Reviews > Snow Gear > Snowshoes > Tubbs Pinnacle Series Snowshoes > Dennis Shubitowski > Long Term Report

Long-Term Report - Tubbs Pinnacle 30 Snowshoes

Report Outline

Tester Information <back to top>

I began backpacking in the early 1990s. I hike in every season including winter, and I also enjoy other outdoor activities like hunting, canoeing and riding horses. My beginning pack weights were monstrously heavy, but now my average three-season load for a multi-day trip, including food and water, is usually less than 25 lb (11.3 kg). Gear that I carry tends to be the lightest I can go without sacrificing comfort or convenience.

Product Information <back to top>

Long-Term Report <back to top>

This long-term report is a continuation of testing which ended last winter when the snow melted. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate and there has been insufficient snow in my area to continue testing the Pinnacles as of this report. Any snow that we received has long been taken care of by stretches of 60 F (16 C) weather and rain in the middle of "winter." I will summarize my findings from testing to this point on the Tubbs Pinnacle 30 snowshoes. All testing took place in my home state of Michigan in local state parks and on trail systems in the northern lower peninsula.

Binding/Crampon

The binding is one of the biggest selling points of any snowshoe. I had some problems overall with the Bear Hug binding, but I also appreciated its overall design. Most of my problems came from using larger boots. When I used my winter Baffin boots, the top strap on the right shoe had a hard time staying locked in place. I often had to reach down and re-attach the popped strap when the shoe came loose which got to be very annoying. When I used my Montrail mountaineering boots, the binding worked much better and I did not have these types of problems likely due to more strap being in the binding. I could only assume that the ratcheting strap was worn near its end and it was not able to take the pressure applied to it in a larger boot even though I was a few "clicks" into the binding and not on the very end. The angle of the binding worked well for my footwear - it did not pinch or dig in any particular spot and seemed well-padded when wearing. The definite plus to the Bear Hug binding is the easy adjustment and super-quick in and out. These are the fastest snowshoes I have ever put on or taken off.

The Viper crampon these shoes sported was more than ample for any terrain I encountered. I had zero problems with the crampon blades, and I think they are very well designed. The crampons never developed a snowball or iceball due to the effective plastic center section that keeps the snow out. The traction was excellent and very aggressive. The crampon excelled at climbing and the heel crampon gave me sure footedness on descents. The rotating toe cord worked very well for climbing and in fact is ideally suited for it. However, when I was not climbing hills, I had really mixed feelings on the "rotating" part of the toe cord. When climbing, the snowshoe just falls out of the way leaving the crampon fully exposed to dig into the snow and ice. Once the teeth catch, the decking does not let the shoe sink in too far - it is a superior climbing system. On flat ground, the shoes drag along behind as I walk acting as a rudder, but it was a very tiring rudder and I felt I was pulling the shoes along during my walks. I felt my mobility was limited because of the rotating toe cord and I could not easily back up or move side to side. I fell more than once in these snowhoes due to the shoe digging into the snow unexpectedly when I had to make a sudden movement.

Frame/Decking

I had no problems with the frames on these shoes. The black anodized aluminum did get quite stratched up, but this does not effect the function of the frame at all only the aesthetics. I liked the shape of the shoe - the upturned nose floated the shoe to the surface of the snow as I walked and the shape allowed a normal stride. The frames were stiff and solid. As far as the overall rating for size (170-250 lb/77-113 kg), it is really impossible to tell. Much of the snow I encountered was quite powdery and no size showshoe is really effective in that type of snow. For a stiffer, wet-type of snow with some crust, the shoes provided plenty of flotation. Overall, I would say the suggested weight specifications from Tubbs were very close as a general guide.

The decking also held up well and was another outstanding feature on these shoes. The ArcTec decking shed snow like it was silicone and they never iced up. The decking had some serious gouges on receipt of the shoes, but the decking never showed any signs of puncturing or further damage. The rivets all held in place and showed no signs of loosening. Overall the ArcTec decking is one of the best features of the shoes.

General Comments

Will I continue to use these snowshoes? Probably not. My preferred footwear does not work well in these shoes and I really dislike the rotating binding for the majority of the way I use these shoes. I like the general idea of the binding and the crampon, decking, and frame design are well thought out and designed. These shoes are a beast to pack and store because the Bear Hug binding is pretty solid and sticks straight out. If I match the bindings together to smush them together, the crampons are then exposed. It would also be nice if a storage bag was supplied with the shoes for dayhiking and storage.

Many thanks to Tubbs and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test these snowshoes.

Reviews > Snow Gear > Snowshoes > Tubbs Pinnacle Series Snowshoes > Dennis Shubitowski > Long Term Report