snowshoes & cross country skis

[wawhitey]

I know nothing about them, but i would like to be a bit more mobile in deep snow. For those of you who use them, please share your wisdom with me before i start spending money on the wrong crap. Thanks.

[Elkduds]

Will you be mostly on trails going up and down hills and through trees, or traveling along snowpacked roads? Any skiing experience? How far and how fast do you want to go? How much $ do you want to spend?

[wawhitey]

Will you be mostly on trails going up and down hills and through trees, or traveling along snowpacked roads? Any skiing experience? How far and how fast do you want to go? How much $ do you want to spend?

Ill be on anything from logging roads to rough steep terrain through thick timber and brush. Never skiid or snowboarded. Looking at 3-10 mile day hikes. As fast as my fat ass can carry me. As much as i have to for quality gear.

My main purpose for these is shed hunting / accessing trail cams. I hold no illusions about being able to catch up to a lion on snowshoes. Not hunting tools.

[redtop]

Why chose between skis or snowshoes when you can get a short ski that performs like a snowshoe and a ski. Look at Altai brand Hok skis. I ski a lot and don't really need that type of ski but I'm still tempted to get a setup like that for late season hunting. I think it'd be ideal for what you want and not too bad of a learning curve to get started. I'd give them a call and talk to them about what you want to do and get their opinion on what type of binding and boot you would want to use. Get out there in the winter. Its the best.

[Elkduds]

If you are climbing and descending hills, you will find snowshoes easier than skis. They will work w any boots you already have. Easy to figure out without lessons. Cheap, find a used set on CL for $30 or a little more. I have found the aluminum frame and synthetic fabric ones lighter and easier to use than plastic or wood. Trekking or ski poles and gaiters are the only extra equipment you need. Close visual inspection will tell you about condition, what you see is what you get. Bent or repaired frames, cracked bindings, damaged cleats, torn decking would be ruleouts.

[wawhitey]

If you are climbing and descending hills, you will find snowshoes easier than skis. They will work w any boots you already have. Easy to figure out without lessons. Cheap, find a used set on CL for $30 or a little more. I have found the aluminum frame and synthetic fabric ones lighter and easier to use than plastic or wood. Trekking or ski poles and gaiters are the only extra equipment you need. Close visual inspection will tell you about condition, what you see is what you get. Bent or repaired frames, cracked bindings, damaged cleats, torn decking would be ruleouts.

So seems like you can use hiking boots with snowshoes, but need special boots for the skiis right? I wasthi king about carrying both, one on my feet one on my pack, but if special boots are required for the skiis that pretty much ruins them for me. Im thinking ill just stick with snowshoes. Do you have a particular make/model you would reccomend? For the record, ive bought a lot of bargain gear in the past and regret a lot of it. Id rather go the buy once cry once route

[Elkduds]

Some info to get you started.
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/lp2/sn ... hoes-guide
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/komper ... rFamily=02

I have 2 pair of Redfeather brand, like new after 10 years.

[Backyard]

For snowshoes, I have found (I have both) that the alum-viny/syntheticl type just end up throwing snow at the back of your knees because the solid panels which are designed to keep you on top of the snow also scoop it up with each step. No, gaiters do not help here as it hits the back of your knees. On the other hand the wood and lace Ojibways keep you on top just the same but also let the snow sift out and not get thrown up back at you with each step. But my alum ones also have crampon-type treads to help in climbing and descending hills. So...?
As far as skis, Like Redtop said, there is a wide backcountry ski that you can get with a binding combo that accepts regular hiking or snow boots.
http://backpackinglight.com/altai_hok_s ... ng_review/

I will add that snowshoeing is quite the areobic workout, not as simple as a walk in the woods.

[Lefty]

I will add that snowshoeing is quite the areobic workout, not as simple as a walk in the woods.

]
My wife was just talking about the snow-shoe-ski difference and advantage. she preferred skis,.. faster down hill. she use to do lots of both

[wawhitey]

I will add that snowshoeing is quite the areobic workout, not as simple as a walk in the woods.

Yeah, well hiking through 2-3ft of snow without snowshoes is no picnic either

[Elkduds]

Any sport or mountaineering stores nearby that would let you rent or demo some gear? Or borrow from a buddy? Then you could make up your own mind.

[wawhitey]

No, but im stuck in seattle for a couple days before i head to alaska, so ill be hitting cabelas to try on their snowshoes and just get a feel for them before i decide what to buy

[CurlyTail]

Snowshoes vs. Cross country skis.

Snowshoes - slower. Less learning curve with things like balance and going downhill. Much more stable with a daypack. Plenty of effort in powder. I personally really enjoy hiking through the woods with snowshoes. The size of the snowshoes you get depends on your weight and any extra weight you may have on your back. The smaller the snowshoes, the less cumbersome they will feel. Use ski poles or trekking poles with your snowshoes. Pretty inexpensive, and durable. Decent longevity.

Cross country skis . Require specialized boots and bindings. The choices for equipment are always evolving and trends come and go. There are skis for touring, there are skis for going downhill, there are hybrid skis. There are skis with scales, there are skis that require wax. My personal recommendation would be for skis with scales, and a set of skins that are applied when you need to go up a steep slope. With skins, you can pretty much walk straight up even a very steep slope. Skins are required for climbing anything more than a mild uphill slope. Even skis with scales are only for a very modest uphill slope. Nothing is worse than slipping backwards 12 inches every step as you try to climb a slope too steep for your gear to handle. Skis without scales (or skins) require an extensive inventory of waxes and take time and effort to apply and remove waxes as the temperatures change throughout the day - quite a pain to me. Skins are cumbersome to apply and reapply to the bottom of your skis. Skins slow you down when it is steep - which is good. Skins slow you down when it is a gradual downhill like a road - which is not good. Skins are always falling off, and the adhesive only lasts a few years. Going downhill on cross country skis is a difficult skill to master. I am an expert downhill skier, but put me on a steep downhill on skinny skis with a pack and I am in a survival snow plow - which is not that much fun. Now cruising down an 3 mile closed forest service road is easy and pure joy. So alot depends on what kind of terrain you will be in. Fairly flat - skis are worth considering. Fairly steep - stick with snow shoes.

Overall - you will find snow shoes much simplier and very practical. Unless you absolutely must feel the rush of the wind in your face as you descend the mountain.

[VT Sasquatch]

I have no experience with XC skis but I'd imagine they are hard to use off of a trail.

I have a pair of Red Feather snow shoes and they are okay. I have had them in deep snow that would be brutal to walk in without them. I don't think they have the floatations of a quality natural snowshoe though. One of theses days I am going to get some Maine style hardwood snowshoes. This is one area where the flashy new technology fails to match the performance of the original. I say this based on info received from old time trappers who I consider reliable. I think you should at least investigate traditional snowshoes before buying.