Whether you’re passionate about finding a cure for breast cancer, love the activity of snowshoeing, or just curious about this growing activity, the Tubbs Romp to Stomp is an event worth taking a look at.  I recently raced the 3k race in Frisco, CO at the Romp to Stomp and I had some time to observe the event and talk to some of its participants.

I started running the Race to Live 5k back in 1999 which eventually turned into Race for the Cure and I have run a number of Race for the Cure races since. The atmosphere in the Race for the Cure is very unique.  It is a mixture of runners, walkers, and supporters that create an extremely positive and lively atmosphere. Breast cancer affects so many of us whether it is your mom, sister, aunt, grandma, friend, or yourself.  So running or snowshoeing for a cause such as breast cancer can bring out a lot of emotions.  And while I could go on and on about the vibe the race gives off, it is just something you have to experience and see to believe.  While the atmosphere is 2nd to none, what is equally or more important is the number of participants and the money raised for such an important cause.  Living in Colorado, I get to experience the largest Race for the Cure in the country, it attracts roughly 65,000 participants.

Participants ready to ROMP!

Almost 10 years ago, the Romp to Stomp was born with a similar vision, to raise money to find a cure for breast cancer.  With the tremendous success of the breast cancer related running events, it was only natural to bring this cause to the growing sport and activity of snowshoeing.  The distances in the race and walk put on by the Romp to Stomp are very manageable for all walks of life.  So whether you are someone who walks your dog around the block for exercise or someone who runs 60 miles a week, the Romp to Stomp can be a fun event for everyone.  Similar to the environment at Race for the Cure events, the Romp to Stomp events are fun and upbeat, all in support of a great cause.

In 2011, the Romp to Stomp sponsored by Tubbs had events in New Jersey, Vermont, Utah, Washington, Oregon, and Colorado. In Frisco, CO I found the majority of people were there to support the cause.  I was amazed at how much pink everyone was wearing.  It really put a smile on my face.  And since most people were participating in the walk, the air was full of laughter and good conversation.  Sometimes at more serious races, you get a lot of competitive people worried about their spot near the starting line, and this was definitely not the case with Romp to Stomp.

Now onto the race.  I snowshoe on a regular basis in the winter months, but I have never actually run a snowshoe race.  Given the race was a 3k, I found it to be a great first experience for a snowshoe race.  At the start, you get lots of snow flying in the air from all the snowshoes kicking up all the snow. The Race in Frisco started about 10-15 people wide at the start line and it narrowed down to single track after a couple hundred yards.  Similar to single track trail races, it is important to get a good position in early on.  I did not think of this beforehand and I started with a leisurely pace.  On a single track course, it can be challenging passing people that might be a little slower than you.  The snow on the outside of the track can be very deep and trying to sprint by someone while post holing is not always the easiest thing to do.  That said, I did enjoy watching a few snowshoers try to pass people and end up face-planting into the snow though.  Don’t worry, they did not get hurt, they just got a face full of snow which they all seemed to laugh about. After finding a few good places to pass people for myself, I was able to get in my groove and before I knew it, I was at the finish line.  It ended up taking me roughly 16 minutes to complete the course which is a little short as far as races go for me, but I was happy to run it for such a great cause.

Participants walking the Romp to Stomp

The walk portion of the event had a lot more people than the race and I expect that to be the case with almost all locations.  The walk portion of the event was staggered so there wasn’t a big mob walking through the course.  A few friends of mine participated in the walk and they really seemed to enjoy the walk event.  There was 6 of them in total and they liked the idea of supporting a cause that was close to many of them and it also gave them an excuse for a girls weekend in the mountains, not to mention get out and enjoy the great outdoors.

After the walk and race, there were plenty of local and national vendors supplying hot chocolate, soup, and other goodies.  A great way to end a great race in my mind.

For those of you who are thinking about participating in the Romp to Stomp next year, but have never snowshoed before, I highly recommend giving the Romp to Stomp a try.  I started snowshoeing 7 years ago when I moved to Colorado and it is truly an experience like none other.  Having the Rocky Mountains as my background, I get to enjoy amazing scenery while getting in some great exercise all while enjoying the company of friends and family. For the flatlanders, snowshoeing offers a similar experience.  If you can get into the woods and away from civilization, I recommend that.  If you can’t, snowshoeing at your local park or even snowshoeing in your neighborhood offers great exercise and a great excuse to get outside of the house.  If you aren’t in the greatest shape, start small and work your way up to a couple miles or more each snowshoe trip.

Lots and lots of Tubbs snowshoes!

