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Owner Review: Atlas Snowshoes – 12 Series
June 30, 2005
Reviewer’s Information:
Name: Mike Helminger
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Height: 6’ 0”
(152 cm)
Weight:
180 lbs (82 kg)
Email:
mike_helminger@hotmail.com
Location: Seattle, WA USA
Reviewer’s Background:
I moved to Washington State in January, 2004. Since then,
I’ve fallen in love with hiking and now try to go every weekend. Average hikes
are 10-15 miles (16-24 km) round trip with 2000’ (610 m) elevation gains. I pay
close attention to detail with all hiking accessories I own and, like the
engineer that I am, try to observe flaws and improve the overall design. Now
with a full year plus under my belt, I will be venturing into longer backpacking
trips around 50 miles (81 km) in length. Being inexperienced, I pack heavily,
preparing for the worst case situation.
Product Information:
Manufacturer:
http://www.atlassnowshoe.com
Year: 2004
Listed Weight: 4 lb 4 oz (1.9 kg)
Weight as Purchased: 4 lb 7 oz (2.0 kg)
Warranty: Lifetime
Extras: Carrying straps and
protective cover
MSRP: $200
Field Information:
This report is based on five uses of the Atlas 1225
Snowshoe. Three of the uses were in light, fluffy snow either in backcountry
areas or on a normal hiking trail covered with snow. The other two were on a
hard-packed surface. Total time using the shoes is about 10 hours.
Summary:
Overall, I’m very satisfied with the 1225. The shoes are
elegantly designed and leave little to be desired. Traversing proved to be very
comfortable relative to other shoes I’ve tried. The traction is above average
and the float is acceptable, sinking in about 6” (15 cm) on medium-packed snow.
The narrow width allows me to take a normal stride, not having to worry about
hitting the insides of the shoes against each other. Weight is average for newer
model snowshoes I have tested. These are the quietest shoes I’ve used out of all the new
models I’ve tested (see below in Details). The binding system is second to none.
For the price, I don’t think there’s a better product out there. NOTE: For those
considering purchasing these snowshoes, I cannot accurately comment on the
overall durability under extreme conditions as I have yet to use them in such
circumstances.
Details:
Snowshoeing was a completely new sport to me. I was first
introduced to it at the
Winter Trails Day event held at a local Mountaineers Lodge. At this event
they had new snowshoe products from several major manufacturers including Atlas,
Tubbs, MSR, Redfeather, and others. Therefore, my first experience using
snowshoes, although I was inexperienced with snowshoeing, was highly objective
since I did not have any brand preference. During the course of the day I
tested each of the shoes for traversing capabilities, general traction, weight,
noise, ease of use and general overall feel. The Atlas 1225 was not the
clear-cut winner in every category, but overall it was superior. Plus, at the
list price at the time, it was a bargain like none other.
Material: The frame is tubular 7075 Series Easton
aluminum, TIG welded, and incredibly lightweight. Binding material is injection
molded urethane. The crampon and side bar traction rails are stainless steel.
The deck material is reinforced Duratek® which is comprised of nylon, PVC,
Elvaloy, and urethane. All materials are covered by a lifetime warranty that is
valid under normal use conditions.
Binding: This is where the 1225 stands far above
others. The binding system is similar to that of a snowboard ratcheting system,
except easier. First I set the straps to my boot size, a task that only needs to
be performed once. Then, all it takes to mount the shoes is stepping in and
ratcheting two straps until snug. This can easily be performed with gloves or
mittens on, a huge plus when it’s frigid outside! The only drawback I’ve seen
with the bindings is that they tend to come loose after trekking
though deep snow for awhile. Somehow, the snow must place pressure on the release and
loosen the bindings. Regardless, it’s easy and quick to retighten (about 3
seconds).
Traction: Of all the shoes I tested, the traction
was above average. The system is mounted with a spring-loaded binding that
provides lateral flex and movement, allowing the crampon to dig into the terrain
with more of a natural feel to your ankle and knees. This feature was incredibly
noticeable compared to other shoes I’ve tried. For example, while traversing, I
found the outside of my ankles becoming sore with other brands. Most new
snowshoes do not flex transversely, and therefore, create stress on parts of the
body not desirable to most. The 1225s were incredibly comfortable in this
regard. To hold you in place while traversing, two small-toothed side-bars run
parallel with your foot and are located directly beneath the center of the foot.
And for coming down the mountain, these shoes are a blast. The traction is such
that if desired, glissading is quite easy – a feature that is not only fun, but
saves time and energy.
Float: In general, I find myself sinking in the snow
a bit more than I would like with these shoes. Granted, the times I’ve gone out
I’ve had powder to deal with, but I’m well within the recommended weight range,
including pack, for the 1225s. I tried the 1230s (30 inches / 76 cm long) and
they felt cumbersome and less natural.
Sound: Aside from the sound of the snow flying up
and hitting you in the backside, these shoes are silent, which to me is a big
deal. There’s nothing better than being out in a remote snowfield and having
silence, at least in my opinion. Other shoes I tested were squeaky, rattled, or
trapped snow between the deck and my boots, causing a popping sound when the
snow hit the deck.
Durability: With my limited use I have found no
excessive wear on the shoes other than a few light scratches along the bottom
side of the inside tubes. This is likely a result of occasionally tripping on
something such as deep snow, a branch, or the other snowshoe. I have not used
them in conditions other than snow, but I don’t plan to either.
Packing: The shoes come with carrying straps that
wrap the shoes together, making it convenient to carry or place them on my pack.
The straps have a plastic cover that protects the crampons from other objects. I
strap mine to my backpack and have no problems with easily transporting them.
When packed down, they consume a volume of 25” x 8” x 4” (63 cm x 20 cm x 10 cm)
(LxWxH)
Read more reviews of Atlas gear
Read more gear reviews by Mike Helminger
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