I haven't done anywhere near as many winter miles as you, and I still have the Atlas snowshoes that I bought in 1995. They are huge, 36" long and 11 or 12 inches wide. The frame is all aluminum (rigid/welded) with good crampons and a Hypalon deck. Wicked heavy, too. I don't climb above treeline anymore, because I'm closer to 70 than 60, and don't have winter hiking partners anymore. Next year I will probably thruhike the AT, beginning in Massachusetts and heading south in January. I will be wearing and carrying the old Atlas shoes and a pair of Camp 10 point crampons that are even older, but bulletproof. The middle miles of the AT will be my insurance, should I have physical issues and need time off, or it will be a family time and vacation from the hike. It should be interesting. I enjoyed watching the excitement in your eyes as you recounted your adventures. You've got the wild inside, and you're not afraid to let it out. It'll keep you young, hopefully beyond my years. I'm still plugging along, enduring the toil and aches and pains that come with being a relatively active senior, because I reason that, if you stop for long enough, you will never get going again. Life is not (or should not) be a spectator sport. What I have accomplished means more to me than anyone else. It isn't my goal to impress others, but maybe if I can motivate them to levitate up off the couch, they'll live longer, and, if not, a good sight better. God bless you! Keep telling your stories and making memories. 👍💪👊✌
I know you have been planning this section of hike for a while.I hope that it proves to be an amazing adventure. Having gear that has stood up to the test of time is really an amazing thing. Think of all the stories those snowshoes of yours could tell! They become more than gear at that point. Much more. The wild side!!!! It has tamed down a bit over the years, but, as you can see, it's still there! I don't particularly miss the trouble it used to get me into LOL The good times! Use it or lose it. This is true. I'm sure the older one gets the more important it becomes. Keep on keeping on! Thank you for the awesome comment. Best of luck to you. Talk to you later! Cheers
Awesome to hear after 12 years! I did the same thing after seeing the price of the Accents. My Flex’s have been great after 5 years. Love the speed dial bindings. They served me well in accomplishing my W46 over here in the Adirondacks.
Great technical review. I don’t know if EMS is still around you but we had one by me on Long Island. Is still have stuff from there that I bought in the 90s, especially my fleece coat. I’ve done almost every mile of my snowmobile riding for over 25 years with that coat under my top layer. Man when something works and lasts, it’s easy to be sentimental for all the accomplishments and memories that gear was a part of. 6 sleds and thousands of miles, all over Vermont and Maine. Nice man, thanks
EMS is still around. There is one in Concord that isn't too far from us. Having good gear that actually works and stands up to the test of time is very rewarding. It becomes more than just a piece of gear. They become story tellers. Constant reminders of the good and the bad. A testament of your accomplishments. Some become heirloom status. I have my grandfathers wool hunting shirts, jackets and pants. Priceless to me. I have so much gear that is old, proven and still used. Jackets that are 15, 20 years old, backpacks that are 20 years old, pants that are 10 years old, the list goes on. Sometimes it is worth it to shell out a lot more money for a good product. Over the course of time and use, it's cheaper than buying cheap multiple times. Always nice when it works out that way
I have the same ones. My first real investment into snowshoes. You pointed out some good cons that I didn't realize but I've loved mine to date. I usually trip with people that use the more traditional style and they can never get up hills the way I can. Great video. Thanks for sharing.
Great story and nice review! One point about weights of the Tubbs vs Lightning Ascents…virtually the same according to their technical specs (at least for new models). A few ounces different depending on size at best. I came across this video as my 20+ old MSR Evo Acents had the binding plate break on one (and noted the other is cracked). This happened before about 10 years ago and I simply ordered new bindings (if memory serves it cost me about $40). After 25 years I thought time to replace everything…the MSR Lightings are nice, but almost $200 CDN more than the EVO Ascents and likely only little different in performance (mine have taken me through steep technical terrain to frozen forests and swamps). Decided to stay with the same model, but then saw the Tubbs Flex Alp. Probably the most technically proficient for steeps it appears, but the MSRs Ascents (both) while strong technically, seem better for overall use. Now struggling between the EVO Ascents (strong technical and amazing durability) VS Tubbs Flex Alps. Pricing about the same and as it is nearing end of snowshoe season (though we often need shoes in til mid May in PNW mountains) there are some sales. My brain says try the Tubbs, my heart stays true to MSR. Note: I could simply replace the Ascents bindings once again as the rest of the shoe is solid, but MSR has an up to 12 week wait before they will get back to you on a repair question.