If you are looking for a good cause to support and an exciting event to participate in, the Romp to Stomp sponsored by Tubbs Snowshoes is an excellent choice.  For more information on this event and cause, please visit tubbsromptostomp.com

Bottom of Crescent Moon Gold Series 10

The Crescent Moon Gold 10 Series is labeled as the backcountry series meaning it should be able to handle deep powder stashes as well as grip on to rock and other objectives as you sometimes find yourself in dicey situations in the backcountry.  Coming standard with many well made snowshoes is a durable plastic decking on the snowshoe which helps keep the snowshoe on top of the snow versus sinking in or post holing.  And while many companies like to tout they have a super durable plastic that is second to none, we found the plastic used on the Crescent Moon Gold Series 10 to be consistant with other high end companies.

The binding of the Gold 10 series is a little different than other snowshoes I have tested in the past.  Sliding your foot in and out of the shoe seemed to be pretty easy with pretty much all boot sizes.  I wear a size 12.5 shoe and it fit that size with no problem.  I also tested my ski boot for sh#ts and giggles and much to my surprise, it fit that too!  To keep your toes from sliding too far forward in the snowshoe, there is a two pronged piece of plastic that prevents the foot from sliding too far forward.  I haven’t run into this problem in most snowshoes, but if you are in a tricky situation, it is nice to know your foot will stay in place.  The Gold Series 10 seemed to do a pretty good job at giving me a snug and secure fit.  The material used to cinch the bootie is a rubber material that is pretty easy to work with.  To secure the back of the foot in the shoeshoe, Crescent Moon uses a rachating system to give you a secure fit.  When I first tested the snowshoes, I found them to be difficult to take off but after figiting around with the snowshoes, I was able to take off the snowshoes with ease.

Testing out the Crescent Moon Gold Series 10 near the top of Jones Pass

As for the crampon of the snowshoe, I feel there is room for improvement.  The toe of the snowshoe has 2 pronges that do the job for the most part, but I like other snowshoe company models where there are metal spikes rounding out the forefoot.  If you end up on an angle, there are two small spikes on each side to give you added stability, but once again, I would prefer something a little more significant.  I have also found one of the spikes to move out of place on the plastic deck as well.

One of my biggest complaints on this series of snowshoes is the width of the snowshoe near the toe area.  I found that the width measures 3/4 of an inch wider than comparative snowshoes, in specific, Atlas 1030′s. I found this to be very cumbersome as I walked and it made me feel completely imbalanced.  When talking to Crescent Moon, they say they are the same width as comparative models, but I have to disagree.  I also found these snowshoes tended to turn sideways pretty easy while walking, this may or may not have been assisted by the added width.

The retail price of the Crescent Moon Gold Series 10 is $269 which is on par with other snowshoes on the market.  If you want to give these snowshoes a try, I suggested heading to a local outdoors store where you can demo a pair.  If you can’t demo a pair, I suggest finding a place with a good return policy like REI so in case you don’t like the fit/ride, you can return them with no problem.  If by chance you have used these snowshoes, we would love to hear your feedback.  No companies representatives please.

Snowshoeing is a great form of cross training for runners or anyone just looking to break up the monotony of their favorite sport. The best thing about snowshoeing is that the learning curve is short; if you can walk then you can snowshoe.

Whether you plan to run on packed trails for fitness or jump into one of the many snowshoe races throughout the country, the Run Snowshoe by Atlas, will fit your needs. Weighing in at a mere 2.71 lbs, the Run, as opposed to its counterpart the Race, can handle deeper snow but still not recommended for snow over a foot deep. This snowshoe performs best on packed down trails. No matter the terrain, you will have traction via lightweight heel cleats and toe crampons that really grip while ascending and descending hills and on any patches of ice you may encounter.

After my first time wearing the snowshoes, getting into them was much easier. The snowshoes use a webbing system that with one pull, will cinch down and through experience stay tight through the whole workout. The back strap stayed in place and did not slip down my heel throughout my run allowing me to focus on the views and getting a good workout in.

The Spring Loaded Suspension and V Frame shape is what I liked best about the shoes. While running, I didn’t experience any of the snow kick back and could run using my natural running stride I use when running on the trails in running shoes. The Suspension System also helped keep my foot stable even with off camber terrain.

The Run is designed for wearers from 75-190 lbs including load. For more information on the Atlas Run Snowshoe, please visit AtlasSnowshoe.com

MSRP $199.95

Snowshoeing has grown in popularity over the past few years, and it’s easy to see why. If you can walk, you can snowshoe. You can use the same summer trails you enjoy and it requires only 1 piece of special equipment, the snowshoes themselves. Athletes that excel in summer sports use snowshoeing as a way to cross train in the winter. With the sport’s profile rising, more and more snowshoe races are popping up as well. To meet the needs of those athletes that really race these events, Atlas has stepped up with their new Race edition.

