MSR Women's Lightning Ascent Snow Shoes

I've been snowshoeing for a few years now and my wife finally asked to go too. We picked up a pair for her. When we got them, we noticed a few very small nicks in the same place on the edge of the decking but didn't pay much attention. After a very short first hike, both nicks started opening up into ~0.25" rips. Amazon gladly exchanged and new ones look great. As for peformance, mine and hers both work great. Bindings aren't as quick as other types, but they sure are secure. Heel riser has helped out a few times. The traction is 2nd to none.

I'm not sure how long these will last, they are very poorly made. The foot plate looks like it is made out of flattened beer cans. The pivot pins run in very thin plate with no bushings. The designers have leant way to much to the side of lightness at the expense of durability.

I've had these Women's Lightning Ascent snow shoes for 3 years and they are really terrific; they are light, extremely easy to walk, run and climb in.I live in the Catskill Mountains, on a farm, and so we don't get a tremendous amount of snow; we have steep rocky terrain and I use these every single day when there is more than 3" because the traction is so terrific and they are so light and easy to walk in. I feel badly that I've hit so many rocks, down barbed wire fences, stumps and frozen cow poops, but they are still in really great shape. I have had the opportunity to use them in deep snow and they were great then as well.They are light metal with spikes all around the frame and then crampons when your feet attach. I can walk up steep inclines with out crabbing. I can walk on slippery slopes with out slipping.I think the bindings are very easy to use even with my big mittens; that was why I decided to buy a second pair of snowshoes, the Evo Ascent, rather than the EVO. These bindings keep my feet secure and I never wiggle or slide in them.I usually wear my muck boots when I go snowshoeing ... but I have worn my hiking boots as well.Because I love them so much and am so hard on them I ordered  MSR Evo Ascent Snow Shoes  these today! I can't wait - with Evo Ascent snowshoes I can really walk over stone walls etc ... and then save my Lightening Ascents for longer treks with more snow since the Evo Ascents are supposedly a little heavier and wider. There are also the  MSR Lightning Ascent Snow Shoes  which are a little wider than the Women's Ascent.I am about 125lbs and went with the 25" snowshoes and they are great; I could have gotten shorter ones, but I went with 25" in case I have a heavy load one day.