Snowshoe racing MST’s

[Jason Amoriell]

Dan,

Do snowshoe racers ever use MSR’s without the tails, or are those too big? Asking for a friend—

Jason
Sent from my iPhone

[theadiron...@gmail.com]

To big and heavy, but it could be done if they are not super competitive. The MSR Evo (tailless) measures 22" x 8" and weighs 3# 9.5oz. A pair of Dion 120s as outfitted below, measures 20.7" x 7.2" and weighs in at 2# 2.2oz so the Evo is about 70% heavier. The narrow width of the Dions means I run in them with my feet the same width apart as when I road run. I might have an inch or less of clearance between the edge of the snowshoe to my ankle but I’m trained. (photo in Dion 120’s) No daylight there!

[theadiron...@gmail.com]

Here’s a picture of a fellow in a pair of TSLs with the fixed heel, and I’m behind him warming up in a pair of Dions with the more typical flip flop style of binding, however the actual race didn’t see a change in our over-all positions.

[theadiron...@gmail.com]

Here's a good picture of the Paul Smiths team in the Northern Lites Race snowshoes in both yellow and red. #346 is in a pair of Dion 121’s (the slightly heavier Dions) white with orange accents. I and the fellow next to me are both in the plastic TSL’s.

[Loring Porter]

Having snow shoe raced,to be competitive you need running snow shoes. Thay are lighter and much easier to step, or run in.I use Dion snow shoes from Vermont.I also did alot of my 46er  traveling in them, effectiv, small and light to carry.

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[Jason Amoriell]

Thanks for all the answers, Dan. Appreciate it.

> On Dec 15, 2025, at 11:04 PM, thep...@verizon.net <theadiron...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> To big and heavy, but it could be done if they are not super competitive. The MSR Evo (tailless) measures 22" x 8" and weighs 3# 9.5oz. A pair of Dion 120s as outfitted below, measures 20.7" x 7.2" and weighs in at 2# 2.2oz so the Evo is about 70% heavier. The narrow width of the Dions means I run in them with my feet the same width apart as when I road run. I might have an inch or less of clearance between the edge of the snowshoe to my ankle but I’m trained. (photo in Dion 120’s) No daylight there!
>

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> <18 nassc me fin 3 red.jpeg>
>
> Look into the Dion 120 with quick fit (velcro that works) binding and deep cleats. If they are also using them as all around snowshoes, they may be better served by the 121 which has a slightly larger diameter tubing which is more durable but is only marginally heavier and go with the stainless steel cleat which stay sharp almost forever and doesn’t seem to mind rocks all that much. I have both and race in the 120 and train and everything else in the 121. These are not deep powder snowshoes and neither are the next two I’m suggesting.
>
> Northern Lites Race Wave or the Race. I have a pair of the Race Wave with the direct mount bindings where the shoe is permanently bolted to the snowshoe. It’s the way to save on the weight of the binding, however it requires changing out of the shoe I’m in, possibly sitting in snow to do it, and then where do I hide my shoes? So I never use them. I will look into seeing if I can retro fit them with standard bindings. Paul Smiths race in these.
>
> TSL has the Symbioz Hyperflex Racing which have a lock down heel and flex/bend rather than flip flop like standard snowshoes. These are a flexible plastic snowshoe. The lock down heel makes traveling cross slope a bit easier. I race in these as well, but the bindings are stiff and difficult to get into even after they have been adjusted to your over-all shoe size. Adjusting them takes tools but once they are adjusted to the general size there are fastex buckles to clip and unclip and do some tightening or loosening of the straps.
>
> The velcro straps of the Dion’s are the cat’s meow and can be micro adjusted in an instant. I’ve never had the velcro fail, and they are on and off in an instant.

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