Retrofitting old snowshoes

In My Humble Opinion
1

I have a pair of old-school wood and sinew snowshoes with the complicated buckles.

Is it possible to put more user-friendly “bindings” on them?
Anyone have any suggestions for same?

This is primarily for light recreational use, so I don’t think I need a modern ultra-light pair.

thanks,

Brian

2

It depends on how your wooden snowshoes are made. Most modern snowshoe bindings are based on a metal rod running directly under the foot. Older wooden snowshoes don’t have that and you must buy older style bindings. Newer wooden snowshoes can use the modern bindings.

http://www.cariboucry.com/storefront/faber_accessories.html
http://www.snowshoestore.com/ojibwe-snowshoes.html
http://www.amtraders.com/ss-bindings.asp

If your shoes can take modern bindings, check with Tubbs, Atlas, Redfeather, or any of the other snowshoe makers and you can get a modern binding with cleat/crampon.

3

Once you adjust the bindings for the boot you usually wear, then aside form the heel strap, you should not need to re-adjust them.

If you want bindings that have heel straps that do not use buckles, then you will have to venture into rubber heel straps. At its most basic, just replace your heel straps with bicycle inner tubes.

Here are some simple bindings that don’t use buckles on their heel straps:

Bob Maki Snowshoe Binding
http://www.snowshoecenter.com/shop/product.cfm?p=23

Rubber Snowshoe Binding
http://www.adirondackoutdoor.com/bindings.htm

Super “R” Snowshoe Binding
http://www.creatcompsol.com/havlick/Bindings.html

If you are into x-country or telemark skiing, have a look at these bindings that you can mount on your snow shoes so that you can step in with your cross-country or telemark boots with no further ado. No straps at all – not even heel straps. But check first to see if they can be mounted on woodies, or if they can only be mounted on aluminums :
XC Quickie
http://www.dtbakerprojects.com/ets/xcquickie/index.htm

4

Muffin: Actually I like the “super-strap” bindings on your last link. (what I have now is “H” bindings)

thanks,

Brian

5

Have you ever walked in those things? ‘Light recreation’ and ‘traditional snowshoes’ don’t quite match up… then again, you may be in much better shape than I. I know the times I’ve used some of those old fashioned snowshoes it was like walking around with weights on my feet. BIG weights!

6

I was hoping he wanted to retrofit them with rocket engines, a la Wiley Coyote.

<sigh>

Young Dopers–just no ambition! :wink: :smiley:

7

Some people claim that S.S. bindings cause pressure points and they perfer straps.