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I have recently seen that there seems to be a new outdoor gadget: inflatable snowshoes.

Examples:

As an engineer I can't help but immediately see a whole array of possible problems which could arise when using (or manufacturing) these things... Which makes me question how well they hold up in a comparison to actual snowshoes. But then again, these seem to be marketed for outdoors people and priced quite steeply - so maybe there is something I'm missing?

Frankly, I just have a hard time imagining that strapping miniature rubber dinghies to your boots would do you much good in any except for the most optimal circumstances.

Has anyone any experience with such products? How do they compare to the "real thing"?

Martin F
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fgysin
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1 Answers1

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For a couple of days, I traded my classic snowshoes for a pair of inflatables, on a 2-week Christmas outing, and found them quite effective in level soft powder, but much bulkier than my own mesh & frame, which allow the inner edges to ride over each other, for a much more normal stride. As the terrain becomes steeper, the inflatables rely much more on the sole teeth for purchase, and the balloon texturing seems less effective than the mesh of traditional snowshoes. It also felt like my foot had to sink deeper before the rounded outer margins of the balloon provided support. Under some stiffer snow conditions, however, they almost felt like 'bouncy' shoes, very springy during plunge stepping.

user161096
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