MSR Lightning Ascent - 2007 BCS

do everything they say they will do very well-traction, climb, lightweight, simple bindings etc. The one thing I do not like is the 2 foot straps on the bindings. I found to make them tight I needed to cinch the one close to the ankle down tight which flattened my arch out and eventually killed my foot after an hour of hiking. Sold these and got the new 3 strap ones. Big diff. Love them!

Because I use both the MSR LA and new Atlas 12 snowshoes, I thought a review to allow comparison of the two might be useful. Both are backcountry or approach models and not for the casual user. The MSR has a unique feel because of the cookiecutter like action of its vertical rails. It excels on soft to firm snow and is very stable on a soft snow traverse. Overstepping the inside rails can be perilous because the serrated rails do not easily slide off one another. On hard snow to ice, traction falls off somewhat because you cannot kick a firm step as you can with typical underfoot crampons. The MSR has excellent flotation for a 25" shoe, it is light and packs very flat. My only criticism is that the binding is old- school and allows the boot to creep forward over distance, causing the heel to move off center. Otherwise, the MSR is a good backcountry choice.

I have used MSRs for a long time, and the Lightning Ascents are my favorites now. Very light, super strong and hold in even the iciest of snow conditions. Hardly feel like I have anything on my feet, really easy to put on, and the ascent bar is an amazing help when going up consistently steep terrain.

having used Atlas before I was throughly impressed by the much improved traction and performance overall of the LIGHTNING ASCENTS. The TELEVATOR option was sweet going up steep climbs in So. Lake Tahoe area up semi icy slopes (with my ski poles helping out too). Very light and agile and decent float for a 25"...Im only 150 lbs so even with a decent size pack on they still performed well although if I was a big guy you may need more float if you're in UTAH or really fluffy stuff...in the SIERRA CEMENT of CA these work fantastically. KUDOS MSR.

I love these things. The frame has built in crampons as well as the toe/heel crampons and the heel riser kicks butt up steep terrain. The bindings have rubber lobes on the end making entry and exit easy with gloves on and they don't freeze like a nylon webbing could. Very easy to walk in whether up hill or down. Traversing isn't a problem either. I was also looking at Tubbs Mountaineer but I'm glad I got these. Very lite too..

I used these mostly on packed snow trails here in Utah and they worked very well traction wise on steep parts and of course on flatter parts. The only size available when I purchased these were the 22 in. so I tried to use those but they didn't do well in powder really. It snowed 2 ft. so I went and tried them in that but because of the small size I just sank a foot and a half each time. I ended up returning these and purchasing the stabilicers which are perfect for what type of hiking I do. I probably would have kept these snowshoes if I originally purchased the larger size but oh well. Great product, just not worth 250 for what I do.

Not only are my 25's pretty to look at (note the shimmery metallic coating!), but the traction and flotation are superb (with or w/o a pack), especially in the wet/icy snow the NW is known for. On or off groomed trails, the Lightning Ascents have superior grip and offer a great deal of stability, especially when climbing.There's a great deal of forward-flex and they are quite lightweight. I find that the bindings are extremely easy to use and have no problems slipping in and out of them quickly. Because the straps are rubber, they neither freeze or loosen over a longer trek, so I don't have to keep making constant adjustments. Being 5'4", the shoe's width is just perfect for my gait, and I don't end my hikes with sore hips/knees. My one bittersweet criticism: while the presence of the serrated teeth add much desired traction and calorie-burn, they tend to reduce the fun of gliding downhill at a quicker pace! Wouldn't trade them in for any other pair.

Just field tested our MSN Lighting Ascent snowshoes in Yosemite over a wide variety of terrain and snow quality. They are what they claim - "ultra light" and easy to maneuver, outstanding crampon grip (ascent and descent), especially over icy terrain, and equipped with the easiest bindings ever! One major trial remains for absolute satisfaction: trekking in snowy and extreme windchill conditions to check whether ice accumulates on the front crampons. All in all, an excellent shoe!

I might be biased ssing as these are the first snowshoes i've purchased, but they are freakin' sweet. excellent traction on ice and packed snow (they shine here) and pretty good on the fluffy stuff too. i'm looking forward to steep hills to give the Televator function a good test. MSR makes grerat gear and these are no exception.

I love my new Lightning Ascents. They have much better traction than any other shoe and they are easy to climb in! A+.