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Are These the Best Snowshoes for Hiking?
I‘ve been testing the MSR Revo Ascent Snowshoes to see how they perform on everything from packed trails to deep powder during my winter adventures in Colorado. I love to be in the backcountry year-round but often find my adventures paused by snowy conditions. I was therefore eager to find a pair of snowshoes that’s both lightweight and aggressive enough to tackle ice and steep terrain.
Most notably, I took the MSR Revo Ascent snowshoes on a sunrise hike on Mount Bierstadt, a 14,000-foot mountain in Colorado. They were so lightweight that I had no issue strapping them to my pack for the sections with less snow.
MSR Revo Ascent Snowshoes At a Glance
MSRP: $319.95
Weight: 4 lbs 2 oz per pair
Traction: Aggressive crampon design for icy and variable snow conditions
Available Lengths: 22″ and 25″
Intended Use
MSR designed the Revo Ascent Snowshoes for outdoor enthusiasts who require a robust and reliable tool to tackle challenging winter conditions. Ideal for mountaineers, backcountry hikers, and those venturing into steep or icy terrains, these snowshoes offer aggressive traction and durability. While they may be a bit much for flat, groomed trails, their features shine in more demanding environments.
Circumstances of Review
I put these snowshoes through their paces on a variety of winter conditions, crossing packed trails, trudging through fresh powder, and navigating icy patches on steep inclines, including a wintry hike on Mount Bierstadt, one of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks. My focus was on comfort, weight, traction, durability, and overall performance in real-world backcountry hiking scenarios.
Wind-scoured snow may look dense, but every few steps I would see a massive post hole and feel grateful for the flotation my snowshoes provided.
Key Features of the MSR Revo Ascent Snowshoes
Lightweight, Durable Construction: Crafted to minimize fatigue, these snowshoes combine a robust frame with a surprisingly light build, ideal for long treks in deep snow. My longest hike with them was 9 miles, and I was shocked at the lack of soreness in my hips I usually associate with snowshoeing.
Aggressive Traction: The aggressive traction system of the Revo Ascent Snowshoes excelled on icy slopes and uneven terrains. The steel crampons and serrated side rails provided confidence-inspiring grip, allowing for secure navigation across challenging landscapes.
Adjustable Bindings: Secure bindings keep your feet comfortably locked in, adapting to various boot sizes and providing a responsive fit. Unlike other snowshoes I’ve tried, the buckle mechanism to put them on is easy to use, requires only one strap, and doesn’t come undone. The trademark bindings offered a secure and comfortable fit, accommodating various boot sizes without causing pressure points or discomfort.
Heel Lifts: The Ergo Televator heel lifts (aka, a little bar that you can slide under your heel to raise the back side of your foot on steep uphills) reduce calf fatigue during steep climbs, keep my foot flatter with a more natural step, and enhance comfort and efficiency on inclines.
Usage
In the field, the Revo Ascent Snowshoes excelled in both ease of use and performance. The lightweight design made for quick, nimble steps, while the aggressive traction provided peace of mind on icy stretches. Whether ascending steep slopes or traversing flat, powdery terrain, these snowshoes delivered consistent support and stability without weighing me down too much.
The incredibly sharp, integrated crampons were a massive help on the downhill.
MSR Revo Ascent Snowshoes Pros
Exceptional Traction: Equipped with aggressive crampons and serrated side rails, these snowshoes provide reliable grip on various terrains, enhancing safety and stability. They’re extremely good at their job.
Comfortable Bindings: The ergonomic design ensures a secure fit without compromising comfort, accommodating different footwear types. No more blisters along the pressure points from my other snowshoes that attach over the foot with several different straps!
Effective Heel Lifts: The heel lift feature reduces fatigue during steep climbs, improving overall efficiency. I expected to love this, and it fully lived up to expectations. My calves were far less tired after a steep hike, and each step felt much more natural.
This is how much the bar raises your heel, which you can imagine would alleviate so much strain on your calves when hiking uphill. It’s like the parts of backcountry ski bindings you can flip down to help keep your foot flat on uphills.
MSR Revo Ascent Snowshoes Cons
Noise Level: Some people have reported that the plastic decking can produce noticeable noise on hard-packed snow, which may be distracting in quiet environments. By some people, I mean my boyfriend, who had to listen to the “scrape whine crunch” of my Revo Ascents for six hours. Personally, I was not bothered by it.
Weight: At 4 lb, 2 oz, they are slightly heavier than some competitors, which could impact endurance over long distances.
Overkill for Flat Terrain: For those primarily on flat or groomed trails, the Revo Ascent’s aggressive features may be unnecessary, and a lighter, less technical snowshoe would suffice.
A Little Wide: On narrower trails that have already been tracked out, the width of the snowshoe would sometimes cause my food to land on an uncomfortable slant, bothering my ankles. Likely, this is user error and something I could fix by paying closer attention to my steps, but it was a bit frustrating.
Would I Recommend Them?
For adventurers tackling diverse and challenging winter terrains, the MSR Revo Ascent Snowshoes are a solid investment. Their combination of durability, traction, and comfort makes them well-suited for backcountry explorations and steep ascents. However, for those sticking to flat or groomed trails, a less aggressive model might be more appropriate.
In this relatively flat section of the hike, where I finally decided to get photos of the snowshoes, they felt like overkill.
Comparable Products
Atlas Range-BC Snowshoes
MSRP: $279.95
Weight: 3 lbs, 15 oz per pair
Best Use: Designed for steep and varied terrains
Tubbs Flex ALP Snowshoes Men’s | Women’s
MSRP: $259.95
Weight: 4 lbs, 8 oz per pair
Best Use: Ideal for backcountry hiking and mountaineering
The MSR Revo Ascent Snowshoes were donated for review.
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Comments 2
How about balling? Do they accumulate wet snow? My Tubbs do when the snow gets a little wet and it’s a pain.
Hey Mike! I personally did not experience this, but it was also well below freezing for all my hikes. That certainly would negate all the weight savings, though! My best guess would be that they wouldn’t, as the crampons are built with very slippery material and have really sharp angles. I’d expect wet snow to slide off and not be able to accumulate. However, as I do more spring hiking I’ll be sure to come back and update this if I notice frustrating accumulation!