Even if you are a pro or just a beginner, this weeks blog might get some more understanding of snowshoeing…

First of all, why snowshoeing?

-You don’t need experience like for skiing, you can just -do it!

-Because it just so easy, any one can do it! Its like hiking and it will give you cardio vascular exercise.

-Essentially its so easy, just walk. And the surface and slope almost doesn’t matter…

-It is affordable, you can find a pair in a quite low price…Low price with high accessibility, it agile.

-More stable and easy compared to skiing..

First of all, how is the snowshoe build up? It is the decking, the frame, the bindings, the pivot and the crampons. So lets start with discovering all about the decking. Todays versions a solution of Hypalon, vinyl or polyurethane-coated nylon, all to offer a better flotation with a smaller surface area.

The crampons should be built up with metal teeth, this for being used in snow and ice circumstances. This for be able to use in crusty ridges, crossing frozen windswept ponds etc. Normally its built so it bits into the ground in every step you take. If you going to use them in more of a mountaineering landscape, they should be having spikes/pins in the heel and front and also maybe around the whole shoe.

The bindings, here is were the boot and the snowshoe meets. The binding are critical to making the snowshoe working well with your choice of boots in the conditions were you experience most often. Here is one of the week spots, so you might hire a pair of snowshoes first to find out which binding that suits your boot the best. You don’t want to experience rubbing or chafing from the bindings when walking.

• Secure that the binding can be adjust comfortable and snugly.
• Does the binding hold your foot snugly enough for preventing from sliding?
• Will the binding be easy to use with mittens and in cold conditions?
• Will the binding be easy to repair if a part will be broken?

The Frame, Made of wood, plastic or lightweight aluminum tubing, frames come in a variety of shapes. The differences are simple. Oval shoes offer optimal flotation. Shoes with tapered tails and asymmetrical shoes allow a more natural gait.

The Pivot, The pivot point is the place where the binding attaches to the frame of the snowshoe. It should be placed at the ball of your foot.

Soft and hard attachment. A soft attachment, is resilient band to fixe the foot/boot toward the snowshoe. The advantage here is that shoe feels lighter, it is more maneuverable, especially when getting out of a tight spot. Disadvantage is that this solution makes it more difficult to kick steps up in steep terrain.

Hard attachment though will be more fit so to say, and giving you more lateral support and your crampons better purchase in the snow on steep inclines. Advantage will be that it is easier to use on steep ground. Disadvantage; hard attachments can make for more difficult climbing when you need to kick deep steps up a slope.

Tubular frames or plastic frames? Well tubular frames are more durable than plastic, but less flexible. Molded plastic: While flexible, this type of snowshoe is more fragile and can snap, especially in cold conditions.

So what do I suggest for snowshoe then? Well, MSR have two different ones. First MSR lightning accent, this one is easy to step in to. The snowshoe works fine at all surface such as ice and rocks and snow and also slush…

The second one will be the MSR Evo Trail; this is a classic. They are affordable, easy to use, and offer good traction. The bindings are secure and can accommodate a wide range of boot sizes, and the compact design is relatively easy to strap to the outside of a pack.

So over to the review of the Snugpak Spearhead jacket. This is a tactical jacket and in the midrange. So its not a premium product from that point of view. But it is nice, got a real good hoodie and lot of pockets. A note to the pockets; The ones form warming the hands is fine. Also the inner pocket. The one place on the arm, is small and a bit hard to open and close. This depends on that the other fabric is to lose…The weight in relation to it warmth is though really good. So it will be (NNN+) You get a real good warm layer for a small mount of money.

I will also high lite a new book; the Bortom Berget a book about the Skuleskogens National Park.

They’re Hanging Me Tonight | Johnny Trouble 

See ya soon…