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Traveler's Gear Box: MSR's Revo Trail Snowshoes

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MSR's Revo Trail snowshoes are a good everyday shoe/Kurt Repanshek

The many snowshoe companies on the market, with so many models, give you plenty of options to consider when you are looking for a good pair. 

MSR alone has three different lines -- Ascent, Explore and Trail -- and several models in each. The Revo Trail model is utilitarian, neither a slouch nor a shoe you'd want to conquer Mount Rainier on. It's great for a leisurely winter's hike in moderate terrain without too much snow under foot, or, if you live in snow country, a good pair to have at beck and call in the back of your rig in case you slide off the road and need to hoof it to help.

The Revo Trail (MSRP $179.95) comes in two sizes -- a 22-inch-long and a 25-inch-long shoe. Both are just eight inches wide, though, which could hamper your flotation a bit, though it does make for a more comfortable gait.

Comparitively, Tubbs' Wilderness model (MSRP $199.95) for men comes in 25-inch, 30-inch, and 36-inch lengths, with widths ranging from 8 to 10 inches. MSR does offer tail extensions that will add another 5 inches of length to help improve flotation in deep snow.

The Revo Trail, with an injection-molded plastic deck, weighs just 3 pounds, 9 ounces for the 22-inch model, and 3 pounds, 14 ounces for the 25-inch pair. The Tubbs' Wilderness models range from 4 pounds up to 5.7 pounds per pair. The 22-inch Revo is designed for users up to 180 pounds, while the 25-inch version is rated for up to 220 pounds.

Out in the field, the Revo Trail shoes handle well. Their lightness was especially appreciated going through an unusually wet Utah snowfall of 8 inches. Helping immensely with traction is the toothy crampon that runs the perimeter of the ExoTract deck.

The DuoFit bindings -- essentially two rubber straps that cross the top of your boot and one around your heel -- work well enough, but there are better, more easily fitted binding systems on the market.  There also is no heel lift on the Revo shoes, a feature appreciated if you're tackling steep trails.

In short, the Revo Trail is a good shoe for low- to moderate-level snowshoeing.

 

 

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