Deep fresh snow blanketed the Munro circuit of Sgurr nan Coireachan and Sgurr Thuilm, which I walked on a rare day of glorious sunshine. I needed snowshoes on high ground near Glenfinnan. However, when the time came to actually use them, the Lightning Ascents came up trumps. I had one lashed to each side of my pack, and carried them for around 80 miles from the start of my trail at Ardnamurchan Point. There’s no way of sugarcoating this, so I’ll just come out with it: these snowshoes were an absolute swine to carry on the trail, due to their size and bulk. These are compatible with pretty much any kind of footwear. MSR claim this helps reduce fatigue when climbing steep slopes, although I find using the heel lifts can feel less stable, so I rarely use them.įinally, the bindings: the 2018 Lightning Ascent uses PosiLock bindings, or a system of four adjustable straps that cradle your boot. Another feature intended for steep ground is the Televator heel lift. These points bite into steep slopes as you climb (less technical snowshoes often lack crampons). The footplate is hinged and has a decent aluminium toe crampon with four points. The bit that actually provides the flotation is a tough plate of flexible TPU-coated nylon, which is riveted to metal tabs attaching it to the frame.

The snowshoe is built around a lightweight aluminium frame, which features numerous aggressive teeth around the edge. Additional 5-inch ‘tails’ for extra flotation can be purchased, but I did not test these. Heavier users carrying big expedition packs might be better served with a larger snowshoe. What’s the difference? A larger snowshoe offers greater flotation, which means it is better for deeper, softer snow, or for carrying a heavier load. The Lightning Ascent is available in three sizes: 22 inches, 25 inches, or 30 inches.

It’s also relatively lightweight at under 2kg a pair. The Lightning Ascent is an aggressive, technical snowshoe designed for the mountains. What the Lightning Ascent snowshoes offer Read more about Alex’s winter Cape Wrath Trail here. The version I tested was the old 2018 model, which is still available from some outlets.) I’ve added a few thoughts about the differences in the conclusion below. (Important note: the Lightning Ascent has recently been updated. Although I didn’t relish carrying the weight, I knew that I might well need snowshoes, and my research indicated that MSR’s Lightning Ascent ticked all the necessary boxes. In the weeks before I set off for my winter Cape Wrath Trail in February 2019, deep cold and heavy snow blanketed the Scottish Highlands. The only pair I could find were cheap, mostly plastic, and not the best choice for big hills. I bought my first pair about five years ago, after arriving in Aviemore after a heavy dump of snow and realising that I wouldn’t get very far without them. I have a love/hate relationship with snowshoes. Alex Roddie reviews capable snowshoes for the Scottish mountains.

Msr revo ascent 25inch