Put on and take off your snowshoes without complaining too much

It seems a little counter-intuitive, but snowshoes are often more useful in early spring than in the heart of winter. It’s because the snow softens and hikers sink mercilessly if they only wear boots or crampons.

Mary Tison
The Press

But it’s also the time of year when you have to constantly take off and put on your snowshoes to face rocky sections free of snow and sections that are still snow-covered. It is therefore the moment when we hear hikers complaining about bindings that are difficult to attach or that loosen after a few meters of walking.

In recent years, new types of bindings have appeared, in particular to replace the famous straps which cut off circulation and which became practically impossible to handle in extreme cold.

“Manufacturers are struggling, they want to find systems that make people’s lives easier while being efficient,” says Philippe Lafrenière, adviser at the La Cordée store in Laval. They try to find mechanisms that are fast, but also reliable because in very varied conditions of snow or cold, it is important. »

The different mechanisms

Several manufacturers, such as Louis Garneau, have turned to a proven mechanism in other sports such as cycling, snowboarding or inline skating: the Boa lacing system. It’s just a matter of turning a dial to evenly tighten the laces. “It’s solid, light, efficient,” says Mr. Lafrenière. It’s the product that stands out. »

Raquettes GV, which manufactures its products in Wendake, uses a similar system, the Spin. “It’s hard to find something simpler than that,” says Patrick Morency, director of business partnership development at Raquettes GV. It’s been our best seller for several years, especially for snowshoers who do it for fun or hiking. »

Forestry workers will instead turn to the Alligator binding, a slightly more massive binding that GV has been offering for a few years. “It’s a little more complicated to adjust it the first time, but once it’s done, you don’t have to start over, unless you change boots,” says Morency. Simply open or close a lock to release or fix the foot. »

Several manufacturers, including Raquettes GV and Louis Garneau, have also improved the traditional strap binding by incorporating ratchets. “It’s not difficult to handle, says Philippe Lafrenière. Just insert the strap into the ratchet and pull. »

Patrick Morency argues that Raquettes GV has also improved the straps themselves so that they retain their flexibility even in very cold weather. Different materials had to be evaluated to find the right formula.

He adds that these testers will push the racquet and binding far beyond what recreational hikers would do.

Paragon

For its part, for a long time, the American manufacturer MSR favored a simple belt system. However, the adjustment could take some time and was particularly difficult in very cold weather. The system had its supporters (robust, easy to repair in the event of a glitch) and its detractors (exhausted from fighting with refractory belts).

However, MSR has recently launched a new binding, Paragon, which consists of a kind of net that you adjust once and covers the foot.

“It’s uniform, so it’s better for comfort,” says Philippe Lafrenière. But you still have to handle belts. Snowshoes equipped with this binding are still rare on the market, so it will be necessary to wait a little before seeing how they behave on the ground and in the hands of snowshoers, notes Mr. Lafrenière.

Hikers therefore have a greater choice than before. To select the right bindings, nothing beats a good test in the shop. “If it’s easy in the store, that’s a good omen,” says Philippe Lafrenière. But if it starts to get complicated, imagine what it will be like outside! »