Michael Wheiler
2007-05-15 05:37:24 UTC
Here is my LTR on the Explores. I'm just posting the new stuff here. Html version has been uploaded to the test folder with all the pics. It can be found at http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/test/TESTS/Redfeather%20Snowshoes%20LTR--Wheiler/#LONG_TERM_REPORT
Thanks for your help with the edits. This was actually a fun test and I regreted the early spring weather taking away my snow!
LONG TERM REPORT
(May 14, 2007)
On March 10, 2007, I planned to climb Lightening Peak or Peaked Peak in the Teton Range. However, due to unfavorable weather conditions, I drove to the Kelley Canyon Ski area and climbed the designated snowshoe trail to Upper Cole's Ridge (elevation 6,323 ft/1,927 m). The temperature was 32º F (0º C) when I began the climb. There was fairly dense fog and approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) of new, wet snow. The snow was barely covering the dirt in places but the new snow was also covering an icy base of several feet in other places. The trail to Upper Cole's Ridge was very steep in spots. I had good flotation while on the trail but when I ventured off trail, I experienced some flotation difficulty especially while trying to climb a steep ridge line (see photograph below). The Explore's crampons provided good bite up and down hill even on the exposed icy base. I felt very stable while ascending and descending. I did notice some tendency for pronation (in toeing of left foot) despite repeated efforts to adjust the binding but I must admit that I have a natural tendency to pronate slightly anyway when tired. The pronation did not create serious problems for me walking in the snowshoes. This was approximately a 2 mile (3 km) hike with 12 pound (5.4 kg) day pack. I used my lighter insulated hiking boots on this trek with no problems.
Flotation was not as good in some places off trail. Snowshoe tracks up a steep ridge line to Coles Ridge.
I next used the Explores on March16-17, 2007 at Island Park (elevation 6,549 ft/1,996 m). This was an overnight snowshoe hike. The temperatures during the day were very warm. Due to the soft snow, I found myself floundering in sometimes waist deep snow without the snowshoes on so I wore the Explores while pitching my tent and arranging my gear inside the tent. The next morning, after breakfast, I took down my camp and stowed my gear in the vehicle. I then went on a 1 1/2 mile (2.4 km) snowshoe hike. Island Park is an old caldera with high walls and a generally flat interior. The terrain over which I was using the Explores was mostly flat with some gently rolling hills covered with Lodge Pole Pines. There were no really steep climbs. By the time I started hiking, the temperature was up to 36º F (2º C) and the snow was beginning to soften quite a bit but there was a fairly good, compact base. The Explores handled the softening snow and gentle terrain without difficulty. Flotation was perfect as I was only sinking a few inches. When I attempted to walk on the snow without the snowshoes, I again would sink up to my thighs in places.
I attempted to use the Explores on an overnight backpack trip into Aldous Lake in the Centennial Mountains on April 7, 2007. I was looking for deep snow and cold temperatures but we were having unusually warm temperatures which had drastically reduced the snow pack in the mountains. I believed my best chance to find good snow was to travel north. The trail head to Aldous Lake is approximately 100 miles (161 km) north of Idaho Falls, Idaho. However, road conditions quickly deteriorated within about 4 miles (6 km) of the trail head. Water running down the dirt road had created seriously muddy and slick road surfaces. I was unable to drive further. I then drove back to Porcupine Pass, parked my vehicle and hiked up the ridge a short distance (elevation 7,219 ft/2,200 m). By this time, it was near dark. There was no snow at this elevation. Since my pack does not have ties on the exterior to hold large items like snowshoes, I had the Explores strapped the the back of my backpack with elastic tie down straps. See photograph below. This worked well and the snowshoes did not interfere with my movements at all. Unfortunately, the lack of snow resulted in no further use of the snowshoes on this occasion.
The Explores strapped to the back of my pack
I again attempted to use the Explores on April 20, 2007 during an overnight trip near Table Rock campground just east of Idaho Falls (elevation 6,126 ft/1,895 m). When I arrived at the place where I had planned to leave my vehicle and begin hiking, I found 1 to 4 inches (2.5 to 10 cm) of snow on the ground. While it was snowing lightly at the time, there clearly was not enough snow to use the Explores.
Conclusion: Unfortunately, we experienced an early spring and I didn't get to use the Explores as much as I would have liked but my impressions after five different treks with the Explores are as follows:
a.. I've been impressed by the durability of the Explores. The decking is still tight. There are very few scratches on the painted surfaces. The frame has not been damaged. All rivets are still in place. In short, even after fairly extensive use, the Explores still look nearly new.
b.. The crampons worked well even when ascending and descending steep slopes on or off trail. They also provided good traction while side-hilling.
c.. I had good flotation under most conditions. While the decking was sufficiently wide and long to provide me with good flotation under most conditions, dry powder with very little compacted base and very soft melting snow proved to be the most challenging snow conditions during my use of the Explores. Otherwise I had ample flotation.
d.. I liked the binding system and found the bindings easy to put on over any of my boots even while on the trail. The binding were also easy to take off my boots and adjust in transit. However, I did notice that my left foot tended to intoe and I could not adjust the binding sufficiently to prevent that occurrence. The intoeing did not seriously affect my ability to walk in the snowshoes though I occasionally crossed the left shoe slightly over onto the right while walking, especially when I got tired.
