High Sierra Topix

Alrighty,i noticed some snowshoes have a rounded rear deck and others have it pointy or tapered.Is there any benefit of one over the other?I was looking at an older pair of atlas 825 snowshoes with a rounded rear deck and then read reviews that these shoes kicked up a lot snow at your back and legs.Do the tapered rear decks prevent this problem or am i just making assumptions?
Any recommendations for snowshoes for non hardcore general use.Looking at used stuff only.

As for gaiters what to look out for?Is possible to get some that work both for snowshoeing and summer hiking?


Thanks...

I know nothing about snowshoes but use gaiters up to my knees for x-country skiing and would use these in the summer only if I knew I was going to be doing a lot of postholing early in the season.

In the summer I use short gaiters primarily to keep the dirt out of my mid height light hiking boots.

As for your other question about boots/running shoes in your next thread, this topic has been discussed quite a bit on this forum. Personally for trail use I have used trail runners but prefer a little ankle support. So I have been wearing lightweight mid height 4-5 inch boots that are little more than high top running or trail shoes. Best thing about these is that there is no break in period. On the other hand you tend to feel rocks under your feet a little more. My biggest complaint is the lack of durability.

Most importantly, though, is to use what works for you!

Mike

My understanding is the tapered design is more for speed and running. Of the snowshoes I've tried I liked the MSR the best, but oldrange noted "use what works for you". Rent a few pairs and try them out before investing the money.

copeg wrote:My understanding is the tapered design is more for speed and running. Of the snowshoes I've tried I liked the MSR the best, but oldrange noted "use what works for you". Rent a few pairs and try them out before investing the money.

I'm also a fan of MSR shoes. Really like their bindings/crampons. Yes, for the most part fully-tapered design is intended for sport use in packed to semi-packed snow conditions, carrying nothing more than a daypack. I don't think many snowshoes these days kick up a whole lot of snow from behind, whether tapered rear deck, or not. I own MSR Denali shoes (which I absolutely love), that are kind of in between a sport and backcountry shoe. I really like that with the Denali shoe it's almost impossible to get lazy and dig your toe in causing you to fall forward - that's not the case with most shoes. Denali's have detachable tails (4" and 8") which help improve flotation in deeper powder, but if you feel you'll eventually be spending most of your time off-trail and/or carrying more than a daypack, I would recommend something like the MSR Lightning for moderate loads/conditions to Crescent Moon Silver 17 for heavier loads and really deep powder conditions. Be sure to add in clothing and gear to your own weight when determining which shoe is right for you.

Personally speaking, I'm not a big fan of Atlas or Redfeather shoes. I think Tubbs are pretty nice. But other than those, and the ones mentioned above, I can't really give an informed opinion on any other shoes. The Atlas model the OP mentions (atlas 825) had a number of online reviews claiming that the bindings and frame are crap, and break easily.

Hope this helps.