The Race is designed with one thing in mind, going fast on packed to light snow. To keep weight down, Atlas uses titanium in the foot and heel cleat and pairs it up with their lightest aluminum frame, total weight is only 2.08 lbs. for the pair. How light is that? Well, when I first put them on for a short hike I kept looking down because I thought they had come off.

The Race also uses Atlas’ spring loaded suspension, which keeps the snowshoe close under foot. Basically, this allows you to keep your run stride normal so you don’t have to alter your stride. I found this to be true when I went for some easy runs on packed trails. Just run and don’t think about the fact that you have snowshoes on. I also felt like the Race was a bit narrower than other shoes I’ve used so I didn’t have to worry about the shoes banging together. I also noticed that there was much less snow being catapulted up towards my backside. Often with bigger shoes snow is thrown up as the shoe comes through and you find yourself soaked. This seemed to be kept to a minimum, even when I got into some fresh snow. I think this was in part due to the Spring Loaded Suspension, but also to the short tail of the shoe.

Getting into the shoe is fairly simple. Webbing straps criss-cross the front of the snowshoe. Once you slide your shoe in, you simply pull on the top webbing strap to secure the front of the snowshoes. The back is kept in place by a rubber strap that wraps around your heel and is secured by notches in the strap. It took me a bit to get into the shoe, but once in I had no slippage and never had to stop to re-adjust.

The Race is designed with a specific usage in mind. On packed trails, or less than a few inches of new snow, this shoe is great. Even if you don’t race, if you know you will be on packed trails, this shoe could work for you. For more information on the Atlas Race Snowshoe, please visit AtlasSnowshoe.com

MSRP $309.95

The Red Feather Alpine 30 snowshoes are perfect snowshoes for those people that are looking to push the limits in deep powder or technical terrain. We were able to test these snowshoes in a few feet of powder as well as some steep ascents and descents in the Colorado Rockies and we had no major complaints. We found while getting ready, these snowshoes were very easy to put on and tighten up, oftentimes being ready before many others in our group testing out other snowshoes. As with most snowshoes, it is important to have a good binding to secure your foot while snowshoeing as well as having an easy in, easy out system. The binding system is fairly plain looking, but don’t let that fool you as we felt very secure in these bindings and had no issues to speak of. The Red Feather Alpine 30’s come with a 6000 aluminum frame and Red Feather’s Black Hypalon II decking, allowing for great flotation and flexibility while out in the backcountry. These snowshoes also come with a spring loaded alpine hinge which prevents the tail of the snowshoes from dragging and saving energy. One problem that some find with these spring loaded alpine hinges is that they oftentimes kick up snow onto your back and butt, which can get cold and wet if the proper attire is not worn. The crampon system of the Red feather Alpine 30’s was pretty standard for we were not completely wowed, but the snowshoes performed just fine when confronted with technical situations. Overall, we were very pleased with the Red Feather Alpine series and offer these snowshoes our two thumbs up! For more information, please visit Redfeather.com

Walking in a half-foot of fresh powder is a cinch when wearing a Elektra 10 series snowshoe from Atlas. The Elektra 10’s incorporate Atlas’ patented Spring-Loaded Suspension system, which keeps the snowshoe close to your foot, allowing decreased energy expenditure, while also flexing during your stride to provide a more natural feel to each step. The Elektra 10’s have a beefy crampon system and metal ridges parallel to the snowshoe frame, known as Tranverse Trac, which when teamed together provide excellent traction when going downhill or traversing a side slope. These shoes have Atlas’ Wrapp Comfort binding system, which utilizes a EVA padding over upper foot to eliminate hotspots from cinching the binding too tight and a snug fit with your boots. The Comfort system has a single pull that tightens at two positions along the upper foot and secures the heel all in one motion. We found these to easy to put on and take off, however when using the shoes, the bindings did loosen up quite a bit and the strap keeper, for excess binding strap, never did its job fully which resulted in the excess strap sometimes getting caught under the crampon. Tester’s liked the Elektra’s V-Frame technology which allows you to penetrate deep snow while the tapered tail and spring loading pull less snow up, allowing for a comfortable stride. The Elektra series does kick snow up at your rear, which is a result of its design to help decrease energy expenditure. We did not see this as a flaw to the shoes, but actually proof that the shoes are doing what they are suppose to. These shoes come in two sizes; 23 inches for women that weigh 80-160 lbs and 27 inches for women that weight 120-200 lbs. Our testers wore the 27’s and ranged in weight from 120-160lb; the lighter testers liked wearing these shoes in fresh snow because of the added flotation that the extra length provided. Overall, the Elektra 10 series is a snow shoe that excels in fresh snow, but can also be used for more packed down trails thanks to its’ great traction control system. For more information, please visit AtlasSnowshoe.com