This concludes my reports on the RedFeather Explore snowshoes. I would like to thank RedFeather and BackpackGearTest for giving me the opportunity to test the Explore snowshoes.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Thanks for your help with the edits. This was actually a fun test and I regreted the early spring weather taking away my snow!
LONG TERM REPORT
(May 14, 2007)
On March 10, 2007, I planned to climb Lightening Peak or Peaked Peak in the Teton Range. However, due to unfavorable weather conditions, I drove to the Kelley Canyon Ski area and climbed the designated snowshoe trail to Upper Cole's Ridge (elevation 6,323 ft/1,927 m). The temperature was 32º F (0º C) when I began the climb. There was fairly dense fog and approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) of new, wet snow. The snow was barely covering the dirt in places but the new snow was also covering an icy base of several feet in other places. The trail to Upper Cole's Ridge was very steep in spots. I had good flotation while on the trail but when I ventured off trail, I experienced some flotation difficulty especially while trying to climb a steep ridge line (see photograph below). The Explore's crampons provided good bite up and down hill even on the exposed icy base. I felt very stable while ascending and descending. I did notice some tendency for pronation (in toeing of left foot) despite repeated efforts to adjust the binding but I must admit that I have a natural tendency to pronate slightly anyway when tired. The pronation did not create serious problems for me walking in the snowshoes. This was approximately a 2 mile (3 km) hike with 12 pound (5.4 kg) day pack. I used my lighter insulated hiking boots on this trek with no problems.
Flotation was not as good in some places off trail. Snowshoe tracks up a steep ridge line to Coles Ridge.
I next used the Explores on March16-17, 2007 at Island Park (elevation 6,549 ft/1,996 m). This was an overnight snowshoe hike. The temperatures during the day were very warm. Due to the soft snow, I found myself floundering in sometimes waist deep snow without the snowshoes on so I wore the Explores while pitching my tent and arranging my gear inside the tent. The next morning, after breakfast, I took down my camp and stowed my gear in the vehicle. I then went on a 1 1/2 mile (2.4 km) snowshoe hike. Island Park is an old caldera with high walls and a generally flat interior. The terrain over which I was using the Explores was mostly flat with some gently rolling hills covered with Lodge Pole Pines. There were no really steep climbs. By the time I started hiking, the temperature was up to 36º F (2º C) and the snow was beginning to soften quite a bit but there was a fairly good, compact base. The Explores handled the softening snow and gentle terrain without difficulty. Flotation was perfect as I was only sinking a few inches. When I attempted to walk on the snow without the snowshoes, I again would sink up to my thighs in places.
I attempted to use the Explores on an overnight backpack trip into Aldous Lake in the Centennial Mountains on April 7, 2007. I was looking for deep snow and cold temperatures but we were having unusually warm temperatures which had drastically reduced the snow pack in the mountains. I believed my best chance to find good snow was to travel north. The trail head to Aldous Lake is approximately 100 miles (161 km) north of Idaho Falls, Idaho. However, road conditions quickly deteriorated within about 4 miles (6 km) of the trail head. Water running down the dirt road had created seriously muddy and slick road surfaces. I was unable to drive further. I then drove back to Porcupine Pass, parked my vehicle and hiked up the ridge a short distance (elevation 7,219 ft/2,200 m). By this time, it was near dark. There was no snow at this elevation. Since my pack does not have ties on the exterior to hold large items like snowshoes, I had the Explores strapped the the back of my backpack with elastic tie down straps. See photograph below. This worked well and the snowshoes did not interfere with my movements at all. Unfortunately, the lack of snow resulted in no further use of the snowshoes on this occasion.
The Explores strapped to the back of my pack
I again attempted to use the Explores on April 20, 2007 during an overnight trip near Table Rock campground just east of Idaho Falls (elevation 6,126 ft/1,895 m). When I arrived at the place where I had planned to leave my vehicle and begin hiking, I found 1 to 4 inches (2.5 to 10 cm) of snow on the ground. While it was snowing lightly at the time, there clearly was not enough snow to use the Explores.
Conclusion: Unfortunately, we experienced an early spring and I didn't get to use the Explores as much as I would have liked but my impressions after five different treks with the Explores are as follows:
a.. I've been impressed by the durability of the Explores. The decking is still tight. There are very few scratches on the painted surfaces. The frame has not been damaged. All rivets are still in place. In short, even after fairly extensive use, the Explores still look nearly new.
b.. The crampons worked well even when ascending and descending steep slopes on or off trail. They also provided good traction while side-hilling.
c.. I had good flotation under most conditions. While the decking was sufficiently wide and long to provide me with good flotation under most conditions, dry powder with very little compacted base and very soft melting snow proved to be the most challenging snow conditions during my use of the Explores. Otherwise I had ample flotation.
d.. I liked the binding system and found the bindings easy to put on over any of my boots even while on the trail. The binding were also easy to take off my boots and adjust in transit. However, I did notice that my left foot tended to intoe and I could not adjust the binding sufficiently to prevent that occurrence. The intoeing did not seriously affect my ability to walk in the snowshoes though I occasionally crossed the left shoe slightly over onto the right while walking, especially when I got tired.
This concludes my reports on the RedFeather Explore snowshoes. I would like to thank RedFeather and BackpackGearTest for giving me the opportunity to test the Explore snowshoes.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]