Biographical Information
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Name: |
Mark Wood |
A Brief Introduction
I grew up camping with my parents and had taken a few short backpacking
trips, as well as a couple of 10-day trips before I got married. While
my wife and I have enjoyed car camping and day hiking for close to 6
years, we have both decided to make backpacking a permanent part of our
lives. Our trips are generally shorter (2 - 5 days) over rocky, hilly
terrain. My general pack weight for a 3 day trip is around 25 lb (11.4
kg) including food and water.
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Age / Sex: |
27 / Male |
Height: |
5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) |
Weight: |
250 lb (113 kg) |
Email Address: |
mwood_bgt at markandkc dot net |
Web page: |
http://www.markandkc.net |
Location: |
Chenango County, New York, U.S.A. |
Product Information
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Manufacturer: |
Mountain Safety Research (MSR) |
Year of Manufacture: |
2007 |
URL of Manufacturer: |
http://www.msrgear.com |
Sizes Offered: |
22" - 3 lbs. 10 oz. (1644 g)
25" - 3 lbs. 12 oz. (1701 g)
30" - 4 lbs. 4 oz. (1928 g)
All lengths measure 8" (20 cm) wide.
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Size Tested: |
Lightning Ascent 25 - 25" (64 cm)
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MSRP: |
Lightning Ascent 22 and 25 - $259.95
Lightning Ascent 30 - $289.95
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Weight as Delivered: |
Lightning Ascent 25: 3 lbs 12 oz (1.70 kg)
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Materials: |
Aerospace grade aluminum frame with a plastic decking.
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According to the packaging, the MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes are a Maximum-Traction, High-Floatation snowshoe. Features include:
- Unrivaled Traction: 360 degree Total Traction frame features an aggressive tooth pattern for unprecedented grip.
- Unmatched on Steep Terrain: Televator heel lifter makes climbing easier.
- Superlight: The lightest snowshoe in its category.
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Field Conditions
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Numerous locations will
be visited during the testing time
frame. My usual backpacking areas are the Catskill and Adirondack
regions of New York as well as some Northern Pennsylvania trails such
as the West Rim Trail. Also, the Finger Lakes Trail passes very close
to my home and I often incorporate this into my "regular" destinations.
In general, temperatures
will range from around 0 F (-18 C) to 40 F (4.5 C) during the testing
time frame. Over the last few years, Upstate New
York has had some good snowfall and this year is expected to be a heavy winter.
Elevations in my normal hiking areas generally range from 500 - 2500 ft
(150 - 750 m).
The MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes will be used not only for my winter
backpacking trips, but also for regular exercise and winter photography
trips.
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Initial Report - December 13, 2007
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First Impressions
The MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes were very impressive from the moment they
arrived. It's not only their orange color, but their impressive design. These
look like they are designed to tackle some serious use!
At first glance, it's pretty clear the differences between these snowshoes and
others I have used in the past. Most snowshoes have a tubular frame and plastic
decking. The frame and decking are both intended to provide floatation. All
traction is normally achieved via a crampon type binding. The Lightning Ascent
snowshoes are clearly different. The entire frame is a vertical piece of aerospace
grade aluminum with serrated teeth on the bottom. Plus, there are two cross braces
on the underside of the snowshoes also with serrated teeth. Finally, there is
an aggressive crampon with yet two more large teeth. Overall, these snowshoes are
designed with maximum traction in mind.
Aerospace Grade Aluminum Serrated Teeth
Item Description
I'm truly impressed with the design of these snowshoes. It is very much
unlike any other I have seen. Essentially, there is one band of aerospace grade
aluminum bent into the shape of the frame. There are two rivets at the back of the
snowshoe attaching the two ends of the frame piece. At evenly spaced intervals around
the shoe, there are 20 metal clips which pass through the frame and are riveted to
the synthetic decking material.
Profile of the Serrated Teeth
To further reinforce the frame and provide even more traction, there are two
cross members which pass underneath the foot area. On the decking above the rear
cross member is a second piece of decking material which appears to reinforce where
a heel of a boot would land.
The crampon is attached with two clevis pins to the frame and pivots about 75
degrees allowing what I hope to be a rather natural gait. This will be tested
through out the testing time frame.
