For the last couple years a running buddy of mine has been preaching about snowshoe racing. I've been tempted for awhile to take the leap and get myself a pair of racing snowshoes. Today they arrived from the factory in Wausau, Wisconsin. There was no resisting the immediate urge to strap them on and head out for a run.
Compared to my wood framed snowshoes I've had for the last twelve years, these spacecraft aluminum frames and polyurethane coated nylon mesh centers are like going from a Yugo to Viper. Wow, what a rush. Each shoe weighs 17-oz and I kid you not, barely perceptable of even being below my running shoe. I did a test run of 2-miles with them and am pumped to do more.
These are designed for groomed trail running or on snowmobile trails (of which there are 100's of miles worth around here). And these are the Northernlite model made for racing. The schedule around here is only a handful of races each winter, but in there is a marathon and some halfMs that I can feel I'll be part of next winter.
Adding another facet to my running regime, these will provide a low impact run and another way to enjoy the long winter. I give 'em a perfect 10.