Snowshoeing has long been the poor stepchild of winter sports. It's actually a really fun way of getting out in the snow to exercise and enjoy nature, but it's just not quite as exhilarating as skiing or snowboarding and, in many places, has a secondary status in the grand scheme of winter sports.
One German company believes it's time for snowshoeing to step out of the shadows and share that same sense of visceral fun that skiing and snowboarding imbue. Hive (Hike + Drive) has designed a unique pair of snowshoes that double as a sort of short ski or glider Continue Reading Hive Snowshoes climb the slopes and ski down
Mountain climbing is one sport that's all about the gear, and with a set of Hive's transforming snow shoes strapped to your feet, you'll be ready to beat a hasty retreat should your climb be cut short by an avalanche.
Like any old pair of hive snowshoes, the Hives spread your weight across a larger surface so the risk of you disappearing into a deep snow drift are lessened. And a set of spikes on the underside coupled with a fanged metal crampon provide the traction you'll need whether in deep powder or slick ice.
And while safety is of course important, that's not what makes the Hive snowshoes stand out. When you reach the peak, the bindings can be locked down which retracts the toe crampon. While the spikes on the underside are attached to a plate which folds up, creating a smooth planing surface allowing you to quickly swoosh your way back down a mountain.
Most snowshoes have no chance at gliding for several reasons. They have rigid metal crampons on the bottom that would completely inhibit any type of gliding motion. They also have pliable decking material with cutouts that would simply bend and sink under your weight. Traditional snowshoes have no go.
The company says that the snowshoes are ideal for short descents, so I don't anticipate Hives becoming the new downhill mode of choice in the backcountry. But for those that snowshoe up hills and would like to save a little energy on the way home,
Mountain climbing is one sport that's all about the gear, and with a set of Hive's transforming snow shoes strapped to your feet, you'll be ready to beat a hasty retreat should your climb be cut short by an avalanche.
Like any old pair of hive snowshoes, the Hives spread your weight across a larger surface so the risk of you disappearing into a deep snow drift are lessened. And a set of spikes on the underside coupled with a fanged metal crampon provide the traction you'll need whether in deep powder or slick ice.
And while safety is of course important, that's not what makes the Hive snowshoes stand out. When you reach the peak, the bindings can be locked down which retracts the toe crampon. While the spikes on the underside are attached to a plate which folds up, creating a smooth planing surface allowing you to quickly swoosh your way back down a mountain.
Most snowshoes have no chance at gliding for several reasons. They have rigid metal crampons on the bottom that would completely inhibit any type of gliding motion. They also have pliable decking material with cutouts that would simply bend and sink under your weight. Traditional snowshoes have no go.
The company says that the snowshoes are ideal for short descents, so I don't anticipate Hives becoming the new downhill mode of choice in the backcountry. But for those that snowshoe up hills and would like to save a little energy on the way home,
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