The bindings on the Lightning Ascent snowshoes appear pretty normal at first glace
however, close inspection reveals a few very impressive features. There are three
front straps which go over the main portion of the boot as well as one strap which
goes around the heel. The really nice feature is that the front three straps
not only have a large pull tab on one end, but there is nothing to thread. Instead
of threaded buckles, there are D shaped rings which allow the strap to be inserted
and secured very easily. I found this system very intuitive and simple to use. I
was able to not only secure my normal hiking boots in the bindings, but also my
heavy duty winter boots with minimal fussing. It should be noted that the heel
strap does need threading, but there is almost no occasion to undo this strap
so I anticipate no inconvenience here.
Binding showing the 'D' shaped clip
The other immediately noticeable feature of the Lightning Ascent snowshoes is
the Televator heel riser. This is supposed to be used only on steep terrain (the
User's Manual mentions 20 degree slopes or greater). The theory is that it allows
the wearer to climb straight up the slope without putting undue strain on their
calf muscles. Testing will show how effectively this works. To deploy the Televator
the instructions discuss the use of one's fingers or the tip of a ski pole. First
glance causes me to wonder how effective this deployment method will be. It seems as
though a small pull tab or something would make this somewhat easier.
Profile of the Lightning Ascent w/ Televator Bar Up
Overall, this appears to be a very well thought out product with many useful
features. Testing will provide more in depth feedback regarding actual use.
Sizing
According to the MSR Website, it was recommended that I go with either the Lightning
Ascent 25 model or the Lightning Ascent 30 model for moderate snow conditions. Since
we never get much more than 30 inches (76 cm) of snow in the woods, I opted to go with
the smaller size for simple convenience. I plan to test whether or not this decision
was wise or not with regards to not only ease of use but flotation in relatively
deep snow.
Care Instructions
The included instruction booklet mentions rinsing the snowshoes to remove mud and
debris. After drying, it recommends spraying all steel parts (traction blades,
crampons and clevis pins) with a rust-prevention spray such as WD-40.
Summary
My initial likes and concerns can be found below:
Likes
- Snowshoes appear very well made.
- I'm very interested to test the Televator setup!
- I'm excited for the amount of traction devices present on these snowshoes.
Concerns
This
concludes my Initial Report. The Field Report will be appended to
this report in approximately two months from the date of this report.
Please check back then for further information.
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Field Report - February 22, 2008
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Field Conditions
Upstate New York has had very sporadic winter conditions during the first two months of
testing. However, it has given me an opportunity to test the Lightning Ascent shoes
in varying conditions.
In total, I have probably used the Lightning Ascent snowshoes a total of over 10 times. Most
of these excursions have been in and around my home on both private and state owned land with my Siberian
Husky for day hikes / photography
excursions. Temperatures varied widely during these trips from around 38 F (3 C) down to 5 F (-15 C).
Snow conditions varied from very wet and sticky to quite dry. Depths were all over the place but
drifts up to a three feet (90 cm) were encountered.
A couple more planned trips included outings with a friend to a local state park. These trips
both occurred in early January and snow conditions up in the hills were ideal for testing -- powdery
and deep.
Performance
As stated in my Initial Report, I chose to go with the Lightning Ascent 25 model for
convenience. I'm finding that for my uses, this size works remarkably well. While I do find
that I sink in around a foot (30 cm) in especially powdery snow, I find the weight and
maneuverability of the smaller size very advantageous.
Much of the time, due to the freezing and thawing we've experience around here, there
was a crust of ice on top of somewhat soft snow. I found that the Lightning Ascent's
serrated edges provided excellent traction in this crunchy mess. However, if the crust was
not thick enough, the serrated edges actually cut a hole out of the crust and caused me to sink
instead of float on top. This was a small nuisance compared to the excellent traction I normally
experienced, so I consider it a small problem at most.
The bindings system of the Lightning Ascent has been nothing short of remarkable.
Donning the snowshoes is simple (even when covered in snow) and takes very little effort. While
it doesn't seem that the shoes are ever overly tight, I have yet to have any problems with my
foot slipping or the bindings loosening up during use. The bindings do tend to collect
some snow and ice, but I have yet to find a situation where the bindings wouldn't release.
Finally, both donning and removing the shoes can be done with ease even with thick gloves. I have
been most impressed.
