Snowshoe recommendations for heavy person

[Andy]

I'm 5' 8" (173 cm) tall, and around 240 pounds (108 kg), and will be carrying a 25-35 pound backpack in the Appalachian Mountains, mostly West Virginia (current snow depth: 23 inches). I will likely be breaking trail in fresh powder, so I want the most flotation reasonably possible.

I was thinking the Faber Mountain Quest shoes would be a good choice with dimensions of 11 x 40 in (36 x 76 cm). Their recommendation for powder snow or trail breaker for these shoes is 200 - 234 lbs (91 - 107 kg), but if I somehow found a larger shoe, I think it would be rather clumsy on the mountain trails. These weigh 6.50 lbs (2.95 kg) per pair.

http://www.fabersnowshoes.com/pls/prod_prod_bout51/iwae.proc_aigu?P_type_api=BOUTIK&P_lang=2&P_defi_ecra=3&P_cie=000019950000&P_type_acce=PUBLIC

The Northern Lites Tundra looks appealing due to its light weight, but the dimensions are 9 1/2" X 32". They weigh only 3 lbs (1.36 kg) per pair.

http://www.northernlites.com/tundra.php

[Canoedog]

In powder there is no substitute for size - bigger is always better If you are looking for the modern style of snowshoe, another option would be the GV Wide Trail line of snowshoes.
http://www.gvsnowshoes.com/eng/index.html

FWIW I use a pair of 12 x 60 Alaskan traditionals in powder snow conditions and I run about 210 lbs and I often wish they were 14" wide as they'd have even better floatation. I use an old pair of 10 x 36 modern shoes in the hills and when they finally give up the ghost I'll get the largest pair I can for replacements to provide better floatation.

[Andy]

Thanks Canoedog. Those GV Wide Trails look like a good option too.

I should add that I would consider traditional snowshoes, but I don't think they'd work well in steeper terrain.

[HOOP]

Hi Andy,

I am not a big person (5"4", 155 lb's), but for synthetics, I still use the largest snowshoe.   At the time I bought, the Faber was the bigest at 10x40, in several models.  I bought the high end model with the stainless steel axle and bomber attachment.    Believe me, these are not too big.  I can spin on a dime with them, so for a big guy, you won't have any problem at all with the BIGGEST synthetics you can find.  Go BIG.   With a crampon, you can go anywhere.

The Faber Mountain Quest looks like a fine snowshoe for what you want.  I was in Chaltrek the other day (premier snowshoe supplier here in Thunder Bay), and saw the new GV Wide Trails.  They also look excellent, and they has a 12x42 pair on their wall.   That's the biggest synthetic I am aware of on the market.

Even with the biggest synthetics, you will still sink in deep powder, so get the biggest for max flotation.   They are no disadvantage when it crusts over either.   Super versatile.

[lost_patrol]

Size matters.  None of the modern models are big enough to do you any good in powder snow.  Minimum in a narrow shoe would be Canoedog's 12x60.  In the wider shoes, consider the largest Huron pattern 16x48. 

Better yet (you and I are about the same height) would be something like Faber's "Montagnais" 18x39 which have about the same flotation area as the 16x48s but I find are easier to walk with because the stride length is shorter.

Traditional snowshoes are not necessarily the best choice for hard packed or icy trails (I just came back from a trip pulling a heavy load and almost didn't make it up the hills because my feet were slipping so badly on a hard packed trail) but they're better for everything else.  If you find yourself on such a surface, you can switch to crampons and then go back to your snowshoes after the climb.

[Trailpatrol]

I weigh in at about 260, and am 6' 3".  I use Huron-style Fabers, 48X16. I have other 'shoes and use them for other, short-term things, (All of my personal snowshoes are from Faber) but I like the floatation on the Hurons. I used 56-inch "Alaskan" style Fabers for 40 years, but retired them two years ago. Aside from some minor separation issues, they were just too long to use in the forests where I work.

We also rent out snowshoes in the park, and I constantly see folks flailing about on 36-inch Sherpas while the 36 to 56-inch Ojibwes get around just fine in powder and loose snow.

'shoe safe,
Ranger Hans

[Andy]

Thanks for the recommendations all! This forum is a great resource. I would really like to get all of the snowshoes recommended and try them.  The larger CV Wide Trails and Faber Mountain Quests didn't seem to be in stock anywhere, and since I need them very quickly, I went with the more available Crescent Moon Gold Series 17 which are 10 x 37 inches:

http://www.crescentmoonsnowshoes.com/gold.html



These will supplement my 70/60/65 mm backcountry nordic skis (Rossignol BC70), which I'll use on forest roads and wider, gently rolling trails.

[Trailpatrol]

I just bought a pair of 40" Faber Winter Guide hybrid snowshoes, mostly for work and trail patrol purposes. When I am working, it's time-consuming to have to sit and adjust my bindings up from mukluk size, and back down from work boot size when I'm on my own time. The Winter Guides have rachet bindings. This pair I will carry in the van, and can put in the back of the truck when I am working, or the back of the snowmobile when I am grooming. I'm am going to give them their first ride this afternoon. Film at 11.

Hans

[Aarona]

I think it depends on how much shrubbery you are going to have to walk through. Big long traditional shoes are great in open terrain, but get into the brush and you will be removing them to get unstuck. I've used both a lot and now mostly go with large synth shoes. New bindings are awesome for directional control and they feel really tough, so when you do get stuck you can have a temper tantrum and thrash around until you're loose. My dad builds beautiful trad shoes, but sadly I rarely use them.

[Inabell]

Trailpatrol,

What type of boot will the Winter Guides fit? I recently bought a pair of Faber Winter Ways for my son and the binding is too small to fit his pacs and my mukluks. It has a single ratchet strap that is just too short. I am interested to know it the Guides are sized differently.

Thanks

[Trailpatrol]

I wear a pair of Sorel Winter Trails at work in the winter. They are a pretty stout boot, and I didn't have any problem getting them on either the new Winter Guides, or the pair of Winter Rovers I have. Both have ratcheting heel straps, which I don't see in the Winter Ways. (I have the Rovers as a "loaner" or "son-in-law" 'shoes.)

My primary snowshoes are still Faber Hurons 48"x16", but I was very pleased when I tried out the Guides for the first time, yesterday. I also have a slightly smaller pair of Huron-style shoes with neoprene webbing, (from Freeman's, a small snowshoe maker in Turin, NY) for wetter conditions. I usually use mukluks with those snowshoes.

'shoe safe,
Hans

[HOOP]

Trailpatrol,
What type of boot will the Winter Guides fit? I recently bought a pair of Faber Winter Ways for my son and the binding is too small to fit his pacs and my mukluks. It has a single ratchet strap that is just too short. I am interested to know it the Guides are sized differently.
Thanks

Hi Inabell,

There is now a ratchet extender strap that fits on Faber ratchet straps.  Its really cool.  Chaltrek (one of our sponsors) has it in stock last time I was in the store.

[lost_patrol]

Or a longer piece of lampwick.  Works on my snowshoes . . .