Durable, But Not Ideal

By MR Ranked #70 - Snowshoes December 16, 2008

I got these a few weeks ago thinking that they would be ideal for both trails and backcountry with the addition of the tail fins, but it was definitely a case of 'too good to be true'. First off, these snowshoes are NOT designed for bigger people to use. I am 6'3" 210lbs and wear a size 14 boot. Even with the 8" tail fins, these are nowhere close to an off-trail snowshoe. On about 10 inches of dense, recently rained on snow, I was almost sinking to the ground and when I took the tail fin off, there was very little difference in floatation. So basically, this became a trail-only snowshoe, where it encountered a new set of problems.

The bindings proved to be quite frustrating. They were barely large enough to fit my winter boot and even then, the snowshoe itself wasn't really big enough to accomodate someone of my size. Because the binding is made from a soft material rather than a harder moulded plastic, it is easy for your boot to slide on the snowshoe. When combined with the fact that the binding is attached to the deck on a fixed bar rather than a suspension system, the back of your boot will slide off to the sides on uneven ground. The bindings, while durable and easily repairable, compared to a brand like atlas, are quite difficult to put on and get comfortable in. There were several occasions where I had to stop, take my gloves off and adjust the straps to get a comfortable fit.

Overall, the Denali does have some redeeming features. It is definitely the most durable snowshoe on the market, it has excellent grip and it is easy to repair, but it is not a very pleasant snowshoe to walk on. If you are over 190lbs and looking to go off-trail - FORGET IT! If you are looking for a comfortable snowshoe to take on trails - FORGET IT!

I upgraded to a pair of 10x36 GV Winter Trails and they are head and shoulders above the Denalis for comfort and functionality.

View Details: MSR Denali Classic Snowshoe

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