Redfeather Hike
The Redfeather Hike 36 were my first foray into the snowshoeing world and I’m the better for it. I go more into the specifics here but if you’re looking for the most floatation you can get in a reasonably affordable package with straightforward bindings, this is your snowshoe.
Traction:
These are not designed for mountaineering or aggressive terrain. I’ve found that out the hard way and found myself slipping and sliding on the hills. However, unlike the MSR Lightning Ascents that’s not their intended purpose. Rather, they have all the floatation in a thankfully large package and enough traction for more recreational use. They’re at home in the flats or rolling hills and will get you through powdered sugar with relative ease. Not having excess cross beams and spikes means what does touch the ground tends to slide over it rather than bite. Note that snow is actually sticky in the right circumstances, just look at the minimal traction scales on cross-country and telemark skis as well as split-boards. More than enough for the purpose.
Bindings:
These have a pretty simple design, just a 2-in-1 strap you pull tight. There’s a heel clip as well but sometimes I just leave that buckled once it’s dialed in, and just push my heel back into it. The only failing on these per se would be in those steep and rough situation where the shoe can rotate a bit. Again, not the intended use, their name is literally “hike”, not “mountaineer”. But if you go off-trail exploring just know you’re pushing the boundaries of their use case. That said, only when I’ve gone full stupid have I experienced any issues so the fault is mine, not the binding.
These have a more traditional design where the deck material and related attaching straps simply flex, rather than having a mechanical pivot like the MSRs. My brain says this is a wear point but I’ve yet to see anything happen. One benefit to this design is the inherent lack of flexibility, which means the back of the snowshoe wants to lift with each step rather than just drag. This helps when walking in the fluff and as noted in the traction section, not dragging the spikes is helpful.
Special Features:
According to their website their products are handcrafted in the US. Can’t speak to the materials themselves but that’s saying something. For reference, MSR says assembled in the US of US/imported materials. Not sure the difference between the two statements. But digging further, Redfeather is owned by ORC Industries which is a “not-for-profit company whose sole organizational mission is to provide job opportunities for people with disabilities… [75% of the workforce being physical or mentally handicapped].” I honestly had no idea I was accidentally supporting such philanthropic company.
In doing some research as I write this review I noticed that Redfeather offers a heel lift and alternative bindings so these could be upgraded a bit if desired. I’d probably only upgrade the bindings if mine broke but I’d contemplate the heel lift. They also offer combo packages like this with bags and hiking poles, might be worth looking into. The bag would be 100% worth it as I do chintzy stuff with velcro to keep the shoes together but it still leaves the bindings floppy and the crampons exposed.
Final notes:
These don’t have many fancy features like snowshoes costing over twice as much but sometimes that’s a good thing. I love the traction and elevators on my MSRs but in conditions like the picture below I detest the lack of floatation and all those extra crampon bits (but note that I’m well exceeding the recommended capacity so if you’re of “normal” size any snowshoe will probably feel like walking in helium. But when the weight gets higher – including wearing heavy packs – it becomes noticeable). The Redfeathers excel here and are borderline pleasant to walk in. If you need a good set of snowshoes for hiking in deep powder or are new to the sport and need something reasonably affordable but high quality I highly recommend these.
