MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes

by MSR

Product Features

• Serrated Total-Traction frame delivers unprecedented 360-degree grip.
• Elevator? heel lifter reduces calf fatigue, making climbing easier and more efficient.
• 3-strap step-on binding fits a variety of boots and is fast, secure, and easy to use, and lightest snowshoe in its category.
• True-Hinge? steel crampon enhances foot stability and minimizes heel drift, resulting in more efficient gait mechanics and less expended energy.
• Materials won't soak up water and freeze; straps remain easy to use in all conditions

Product Description

MSR's Lightning Ascents represent a revolution in snowshoe design. Available in men's and women’s models, they feature a patent-pending Total-Traction™ frame—made from one vertical blade of aerospace-grade aluminum—that delivers unprecedented 360-degree traction. They're also the lightest snowshoes in their class—about 15% lighter than competitors—with performance and usability that surpass everything that's come before.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0010XHNDS
• Item model number: MS69189
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #246,241 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best shoe out there!!, January 16, 2010

By 

Christopher L. Watkins - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes (Sports)

Well I'll give you a review of the actual product, and not the "Overall Experience".

I've snowshoed on Atlas, and Tubbs, and have to say the are by far the best shoes out there. While others are sliding around on the steep, these things are rock solid. Unlike the tube frame shoes that have small crampons added, these are all crampon. The frame is made of one vertical piece with a serrated edge, it acts like a huge crampon and digs into the snow and ice. This works great during steep traverses.

The ascent bar is a nice feature, but its a little hard to pull them up, especially when wearing gloves. I usually don't bother with them unless its a long ascent. Might have to figure out a way to add straps to them for pulling, as its almost impossible to get your fingers under to raise them.

A tip on sizing. I went with the 25's originally, but ended up buying the 30's. I'm 6'2" and about 200lbs. They 25's were fine in fairly firm snow with a light to no pack, but with a full pack and fresh powder, forget it. I was post-holing like crazy. I'd say look at the MSR sizing chart, and if you're falling in between sizes, go with the larger size. Make sure to add the weight of your pack to the equation also.

Overall I'm extremely happy with these shoes, and I'm sure they will last a long while.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Snow Ascents!, March 22, 2010

By 

Naiviv "Naiviv" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes (Sports)

Great snowshoes for steep uphills and icy conditions. The heel bar is key to making steep uphill climbs much easier -- eases calf strain but get ready for a quad workout! The construction is solid and the bindings (three over the top of the foot and one behind the heel) are very stable once adjusted correctly. The cramp-on style frame has excellent traction for sturdy footing on icy surfaces. However, be sure to get the MSR Snowshoe Bag for easy portability (and to protect you and your belongings from the teeth that make it so sturdy!) Superlight!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best snowshoe ever made for climbers., February 25, 2010

By 

S. Eckert - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes (Sports)

I've been climbing mountains in snowshoes since the 70s. These are BY FAR the best snowshoes I've ever seen or used. Check my other reviews - I'm not that easy to impress. They are light, durable, and have astonishing traction on steep windslab or frozen corn snow... PLUS they do better in soft corn than the tubular frame (atlas) or the semi-rigid plastic (denali) kind. I've been on spring Sierra Nevada slopes measuring over 40 degrees where the crust wouldn't support crampons but these things went right up (with ice axe in hand). They come in 3 sizes, and right now Amazon (at $180) is way below full retail ($250) while others are expensive and/or out of stock. [UPDATE: Amazon backed out of the order, even though their website still says it's in stock. Bought a pair from RiverRoadAndTrail.com for $190.] I wore out my last pair in just over 5 years but I don't consider it a defect because I use them hard (climbing, often with a full pack, sometimes walking on branches or rocks with care). Check the rivets for looseness (one of mine wore in half because I never checked them) and send them back to Cascades Design if they get loose - lifetime warranty, and if they can't repair they will sell you a new pair at wholesale price (right now about $170, so I kept my old ones as a loaner pair and bought new ones).

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