Atlas Run Snow Shoe Review
The popularity of snow shoeing is skyrocketing! With all the snow mother nature has donated over Christmas, it was great to get out and try my new snow shoes. The Atlas Run came highly recommended by many of my friends. They are light weight and easy to use. Their spring loaded suspension mean the Atlas Run snow shoes are ideal for snow running and enjoying all that winter has to offer with excellent maneuverability and adjusts naturally to your running stride.
While the demo in store proved to be very easy to attach my shoe to the snow shoe, I found it a little challenging outside in the cold. I am sure it will get better after a try or two. The straps are Z shaped and cinch nicely. A tip: make sure your shoe is in all the way in the binding first. It’s easier to do if sitting down. They provide a nice ring to slip the excess strapping into. The rubber heel strap is even easier to use with a simple belt style with evenly spaced holes for the pin. Like the foot straps, the heel strap also comes with a convenient holder for the excess strap.
The Atlas Run is designed for groomed trails. The surface area just isn’t big enough for back country hiking, but it does lend itself nicely for a running stride without constantly cracking your ankles - perfect for the runners and triathletes out there! I did find that running provided a lot of kick up with the snow – watch the snow in your pockets or backpack if you are carrying one. My camera bag was covered in snow after only a short test run.
While not in deep back country, I loved the fact that I was able to get off track to take pictures while walking in the woods. I had no trouble maneuvering through the trees, getting to places where I would not have been able to get with boots alone. The snow shoes were far less cumbersome than the old wooden ones I remember trying years ago as a kid in school. The Twin-Trac™ toe crampon was great for going up and down hill. I found I wasn’t so sure footed at first, but they bit right in and hung on – I can’t wait to try them out in more rigorous conditions like the hills in Gatineau Park!
A few tips to remember if you are setting out for the first time. Stay on marked trails. Gatineau Park, just north of Ottawa, has had 2 rescues already this winter for people who have gone off trail and gotten lost in the wilderness! (CBC News – 5 snowshoers rescued on Gatineau Park) If you are in unfamiliar areas or going hiking, it is wise to carry a backpack with water, food, light and a cell phone. It is easy to get turned around in the trails, especially after heavy snow.
Features
- Spring-loaded suspension
- VFrame design
- Nytex decking
- Twin-Trac™ toe crampon
- Heel cleat
- Running-specific binding for natural stride
- Length: 22-inches
- Surface Area: 134 square inches
- Load: 75-190+ lbs (up to 220 lbs on packed trails)
- Weight: 2.71 lbs (pair)
I didn’t get the tote bag, but in retrospect, it may have been a good idea…those teeth are perfect for running in the snow, but nasty in the closet with my regular boots!
Snow shoeing can be very social. I have seen tonnes of groups out on the trails and can hardly wait to get out with the girls! Snow shoes are adding a whole new dimension to winter wonderland!
Related Links:
- These aren’t your Granddad’s snowshoes
- Wood – photos from test run on the snow shoes
- Snow Shoeing in Gatineau Park
- Mad Trapper snow shoe series – Ottawa/Gatineau
- Snow Shoe Mag
- Atlas Snow Shoe Website
- Travel to Wellness – Snow shoeing in Canada
We tried snow shoeing in Finnish Lapland… It was trickier than I thought, but fun. These things look much nicer than the ones we tried though! Loving all the snowy pictures, and the way you captured the glittery effect in the close up.
Posted by Emma's Bucket List | January 2, 2013, 9:14 amIt was so much fun to get out there on the snow shoes and the camera. They added a new dimension to what I could take! Would love to use them on vacation…still trying to organize a multi day, multi inn ski trip…maybe I should be looking at snow shoe options too!
Posted by Anita Mac | January 2, 2013, 9:27 amFunny you should post this today. We’re going out on snowshoes this afternoon! Sam got a pair of them for Christmas. Uh, getting lost… We’ll stick close to the road for our first outing.
Posted by Robin Lewis | January 2, 2013, 2:27 pmHope you guys had fun out there! It has been frightfully cold here the last 2 days, so I have not been out. Looking forward to really testing them out tomorrow in the hills of Gatineau Park. With loads of ups and downs, I should be able to give them a real workout!
Posted by Anita Mac | January 2, 2013, 5:40 pmFinland is the best place to try snow shoeing! Even in Helsinki we have now 50 cm snow.
Posted by reijosfood | January 3, 2013, 5:22 pmSomeday I hope to get to Finland. I am torn between summer and winter.
Posted by Anita Mac | February 13, 2013, 3:24 pm