Reviews > Snow Gear > Snowshoes > Tubbs Mountaineer Snowshoes - 2018 > Owner Review by Kathleen Waters

TUBBS' WOMEN'S MOUNTAINEER SNOWSHOES


BY KATHLEEN WATERS
March 29, 2018
OWNER REVIEW

TESTER INFORMATION

Living in Colorado and being self-employed, I have ample opportunities to backpack. There are over 700,000 acres/280,000 hectares of public land bordering my 71-acre/29-hectare "backyard" in addition to all the other gorgeous locations which abound in Colorado. Over the past 15 years, my husband John and I have also had the good fortune to hike/snowshoe glaciers, rain forests, mountains and deserts in exotic locations, including New Zealand, Iceland, Costa Rica, Slovenia and Death Valley. My hiking style is comfortable, aiming for lightweight. I use a tent (rainfly if needed). Current pack averages 25 lb (11 kg) excluding food and water.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Manufacturer: Tubbs Snowshoes, Inc. Year Received: 2017 Manufacturer's Website: http://www.tubbssnowshoes.com MSRP: US $269.95 Listed Weight: 4.8 lb (2.2 kg) Measured Weight: 4.5 lb (2.4 kg) Sizes Available: 21 and 25 (inches - 53 and 64 cm) Size Reviewed: 25 (inches - 64 cm) Size: 8" x 25" (20 x 64 cm) Recommended Load range: 120 - 200 lb (54 - 91 kg) Pro-Step Frame - a continuous frame bend with a longer, lower rise Active Fit+ Binding - Gender specific and asymmetric Decking - Tubbs SoftTec decking Front Crampons - carbon steel Anaconda toe crampon has eight sharp teeth Heel Crampons - Python heel crampon, centered under the boot with six side and two rear teeth

Copyright Tubbs' Snowshoe

Front Toe Crampons

Rear Heel Crampons

*** Full disclosure - I am a Tubbs Ambassador and did receive these snowshoes free of charge WITHOUT a promise of a review.

LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

I received the Tubbs' Women's Mountaineering snowshoes at the beginning of the 2017-2018 winter season in late October. At least "late October" is supposed to be the start of the winter season!

Over the last five months, I have had to chase down cold weather and snow. It's been ridiculously warm and dry in south central Colorado where I live. Fortunately, a two-hour drive north or southwest will generally reward me with lots of the white stuff.

My usual snowshoe haunts are north in Breckenridge, Colorado in the Tenmile range or Monarch Pass to the southwest. The Continental Divide crosses both areas.
Elevation tops out (where I snowshoe) at 11300 ft (3440 m) at Monarch and about the same in the Tenmile range.

Trail conditions vary from hard-packed well-traveled old mining roads to soft powder backcountry drifts. Mostly, I stick to designated trails which tend to be the former. And due to the lack of snow this season, I only measured a (soft) snowpack in the backcountry of two feet (61 cm) on the last trek in Breckenridge, Colorado.

I love to snowshoe when there are clear blue skies and conversely, when it's actually snowing! Mostly, this winter, I only had one day with pretty weather, the rest was gray and windy.

Temperatures were never below freezing but my last trek out in the afternoon sun saw a high of 54 F (12 C). That was my cue to write this review. I fear my snowshoeing days are over for the season!



FIELD USE AND PERFORMANCE

Starting with the basics, putting these Mountaineer snowshoes on is easy-peasy! An outside latch when lifted allows me to pull the backstrap out as far as I want and quickly slide my boot into the binding. A tug on the front "Action Fit" strap loosens the toe hold binding and I have no obstacle to jamming my foot forward.

To tighten up the bindings, two straps protruding from the "Action Fit" strip are pulled outward and the heel strap is secured by pulling on it and tucking the end of the strip into the handy clip on the inside of the heel strap.

Taking the snowshoes off is just as easy and quickly accomplished by doing the above in reverse.

Side Heel Buckle

Front Active Fit + Strap

Once on my feet, the real fun begins! I found the Mountaineer snowshoes to be very near perfect for the way I snowshoe.

I can walk as I normally do. They are not overly bulky and they do not force me to walk/waddle with an un-natural spread of my legs. And as klutzy as I am, I don't trip over my own two feet, ending up face-planting in a snow drift!

Thanks to the very aggressive crampons - "what big teeth, you have, my Mountaineer "- I don't slip on icy surfaces. The crampons really do dig into crusty snow trails. While the Mountaineers DO have heel lifts for those uphill climbs, I never remember to use them and I guess I never really need them, again thanks to the crampons.
These snowshoes have worked well for me in softer snow as well. I haven't had problems with excessive "sinking" when the snow is loose and powdery. That said I haven't been hiking with a heavy backpack.

With my body weight, winter clothing and pack, I estimate I put a load of 140 lb (64 kg) on the Mountaineers. Based on the amount of "sink", I think that's the most for me. I don't like post-holing much!

Despite the fact that on my last trip out, my trekking poles were picking up sticky snow necessitating constant banging together to clean them off, my Mountaineers don't seem to collect snow. There wasn't any snow clumping up on the decks of the snowshoes or any balling up of ice on the crampons.

What snow was on the shoes fell off with a quick clapping together before being stowed in the truck at day's end.



CARE AND MAINTENANCE

I have to admit, I haven't really done a whole lot when it comes to taking care of the Tubbs' Mountaineer snowshoes. Seems like at the end of a day, I've just been tired and anxious to get to that hot cocoa!

Mostly, I've simply let whatever snow has accumulated on the crampons melt off. They spend a lot of time in the truck (just in case I stumble on some snow my travels!). Otherwise, the Mountaineer rest in my basement gear closet where they hang bungy-ed together from a rod.

Since it is the end of the season for me, I took the time to wipe the Mountaineer down with a clean wet cloth and dried them. I checked to see if there were any loose items - there weren't and if the teeth of the crampons needed attention - they didn't

The Tubbs' Women's Mountaineer snowshoes will now rest up and l will dream of the awesome powder coming NEXT season!

STARRING ATTRACTIONS 1.) Easy to get off and on 2.) Great floatation on heavy snow 3.) Good grip on icy surfaces 4.) Easy to clean crampons MINOR DISTRACTIONS 1.) Backstrap doesn't always stay locked in place. SUMMARY I have several different pairs of snowshoes from various manufacturers. I own racing snowshoes, backcountry snowshoes and trail shoes. For me, these Mountaineer snowshoes by Tubbs are among the best I have tried. I really like them for the kind of snowshoeing I do most - trails, both packed and snow covered. I don't think they are as effective - again, for me - for backpacking trips where I have to carry a heavier load, however. Definitely recommend! Kathleen (Kathy) Waters

Reviews > Snow Gear > Snowshoes > Tubbs Mountaineer Snowshoes - 2018 > Owner Review by Kathleen Waters