The 25 inch should be prime. Convenient..cause that's the only size available at the moment.

the 25 inch size would be perfect. Your only talking about 9 lbs which it not that much and the recommended weight on the 25in is 120-200 pounds. You'll be just fine.

I would go with the 25"er. This will give you all the float you'll need.I think it should be stated that 25 inch snowshoes are very bad for a 180 pound person breaking trail. If you are coordinated and physically capable of breaking trail, I would recommend 30 inch snowshoes mimimum. I am 6' 1 and weigh 165. I use 25 inch snowshoes for firm conditions and 36 inch snowshoes for trail breaking. Personally, I wish there were bigger high tech snowshoes available. I see gv has a 12x42, but haven't seen a picture to know if the binding sits in the middle for a well balanced snowshoe, which I think is important when you want flotation, but I digress.

Get on Live Chat and ask them when they're coming back in.

Sorry to hear about the knee! Since I started snowshoeing my skis have been collecting dusts. Well based on your height/weight I would highly recommend the Atlas E10 Series Elektra snowshoe for women perfect for varied terrain small enough not further aggravate the knee, good thing is snowshoeing is a low impact sport and use your ski poles for support and to help relieve some of the strain on the knees. Another good option is the women’s MSR Lightning which may have a little more traction for climbing ski slopes. Btw CW-X Stabilyx tights offer great support to the lower body and knee joints. HEAL FAST.Also, the Atlas shoes have a silicon band that is supposed to releive fatigue and provide some cushioning. My girlfriend has sensitive knees and she loves her Elektras.

Snowshoes bindings are designed to fit most types of shoes including hiking boots, hiking shoes, winter boots, mountaineering boots and even trail shoes. Depending on the conditions and terrain it really comes down to personal preference.Snowboarding boots tend to be too big for most snowshoe bindings. Plus you probably want something light.I think it really comes down to your shoe size. If you have large feet (size 15) like I do, you have to make sure you wear boots that are are not too wide and cumbersome or they won't fit. Personally, I use a pair of Solomon winter boots and they work great. If you have smaller or more normal sized feet, you could probably get away with almost any kind of boot except snowboarding boots.

I'd suggest a 30" shoe for the both of you if you plan on leaving packed trails. I really like the Atlas 1230s that I have. The women's version is called the Elektra.

I'd go with the 30 inch. I'm 180 lbs and they are a great length for me. They help you stay more lofty in the deep fluff than the 25s would.(Eric) I just thought I'd add a note on snowshoe length. I am 6'3" 180lbs and I use the 30" snowshoes. Hiking up Mount Odake in northern Japan, I noticed most of the Japanese hikers wearing 22"-25" snowshoes. I really noticed the difference coming down the steep descent. My descent was rather slow and awkward with the backs of my snowshoes catching on every step while they were prancing around like gazelles. I'm just saying that bigger is not necessarily better...especially on very steep terrain.

No, they don't. Snowboard boots are too large for the tight quarters of the binding. The best types of bindings for snowboard boots are those with stretchy Voile-type strap that will wrap around the boots. These types of bindings fit a far greater array of boots, foot sizes, etc. An example would be the MSR Evo Ascents. The MSRs also offer better traction for climbing and the heel raiser makes climbing up hills easier.Additional Info: TSL makes snowshoes that are Snowboard Boot Compatible like the 305 Explore and the 325 Escape. .

(Ryan)Besides price there is no difference. Keep in mind the Atlas 1025/1030 have difference specifications. (Eric)I'm not sure what you're asking. All 10-series shoes are the same, except that the length differs. The last 2 digits denote the length of the snowshoe. The difference between the 1025, 1030, and 1035 are the lengths...25", 30", and 35" respectively.There actually is one big difference. The REI version is generally sold by an inexperienced and condescending "outdoor sales specialist." : )

My take is that it's better than some (ie. snowshoes with a urethane-coated webbing strap which causes a far greater springing action (example: Red Feather)). They aren't as good as those that have a pivot however (example: MSR Lightning). My experience has been that they will throw snow on your back a bit. This is does not bother me on shorter walks, but on long hikes my back ends up being completely soaked. I definitely feel this is one of Atlas' big disadvantages. I like more of a pivot system that allows the snow to slide of the back of the shoe as you walk.I have the Atlas 12s and have never had a problem with kicking snow. The biggest determinant is your personal gait though. My girlfriend does kick snow with here Atlas Elektras.