Having a good pair of snowshoes is a reassuring thing when you're out in the backcountry on a winter snowshoe trip. My personal preference is to go for increased traction as my top priority, and then work down the list of wants from there. I purchased these snowshoes at a strong discount with a manufacturer deal. Had I not gotten such a good deal my first choice would have been the Lightning Ascent style over the Axis Ascent style - PURELY for comfort when wearing with trail running shoes.
LIKES: Really nice traction and good feel throughout the 250 miles of mixed winter hiking I used them for. Washington's Northern Cascades are a beautiful but technical place to be in early winter, and I was glad to have snowshoes that I felt confident with their performance. The Axis binding was extremely quick to get in and out of, and since the terrain was mixed snow and ice above treeline, and then light snow or no snow back down below treeline, I got used to taking these on and off multiple times a day. I hiked with just the heel strap - and did not use the included instep strap (though in hindsight I probably should have). I used Altra Lone Peak trail runners with Rocky Mountain Goretex socks and a pair of Darn Tough crew length socks, all under a pair of EMS Summit Goretex Gaiters. This worked out just fine in snowshoeing temperatures that ranged from 25* up to 55*. The snowshoe weight was fairly low, with the pair coming in at 4 lbs and 3 oz., and the 5" tails coming in at 9 oz. for the set. A nice addition to the all day comfort was the Axis Ascent bindings, which allowed for me to set the angle of the binding so that each snowshoe could track straight forward.
DISLIKES: Since I opted to use lightweight mesh trail running shoes, the Axis binding system was uncomfortably stiff around my toes compared to the more supple Lightning Ascent binding system. Not a failure of the system by any means, it was simply something I noticed when using them in the extreme conditions that I did. I also found the heel of my running shoes to not be as securely locked in place as I had hoped for, something I did not experience when using the Alpine style Lightning bindings with similar trail-running shoes. The comfort factor was balanced out with the speed of putting them on and off, and though not perfect around the toe box, I did enjoy having them with me.
COMMENTS ON THE TAILS: I thought that the tails wouldn't make much of a difference and I was proven wrong. Easy to install, and without a single instance of slipping off or seeming to waiver in strength, they are certainly a well thought out and important component to the MSR line. With at times a 40+ lbs pack on, having the additional flotation in areas of deep and sometimes slushy snow was a great help.
SUMMARY: Excellent investment, and solid pair of snow shoes. Great for mixed winter conditions and difficult side-hilling, these are a well thought out pair of shoes good for technical day hikes through long distance winter backpacking. The Axis bindings are FASTER but not as secure feeling as the Alpine bindings in the MSR line.
For very technical backpacking, some may prefer the 5 strapped Lightning Ascent bindings the 3 strapped Axis Ascent bindings.
For mixed terrain and rocky snowshoeing - the nearly unbreakable EVO Ascent shoes are the way to go.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE MSR AXIS ASCENT SNOWSHOES CAN BE SEEN HERE
LIKES: Really nice traction and good feel throughout the 250 miles of mixed winter hiking I used them for. Washington's Northern Cascades are a beautiful but technical place to be in early winter, and I was glad to have snowshoes that I felt confident with their performance. The Axis binding was extremely quick to get in and out of, and since the terrain was mixed snow and ice above treeline, and then light snow or no snow back down below treeline, I got used to taking these on and off multiple times a day. I hiked with just the heel strap - and did not use the included instep strap (though in hindsight I probably should have). I used Altra Lone Peak trail runners with Rocky Mountain Goretex socks and a pair of Darn Tough crew length socks, all under a pair of EMS Summit Goretex Gaiters. This worked out just fine in snowshoeing temperatures that ranged from 25* up to 55*. The snowshoe weight was fairly low, with the pair coming in at 4 lbs and 3 oz., and the 5" tails coming in at 9 oz. for the set. A nice addition to the all day comfort was the Axis Ascent bindings, which allowed for me to set the angle of the binding so that each snowshoe could track straight forward.
DISLIKES: Since I opted to use lightweight mesh trail running shoes, the Axis binding system was uncomfortably stiff around my toes compared to the more supple Lightning Ascent binding system. Not a failure of the system by any means, it was simply something I noticed when using them in the extreme conditions that I did. I also found the heel of my running shoes to not be as securely locked in place as I had hoped for, something I did not experience when using the Alpine style Lightning bindings with similar trail-running shoes. The comfort factor was balanced out with the speed of putting them on and off, and though not perfect around the toe box, I did enjoy having them with me.
COMMENTS ON THE TAILS: I thought that the tails wouldn't make much of a difference and I was proven wrong. Easy to install, and without a single instance of slipping off or seeming to waiver in strength, they are certainly a well thought out and important component to the MSR line. With at times a 40+ lbs pack on, having the additional flotation in areas of deep and sometimes slushy snow was a great help.
SUMMARY: Excellent investment, and solid pair of snow shoes. Great for mixed winter conditions and difficult side-hilling, these are a well thought out pair of shoes good for technical day hikes through long distance winter backpacking. The Axis bindings are FASTER but not as secure feeling as the Alpine bindings in the MSR line.
For very technical backpacking, some may prefer the 5 strapped Lightning Ascent bindings the 3 strapped Axis Ascent bindings.
For mixed terrain and rocky snowshoeing - the nearly unbreakable EVO Ascent shoes are the way to go.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE MSR AXIS ASCENT SNOWSHOES CAN BE SEEN HERE