MSR snowshoes are known for their long-lasting performance and durability. Since they’re crafted in the US and Ireland from premium materials, the consistency and quality control are second to none. People are still using MSR snowshoes they’ve had for over 20+ years, which makes us incredibly proud. It also makes us want to do everything we can to keep those snowshoes going for another few decades and save them from landfills. Enter: the replacement snowshoe binding. 

It should come as no surprise that the softer, flexible plastic of our very comfortable bindings isn’t quite as durable as the materials of the snowshoe deck itself. Though they are weather and element-resistant, the repeated temperature changes, UV exposure, and flexing the binding material experiences take their toll over the years.  

Pro tip: Treating the bindings with mineral oil, silicone grease or 303 protectant spray will extend the life of the straps; simply treat and wipe off any excess, leaving only a very thin coat.

If your snowshoe decks are still perfectly serviceable, you can purchase a replacement binding (or two) to keep your MSR snowshoes going strong. If you want to replace your bindings but aren’t sure which ones you need, this guide will help you determine which model fits your snowshoes. 

Step 1: Can your bindings actually be replaced? 

All of our bindings are designed to be replaceable (except on youth snowshoes), but damage to the snowshoe deck or frame itself can prevent bindings from being successfully replaced. Perform a thorough check of your snowshoes to make sure none of the following issues are present:

• Damage to the snowshoe deck/frame that compromises the structural integrity
• Broken traction rails (on the underside of the snowshoe)
• Damaged retainer bar, which physically secures the binding to the deck
• Youth snowshoes (Tyker and Shift models) cannot accommodate replacement bindings 

Step 2: Identify your snowshoe deck. 

Knowing the model (and gender, if applicable) of your snowshoes is critical to choosing compatible replacement bindings. The two-part names of our snowshoes represent 1: the deck (ie. Revo), and 2: the series (ie. Explore). The best first step is to see if your snowshoes still have the model identifier on the tail end of the deck.  It should look something like this: 

If it doesn’t or the label is no longer legible, compare the shape and build of your deck to the images below. Please note: color changes regularly and should not be used to determine model. Your snowshoes may or may not have Televator heel risers (the wire bar located near the tail end of the deck.

Look at the material of your deck and the underside design and compare with the models above. 

• Evo decks are made of a single piece of hard plastic, with two parallel traction rails underneath. 
• Revo decks are made of a hard yet flexible plastic platform with toothed metal edges and a metal retainer bar under the bindings. 
• Lightning decks feature ballistic-grade fabric decking surrounded by a 360° metal traction frame and two metal retainer bars underneath. 
• Some old-school Denali snowshoes, made from 1995 to the 2010s, are still around and kicking. As the predecessor to the Evo, they are also made from a single piece of hard plastic, but they are rectangular, with no taper down the length like our newer models. There are essentially two models, the Classic/Evo and the Ascent. The Ascent features a Televator heel riser (a metal bar that pops up to support your heels on steep ascents); the Classic/Evo does not.

Step 3: Identify your snowshoe series/binding model. 

The snowshoe series (the second part of MSR snowshoe names) correlates to the binding used on that model. Bindings have changed over the years, so use the images below to determine which binding you have and which series it indicates. An asterisk indicates the current binding for each series. 

Step 4: Identify your snowshoe size/gender.