binkly99
2009-12-12 23:52:13 UTC
Hi,
Here is my initial report for the Flex NRG snowshoes. Looks like a nice pair, cant wait until we get some more snow to try them out!
David
HTML version: http://tinyurl.com/y8o9lb8
Text:
TUBBS NRG FLEX SNOWSHOES
TEST SERIES BY DAVID BAXTER
IR
December 08, 2010
TESTER INFORMATION
NAME: David Baxter
EMAIL: ***@yahoo.com
AGE: 29
LOCATION: Seattle, WA
GENDER: M
HEIGHT: 5' 8" (1.73 m)
WEIGHT: 175 lb (79.40 kg)
I have been hiking for six years and backpacking for five. I get out on the trails or snow every weekend, regardless of the weather. My trips range anywhere from fairly short dayhikes to longer multi-day backpacking trips. In the winter I snowshoe or snow-climb in moderate terrain and occasionally participate in a glaciated climb. My typical winter pack is about 15 lb (6.8 kg) for a day trip, and 35 - 45 lb (16 - 20 kg) for a glacier climb with an overnight camp. In the summer my pack is around 25 lb (11 kg).
INITIAL REPORT
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Tubbs Snowshoes
Year of Manufacture: 2010
Manufacturer's Website: <<HYPERLINK GOES HERE - "http://tubbssnowshoes.com/home" LINK TEXT = "Tubbs Snowshoes homepage">>
MSRP: $179.99
Listed Weight: 4 lbs 3 oz (1.91 g)
Measured Weight: 4 lbs 3 oz (1.90 g)
Weight of hook-and-loop storage strap: 1.87 oz (53 g)
Listed size: 8 x 24 inches (20 x 61 cm)
Measured size: 8 x 24 inches (20 x 61 cm)
Other details: The mens Flex NRG snowshoes are available in 24 inch (61 cm) only. The only color available is a dark gray.
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "Snowshoe">>
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
The Flex NRG snowshoes arrived with each shoe packaged back to back, with a snowshoe-shaped cardboard divider between the two. Various selling points were printed on this, along with the name of the company and snowshoe. Also attached was a thick hook-and-loop strap holding the two snowshoes together. A small instruction manual was attached at the toe of one shoe describing the bindings of Tubbs Flex series snowshoes in French, English, German, Norwegian, Italian, and Japanese.
The Flex NRG snowshoes are only available in a two-tone gray color scheme with some red and little snowflakes on the binding straps. Red lettering for "Tubbs" and "Flex NRG" decorate various places on each shoe. The snowshoe deck feels very sturdy and there are many rivets holding the plastic onto the metal frame. Everything is very tightly constructed however there is noticeable misalignment between the two plastic segments on the left shoe. I believe this is only cosmetic but I will keep an eye on it.
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "Snowshoes">>
The main feature of the Flex NRG snowshoes is the bendable tail and "Soft Strike" heel zone. At first glance the tail appears very solid but with some pressure it does bend significantly. It will be interesting to see if this really does absorb impact or if the long and flat tail will simply knife into the snow. From the middle of the binding to the heel the hard plastic has been replaced with a slightly elastic rubber. This has a noticeable stretch to it, even with pressure from my hand. It deflects significantly under pressure and should provide some cushion to each step. Six large rivets hold this center section to the frame. While it provides heel cushioning it does not allow the ankle to flex side-to-side.
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "Bending tail">>
On the underside of each snowshoe two parallel metal rails run about three-quarters the length of the shoe, stretching from near the front to just beyond the heel. They are slightly bulged in the center and covered with chunky serrated teeth, like a fat sawblade. At the toe of the binding, just before the pivot, four large metal crampons provide additional traction. Towards the rear molded raised plastic bars also provide traction points.
The binding is a clamshell design, squeezing over the toe box of the boots and pinching each side together with a single strap. The V-shaped strap has a locking adjustment on the inside half with a sliding tab, and a spring-loaded friction grip on the other half, providing two points of adjustment. A plastic clip holds the extra lengths of the nylon strap.
Also included was a beefy hook-and-loop strap long enough to hold the two snowshoes together back-to-back for storage or packing. This has the name "FLEX" printed over it in large letters.
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "Teeth">><<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "Binding">><<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "Strap">>
INSTRUCTIONS
The small manual provides instructions for each of the three Flex-series snowshoe models. Each features a different binding so read carefully; initially I did not and was confused. The binding instructions are simple and clear for each specific model, however.
