ill advised racing inc.: Tested: Crescent Moon EVA Snowshoes

Since we have an uncharacteristically solid base layer of snow for mid-November, I managed to get out for my first snowshoe run of the season last night. I wore a rather unique pair of snowshoes for it, and thought you might like to learn a bit about them.

The Crescent Moon Eva in Imperial Red

What they are: A new design of snowshoe with no moving parts and very little metal.

Why you want them: For hiking on easy to moderate terrain on packed snow or in a small amount of powder.

As they were delivered to me - they come with a large rubber band to hold them together, and closed-cell foam sheets to cover the spikes on the base.
You can also see the rocker shape that is integral to the shoes' design.

Duration used: Purchased at the end of January 2019 - used for a handful of runs and hikes.

Price paid/purchased from: $174.99 + tax from Altitude Sports (available for the same price from MEC as of November 2019)

Specifications: EVA foam construction with hard plastic lug plate & IceSpike traction spikes, 3 strap hook-and-loop bindings, 8" x 24" solid deck with rocker shape, 3.5lbs/1.59kg per pair, recommended for users up to 200lbs/90.7kg

Freshly unboxed and about to go for their maiden voyage

The white is molded EVA foam - the green is the hard plastic plate with "tri-star" lugs and IceSpikes

On my feet (on my office entryway carpet) and ready to run!
(Pictured with Women's size 9.5 Altra Paradigm 1.5 shoes)

What rawks: The all-foam construction of these shoes makes them something very unique, and they're very user-friendly - the bindings are just 3 hook-and-loop straps of heavy-duty Hypalon rubber, so they're very simple to put on compared to some of the convoluted snowshoe binding systems out there, and stay fairly secure if you're careful about snugging them down. The flexibility of the binding material also allows them to fold flat to the shoe, so they stack in much more compact fashion for storage than traditional shoes. The narrower profile - just 8" wide at their widest - and tapered, teardrop shape make them much more intuitive to walk or run in than standard metal framed hiking snowshoes. You don't have to walk or run bowlegged, and you're less likely to bash your ankle or calf with the inside edge of the opposing shoe. Even if you do, the soft EVA foam is less likely to actually do any damage - certainly less than a metal frame or edge crampon would. The lack of moving parts makes them very quiet - if you've ever been annoyed by squeaking from traditional snowshoes, these totally alleviate that issue - and the foam deck below your feet acts as an additional layer of insulation between your foot and the snow, so they're warmer than metal-frame-and-crampon shoes. The foam also offers a much softer landing for running than traditional snowshoes - the material is the same commonly used in the midsole of running shoes, so it's like adding a whole bunch of extra cushioning. The rockered shape of the shoes and lack of hinge means they move with your foot quite naturally when you walk or run - it feels much the same as just wearing an oversized pair of running shoes, and requires no adaptation time. The lime green hard plastic plate with large, angular lugs add a lot of traction to the molded EVA lugs on the base of the deck, and confident grip on ice is provided by the addition of 6 IceSpike brand screw-in traction spikes to each shoe, embedded in the hard, green plastic "tri-star" lugs. These spikes are easily replaceable when wear becomes an issue - something that cannot be said of most traditional crampon designs for snowshoes (with one very notable exception). But all of that is not the most important thing - these are FUN! I'm not entirely sure if it's the rocker of the shoes or the foam itself, but they have a very springy sensation with each step that seems to propel you forward a bit and give a "moon bounce" sort of feel. This effect is less evident when running than walking, but it's amusing and does offset some of the weight difference between these and dedicated running snowshoes. While still a pound and a half heavier than my racing snowshoes, they're quite a bit lighter than my traditional hiking snowshoes, and much easier and more entertaining to use. They also come in a whole bunch of bright colours (and a winter camouflage) for an extra smile through the bleak winter. I actually threw them on for my first snowshoe run of this season partly to build some leg strength and work on foot turnover (which is always much slower in snowshoes due to the added weight - in this case almost 2lbs per foot), and partly just because they're a riot to wear.

Even in a howling blizzard, which is what I had for my first run in them.

Adequate float in a couple of inches of freshly fallen snow

The sidewalks were bare, so last night I actually tucked them under my arm and ran with them to the park as a warm-up.
This is not what's usually meant by "snowshoe running".

That's more like it.
Floating well in a few inches of days-old but largely un-tracked snow.

What sucks: The Hypalon straps are quite long and I don't get that much bite with the hook-and-loop as a result, wearing running shoes in them (size 9-9.5 women's feet). With hiking boots they're fine, and with snowboots the extra length is appreciated...so I'm not sure if this is really a bug or a feature. I do find I have to adjust the straps a bit after I first put them on, as they can be a little stiff but soften with the heat of my foot. Even then, I don't find them super secure for side slope or technical terrain. The lack of a hinge means that you're lifting the full weight of the shoe with each step (instead of being able to let the tail drag with traditional shoes), which makes a lot of work for the hip flexors and hamstrings, particularly while running. Due to the smaller size (8" x 24") compared to traditional snowshoes, these do not provide as much float in soft snow and deep powder, and they do tend to scoop up snow that sits on top of the shoes, which exacerbates the issue of having to lift their full weight with each step. The springy sensation when walking/hiking in them is very minimal when running; the increased impact forces seem to dull the effect. While Crescent Moon says they've improved the footbed and binding for 2019/20 (and I have yet to lay hands - let alone feet - on an updated pair), I notice they seem to have done away with the toe bumper and strap on my pair. This may reduce the weight and offer a greater range of fit, but I believe it will make them feel even less secure on the foot - especially when going downhill. If you have to traverse some pavement or cement, the IceSpikes can dislodge slightly in the hard plastic "tri-star" lugs, so they sit at a strange angle (though I've always been able to nudge them back into place so far). I have had a bit of a problem with rust forming on the IceSpikes even when letting them dry for 24+ hours before storage, but it has all been superficial and not affected performance. I've heard that the hook and loop can fail over time, but cannot confirm; I don't have a ton of hours/mileage on the shoes yet. When climbing anything even moderately steep, the lack of a hinged binding means your foot is forced into severe dorsiflexion, though the rocker does help a bit with this - the rocker has been increased substantially on the 2019/20 model, which may also alleviate some of the problem with the toes scooping up snow. In mild weather the base can get snow stuck to it, which increases the weight even further, but that's an issue with any kind of snowshoe so I can't really fault them there.

Snow buildup and quite a bit of excess strap length wearing Women's size 9.5 Brooks Caldera running shoes

You can see the snow stuck to the plastic plate on last night's run at -2c

Updated footbed and binding with no forward toe retention features

The dramatically increased rocker on the new model

What I wish they had: I wish the binding was a bit more snug to my foot in running shoes, as the small amount of lateral slip can be disconcerting. I'd love if they were a bit lighter, but Crescent Moon has just released a new variation called the Luna that is smaller and lighter (7" x 20", 2.65lbs/1.20kg per pair), with runners specifically in mind. I will not permit myself to buy another pair of snowshoes - 3 IS ENOUGH, K - but I would dearly love to try them out to see how they stack up against both my Eva shoes and my racing shoes!

Might these solve the few issues I have with the standard Eva?

What I'm saying: If you could only have one pair of snowshoes (I'm spoiled by having multiple pairs), these would be a great middle-of-the-road buy as you can tackle most terrain in them and do some running with good results. If you're more interested in carrying loads through the backcountry or pure snowshoe running performance there are better options out there, but if you just want to have some fun on snow these are a hoot!