Tubbs makes the Flex NRG for men and women; the women’s model is a one size fits all design with a 22-inch length and weighs in around 3.8 lbs.  The Flex NRG is rated to carry any weight under packed or variable conditions, however when used in powder Tubbs states that the model will perform best for women under 165 lbs.  We tested the Flex NRG around town during an early snowstorm in Denver that dropped 2ft of snow and on trails in the backcountry.  We found that the Flex NRG’s performed well for the novice to more advanced snowshoer thanks to its compact design and maneuverability.  The decking is equipped with ability to sustain torsion and adapt to many snow conditions and increases the versatility of these snowshoes.  These shoes come with Tubbs’ 180 binding system which is lightweight and helps keep the overall weight of the shoe down.  The binding system consists of a small forefoot buckle with pull adjustment straps and a separate strap to keep the heel in place.  Testers liked that it was simple to get these shoes on and even easier to remove after a long day on the trail, to remove all you have to do is unclip the top buckle and slide your foot forward. We also liked the FLEX Tail technology, which helps absorb shock at the heel during each step, therefore decreasing the potential for joint pain and increasing your likelihood of wanting to hike farther.  Overall, the Flex NRG was the easiest for the novice to jump into, while also allowing a comfortable-easy to maneuver option for more experienced hikers.  The fact that the Flex NRG can accommodate a variety of weights also makes it a great option for someone who is looking for an extra pair to have for visitors or for use at a family cabin where there will be many different types of users.  For more information, please visit TubbsSnowshoes.com

We recently tested out the Redfeather Stride 25 snowshoes on 3 to 6 hour bouts of exploration near Mt Evans and Berthoud Pass in Colorado. The Stride is a women’s specific snowshoe that was not only incredibly light and easy to put on, but also extremely responsive. The Stride comes in two lengths, 21 inches and 25 inches; sizing of snowshoes is based on the weight of the wearer, with gear, and the conditions that you may face. Our tester was 5’9” and weighed 140 lbs with a pack on, she felt that the 25’s were a perfect fit and allowed a natural stride and excellent traction on 45-degree slopes thanks to the Sure-Grip crampon system that dug into the pitch of the trail. The Stride has a nylon webbing strapping system that simplifies putting on showshoes; our tester was able to leave her mittens on and get a nice tight fit on the two upper cross straps and buckle the rear boot strap. We did have to re-tighten the straps occasionally while hiking, but were pleased with the overall hold that the straps provided and their ability to limit lateral movement of your foot within the snowshoe. The Balanced Live-Action Hinge really made walking in these shoes easy for all ages and abilities. The hinge works by lifting the tail of the shoe up and out of the snow, which provides added mobility and less energy usage. Overall, the Stride is a versatile, lightweight snowshoe that provided great flotation and traction in a variety of trail conditions. We recommend this shoe for women who are tired of wearing their husbands’, boyfriends’, or best buddies old snowshoes. For more information, please visit Redfeather.com

The Tubbs Flex NRG won our hearts over from step one, actually, before the first step!  The Tubbs Flex series is a lightweight, functional, and extremely easy group of snowshoes to use.  Snowshoes can sometimes be intimidating for some people as the sport looks to be too technical or complicated.  Tubbs has been known to offer snowshoes that make the sport as easy and simplistic as possible. The binding system in the Flex series is extremely easy to use; it has a snap in front binding that secures your front foot to the snowshoe deck and it comes with the typical rubber rear strap to secure your heal.  A complaint many people often have with a number of snowshoes is that the snowshoe tails flick snow up on the bum and back, but the flex series is a little different. When walking in these snowshoes, the tail actually falls to the ground as you step versus the typical binding system that flings snow on you.  We found the Flex NRG to have a nice flow while walking and hiking, putting less stress on your joints and bones.  The Crampon under the deck for the NRG is a middle of the road crampon, meaning it is not meant for hardcore mountaineering, but it meets the needs of  90% of people out there. We had a number of our testers test all the snowshoes, and the Tubbs Flex NRG was the overwhelming favorite.  So, if you’re in the market for a new pair of snowshoes, the Tubbs Flex series should make it on your list of snowshoes to try out. For more information on the Tubbs Flex series, please visit TubbsSnowshoes.com