Atlas Montane Snowshoes Evaluate | CleverHiker

Bottom Line

The Atlas Montane is exceptionally sturdy and built with a traditional aluminum tubing frame with some modern twists. Flexible decking material allows some give while walking to enhance a natural gait. Large teeth through the midfoot deliver excellent traction. Tested in the alpine of Alaska’s Chugach Range, these snowshoes felt right at home powering up steep climbs, plowing through drifts, and breaking trail through deep snow.

The Montane’s wide shape provides excellent flotation but comes at a cost. We frequently found ourselves stepping and overlapping over each snowshoe if we forgot to adjust our stance to be slightly wider. The Montanes also feature a unique pivot system for the binding. A simple yet rugged strap attaches the binding to the frame. This stiff strap aids in the tail of the snowshoe rebounding with each step but limits the range of motion possible without the ability to rotate freely.

If you love the feel of a traditional snowshoe but are looking for some conventional features, the Atlas Montane will be the perfect fit. Its high flotation and traction are meant for deep snow and mountainous adventures.

Flotation

The Atlas Montane provides excellent flotation thanks to its wide shape. These are some of the wider snowshoes we tested, and that extra surface area comes in handy when walking off the beaten path. When taking these out on a winter trail in the Alaskan backcountry, it felt equally as at home on the trail as off the beaten path.

The flexible decking provided additional flotation in a way that we were not anticipating. The material is exceptionally stretchy, bulging, and conforming to the surface of the snow to provide added flotation. We thoroughly enjoyed using these snowshoes in deep snow and will continue to reach for them when venturing out on the deepest days.

Traction

The Atlas Montane snowshoe sets a high bar for traction, earning top marks among standard tubular frame models in our review. It provides excellent grip, and we rarely experienced any slipping, even in the steep, icy terrain found during testing in the Chugach Mountains. The Montane’s traction system features aggressive steel teeth under the binding. This, paired with toothed steel rails under the heel provides bomber footing. With teeth at the toe and heel, plus extra traction rails underfoot, this shoe feels right at home on technical terrain. 

While tubular frames tend to shine in deep, soft snow, the Montane goes above and beyond, providing reliable footing across a variety of conditions. Whether we were trekking through fresh powder or navigating rugged, uneven trails, the Montane’s reliable traction had us tackling bigger objectives with confidence.

Walkability

The Atlas Montane snowshoe offers solid walkability, especially in deep snow. We loved the flexible decking, which allows for a comfortable gait, especially while walking downhill. Unlike many snowshoes, the Montane avoids the loud crunching and scraping sounds typical of rigid plastic. 

However, the pivot of these snowshoes is somewhat limiting. The binding is attached to the frame with a strong rubberized strap, foregoing the free pivot system seen in other snowshoes. This strap provides an almost suspension-like feel when walking and adds some rebound to the snowshoe’s tail, helping it snap up when walking. However, we found that the rubber strap limits the pivot’s range of motion. This was especially noticeable when taking large steps or hiking uphill. So if you need a full range of motion, you might find the rotation of the strap limiting.

Ease of Use

The binding’s rubber straps and easy-to-use release lever are straightforward and intuitive. One strap secures the heel, and the other runs across the midfoot, through a toe bail, and to the other side of the foot. We found that the toe bail is secure enough for smaller fit and low-volume boots and keeps the toe securely in place. However, the binding’s straps are excessively long and lack any kind of stow system aside from small clips. We often resorted to tucking the trails away into the rest of the binding. Otherwise, they were often in the way and easy to trip on.

We love how fiddle-free and easy the bindings are to use (even with gloves on). Simply pull the strap down to tighten or up to release. Coming equipped with a heel riser, the Atlas Montana helped us cover both flats and steep climbs.

Should You Buy the Atlas Montane?

The Atlas Montane is a traditionally styled snowshoe perfect for anyone who likes the timeless performance of an aluminum tube frame but with some modern twists. The Montane has a large surface area for off-trail flotation but is still light enough for quick jaunts on groomed paths. The flexible decking ups the comfort level heel risers bring extra support on long uphill climbs. 

With its simple yet durable binding design and strong features like excellent traction, the Atlas Montane will surely please new snowshoers and experts alike. While the snowshoe is not the most comfortable to walk in due to its wide shape, and its pivot point limits some range of motion, the Montane is a solid performer that will keep you afloat for many miles.

What Other Snowshoes Should You Consider?

Tubbs Mountaineer Review – With a similar tube frame and flexible decking construction, the Mountaineer offers a higher tech binding and enhanced traction for backcountry travel.

MSR Lightning Ascent Review – If you’re looking for another snowshoe to take off the trail and with some of the highest scores across our metrics, check out the MSR Lightning Ascent. 

Tubbs Wayfinder Review – Another snowshoe with a time-tested design but with a modern twist, the Wayfinder features a boa system for easily dialing in the fit.