TSL 227 XL Snow Shoes, M05 Snow Camo

Sinking in the snow? Get these snowshoes, and you will sink a lot less. TSL 227 XL is an extremely popular composite snowshoe for a reason. This sturdy, easy-to-use, and large snow shoe offers very nice flotation and traction, making it an excellent choice for both professionals and serious hobbyists. These have the Finnish M05 snow camo, which is especially nice for hunters and military folks. They come with the necessary bindings, but you need to buy the ski poles separately. A bag for transportation and storage is included.

TSL snowshoes are manufactured in the Haute-Savoie region of the French Alps, quite near to Mont Blanc.

Features

These snowshoes have a flexible yet strong composite frame together with steel front teeth plus six replaceable steel crampons. The pointy things improve traction on steep terrain, plus on slippery surfaces. Thanks to the hourglass shape, walking with these is as natural as it ever can be with such flappity flaps, And you can keep your feet at a comfortable distance from each other, which is especially nice on longer distances. The color is the Finnish army M05 snow camo.

The straps are easy to adjust, and they fit almost all shoes and boots sized EUR 39-54 (US7-19.5), as long as you don’t try to use stiletto heels with these. So, the footwear doesn’t need to have toes and heels specifically made for any bindings. The easy-to-use lock adjustment memorizes your shoe size, so you only need to set it up once. Tightening through a ratchet system for a secure and fast fit. The side adjustment system will accept any shoe width. The heel lift facilitates hiking during long climbs, reducing calf muscle fatigue.

Dimensions 74 x 22.7 cm (29” x 8.9"), weight 1,1 kg (2.45 lbs) /shoe. In theory, these are supposed to carry 140 kg (309 lbs), but the comfort level is somewhere around 105 kg (230 lbs). However, lighter folks can also use these.

Snowshoes or skis?

When you want to move in deep snow without assistance, you have two options: skis or snowshoes. Your choice depends a lot on the terrain and what you want to do there. If you’re just exercising, it boils down to whether you prefer to walk or ski. Both will make you sweat and lose fat. Snowshoes are easier to use in case you haven’t been skiing much. However, if you want to move as efficiently as possible, the terrain plays a vital role.

Roughly speaking, in deep, soft snow and open flat terrain, long forest skis are the king. In shrubbery with steep hills and valleys, snowshoes work a lot better. Something in between is usually better with shorter forest skis and skishoes.

If e.g. your work requires you to check several unplowed spots fairly close to the road during a day, snowshoes fit in compact spaces in your car, and they are also a lot handier, especially if you’re not a skier by birth. They are also a lot easier to use without ski poles, so if whatever you do requires you to have stuff in your hands, it is easier with snowshoes.