Snowshoes

assorted items on black textile
assorted items on black textile

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These help cover the costs associated with operating this website. Thanks! Learn more here.

Two smiling hikers snowshoeing across a frozen alpine lake surrounded by snow-covered evergreen trees.
Two smiling hikers snowshoeing across a frozen alpine lake surrounded by snow-covered evergreen trees.

MSR Lightning Ascents

After renting, borrowing, using and abusing many different snowshoes we finally settled on this MSR model after seeing them in action on one of our avalanche safety course instructors. They offer the perfect mix of floatation and traction needed for the mix of deep and dense snow the Pacific Northwest is known for. The Lightning's aggressive steel frame and crampon like teeth on the bottom of the forefoot give you confidence on steep and icy snow (within reason, carry an ice axe and know how to self-arrest but please try to avoid uncontrolled slides in snowshoes). We use these shoes for casual weekend snowshoeing with friends and for multi-day expeditions deep into the Cascades carrying heavy packs. And perhaps my favorite feature is the binding. The Paragon binding wraps around your boot and is tightened on the sides, eliminating any pressure point on your feet, they fit like a literal glove.

They come in three sizes and tail extensions can be purchased separately for additional float on those deep pow days or when your gear load gets really heavy. The 22in shoes come in at a remarkably light 2lbs 2oz per shoe, a great weight considering the rigid and durable construction.

I'm aware that the Lightning Ascents are a premium model so I'll also link to another MSR snowshoe we've used that will come in at a slightly lower price point while still maintaining a high quality build that will last many, many seasons.

A man wearing a blue jacket and backpack snowshoeing on Mt. Rainier during winter.
A man wearing a blue jacket and backpack snowshoeing on Mt. Rainier during winter.

MSR Evo Explore Womens-

A great midrange snowshoe, now offering the same Paragon binding as the Lightning Ascents. We rented this pair of snowshoes numerous times before committing to the purchase of our own. The all plastic construction is still very robust and they sill bite fairly well into icy snow but not as aggressively as the Ascents above. The older models had strap bindings like in the image of me here and they could leave hotspots on the top of your foot, especially if the passed directly over metal eyes for your laces. But, the new models include the Paragon bindings so that issue should be solved.

MSR Evo Explore Mens-

A great midrange snowshoe, now also offering the same Paragon binding as the Lightning Ascents (same as above, just the men's model).

(MSR Lightning Ascents seen on Bug's crossing a frozen lake in the Mt. Baker Wilderness, demonstrating the grip of these shoes on ice)

(seen on Moose near Paradise, Mt. Rainier, Washington State on an overnight winter trip)