Posted: 12/24/2011 5:46:55 AM EDT
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Anyone have any actual personal experience using these?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USGI-Lightweight-PVC-Military-Snow-Shoes-EXCELLENT-/380396322200?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5891633d98 |
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I would think those are too small to be much good. Would sink into anything but very hard snow. One would think if they are really military issue snow shoes that they must at least work adequately, if not especially well. Got to be better than walking on snow in regular boots. They are not the usual snow shoe design. I was wondering if anyone had any personal experience with them at all. I suspect they might be OK on trails that have been previously used, but no so good in fluffy new snow. My experience on the trails I tried last winter was that I could get around pretty good in regular boots. Not real well, but not impossible either. A shoe with 10X the surface area might be adequate for my purposes. Or it might be a piece of crap being misrepresented and likely to break the first time I tried it. I just don't know and what little information I have been able to find on these things does not tell me all that much. |
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Oh, HELL NO! I do not have experience with them. HOWEVER, they are PVC!!!! How strong do you think that itty-bitty frame is? And then subjecting it to freezing temps and 1,000s of footsteps/flexings per use? And their size is preposterous for a snowshoe. They won't do you the least bit of good anywhere off of hardpack and they don't even look like they've got a bottom cleat for traction. And I seriously doubt that they are authentic USGI equipment.
And in deep powder, even with snowshoes you sink down. Save your money and buy any model from Atlas or Tubbs or even MSR. Even their budget model top quality. I got mine in used-like-new condition for about $60. Oh, and make sure you use some adjustable hiking poles. And don't try to go fast! |
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Oh, HELL NO! I do not have experience with them. HOWEVER, they are PVC!!!! How strong do you think that itty-bitty frame is? And then subjecting it to freezing temps and 1,000s of footsteps/flexings per use? And their size is preposterous for a snowshoe. They won't do you the least bit of good anywhere off of hardpack and they don't even look like they've got a bottom cleat for traction. And I seriously doubt that they are authentic USGI equipment. And in deep powder, even with snowshoes you sink down. Save your money and buy any model from Atlas or Tubbs or even MSR. Even their budget model top quality. I got mine in used-like-new condition for about $60. Oh, and make sure you use some adjustable hiking poles. And don't try to go fast! I looked around and it appears to be legit USGI gear. It has an NSN number on the picture that checks out. I just never saw anything quite like them before. It is doubtful I would be going anywhere with fresh snow. But I am inclined to agree that they seem like an odd design. Which is why I was asking if anyone had ever actually used them. As for PVC, well, I can tell you that a lot of people have made snowshoes out of PVC pipe and they work quite well. You have to remember how a snow shoe works to understand why it is not a horrible choice. The size of a snowshoe distributes whatever force is produced over quite a large area so the frame does not need to be all that strong. PVC does not flex real well, but the shoe is large enough that I suspect that it is possible that whatever flexing goes on might not hurt anything. |
| I think those little snowshoes are akin to the swiss army and British Army snowshoes. Small and easy to pack for occasional use. |
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I think those little snowshoes are akin to the swiss army and British Army snowshoes. Small and easy to pack for occasional use. It does seem like the same idea. |
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Those snowshoes will suck in anything but a packed trail. If you want to get a pair of cheap snowshoes look into the Yukon Charlie brand at wally world. The bigger the shoe the more floatation you'll have in loose snow. If the snow conditions are wet or damp snow those little shoes will load up with snow on top of the shoe and act like a shovel.
Just my .02 AKASL LIVE FREE OR DIE |
| I used THESE quite a bit last year trying to track down coyotes. I liked them but I know nothing about snowshoes and this was my first time ever trying them |
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I used THESE quite a bit last year trying to track down coyotes. I liked them but I know nothing about snowshoes and this was my first time ever trying them I have seen a number of reviews on these shoes. Several people who claimed to have used them state they are all but useless for going up hill or on ice as they have no cleat. One video I saw involved someone adding a cleat to them for extra traction. I noticed you used the word "trying" in describing your coyote tracking activities. Did that not go as well as you had hoped? |
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I used THESE quite a bit last year trying to track down coyotes. I liked them but I know nothing about snowshoes and this was my first time ever trying them I have seen a number of reviews on these shoes. Several people who claimed to have used them state they are all but useless for going up hill or on ice as they have no cleat. One video I saw involved someone adding a cleat to them for extra traction. I noticed you used the word "trying" in describing your coyote tracking activities. Did that not go as well as you had hoped? I never had trouble getting around with them up hill down hill through the timber but never got on any ice and can see that being a problem. No luck getting close to coyotes when we had the deep snow. |
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Quoted: I used to have a pair similar to that when I was a kid. While they do not have the metal cleat that modern snowshoes have, they are hardly useless for going up hill. however I would not buy a pair now.Quoted: I used THESE quite a bit last year trying to track down coyotes. I liked them but I know nothing about snowshoes and this was my first time ever trying them I have seen a number of reviews on these shoes. Several people who claimed to have used them state they are all but useless for going up hill or on ice as they have no cleat. One video I saw involved someone adding a cleat to them for extra traction. I noticed you used the word "trying" in describing your coyote tracking activities. Did that not go as well as you had hoped? |
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I have a pair of the PVC ones and use them for civilain and military use. They work pretty good. Long distances or heavy loads are not good. but short trips and snow about 8 inches or more and they work great. When the snow gets crunchy and starts to wear you out fast trying to break through and than step up and over. I just put these on and makes it easier to stay above the crunch. The cleats do like to hold onto wet snow and the buckle aren't nearly as fast as my Tubbs civilain shoes but for 15 bucks they were a steal!!