The newer models probably do have similar weights, but, not the older ones. There is a considerable difference in weight. The Evo Ascents are probably the best deal out there. A great shoe for the price. Can't really go wrong. All these shoes are great, i guess it just boils down to personal preference. Once you decide on a shoe to purchase, you should send order a new binding. Always good to have a backup pair!
Thanks for the video, dude. I'm in NH too. Someone left 2 sets of these at the dumpster, so I picked them up. The only thing wrong is the back strap is busted on all 4 of the bindings. I'm just gonna see if I can find that part. Thanks
NH!! That was a good find! One of the back heel straps just let go on mine this winter. 13 years, 1st failure. I got lucky, the strap broke up high, so there is still plenty of useable strap. I have faith you will be able to repair them somehow
Badass man!! Wow 12 years it is nice when gear is made good! Also "I'm a gear junkie" hahaha. That's awesome and darn straight. For some reason I seem to collect stoves.
I’ve heard good things about those snowshoes. I love my MSR lightening ascent. But I do have two pair. I had the binding fail once and had to send them in. It was pricey to ship them in for service and it took a while. That’s a cool story about the hiker who is blind and meeting your wife. 12 years is very solid for sure.
I have heard of the binding failures on them. Gotta send the whole shoe back. I saw a pair break once in Maine. We used a few zip ties as a quick temp fix. I actually talked about that when I was making the video, and edited it out. lol I figured it was information that didn't much matter because it's a system that has long since been changed. That was one crazy winter! I am glad to have been a part of that story. Thank you for watching, and thanks for joining us last night on the livestream!
@@ItsGoodintheWoods I look forward to updating to the new snowshoes with the cool new binding. But I’ll hold on to my old ones anyway. They are about 6 or 7 years old
Interesting. We don’t have that climate or terrain. Guess I assumed they were a one size fits all thing . Learn something new everyday. Have a great evening
I love the snowshoes pros & cons but thank goodness don't have a need for them. Justin, if I'm ever above the treeline in New Hampshire I remember your video. Lol
I've had similar luck with mine. I also have the 28s for when the snow is deep, but (as you well know) I have a few pounds on you :) I do switch to the MSR EVO Ascent when I think I will be carrying them a lot since they are lighter and they pack better. I had always heard that the lightnings had reliability concerns (years ago) especially for 6 foot+ 200 pound+ people like me. I also wear size 13 boots so there are only so many option that actual still pivot properly (without catching on the decking.) Enjoyed the picture of you & the Mrs. and Quinn :)
I remember hearing about those reliability issues when I bought mine. The binding would break, and people had to send out the whole shoe for repair. I saw one break in Maine once, we used a few zip ties for a temporary fix. I actually talked about that when I was making the video, and decided to edit it out because that binding has been discontinued for years, I didn't feel like it was information that needed to be in the video. Now that I r4ead your comment I wish I had. LOL The Mighty Quinn!!
I can say that in general that lightweight gear and I do not get along that well. I've broken many lightweight hiking poles, snowshoes, and bicycle parts. I've had a hard time finding boots and snowshoes that work together at size 13. The FlexAlp 24 is my workhorse. I've used it for 10+ seasons of winter peakbagging all over New England. It is always wise to have a nut/washer/bolt in case of rivet failure and a replacement cotter pin and split ring. It's likely to be either a really poor foot placement among the rocks or a snag on a tree/branch/root that causes a failure.
We have Two pairs of MSR lightnings bought in 2010, and absolutely loved them. We have the same bindings however and all the straps suddenly disintegrated over the course of Two seasons starting around 2020. First the straps which we had a hard time finding replacements for but eventually did. Then this year in February, the silicone footbeds started rotting too. A warning that you or your wife won’t notice it until going out in the cold and they become even more brittle and just crack apart like candy, requiring the entire replacement of the bindings with MSR doesn’t sell. MSR has been unresponsive over the past couple years on warranty issues for us, with various excuses for the straps and now blaming supply chain for new bindings…. Even as they continue selling new snowshoes. For us, the snowshoes were great and we expected the bindings to fail at some point… it’s the failure by MSR (bought out by Cascade) to replace/ repair the bindings that now renders our shoes useless sadly. Thanks for the review here, our next pairs will probably be the Tubbs Flex ALP.
