in alot of different snow condition s and terrain.

 

[good2eat]

For a lot of backcountry with deep unbroken trail you'll want the tails. I did 6 miles a couple weeks ago in 2 feet of fresh and wished I had them. The 25's give you the ability to confortably do hard pack and cut trails.

 

[gmajor]

The 25s work for me in the deep stuff too, but I'm 5'8" 165. I'd want the tails with a full pack I think.

 

[Shotgun]

Get the tails. While your at it make a small lanyard for your tails that can connect to the shoe. In deep snow with brushy under growth sometimes you can pop a tail off. Better to have a leash than backtrack looking for a lost tail.

 

[Violent Hippie]

I have used 3 different pair of the shorter (I think 25 inch) MSR snowshoes and have the tails. Having the tail option is nice and I usually go without although they come in handy in deep pow. The tails are durable and I've never had them break nor have I ever had an MSR snowshoe fail.. I have 1 pair Ive used probably 30 days a year for around 8 years and they are still going .

 

[Yellowknife]

I've got a set of the cheaper MSR EVO shoes with tails. I'm pretty sure the tails have never come off since I installed them. If the snow is deep enough to need snowshoes, then I usually want all the flotation I can get.

 

[Jimbob]

I have a pair of MSR knock offs that only cost me $40 at an army surplus store (22" size). I purchased the real MSR tails and they never come off the shoes.

Last year I purchased a used pair of 25" MSR Lightnings and have yet to get the tails. My friend has the 30" but he paid full price. I like my 25" better than his 30" for 80% of what I do. The other 20% of the time I just live with less than ideal 25". In the future I might purchase the tails but for now I'm fine with 25".

 

[GotDraw?]

I am 165lbs give or take and have the 25" MSR Ascents, no tails.

Phenomenal climbers. Love them.

I have mostly used them w/a day pack in steep terrain Spring/early Summer high elevation snow that is more compressed, but extremely deep. If I weighed closer to 190, and:

1) Anticipated using a heavier pack.
2) Soft powder

If 1&2, I would strongly consider the longer shoes. Shorter tails will provide floatation, but your foot will be centered more to the front of the shoe, giving the front of the shoe additional weight and making you float tail-high, front-low. I personally would not want this for extended periods of time.

Yes, you will have shorter shoe with 25's. Ask yourself what is the makeup of the understory/ground cover you plan to be in? If it's higher elevation pines with little ground vegetation to get caught in, then shoe length may be irrelevant. If a lot of willows, then shorter may be better.

JL

 

[cody6510]

Thanks for the help guys. Based on the info provided here and in other threads on rokslide I actually decided to return the setup I bought and go with the 30" lightning ascents. I think overall they'll work better for what I'll be needing most of the time.

 

[moxford]

I think you made the correct choice if you're off-trail. The extra float is nice, and the Lightning Ascents have much better side-hill capabilities than the MSR Evos.

Additionally, while you're "190-ish without a pack", once you add in your camping gear and then possibly sheds on top of that, you're going to appreciate the extra float in the really deep stuff.

Bigger shoes do take a little more getting used to but there's no worries about tails coming off, misplacing them, having to dig them out of a pack during a sudden big dump, etc.

-mox