REASONS TO BUY
Good traction
Easy-to-use and comfortable binding
REASONS TO AVOID
Clumsy
Strapped binding attachment isn't ideal
Atlas Montane Review
This is a great traditional snowshoe that's outshone in a few areas by newer designs
Credit: Ian McEleney
RELATED: Best Snowshoes of 2024
Our Verdict
The Atlas Montane features a traditional tubular frame design and is probably one of the best snowshoes of this type ever made. It provides reliable traction and features a great binding system that's fast and easy to use and doesn't pinch or otherwise compromise the circulation in your feet. It also provides a good amount of flotation for its length, but we found that they were clunkier for it. Still, these will get the job done for most hikers looking to get out in the winter, especially those who know they want a strapped and flexible deck/binding interface.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Atlas Montane | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | | | |
| Price | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $127.39 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $220 List $219.95 at Amazon | $286.50 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $80 List $63.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This average performer will keep most winter hikers happy, but newer designs offer more | This reliable and well-priced snowshoe is versatile and easy to use | A good choice for off trail travel and softer snow | A good choice for firm, hard packed snow when you don't need a ton of float | Most cheap snowshoes have poor bindings, but we found the G2 to be comfy and secure |
| Rating Categories | Atlas Montane | MSR Evo Trail | Crescent Moon Big S... | TSL Symbioz Hyperfl... | G2 Ratchet Binding |
| Flotation (30%) | |||||
| Traction (30%) | |||||
| Walkability (20%) | |||||
| Bindings (20%) | |||||
| Specs | Atlas Montane | MSR Evo Trail | Crescent Moon Big S... | TSL Symbioz Hyperfl... | G2 Ratchet Binding |
| Measured Weight (per pair) | 4.3 lbs | 3.7 lbs | 5.1 lbs | 4.6 lbs | 4.5 lbs |
| Sizes Available | 25", 30", 35" | 22" (one size) | 32" (one size) | 20.5" (S), 23.5" (M), 27" (L) | 22", 25", 30", 36" |
| Binding System | Rubber straps with plastic buckles | Rubber net and straps with pin-in-hole | Rubber straps with plastic buckles | Combination of rigid plastic, nylon straps, cam locks, and ratchet style straps | Ratchet straps with plastic buckles, EVA padding, rubber tension straps |
| Frame Material | Aluminum | Plastic and steel | Aluminum | Composite | Aluminum |
| Measured Surface Area | 218 sq in | 183 sq in | 256 sq in | 162 sq in | 225 sq in |
| Measured Dimensions | 27"L x 9"W | 24"L x 8"W | 32"L x 10"W | 22"L x 8"W | 31"L x 9"W |
| Binding/Deck Connection | Strapped | Hinged | Strapped | Hinged | Hinged |
| Crampon/Traction Aids | Steel crampons and rails | Steel crampons and rails | Steel crampons | Steel crampons and teeth | Aluminum crampons and teeth |
| Deck Material | Nytex nylon | Polypropylene | Polyurethane fabric | Composite | Polyethylene fabric |
| Heel Lift | Yes | No | Optional | Yes | Yes |
| Flotation Tails Sold Separately? | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Men's and Women's Versions? | Yes | Unisex | Yes | Unisex | Unisex |
| Optimum Weight Load (per manufacturer) | 120-200 lbs (size 25") 150-250 lbs (size 30") 180-300+ lbs (size 35") |
up to 180 lbs | up to 225 lbs | 65-180 lbs (size S) 110-260 lbs (size M) 150-300 lbs (size L) |
up to 150 lbs (size 21") up to 200 lbs (size 25") up to 250 lbs (size 30") up to 300 lbs (size 36") |
| Tested Size | 25" | 22" | 32" | M | 30" |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Atlas Montane is a good snowshoe, but there are a few performance differences between it and our top models. The major one is the strapped deck-to-binding attachment. While our testing team generally prefers the more rigid hinged attachment, the strapped attachment does have benefits that some users might prefer.
Performance Comparison
Headed into deeper snow? The Montane is a great option to keep you afloat.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Flotation
We measured the 25-inch Montane at 27 inches long, providing about 218 square inches of surface area. This is a good amount of float for a snowshoe of this length and a reflection of the shape — the tapered deck bows out to 9 inches wide. Other similarly-sized models feature less surface area.
The deck is wider than average in the front.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Traction
The Montane has the most traction of all the standard tubular frame snowshoes in our review. Our reviewers rarely noticed slipping or sliding while in the mountains. Prominent steel teeth under the binding are augmented with toothed steel rails under the heel.
The Montane has decent traction with steel teeth underneath.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Walkability
This is one of the key areas of difference between top performers and the Montane. With the Montane, the deck is attached to the binding with a beefy strap. This provides some cushioning on hard snow or groomed trails and can allow you to walk with a slightly more natural gait. However, as the terrain becomes more technical and challenging, we prefer a hinged attachment. The other big difference in this metric is brought about by the deck, which is wider than other snowshoes of this length. While this boosts flotation in soft snow, most of our testers found that this made them harder to walk in.
This model has a fully strapped binding to deck connection.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Bindings
The Montane is very easy to put on. Only two actions are required when donning this snowshoe. Pull the rubber strap tight over your forefoot, then pull the other one tight around your heel. That's it. The buckles on both straps do the rest of the work. For fast removal, pop open the levers on each buckle - this is easily done with gloves on.
Pulling on these two straps quickly snugs up the binding.
Credit: Ian McEleney
The bindings on the Montane are more than secure enough for wherever you want to go snowshoeing. While the rubber strap found on other models lets hikers crank the binding down as tight as a tourniquet, we think that's usually overkill. The Montane binding, when properly tensioned, will keep this snowshoe on your foot. Thankfully, that security does not come at the expense of comfort. The rubber binding strap is woven through several wide plastic parts, which effectively distribute the load and minimize pressure points.
The plastic toe cage keeps you from putting your foot too far forward in the binding.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Should You Buy the Atlas Montane?
While this offering from Atlas does well in some ways, our testers aren't convinced that it is a lot better than some cheaper models. Folks who are thinking of the Montane should be sure that they want the strapped deck-to-binding connection and more flotation because that comes at the cost of cumbersome walking.
These are a good choice for hilly terrain as you won't post-hole on each step.
Credit: Ian McEleney
What Other Snowshoes Should You Consider?
Readers looking at this model might also be interested in the Crescent Moon Big Sky 32, which also offers great flotation. The Tubbs Flex VRT doesn't offer as many square inches underfoot but is a better performer in every other way, including on steep alpine terrain.
—
Ian McEleney
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