That sucks. I suspect we will be having similar issues soon. It is too bad they wont fix your shoes. I am a bit surprised by that. MSR is a solid company. Looks like the Tubbs may win the longevity test....
Great feedback on these snowshoes! Based on this, I've purchased a pair myself. Any suggestions on the best way to attach them to a pack? Happy Trails!
You won't regret it. These things are awesome. I pack them by putting the bottoms facing each other Then i strap them to the back of my pack. Works very well and protects everything from the sharp pointy edges
My first thought was drill them out and install new rivets, just for piece of mind. But I also wonder if my locally sourced and in my stock rivets would be as tough as the originals. By the way I have the same shoes at @ the same age.
If I have to I may resort to rivets, but I am going to search for similar hardware first. That is on my to do list this weekend. How have your shoes held up over the years?
Man I love that story every time I hear! Blind hiker, documentary, wife story. It’s good stuff.
Thanks bro! It is a story I am extremely proud of, and lucky to have been a part of
I haven't done anywhere near as many winter miles as you, and I still have the Atlas snowshoes that I bought in 1995. They are huge, 36" long and 11 or 12 inches wide. The frame is all aluminum (rigid/welded) with good crampons and a Hypalon deck. Wicked heavy, too. I don't climb above treeline anymore, because I'm closer to 70 than 60, and don't have winter hiking partners anymore. Next year I will probably thruhike the AT, beginning in Massachusetts and heading south in January. I will be wearing and carrying the old Atlas shoes and a pair of Camp 10 point crampons that are even older, but bulletproof. The middle miles of the AT will be my insurance, should I have physical issues and need time off, or it will be a family time and vacation from the hike. It should be interesting.
I enjoyed watching the excitement in your eyes as you recounted your adventures. You've got the wild inside, and you're not afraid to let it out. It'll keep you young, hopefully beyond my years.
I'm still plugging along, enduring the toil and aches and pains that come with being a relatively active senior, because I reason that, if you stop for long enough, you will never get going again. Life is not (or should not) be a spectator sport. What I have accomplished means more to me than anyone else. It isn't my goal to impress others, but maybe if I can motivate them to levitate up off the couch, they'll live longer, and, if not, a good sight better.
God bless you! Keep telling your stories and making memories. 👍💪👊✌
I know you have been planning this section of hike for a while.I hope that it proves to be an amazing adventure. Having gear that has stood up to the test of time is really an amazing thing. Think of all the stories those snowshoes of yours could tell! They become more than gear at that point. Much more.
The wild side!!!! It has tamed down a bit over the years, but, as you can see, it's still there! I don't particularly miss the trouble it used to get me into LOL The good times!
Use it or lose it. This is true. I'm sure the older one gets the more important it becomes. Keep on keeping on!
Thank you for the awesome comment. Best of luck to you. Talk to you later! Cheers
Give this guy a couple beers and he'll talk about snowshoes for hours!😂😂😂
I could do it!!!!!! LOL
I kinda figured
@@mikeghost7788 hahahahaha!!!
Nice review. Great background.
Thank you very much!
Awesome to hear after 12 years!
I did the same thing after seeing the price of the Accents.
My Flex’s have been great after 5 years. Love the speed dial bindings. They served me well in accomplishing my W46 over here in the Adirondacks.
I would really like to try out those bindings. Great snow shoes no doubt
Very good review. I never used snow shoes nor truly had the use for them yet. Take Care and Keep Exploring The Outdoors.
Thank you
I've had mine ten years now never failed me yet. However after watching this I am going to check the rivets.
A great set of shoes! I am glad to hear yours are holding up well
Great technical review. I don’t know if EMS is still around you but we had one by me on Long Island. Is still have stuff from there that I bought in the 90s, especially my fleece coat. I’ve done almost every mile of my snowmobile riding for over 25 years with that coat under my top layer. Man when something works and lasts, it’s easy to be sentimental for all the accomplishments and memories that gear was a part of. 6 sleds and thousands of miles, all over Vermont and Maine. Nice man, thanks
EMS is still around. There is one in Concord that isn't too far from us. Having good gear that actually works and stands up to the test of time is very rewarding. It becomes more than just a piece of gear. They become story tellers. Constant reminders of the good and the bad. A testament of your accomplishments. Some become heirloom status. I have my grandfathers wool hunting shirts, jackets and pants. Priceless to me.
