Backpacker Magazine – Fall Gear Guide 2009

Gear Review: TSL Over the Top Snowshoe

These TSL snowshoes are best for day-long adventures over varied terrain.

by: Kelly Bastone, Chris Bloomquist, Donna Meshke, Dan Nelson, Ben Russell, James Werner

Tags:
• Snowshoeing
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• Gear
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• Winter camping
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Best Buy
Get high-end performance for a very competitive price with these shoes. Whether climbing steep slopes, traversing hills, or just striding through the forest, our Colorado tester loved the overall comfort, traction, and stability of these aluminum-framed models. They have bells and whistles like a telescoping binding plate for fine-tuning boot size, a heel lift for easy climbing, and multi-angled crampons for a sure grip even when sidehilling.

In particular, our tester praised the binding's four adjustment points, which allow a near-custom fit on any size boots. The wide adjustment range means significant initial set-up time as you fine-tune all the settings, but once set the bindings are easy to use. Bummer: In wet conditions, testers experienced significant snow balling underfoot. They're also heavy. Best for varied terrain and day-long adventures. $219; 4 lbs. 14 oz.; 25-, 30-, and 35-inch for men; 20-, 25-, and 30-inch for women; tslsnowshoes.com

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