I am getting into snowshoe racing this winter and am purchasing race snowshoes. Would my best choice be the Atlas Race snowshoes or the Northern Lites Elite Racer snowshoe? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
I am getting into snowshoe racing this winter and am purchasing race snowshoes. Would my best choice be the Atlas Race snowshoes or the Northern Lites Elite Racer snowshoe? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
Don't get the Atlas racing snowshoes. Some other people i snowshoe with and race against, myself included, have had issues with the base material ripping right at the bindings. Everyone I know likes teh Northern Light Elites and I just purchashed a pair
Thanks. Do you wear gaiters when you race or cycling booties over your shoes? Any advice?
if you want the best, dion are the only choice
Dion is what you are looking for.
another thumbs-up for dion. if the cleats break, you can get a replacement pair for free. i also have atlas shoes, and use them for training runs, but i've had a problem of the strap slipping up the back of my shoe and onto my achilles tendon -- this requires me to stop and immediately readjust the binding. to entirely avoid this problem, i bolted a pair of running shoes into the dions, which i use for racing.
i've not tried cycling booties, but have been happy with lightweight gaiters (dirty girl gaiters work great if the snow is packed), and i generally wear featherweight windpants over my tights to keep snow from becoming plastered behind my knees as i kick it up.
Another vote for Dion.
DIONS, without question
Another vote for Dion... best snowshoe I've used.
As for shoe covering... I hadn't heard of cycling booties, but that's a really good idea. I got a snowshoe-specific bootie from Crescent Moon that I've been using which works well too:
Arw you running or racing? I like Crescent Moon snowshoes so far as durability goes- far outstrips Dions. Dions are the lightest legal ones you'll find for racing though. Crescent Moon makes a direct mount (no binding) that is lighter than a Dion, but it is too small for sanctioned snowshoe races.
I work at a running store that sells snowshoes, and Dion is our overwhelming best seller. Lightest you can legally race with, narrow frame makes for an easier transition to running, the one time we had a problem with cleats the whole batch was replaced, no charge- great customer service. If you have the option, get an old pair of shoes direct mounted to the frames rather than using a binding system. Makes everything easier/better.
Just curious, I'm snowshoe shopping also, but how do you direct mount shoes to the frame and forego the binding system altogether. Sounds like a good way to go.
top cat, here's a description with visuals:
http://www.berkshirebackcountry.com/2009/01/snowshoe-racing-tips-direct-mount.html
also a thread letsrun.com thread from last winter, with quite a nice blow-by-blow by "questioner of questions":
http://www.berkshirebackcountry.com/2009/01/snowshoe-racing-tips-direct-mount.html
direct mounting with dions is rather easy, since the components are already disassembled (or at least intended for disassembly). the part i found trickiest was to determine where to drill the holes in my running shoes to (1) have the ball of my foot properly over the horizontal mounting strip and (2) have the snowshoes land straight (not pigeon-toed or splayed out) upon landing when i run. this took a little trial and error, but it was worth it.
another bonus with dions is that if you intend to direct mount the shoes, you don't have to lay out additional $$s for bindings: just buy the components you need.
Thank you. I am most likely going to order some Dions and attempt that. I'm kind of excited. New toy, you know.