Of light Snowshoes and Large Folders

B

brians

Joined
Apr 22, 2006
Messages
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Just thought I'd pass along my initial thoughts (and some shoeing/blade pics )on my new Northernlites Tundra snowshoes - for the snow enthusiasts among us. First the specs from their site:

" 1. Framing is an advanced aluminum alloy 40% stronger than the 6061 T6 framing on ordinary metal-frame snowshoes.
2. Decking is genuine Coolthane with 250% greater abrasion resistance than the hypalon used on other brands.
3. Pivot strap is 1 1/2" Biothane which can be twisted hundreds of thousands of times without tearing.
4. Deck clips/perimeter cleats are toughened nylon, beefed up beyond all mountaineering requirements.
5. Bindings are cut from a thicker Coolthane which is humanly impossible to tear with 500 PSI tensile strength.
6. Weight Savings (on average): Northern Lites Mean 2,000 Pounds Less Weight To Lift Over Every Mile! (3,200 strides @ 10oz./shoe). "

Mine weigh 42 ounces for their largest shoe - rated for over 250lbs. Excellent flotation for us plus sizes, good ice grip (crampons), and oh so light - really made a difference as I was out mending fences and prepping to remove some swamp maple that has broken over onto the corn and soy fields = much shoeing to help the farmer in exchange for hunting access. Here's a pic of the shoes:

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Here's a pic of some game trail action - it's either wild turkeys or there's dinosaurs in these fields :eek:
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osaurs

Lots of ground to cover but I'm prepared with a folding Grohman by my side:

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The biggest difference between these and the McKinleys, Tubbs, and Atlas models I've tried is the weight. They are a pleasure to use but we'll have to wait and see if their durability claims are true.

Cheers :)
 
Thanks for the review Brians. I've used Atlas and Tubbs then finally got rid of all synthetic ones and went traditional. I just couldn't get the same floatation on the new fangled ones as I could with my good old modifed bearpaws. Yeah they are heavier, but the floatation advantage outweight the energy costs of sinking 3-6" with the other ones.
Someone once told me that the synthetic ones were meant for harder packed snow like galciers, which made sense given the integrated cleats that made climbing hills a breeze.

Perhaps improvements have been made in the 7 years since I've last tried the new ones!
 
Very interesting. I don't know a damn thing about snowshoes, but should. thanks for the info and pics.:thumbup:
 
Kgd,

My wife went back to traditional bearpaws this season. They are slippy, but she does say the flotation is superior to her Tubbs. I wonder if there's a temporary crampon that can be used for icier conditions, but that does not hamper the good wood/gut looks? I'll have to look into it. Here's a pic of the Lites (9 1/2" X 32)" next to my older McKinley's (9X30's):

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I love that Grohmann, Nova Scotia, baby!
Nice pics, I am guessing the northern part of Ontario? ;)
 
btw great shots and glad to see you using your toys!
Yeah I was intrigued by the grohman as well.
 
I am just a total sucker for nickel-silver. And a Grohmann should be standard issue to all Canadians :)

It is a great blade for general chores and any skinning tasks, and looks very traditional. It'll be chasing grouse with me on my Lites this weekend.

Cheers,

Brian
 
Cool pics! What the dimensions on that Grohmann?
I'm mostly a SAK/multitool slipjoint kinda guy but i just recently bought a Buck 110, how does the Grohmann compare in size to the Buck 110 or 112?
I generally prefer nickeled bolsters as well. Might get a custom 110 this year but the Grohmann looks nice as well.
I think i will be buying a Grohmann fixed blade sometime soon, you can special order carbon steel flat grind fixed blade models from the factory!
:)
 
I've had several different brands of snowshoes over the years. My favorite for mountaineering are the MSR Denali. They are the easiest to strap on your pack and the strength and weight is good.

These are my newest (oldest?) ones.

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ilbruche,

Very, very cool shoes. Your bindings are much different that the wife's. Do you mind telling where you got them? Here's a pic of her modified bear paw G&V's (made in Quebec). Now you've got me thinking you and the wife have it right - curse you BF :)
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Tholiver, here's a pic of the Grohmann folder. Very similar in size to the 110, but slimmer, I think, and different blade shape - one I like for skinning and trout work. I'm also looking for a Grohmann fixed blade, but didn't know you could order directly from the factory - that's great. I just cannot decide which one to get. Your thoughts? I'm leaning towards an original number 1 - with stag handles. It would be fun to buy their kit and add our own handles. I can tell you the high-carbon stainless has excellent edge retention and is a breeze to sharpen on the maker:
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brians: may I use the second picture of post #10 in another thread? Please let me know. Thanks
 
Re: snowshoes ...