I have so much gear that is old, proven and still used. Jackets that are 15, 20 years old, backpacks that are 20 years old, pants that are 10 years old, the list goes on. Sometimes it is worth it to shell out a lot more money for a good product. Over the course of time and use, it's cheaper than buying cheap multiple times. Always nice when it works out that way
Dude! What a great story and Im not talking about the snowshoes.
Thanks man!
Awesome and informative video. Thank you for all that you do. ❤ such a great story 👏
Thank you very much Sarge
To repair the rivet use a simple flat head bolt, spacer and a nut. Pointing downwards like a spike.
I just used a rivet
@@ItsGoodintheWoods I use mine flex alps since 2016 with no problems so far too.
I have the same ones. My first real investment into snowshoes. You pointed out some good cons that I didn't realize but I've loved mine to date. I usually trip with people that use the more traditional style and they can never get up hills the way I can. Great video. Thanks for sharing.
In steep icy terrain, a traditional aluminum frame snow shoe doesn't stand a chance. These things are mean!!! I love em'
Great story and nice review! One point about weights of the Tubbs vs Lightning Ascents…virtually the same according to their technical specs (at least for new models). A few ounces different depending on size at best. I came across this video as my 20+ old MSR Evo Acents had the binding plate break on one (and noted the other is cracked). This happened before about 10 years ago and I simply ordered new bindings (if memory serves it cost me about $40). After 25 years I thought time to replace everything…the MSR Lightings are nice, but almost $200 CDN more than the EVO Ascents and likely only little different in performance (mine have taken me through steep technical terrain to frozen forests and swamps). Decided to stay with the same model, but then saw the Tubbs Flex Alp. Probably the most technically proficient for steeps it appears, but the MSRs Ascents (both) while strong technically, seem better for overall use. Now struggling between the EVO Ascents (strong technical and amazing durability) VS Tubbs Flex Alps. Pricing about the same and as it is nearing end of snowshoe season (though we often need shoes in til mid May in PNW mountains) there are some sales. My brain says try the Tubbs, my heart stays true to MSR. Note: I could simply replace the Ascents bindings once again as the rest of the shoe is solid, but MSR has an up to 12 week wait before they will get back to you on a repair question.
The newer models probably do have similar weights, but, not the older ones. There is a considerable difference in weight. The Evo Ascents are probably the best deal out there. A great shoe for the price. Can't really go wrong. All these shoes are great, i guess it just boils down to personal preference.
Once you decide on a shoe to purchase, you should send order a new binding. Always good to have a backup pair!
Thanks for the video, dude. I'm in NH too. Someone left 2 sets of these at the dumpster, so I picked them up. The only thing wrong is the back strap is busted on all 4 of the bindings. I'm just gonna see if I can find that part. Thanks
NH!! That was a good find! One of the back heel straps just let go on mine this winter. 13 years, 1st failure. I got lucky, the strap broke up high, so there is still plenty of useable strap. I have faith you will be able to repair them somehow
Badass man!! Wow 12 years it is nice when gear is made good! Also "I'm a gear junkie" hahaha. That's awesome and darn straight. For some reason I seem to collect stoves.
A fellow gear junkie!!! Always nice when gear lasts. I have a thing for stoves as well, got about 20 of em currently LOL!
Very informative and interesting video and Longterm review of these snowshoes. 👍
Thank you very much
I’ve heard good things about those snowshoes. I love my MSR lightening ascent. But I do have two pair. I had the binding fail once and had to send them in. It was pricey to ship them in for service and it took a while. That’s a cool story about the hiker who is blind and meeting your wife. 12 years is very solid for sure.
I have heard of the binding failures on them. Gotta send the whole shoe back. I saw a pair break once in Maine. We used a few zip ties as a quick temp fix. I actually talked about that when I was making the video, and edited it out. lol I figured it was information that didn't much matter because it's a system that has long since been changed.
That was one crazy winter! I am glad to have been a part of that story. Thank you for watching, and thanks for joining us last night on the livestream!
@@ItsGoodintheWoods I look forward to updating to the new snowshoes with the cool new binding. But I’ll hold on to my old ones anyway. They are about 6 or 7 years old
@@ItsGoodintheWoods Live-stream ? What livestream ?
