Our Verdict
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MSR Revo Explore - Women's | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Price | $161.95 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $223.96 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $135.23 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $284.98 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $175.96 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers |
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Bottom Line | With one toe crampon, side rail teeth, lightweight decking, and a simple ratchet binding, this snowshoe is great for easy, packed terrain | These snowshoes provide excellent flotation and support for heavy loads in all winter conditions, offering the float and durability you can trust for winter backpacking | Excellent traction and versatile bindings mean you will have no problem heading into a wide spectrum of snow types and terrain levels with this widely popular and durable snowshoe | A high-traction snowshoe, with a flexible deck, great for ice and packed snow | This snowshoe is perfect for everyday use with its easy-to-use and comfortable binding system, superior flotation, and ability to carry heavy loads |
Rating Categories | MSR Revo Explore -... | Tubbs Mountaineer -... | MSR Evo Trail Snows... | TSL Symbioz Hyperfl... | Tubbs Wilderness -... |
Flotation (30%) | |||||
Traction (30%) | |||||
Walkability (20%) | |||||
Bindings (20%) | |||||
Specs | MSR Revo Explore -... | Tubbs Mountaineer -... | MSR Evo Trail Snows... | TSL Symbioz Hyperfl... | Tubbs Wilderness -... |
Measured Weight (per pair) | 3.75 lbs | 4.56 lbs | 3.69 lbs | 4.31 lbs | 4.12 lbs. |
Sizes Available | 22", 25" | 21", 25", 30" | 22" | 20.5", 23.5", 27" | 21", 25", 30" |
Binding System | HyperLink | Active Fit 2.0 | Paraglide | Symbioz telescopic bindings | Quick-Fit binding |
Frame Material | Martensite steel | Aluminum | Martensitic steel | Composite, carbon reinforcements | Aluminum |
Measured Surface Area | 147.4 in² | 157.5 in² | 162.8 in² | 127.1 in² | 156.1 in² |
Measured Dimensions | 8 x 22 sq in | 8.5 x 21 sq in | 8 x 22 sq in | 7.5 x 20.5 sq in | 8 x 21 sq in |
Binding Mount | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full |
Crampon | Toe crampon | Anaconda toe crampon Python heel crampon |
Steel traction rails | Stainless steel toe crampon and verticle blades | Cobra toe and Tubbs heel crampon |
Deck Material | Polypropylene | Soft-Tec PVC-coated polyester | Polypropylene | Composite | Soft-Tec PVC-coated polyester |
Flotation Tails Available? | Yes | No | Yes, 6" | No | No |
Load with Tails (per size) | 22": up to 240 lbs 25": up to 270 lbs |
N/A | 22" : up to 250 lbs | N/A | N/A |
Men's and Women's Versions? | Yes | Yes | Unisex | Unisex | Yes |
Optimum Weight Load (per size) | 22": up to 180 lbs 25": 120-210 lbs |
21": 80-150 lbs 25" 120-200 lbs 30": 170-250 lbs |
One size: 180 lbs | 20.5": 65 - 180 lbs 23.5": 110 - 260 lbs 27": 150 - 300 lbs |
21": 80-150 lbs 25": 120-200 lbs 30": 170-250 lbs |
Size Tested | 22" | 21" | 22" | 20.5" | 21" |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Revo Explore is a beginner-friendly snowshoe with a simple binding system and lightweight decking. The plastic decking is a little loud and works best on moderate terrain.
Performance Comparison
Flotation
Staying afloat on deep snow is one of the main reasons we wear snowshoes, but the float level varies significantly from shoe to shoe. A larger surface area and a lighter shoe often help contribute to better float, but other factors like decking coverage, weight, and shape can influence how deep you sink.
The 22-inch Revo Explore has a surface area of roughly 147 square inches for the 22" model. Its largest model is recommended for people up to 210 pounds. This is definitely a smaller framed snowshoe, but it is lightweight and offers decent float. It has the option for additional five-inch flotation tails (sold separately) that can be added when you are hiking through deeper drifts. The ExoTrac decking is very lightweight, which helps keep you on top of the snow.
Traction
The benefits of wearing snowshoes do not stop at flotation. Traction is an essential attribute to pay attention to, especially if you plan to hike steep icy terrain.
The aggressive perimeter teeth of ExoTrac deck and Pivot crampons help provide traction. They work especially well on crusty snow over rolling hills or on flatter terrain as the perimeter teeth sink nicely into the snow. However, the Revo Explore only has one moderately sized two-toothed metal toe crampon, which are suitable for moderate terrain but not as aggressive as we would like for steep ascents. The lateral traction is excellent for side-hilling, but more lateral rails or a heel crampon would help significantly, especially on descents.
Walkability
Most people have to adjust their gait a little to accommodate snowshoes because they are significantly large than their feet. While larger shoes offer better flotation, smaller or curvier shoes help encourage a more natural stride. The Revo Explore is a thin snowshoe with little to no curvature, and most of our testers found it allowed a natural stride. The walkability was most impacted by the bindings which could pinch during the hike, especially on downhills. The Erg Televator heel lifts help reduce fatigue on steeper terrain and are easy to deploy. Our major issue with the Revo Explore is how loud the decking is. If you are not sensitive to white noise, this probably won't bother you, but we found it hard to hold a conversation or enjoy the sounds of nature while hiking in these snowshoes.
Bindings
During our binding testing, we assess the level of comfort and convenience the bindings provide. A binding that unevenly distributes pressure can cause pinching and chafing, drastically reducing the amount of time you can spend in them. While the HyperLink bindings on the Revo are convenient and offer inclusive sizing, they are not the most comfortable. The two-strap ratchet binding system is quick and easy to adjust, but the rachets are a little small and difficult to grip with gloves on.
A slide-to-adjust feature also allows the user to switch the strap length from a medium to a small. This adds to overall fit inclusivity but is a little difficult to figure out at first. The EVA foam cushions are comfortable, but the placement is not — it puts all the pressure on the sides of the forefoot. This creates a very uneven distribution of weight, pinching the sides of the foot and disregarding the top of the foot.
Should You Buy the MSR Revo Explore?
Like many MSR brand snowshoes, the Revo Explore is rather expensive. If you're looking for a compact shoe with decent float for rolling hills or flat terrain, this shoe may be a good choice; however, there are less expensive options that perform better in our test suite.
What Other Snowshoes Should You Consider?
The Revo Explore is great for casual terrain, but the MSR Evo Trail is too, and for quite a bit less money. If money isn't an issue and you want the best for technical terrain, the MSR Lightning Ascent and Atlas Range-MTN are our top recommendations.