TRYING IT OUT
I first unclipped and loosened the binding straps, both toe and heel. Then I stepped into the snowshoes, centering the balls of my feet over the pivot point per the instructions. First I clicked the V-strap into place, which locked easily, then pulled the remaining strap outwards to tighten. This was very easy with bare hands but the strap is thin and the buckle is small, which may pose some dificulty while wearing gloves. Finally I secured the ankle strap by pulling backwards on it, It took some force and I could feel the resistance of the notches in the rubberized strap. This strap has a fat grip on the end which made it easy to hold onto. This pulled my boots tight into the binding and also pinched the sides of the "Control Wings" together. My feet felt very securely attached t
o the snowshoes.
I bounced up and down a little and felt the "Soft Strike" zone sag noticeably under my weight. This depressed far enough that I could feel the floor beneath my heels. Because I was on the carpet I was hesitant to take any steps wearing them. My balance felt off because of this heel sinking but I believe it will be less noticeable on snow when the side rails sink into the surface, resulting in less of a sinking effect.
Exiting the bindings was a simple matter of releasing the V-strap buckle. The snowshoes then practically fell off. I did not have to loosen the ankle strap to release my feet.
I secured the two snowshoes together with the provided hook-and-loop strap. To do this I placed the snowshoes back-to-back and wrapped the strap through the bindings on each shoe. I then fed the strap back through its buckle and secured it with the hook-and-loop closures. The snowshoes were now firmly stuck together. This seems very handy for storing the snowshoes in my closet but I don't imagine myself using it often on the trail. I use the snowboard carrying strap on my daypack which performs an identical function.
SUMMARY
The Tubbs Flex NRG snowshoes are designed to provide good traction and also flexibility in the heel and at the tail of the snowshoe. This is meant to reduce impact forces while snowshoeing over packed surfaces and provide a more comfortable walking motion. They have a plastic upper deck with a set of metal rails and teeth for traction on the bottom. The plastic tail is designed to bend during a normal walking motion. The "Soft Strike" zone at the heeld and the bendable plastic tail do appear to work well, I am looking forward to trying them out in the snow.
The snowshoes are quite attractive and feel very solid. My pair has some noticeable misalignment between the plastic parts but I believe this is only cosmetic. The Flex NRG snowshoes appear to combine the flexibility of aluminum-frame snowshoes with the durability and traction of plastic models. Tubbs markets these snowshoes towards walking on packed trails. I will be interested to see if they perform well in softer and deeper snow.
Please check back in two months for my field report. Thank you to Backpackgeartest.org and Tubbs Snowshoes.
This report was created with the BGT Report Generator.
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
------------------------------------
Here is my initial report for the Flex NRG snowshoes. Looks like a nice pair, cant wait until we get some more snow to try them out!
David
HTML version: http://tinyurl.com/y8o9lb8
Text:
TUBBS NRG FLEX SNOWSHOES
TEST SERIES BY DAVID BAXTER
IR
December 08, 2010
TESTER INFORMATION
NAME: David Baxter
EMAIL: ***@yahoo.com
AGE: 29
LOCATION: Seattle, WA
GENDER: M
HEIGHT: 5' 8" (1.73 m)
WEIGHT: 175 lb (79.40 kg)
I have been hiking for six years and backpacking for five. I get out on the trails or snow every weekend, regardless of the weather. My trips range anywhere from fairly short dayhikes to longer multi-day backpacking trips. In the winter I snowshoe or snow-climb in moderate terrain and occasionally participate in a glaciated climb. My typical winter pack is about 15 lb (6.8 kg) for a day trip, and 35 - 45 lb (16 - 20 kg) for a glacier climb with an overnight camp. In the summer my pack is around 25 lb (11 kg).
INITIAL REPORT
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Tubbs Snowshoes
Year of Manufacture: 2010
Manufacturer's Website: <<HYPERLINK GOES HERE - "http://tubbssnowshoes.com/home" LINK TEXT = "Tubbs Snowshoes homepage">>
MSRP: $179.99
Listed Weight: 4 lbs 3 oz (1.91 g)
Measured Weight: 4 lbs 3 oz (1.90 g)
Weight of hook-and-loop storage strap: 1.87 oz (53 g)
Listed size: 8 x 24 inches (20 x 61 cm)
Measured size: 8 x 24 inches (20 x 61 cm)
Other details: The mens Flex NRG snowshoes are available in 24 inch (61 cm) only. The only color available is a dark gray.
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "Snowshoe">>
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
The Flex NRG snowshoes arrived with each shoe packaged back to back, with a snowshoe-shaped cardboard divider between the two. Various selling points were printed on this, along with the name of the company and snowshoe. Also attached was a thick hook-and-loop strap holding the two snowshoes together. A small instruction manual was attached at the toe of one shoe describing the bindings of Tubbs Flex series snowshoes in French, English, German, Norwegian, Italian, and Japanese.