Interesting. We don’t have that climate or terrain. Guess I assumed they were a one size fits all thing . Learn something new everyday. Have a great evening
They do make a 28" version as well......I think lol
Awesome reveiw on these shoes big help for us all !!
Thank you very much
I love the snowshoes pros & cons but thank goodness don't have a need for them. Justin, if I'm ever above the treeline in New Hampshire I remember your video. Lol
Hahahahahaha! Come on up!
Sweet looking shoes. I'm waiting to get my first pair... 🤞
Do you know what shoes you are getting?!?!?!
@@ItsGoodintheWoods I'm looking at the MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes. I want to get something that could last me 12+ years...
@@AndyParrishOutdoors A solid choice
@@ItsGoodintheWoods I noticed that you were eyeing your wife's pair... 👀
@@AndyParrishOutdoors always ......
I've had similar luck with mine. I also have the 28s for when the snow is deep, but (as you well know) I have a few pounds on you :) I do switch to the MSR EVO Ascent when I think I will be carrying them a lot since they are lighter and they pack better. I had always heard that the lightnings had reliability concerns (years ago) especially for 6 foot+ 200 pound+ people like me. I also wear size 13 boots so there are only so many option that actual still pivot properly (without catching on the decking.)
Enjoyed the picture of you & the Mrs. and Quinn :)
I remember hearing about those reliability issues when I bought mine. The binding would break, and people had to send out the whole shoe for repair. I saw one break in Maine once, we used a few zip ties for a temporary fix. I actually talked about that when I was making the video, and decided to edit it out because that binding has been discontinued for years, I didn't feel like it was information that needed to be in the video. Now that I r4ead your comment I wish I had. LOL
The Mighty Quinn!!
I can say that in general that lightweight gear and I do not get along that well. I've broken many lightweight hiking poles, snowshoes, and bicycle parts. I've had a hard time finding boots and snowshoes that work together at size 13. The FlexAlp 24 is my workhorse. I've used it for 10+ seasons of winter peakbagging all over New England. It is always wise to have a nut/washer/bolt in case of rivet failure and a replacement cotter pin and split ring. It's likely to be either a really poor foot placement among the rocks or a snag on a tree/branch/root that causes a failure.
Impressive.
word homie!
We have Two pairs of MSR lightnings bought in 2010, and absolutely loved them. We have the same bindings however and all the straps suddenly disintegrated over the course of Two seasons starting around 2020. First the straps which we had a hard time finding replacements for but eventually did. Then this year in February, the silicone footbeds started rotting too. A warning that you or your wife won’t notice it until going out in the cold and they become even more brittle and just crack apart like candy, requiring the entire replacement of the bindings with MSR doesn’t sell. MSR has been unresponsive over the past couple years on warranty issues for us, with various excuses for the straps and now blaming supply chain for new bindings…. Even as they continue selling new snowshoes. For us, the snowshoes were great and we expected the bindings to fail at some point… it’s the failure by MSR (bought out by Cascade) to replace/ repair the bindings that now renders our shoes useless sadly. Thanks for the review here, our next pairs will probably be the Tubbs Flex ALP.
That sucks. I suspect we will be having similar issues soon. It is too bad they wont fix your shoes. I am a bit surprised by that. MSR is a solid company. Looks like the Tubbs may win the longevity test....
Outstanding review
Thank you Dave
“ Kinda big and bulky “ 😂😂😂
LOL
Great feedback on these snowshoes!
Based on this, I've purchased a pair myself.
Any suggestions on the best way to attach them to a pack?
Happy Trails!
You won't regret it. These things are awesome. I pack them by putting the bottoms facing each other Then i strap them to the back of my pack. Works very well and protects everything from the sharp pointy edges
Hello brother I am form india 🙏🇮🇳
Hello
@@ItsGoodintheWoods You make videos very nice and keep making videos like this 👍
My first thought was drill them out and install new rivets, just for piece of mind. But I also wonder if my locally sourced and in my stock rivets would be as tough as the originals. By the way I have the same shoes at @ the same age.
If I have to I may resort to rivets, but I am going to search for similar hardware first. That is on my to do list this weekend. How have your shoes held up over the years?
@It's Good in the Woods they are doing great after some good abuse.
Just the fact that it's 12 years implies they must be awful! 🤣
no good at all