Get them and they will be fine. Trust me they won't break unless you abuse them. |
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I wouldn't buy those. I'd go to Sierra Trading Post and buy some that are being clearanced. I bought a pair there last year for $90 that look like they are light years ahead of the USGI snowshoes you posted. Yeah those surplus shoes are junk compared to the modern stuff. Wonder if there are any deals on snowshoes with the winter having been relatively "snowless"? Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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I used THESE quite a bit last year trying to track down coyotes. I liked them but I know nothing about snowshoes and this was my first time ever trying them Those are actually fairly good snowshoes. Given their surface area I doubt they'd be much good in powder for someone weighing much over 200lb, but the turned-up nose and bindings that allow your foot to pivot mean you can walk normally in them. They'd probably be great to keep behind the truck seat or in the trunk. |
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Wonder if there are any deals on snowshoes with the winter having been relatively "snowless"? Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile I have been watching these on eBay. They look interesting. http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-2012-MTN-34-GD-Snowshoes-Walker-Nordic-Snow-BK-Hiking-Pole-Stick-Free-Bag-/180800076248?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a188639d8 |
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I used THESE quite a bit last year trying to track down coyotes. I liked them but I know nothing about snowshoes and this was my first time ever trying them I bought the same pair last year also. I thought they actually worked pretty good once you got the hang of it. Light weight but the bindings were pretty cheap. Not bad for $39.95 though. |
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Quoted: I use the same pair of snowshoes I have had for 26 years. Alaskan trailers, wood frame. I have had to restring the edging, but other than that they work great. I use rubber bindings instead of the straps and they work great. http://www.fleetfarm.com/images/products/large/0000000007195.jpg Mine are similar but I have had them longer than that. When I used them the last time (a couple weeks ago) I noticed that they could use a new coat of varnish again. It is wearing off the bottom. I have used the modern ones with crampons and they are nice for hills. These work great for flat ground and moderate slope.  |
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OP, those snowshoes are gonna suck.
My battalion issues Tubbs and now MSRs. If you absolutely need "military issue" that's where you need to look. However if you just need some good snowshoes there are a lot of good companies out there. I was at the Boston Ski Show a few months ago and ended up meeting the owner of SnowXu. Pretty cool concept and would be awesome if you needed to pack your shoes away. http://www.snowxu.com/index.php I've been talking to her about a heavy duty version for military use. |
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OP, those snowshoes are gonna suck. My battalion issues Tubbs and now MSRs. If you absolutely need "military issue" that's where you need to look. However if you just need some good snowshoes there are a lot of good companies out there. I was at the Boston Ski Show a few months ago and ended up meeting the owner of SnowXu. Pretty cool concept and would be awesome if you needed to pack your shoes away. http://www.snowxu.com/index.php I've been talking to her about a heavy duty version for military use. I have no need for military issue. I just saw them and wondered if anyone had actually used them. I had heard from one guy elsewhere who said they worked pretty well. But he had not used them all that much. I think just once. I thought since they were mil issue that someone here might have run across them. I think I am going to pass this year anyway due to the lack of snow here. |
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Just a heads up, REI is having their winter clearance sale and snowshoes are included.
I've used the Mil Issue snow shoes. They're good for longer, overland trips with heavier loads. It appears that they've gone to much better bindings. If you're not carrying a mountain pack and it's more of a recreational use, then one of the civilian models would definitely be better. I use the MSR EVO Ascent 22's. http://mail.aol.com/35478-211/aol-6/en-us/mail/DisplayMessage.aspx?ws_popup=true |