The Flex NRG snowshoes are only available in a two-tone gray color scheme with some red and little snowflakes on the binding straps. Red lettering for "Tubbs" and "Flex NRG" decorate various places on each shoe. The snowshoe deck feels very sturdy and there are many rivets holding the plastic onto the metal frame. Everything is very tightly constructed however there is noticeable misalignment between the two plastic segments on the left shoe. I believe this is only cosmetic but I will keep an eye on it.
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "Snowshoes">>
The main feature of the Flex NRG snowshoes is the bendable tail and "Soft Strike" heel zone. At first glance the tail appears very solid but with some pressure it does bend significantly. It will be interesting to see if this really does absorb impact or if the long and flat tail will simply knife into the snow. From the middle of the binding to the heel the hard plastic has been replaced with a slightly elastic rubber. This has a noticeable stretch to it, even with pressure from my hand. It deflects significantly under pressure and should provide some cushion to each step. Six large rivets hold this center section to the frame. While it provides heel cushioning it does not allow the ankle to flex side-to-side.
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "Bending tail">>
On the underside of each snowshoe two parallel metal rails run about three-quarters the length of the shoe, stretching from near the front to just beyond the heel. They are slightly bulged in the center and covered with chunky serrated teeth, like a fat sawblade. At the toe of the binding, just before the pivot, four large metal crampons provide additional traction. Towards the rear molded raised plastic bars also provide traction points.
The binding is a clamshell design, squeezing over the toe box of the boots and pinching each side together with a single strap. The V-shaped strap has a locking adjustment on the inside half with a sliding tab, and a spring-loaded friction grip on the other half, providing two points of adjustment. A plastic clip holds the extra lengths of the nylon strap.
Also included was a beefy hook-and-loop strap long enough to hold the two snowshoes together back-to-back for storage or packing. This has the name "FLEX" printed over it in large letters.
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "Teeth">><<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "Binding">><<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "Strap">>
INSTRUCTIONS
The small manual provides instructions for each of the three Flex-series snowshoe models. Each features a different binding so read carefully; initially I did not and was confused. The binding instructions are simple and clear for each specific model, however.
TRYING IT OUT
I first unclipped and loosened the binding straps, both toe and heel. Then I stepped into the snowshoes, centering the balls of my feet over the pivot point per the instructions. First I clicked the V-strap into place, which locked easily, then pulled the remaining strap outwards to tighten. This was very easy with bare hands but the strap is thin and the buckle is small, which may pose some dificulty while wearing gloves. Finally I secured the ankle strap by pulling backwards on it, It took some force and I could feel the resistance of the notches in the rubberized strap. This strap has a fat grip on the end which made it easy to hold onto. This pulled my boots tight into the binding and also pinched the sides of the "Control Wings" together. My feet felt very securely attached t
o the snowshoes.
I bounced up and down a little and felt the "Soft Strike" zone sag noticeably under my weight. This depressed far enough that I could feel the floor beneath my heels. Because I was on the carpet I was hesitant to take any steps wearing them. My balance felt off because of this heel sinking but I believe it will be less noticeable on snow when the side rails sink into the surface, resulting in less of a sinking effect.
Exiting the bindings was a simple matter of releasing the V-strap buckle. The snowshoes then practically fell off. I did not have to loosen the ankle strap to release my feet.
I secured the two snowshoes together with the provided hook-and-loop strap. To do this I placed the snowshoes back-to-back and wrapped the strap through the bindings on each shoe. I then fed the strap back through its buckle and secured it with the hook-and-loop closures. The snowshoes were now firmly stuck together. This seems very handy for storing the snowshoes in my closet but I don't imagine myself using it often on the trail. I use the snowboard carrying strap on my daypack which performs an identical function.
SUMMARY
The Tubbs Flex NRG snowshoes are designed to provide good traction and also flexibility in the heel and at the tail of the snowshoe. This is meant to reduce impact forces while snowshoeing over packed surfaces and provide a more comfortable walking motion. They have a plastic upper deck with a set of metal rails and teeth for traction on the bottom. The plastic tail is designed to bend during a normal walking motion. The "Soft Strike" zone at the heeld and the bendable plastic tail do appear to work well, I am looking forward to trying them out in the snow.
The snowshoes are quite attractive and feel very solid. My pair has some noticeable misalignment between the plastic parts but I believe this is only cosmetic. The Flex NRG snowshoes appear to combine the flexibility of aluminum-frame snowshoes with the durability and traction of plastic models. Tubbs markets these snowshoes towards walking on packed trails. I will be interested to see if they perform well in softer and deeper snow.
Please check back in two months for my field report. Thank you to Backpackgeartest.org and Tubbs Snowshoes.
This report was created with the BGT Report Generator.
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
------------------------------------