The crampon of the Lightning Ascent shoes has provided excellent traction. During a few day stretch
after an ice storm, I actually used the snowshoes simply for the crampon system. With no snow
and only a layer of ice on everything, the Lightning Ascent snowshoes provided excellent traction
and a very real element of safety. I'm still a bit undecided on the Televator heel system. While
it does appear to lessen the stress on my calves during steep climbs, it's somewhat difficult
to engage with gloves on. Also, if the terrain becomes less steep, it seems to disengage itself (usually
at a somewhat unexpected time). I think a simple pull tab or lever would fix the first problem
of deployment, but I'm uncertain how to fix the problem of it simply disengaging. I'll be
sure to keep an eye on the problem during the long term testing phase.
Durability
Aside from a few scratches on the serrated edges from walking across rocks, and a few scratches
on the top of the frame from my clumsiness, there is really no wear to report. These are made
for serious use and I get the impression they will hold up to more wear than I could give them
without abusing them intentionally.
Summary
My likes and concerns can be found below:
Likes
- Very durable.
- Bindings work excellently in all conditions encountered thus far.
- Very easy to put on even with gloves.
Concerns
- The Televator heel setup has a few quirks as mentioned in my report.
This
concludes my Field Report. The Long Term Report will be appended to
this report in approximately two months from the date of this report.
Please check back then for further information.
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Long Term Report - April 28, 2008
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Field Conditions
Upstate New York continued to have somewhat sporadic snow conditions during the Long Term Testing
phase. However, there were about two weeks of good snowshoeing conditions of which I tried to
take advantage.
During this two week period, I was unable to take an overnight trip, but I did manage to get in
four day hikes totaling more than 3 miles (4.8 km) each with one at least 8 miles (12.9 km).
These hikes occured mainly in state
land surrounding my home. Snow conditions were quite good for three of the day hikes. There was
over a foot (30 cm) of fine snow for these outings. During the fourth outing the snow turned
very wet and patchy. Temperatures hovered right around freezing.
Performance
Overall, I've found these snowshoes to work very well in all snow conditions except exceptionally
wet snow. They have provided excellent traction and stability and excel in icy conditions.
Even more impressive is their traction when traversing the side of a hill. I can't help but attribute
the traction characteristics to the serrated edges. The bindings have worked flawlessly and
continue to be a very easy to use even with gloves.
The one situation in which I have not been totally satisfied was during one of the aforementioned
day hikes where the temperatures began to rise and the snow became very wet. In these conditions,
the binding area became packed with snow and I found myself forced to clear them somewhat frequently.
As the temperature began to drop, these snowballs became somewhat hard and icy making them more
annoying. The biggest problem was under the heel of my boot where it became somewhat uncomfortable
if I did not clear the area every couple hundred yards (180 m).
I must say that I do not regret my decision to go with the Lightning Ascent 25 model. While
I am certainly suited to a larger size snowshoe, for my use, I continue to find the maneuverability
of this size quite advantageous. Furthermore, since I rarely see terribly deep drifts, I find that
the floatation offered by this size has been sufficient for my needs.
The final feature of the Lightning Ascent snowshoes which I feel I must discuss is the
Televator heel system. Throughout the testing time frame, I really did find that this system
is advantageous during sustained steep climbs. However, due to the difficulty engaging the riser
with gloves on, I found myself not using it as much as I probably should have. Furthermore, when I was
in wet snow and experiencing the ice chunks building up under my heel, it took a great deal of de-icing
before I was able to lift the riser. A small tab of metal on the edge for a grip would go a long way
toward making this system even better.
Durability
Not much has changed since my field report with regards to durability. There are a few more
scratches on the serrated edges and a few more scratches on the top of the frame, but no rust or damage
which affects the performance. Overall, I still find them to be very well made.
Summary
These snowshoes performed flawlessly during the testing time frame. I feel that they are a great
traction device and provide very good flotation. They have been a pleasure to test!
My overall likes and concerns can be found below:
Likes
- Very durable.
- Bindings work excellently in all conditions encountered thus far.
- Very easy to put on even with gloves.
Concerns
- The Televator heel setup has a few quirks as mentioned in my report (freezing in the
down position and somewhat hard to deploy).
- Wet snow tends to accumulate under my heel causing ice chunks which are difficult
to remove
This
concludes my Report.
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Read more reviews of MSR gear
Read more gear reviews by Mark Wood
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