What is the most weight a "reasonably sized" pair of snowshoes could support? I realize it would depend on the conditions of the snow, but I'm looking for a ballpark.

Without doing some calculations, I'm guessing a pair of snowshoes for me with what I carry every day (450# plus 25-30# of clothes and gear plus outerwear) would be so big that I wouldn't be able to walk while wearing them.

Re: the Grohmann drop point folder ... very nice! What is the steel?
 
brians said:
Blue Sky - feel free to use the pic. What's the topic of the thread?
Click to expand...

Thanks, I didn't want to do it w/o asking first. I want to start a "how about it" thread in the Buck forum and use your pic as an example of a great blade shape for a hunter.
 
Rhino,

I think you'd be looking at something custom made. I'm pushing the Tundra's limit (>250#'s with gear). But remember, you could try some 36 length shoes (or longer if you can find them) and use a Pulk (sled) to pull your gear. This is what I do for winter camping and it is great in the right snow and terrain conditions (i.e. not too mountainous as a good pulk is required for that).
As for the steel, it seems they use mostly european-sourced steel equivalent to the 440 class. From their website:
Blade Materials

Grohmann takes pride in their products and that means using high quality materials. Grohmann's most popular steel in the outdoor fixed blade knives are fashioned from european high carbon stainless steels, such as 4110, which is somewhat comparable to the USA 440 series. This steel has stood the test of time due to its ease of sharpening and edge holding ability.

The carbon belt knives are made from a C70-type european carbon steel for the carbon-lovers out there. As any quality steel goes, stainless or carbon, all knives should be kept cleaned and oiled to prevent rusting, especially the carbon steel knives. When carbon knives leave the Grohmann factory, the blades are oiled with non-toxic mineral oil and wrapped in wax paper to preserve the blades. Keep in mind, carbon blades will corrode if not kept cleaned and oiled, this is the nature of the beast. Knives returned due to neglect will not be covered under warranty, but can usually be serviced and restored for a minimal fee (for more information, click on the Warranty section or Lifetime Limited Warranty sheet that arrived with your first quality knife purchase).

Other european steels somewhat comparable to AUS6 are used in the pocket and lock knives. Rockwell hardness 56-58 degrees is maintained throughout all of the Outdoor knives. The high carbon stainless steels used in the Kitchen Knives as well range throughout the different lines, providing a Good [poly & regular lines], Better [full tang rosewood and full tang xtra lines], and Best program [forged rosewood and forged xtra lines]. Rockwell 54-56 hardness is maintained across the Kitchen Knife lines.
 
brians said:
Tholiver, here's a pic of the Grohmann folder. Very similar in size to the 110, but slimmer, I think, and different blade shape - one I like for skinning and trout work. I'm also looking for a Grohmann fixed blade, but didn't know you could order directly from the factory - that's great. I just cannot decide which one to get. Your thoughts? I'm leaning towards an original number 1 - with stag handles. It would be fun to buy their kit and add our own handles. I can tell you the high-carbon stainless has excellent edge retention and is a breeze to sharpen on the maker:
SANY0006-1.jpg
Click to expand...
Thanks for the pics! I think i'm going to have to get a Grohmann folder like yours. I'm going to have to search around online to find the best price though. From what i've seen so far the online price can vary quite a bit.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the classic Grohmann designs.
A buddy of mine has the Large Skinner model, i like that one a lot.
If i get a Custom Grohmann i'm thinking that model in carbon steel with a flat grind. Or maybe the survival knife, i'm kinda torn between the two.
http://www.grohmannknives.com/pages/flatgrinds.html
Stag would be nice but the micarta might be more practical.
http://www.grohmannknives.com/pages/handles.html
Maybe i'll get the kit knife first and work my way up to the custom, i'm a sucker for kit knives!
:)
 
brians said:
Rhino,

I think you'd be looking at something custom made. I'm pushing the Tundra's limit (>250#'s with gear). But remember, you could try some 36 length shoes (or longer if you can find them) and use a Pulk (sled) to pull your gear. This is what I do for winter camping and it is great in the right snow and terrain conditions (i.e. not too mountainous as a good pulk is required for that).
Click to expand...

Indeed! It's more of an exercise of my curiosity than anything else. I'm thinking 36 inches long and as wide as my stubby legs could handle would have way too little surface area. Someday I might do some experiments with some PVC and nylon webbing, but we rarely get enough snow around here to warrant snowshoes.
 
Great thread :thumbup:

I was just thinking how I could of benefited by wearing a pair of snow shoes last Saturday while grouse hunting. I'm sure the walking would of been much easier and I could of gotten out to a few more areas in the quest for grouse breast.

Thanks for the ideals and info:thumbup:

Helle

Grohmann makes some fine blades, I like the shape on that folder :cool:
 
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