Tubbs Mountaineer - Women's Review

The Mountaineer is a traditional tubular snowshoe offered in three sizes for women. We tested the 22-inch version, which measures 8.5 inches wide and weighs a hefty 4 lbs. 9 oz. The frame comprises a nearly indestructible aluminum rail, Nytex Nylon decking, and carbon steel toe and heel crampons. This durable snowshoe is sure to last. Read on to see why it's an excellent backcountry option.

Performance Comparison

Flotation

The Tubbs Mountaineer snowshoes are the head of the pack in flotation scores, keeping us and our gear afloat, even in bottomless pits of fluffy powder. As one of the easiest shoes to walk in deep snow, they are a shoe we trust in the varied snow conditions you find in wilderness travel.

The Mountaineer's broad surface area and flexible decking keep hikers above snowpack in any conditions, while the smooth Soft-Tec decking sheds snow with every step. The rigidity of the tubular frame maximizes the surface area, and the frame is oriented slightly below the decking. When you step, the decking forms a slight dome that compresses the snow and prevents sinking. Most of its decking frames the foot, effectively distributing more surface area where your weight lands. The snowshoe is offered in three lengths, accommodating a load of 80 to 250 pounds, more than the average snowshoe. If you carry heavy winter gear, pull a sled, or have a heavier build, this is the Hauss of trailblazing the first steps in virgin powder.

Traction

The Tubbs Mountaineer is outfitted with the most aggressive crampons of any tested Tubbs models but lacks the lateral traction other options offer. The traction performs excellently in most snow conditions except for the steepest slopes.

Tubbs aptly named the massive carbon steel Anaconda toe crampon for its eight snow fangs under the forefoot — two face forward, two face backward, and four run parallel to the foot. They are aggressively angled and perform best in packed and deep snow. Unfortunately, because they are massive, they don't slice into thick ice like smaller, sharper crampons or provide the broader traction of separated side rails. The heel crampon comprises six teeth parallel to the foot and offers moderate traction when walking downhill. The traction system works best on ascents. The aggressive toe crampon combined with the step precision of the hinged binding is excellent for kicking steps.

The major downside of the Mountaineer traction system is the slipperiness typical to traditional tubular frames. We noticed that if we shifted weight on the side of the frame, we could have had more robust lateral traction, and it is particularly slippery on steep descents. We found that going downhill, we got more grip by placing weight on the balls of our feet to engage the toe crampon because the heels do not do much to prevent slipping on descents or technical side-hilling. However, the traction does well in loose snow and is perfectly matched for backcountry travel as long as you are not tackling super technical terrain. One thing we love about the crampon system is the plastic framing mounted between the toe and foot crampons, preventing "snow-clumping" on the metal.

Walkability

The widest part of the Mountaineer is 8.5 inches, which is one of the broader options in our test suite. However, all but the most petite testers didn't feel the need to duck waddle as the frame tapers nicely at the heel and toe.

While many snowshoes have a hinge that causes over-rotation and the top of the snowshoe to hit your shin, the Mountaineer features the R2 rotation limiter articulation system, which absorbs shock and protects your legs as you walk. However, the hinge rotates at the perfect angle to shed from the shoe quickly, offering a natural heel-to-toe stride and conserving energy.

The Mountaineer has a 19-degree lift that you can quickly flip up from the decking to reduce calf fatigue on steep ascents. This snowshoe accommodates different body types. The tapered frame is friendly for most hip widths to experience an easy and ergonomic stride. Our market research also found a trend of positive reviews from various body types, who experienced excellent flotation in this model, and it is one of the best options for people carrying a significant load into the backcountry.

Bindings

The Wilderness Active Fit 2.0 binding is tightened and removed in a flash, which frozen fingers will thank you for. Itis one of the highest scoring bindings for its triple theat of comfort, security, and it being "so simple I can nail it first try".

The ActiveFit 2.0 is tightened by pulling two TPU cinch straps simultaneously, which provides an even distribution of tension across the entire front of your foot. Our testers had no trouble working the bindings in mittens. The EZ Heel Buckle has some stretch, reducing friction and enhancing stability. The straps all tuck away neatly, reducing ice build-up and general floppiness. While it requires two hands to apply even tension across the front binding of the foot, it can be loosened with one hand by pulling the colorful loop on the top of your foot. The EZ Heel Buckle can also be operated one-handed, making the entire binding system very easy to adjust. Overall, the Mountaineer is easy to put on and remove.

Should You Buy the Tubbs Mountaineer?

If you're looking for a comfortable, well-rounded snowshoe, the Tubbs Mountaineer is a tough mudder with a light footprint. It offered the highest ranking flotation in our tests The soft decking absorbs shock while you walk, and the bindings are comfortable and secure. This snowshoe is a on the heavier side, and although that doesn't seem to negatively affect the float, it does make it heavier on the feet or in the pack. The toe and heel crampons offer stellar traction on deep and packed snow, but their performance suffers a little steep terrain. Still, if you're looking for a good backcountry snowshoe that supports a heavy load, the Mountaineer can lift you up when it counts.

What Other Snowshoes Should You Consider?