I'm sure many of us have thought about this before, but someone is now actually starting to make snowshoes that convert to mini-skis. I think they'd not be too effective snowshoes so far (or skis for that matter), but the principal seems promising. For non-icy ascents and mellow descents I'd love to try them! It looks like they're still being machined (vs. molded), so they might be too expensive right now.

http://www.hive-outdoor.com/en/ispo-hive-snowshoes

Damn. Looks like someone beat me to my great idea. Maybe I can still invent dehydrated backcountry beer though.

Just after my pair of Hok 145s have arrived!

The videos are on moderate slopes; the shoes don't look like they would be really good for snowshoeing up steeps.

The fixed heel option is a plus. I have a pair of Kahru wide ski/snowshoe hybrids from ca. 2003, and they did neither application very well. They had universal bindings for all boots, and I never felt that I had much control on downhills.

mountainsandsound wrote:Damn. Looks like someone beat me to my great idea. Maybe I can still invent dehydrated backcountry beer though.

Sorry....

Gafoto wrote:

mountainsandsound wrote:Damn. Looks like someone beat me to my great idea. Maybe I can still invent dehydrated backcountry beer though.

Sorry....

Doesn't quite cut it for me. I do bring along some Sailor Jerry's or some Wild Turkey for backpacking or base camp. But takin' pulls on a fifth just ain't the same as swillin' a cold brew. I'll make do with the hard alcohol for now though... until instant beer mix becomes a reality.

Apparently someone in Talkeetna AK has developed a concentrated beer system for the backcountry. Haven't tried it myself but it sounds like an interesting idea:

http://www.patsbcb.com/beer/43-beer/85-beer.html

Those snowshoes look interesting.