I came across a post on the NW Hiker's forum mentioning these inflatable snowshoes. The mountaineering-oriented folk there were amused, but I could see this having merit for a thru-hiker. They were evidently designed for ski-boarders.




http://www.tomsguide.com/us/any-exit-inflatable-emergency-snowshoes,news-9887.html

Impressively goofy--can they possibly work? Nice find! :-)

Cheers,

Rick

Hi, Great idea.

Check out this one, It is a different shape and has a crampon of sorts and I expect better.


Link

I wonder what they weigh.

Flatlanders...
Franco

The ones with the crampons look like a viable idea to me. I'm thinking of a thru-hiker dealing with late season snow. It would sure beat post-holing for hours. I don't think it is any goofier than crossing an icy fiord in a packraft (looks like one too).

The Small Foot type (the Bulgarian ones from Bill's link and Dale's pic) do look interesting, however I can only find generic terms like 'light" and "small packed size" but no real specs.
Franco

Franco,

I sent an email to the one from my link. If they answer I have a bunch of questions for them.

Did you find the videos of the guy wearing them. I would like to see someone wearing the snow shoes and a person walking along side them with only boots on. I want to see how deep the snow is.

It is a clever idea but I bet they are not much lighter, if any lighter at all, then say my Northern Lites.

How about a Cuben Shell and a couple balloons or a small bike intertube for floatation?

Edited by bfornshell on 02/26/2011 16:22:01 MST.

stick and stones will break my bones ... and pop my inflatable snowshoes

i bet ya can walk on water with em though ;)

I think size/space was a consideration-- these guys are snowboarding.

Ok, Here is the scoop. If you want to stomp post holes in the snow get these little foot or small foot inflatables if you want but first check out the full size inflatables at www.airlitesnowshoe.com these things are awsome. I used a pair of the prototypes to pull a 12 1/2 foot christmas tree out of the woods here in Alaska at -4 in over 5 foot of snow. Not packed snow either. talk about tough, I stomped all over deadfall trees trying to see how well they hold up. Not a scratch. Check em out, these are cool.

I don't see any traction with those so I still think that the Small Foot may work in more situations.
Franco

I belive the web site said they were designed mainly for emergency but can and do work well for most situations but arn't ment to take the place of normal snowshoes. Given that, I think they would give a person a good chance at survival. I like the fact that they kept me on top of the deep snow even in deep stuff and I can put one in each coat pocket. Don't mean to soap-box here it's just that I got to test a prototype pair and loved em.

Check out the web site again. They came up with an addition to the Airlite Snowshow. That tracion device looks like it willk work for just about anywhere. Notice that the nail has a hard time putting a hole in the material. If these things are this tough and now traction for most all situations, I'm sold. Only 17 oz's each.

Also, I have it on good authority, that the Little Foot Snowshoe built in Bulgaria can NOT be sold in, shipped through, or made available to the USA because of Patent infringment laws. Go figure.