You can walk very near normally. They go up and down equally well. I cannot see justification for anything more than this. It is the perfect all around snowshoe.

I got talked into these in DEC 08 by a BC sales rep, who was lusting after a pair himself. I was going to buy a cheaper pair. But since the rest of the snowSHOE crew @ the Ogden Sierra Club treds the pow in some SKU of MSRs, I decided to take their lead. Glad I did. I mated them with a pair of Columbia Bugaboot I had bought 2 seasons back for a winter visit to Yellowstone. Great combo of boot and snowshoe.

So far I have only tried them on trails around SnowBasin, and nice powder or prepped cross country trails. I keep the same strap adjustment and just release the heel straps. Haven't used them in sub zero weather yet. BUT the bindings look like they will stay flexible,in all temps.

Great. The manufacturer's hype was right this time. You can walk with a near normal gait without stepping on these snowshoes. They are sure footed for climbing and descents, and great on the packed trails I'm usually on. Less great on fresh snow, better with the add on tail, but even with the 6in tail I still feel I sink a bit more than with other shoes. However, I'm usually not on fresh snow. Not that happy with the binding system. Too floppy and doesn't always stay put. Easier to get out of than into. I rented a lot before buying and these are still better than others I've tried for the way I use them.

I found out about your wonderful snowshoes from a fellow I met while climbing Mt. Bierstadt, in Colorado. I was using borrowed, inefficient snowshoes, getting nowhere except frustrated. I went home that night, ordered my Denali snowshoes, received them 4 days later, and climbed Sentinel Point the next weekend. What a difference!! Straight up and down, deep snow, 9 hours, no problems. Fantastic!

I've rented MSR classic snowshoes before and have always liked them. After reading reviews and researching, I decided these were the shoes for me. The big selling point was the taper that allows a more natural walk rather than having to "Frankenstein" it. Even with the 6-inch tails I never hit my shoes like I did before. These are great for the weekend warrior getting out on trails. Even in deep fresh snow they worked well. The binding system is very flexible and adjusts to an array of different shoe styles. I like the option of hiking up in my snowboarding boots and then boarding down. That eliminates the need to carry two pairs of boots. The straps can flap around if not adjusted properly, but I haven't had any problems with them coming undone. I like how they pack down small and are easy on weight. Best of all they made by a company that is known for their superior quality and they are that cool MSR red! You won't be sorry with these shoes.

I've used the classics at -30 during a mountaineering clinic with no problem, straps remained flexible. They pack great I take them backcountry skiing and they fit nice on plastic75mm ski boots. Easy to get in and out, light and quiet. Never really felt the need for heel lifts even on the steep stuff.I bought them used and have used them a lot for 5 years. If they ever wear out I would buy them again

I found these great after exiting the tow lift at Powder Mountain and traversing to the Ridge that you could step into these bad boys and head to the area you wanted to drop into. They fit fine with my boots and I got to the spot pretty quick. Nice option, make sure your Crampon is facing outward on your pack so it does not rip your pack to shreds on the way back to the lift.

These snowshoes are excellent same as the Denali Ascents without the "televators". However the "televators" are amazing on the Denali Ascents. If you plan on hiking any hills spend the extra money. They are short bars beneath your heel that you can pull up for hiking uphill, they are absolutely amazing. MSR beefed up the crampons on the bottom and they are tough as nails. I climbed Algonquin, Wright, and Giant Mt. in the Adirondack High peaks with the Denali Ascents. I slammed them on ice snow and rock and they look and feel brand new still.

Love these things. Lightweight, super durable, and more than anything they ALWAYS get traction. The metal side rails along the bottom help to not slide sideways when you're on a bit of an icy crust but don't get in the way when going straight forward. The straps and attachment system are great. I've used these with boots, shoes, snowboarding boots, as well as telemark boots and they've worked equally well with all of them. The ability to attach a tail for added length when carrying a load just sweetens the love for these guys. I'd HIGHLY recommend these to everybody. Don't just buy one pair, buy TWO for you and someone else!!!