My camping, hiking and backpacking experience has included trips varying in length from one day hikes to two-week trips. My experience hiking began with my father, when I was about six years old. We hiked along the river pathways in northeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. During cold weather, I backpack, hike, snowshoe, cross-country ski, go ice fishing and winter camp with friends and family. Although I am not a lightweight backpacker, I am trying to 'lighten up' and even have converted to using a hammock while camping. I find that I spend almost as much time outside during the long Maine winters as I do during the summers.

Product Information:

Manufacturer: Tubbs Snowshoe Company
Product: Pinnacle snowshoes
URL:http://www.tubbssnowshoes.com/
Model: Pinnacle 25

Field Information:

One of the good things about living in Maine is the varied weather conditions during every season. Winter can start out snowy, turn bitterly cold and icy, warm up and rain and then go right back to massive amounts of snow. Although these changes make planning outings a bit of a challenge, it sure provided a range of testing conditions for the Tubbs snowshoes. I was able to snowshoe in loose and packed powder, and on icy and granular snow. Temperatures ranged from -18 F (-28 C) to 42 F (5.6 C).

Unfortunately, I have only been able to use the snowshoes twice so far this winter (and since my Field Report). Both times I have put the snowshoes on, hoping to get a little exercise and get in shape for some serious snowshoeing this season. Once outside I discovered that the ice coating the little snow we had made snowshoeing difficult. The 'claws' on the bottom of the snowshoes provided enough traction to move, but walking over the uneven ground became uncomfortable. I found that I was tensing the muscles in my legs while walking. In the past, the snowshoes have performed well, even on icy ground. I think this time the ice was so thick that the traction on the snowshoes could not penetrate the icy crust. I plan on getting out on these snowshoes as soon as we have some decent snow - it can't be much longer, this is Maine!
The snowshoes are still in great condition and all closures work smoothly. The Pinnacles proved themselves to be very sturdy and yet lightweight - a great combination for snowshoes that get used a lot. In my earlier reports I mentioned that snow built up in the claw of one snowshoe. Rubbing a little cooking oil on the claw has eliminated that problem. I do believe that the problem originally occurred because of the way I turn that foot, due to a previous injury.

I appreciate the opportunity to test the Tubbs Pinnacle Snowshoes.

Positives:
Easy to put on and adjust
Great traction
Lightweight and easy on the legs
Extremely cold temperatures do not affect bindings

Negatives:
Lack of decent snow (not the snowshoes fault though)

Read more reviews of Tubbs gear
Read more gear reviews by Leesa Joiner

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