Women’s Lightning™ Explore Snowshoes | Past-Season

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Women’s Lightning™ Explore Snowshoes | Past-Season

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Advanced snowshoeing efficiency and comfort, engineered for a narrow gait.
  • Unrivaled Traction: Low-profile, women’s 360° Traction™ frames plus Pivot crampons deliver reliable grip in variable terrain and conditions, both on the trails and off.
  • Women’s HyperLink Binding: Easy-entry cradle with new EVA foam cushions for all-day comfort and a simplified two-strap ratchet system for even faster entry and exit. Includes macro-adjustment straps for comfort with a wider range of boot sizes.
  • All-Condition Adaptability: Modular Flotation tails allow you the maneuverability of a smaller, primary snowshoe with the optional, on-demand flotation 5-inch (13-cm) tails.
  • Uphill Efficiency: Ergo Televators reduce fatigue and increase traction on the steeps, with a new, ergonomic design that engages with a flick of a pole grip.
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Lightning Explore snowshoes represent a giant leap in snowshoeing performance, ease and comfort. It begins with the elite performance of our 360° Traction™ frames, featuring advanced, edge-to-edge grip. Next, new HyperLink bindings feature a redesigned fast and easy ratchet system and get a comfort boost from EVA foam cushions that cradle the foot. Finally, you get the benefit of our Ergo Televators for steeper slopes, and add-on Modular Flotation tails—all to provide the versatility you need to enjoy a broad range of snowshoeing experiences.

22 IN 25 IN
SKU 10217 10218
Color Teal Teal
Weight per pair (Standard) 3 lb 8 oz 3 lb 11 oz
Weight per pair (Metric) 1.59 kg 1.66 kg
Width (Standard) 7.25 in 7.25 in
Width (Metric) 18 cm 18 cm
Length (Standard) 22 in 25 in
Length (Metric) 56 cm 64 cm
Binding type HyperLink HyperLink
Televator Yes Yes
Gait Women's/narrow Women's/narrow
Footwear size range (Standard) 6 W - 12 W 6 W - 12 W
Footwear size range (Metric) 36 - 43 36 - 43
Load (Standard) Up to 180 lbs 120 - 210 lbs
Load (Metric) Up to 80 kilos 54 - 95 kilos
Load w/ tails (Standard) Up to 240 lbs Up to 280 lbs
Load w/ tails (Metric) Up to 109 kilos Up to 123 kilos
Frame material(s) 7075-T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 Aluminum
Deck material(s) TPU coated Nylon TPU coated Nylon
Country of Origin Made in the USA of US and Imported Parts Made in the USA of US and Imported Parts

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What is the right size snowshoe?

The primary purposes of a snowshoe are to provide flotation and traction. Since all MSR® snowshoes deliver exceptional traction, your next consideration is flotation, and this is where size comes into play.

Once you’ve decided on a snowshoe, assess your weight, including all the gear and clothing you’ll be wearing the majority of the time you snowshoe. If you only go on a couple of overnights a year, don’t include that 50-pound pack—just your fully clothed weight, plus a daypack and water. Then consider the snow conditions you’re likely to travel in most often—deep, untracked powder, or groomed trails and established snowshoe routes. Are you at a high altitude or very far north where snow generally falls deep and light and a larger snowshoe is in order, or are you at lower elevations or in a coastal range where snow has high moisture content and generally consolidates rapidly, making a smaller snowshoe your best choice?

The idea is to find the smallest possible snowshoe that matches your needs in most–not all–situations so you can maximize your agility and efficiency. Now, with Modular Flotation tails available across all MSR adult snowshoes, we’ve made that easier than ever. Should you find yourself on the cusp between sizes, always go with the smaller one and then simply add tails for added flotation as needed.

What are the differences between the Evo™, Revo™ and Lightning™ snowshoes?

Each of these snowshoes offers outstanding traction, aggressive bindings, ergonomic deck shapes, Modular Flotation and excellent durability. However, when it’s all said and done, the plastic-deck Evo and Revo snowshoes are a bit more durable while the all-aluminum Lightning snowshoes offer our absolute greatest level of traction. You’ll find that because the Lightning’s 360° Traction™ Frame features a vertical wall of teeth all along the perimeter plus two crossmembers underneath, it offers slightly better traction on traverses. The decks of our Evo and Revo shoes are built from an incredibly tough, injection-molded plastic, giving them a slight advantage in durability in the course of normal use. These plastic decks also allow for greater flex underfoot while hiking. In contrast, the Lightning snowshoes offer a stiffer feel, and are quieter as you hike through harder-packed snow.

Learn more about their differences here!

How do I store my snowshoes?

Dry your snowshoes after each use. Then store them with bottoms together to keep the sharp under-bits from damaging other gear.

Why is traction so important?

Inadequate traction is horribly inefficient, with every misstep wasting precious energy. That’s why we provide the industry’s best traction, regardless of what shoe you purchase—from kid’s snowshoes, to our most aggressive shoes. The result is a far more enjoyable experience with the increased efficiency of solid, no-slip footing and the confidence to go anywhere.

What should I look for in a binding?

First and foremost, you should seek out bindings that suit your needs. Do you prioritize comfort or security? The best bindings do both. It’s also important to understand that regardless of what a tag says a binding does, it can’t do it if it’s frozen. Be leery of excessive use of nylon webbing and cordage–both absorb water and can leave your bindings rendered useless when frozen. Look for simplicity (fewer parts and potential for things to break) and light weight, and try them on in the store with the same footwear you’ll use in the field. Unless you have an exceptionally small or large foot, a good binding will be able to adapt to a range of footwear to keep your options open.

Tips for Choosing Your Snowshoe Binding & Perfecting Its Fit

Where are MSR snowshoes made?

The employees of MSR proudly build every snowshoe we make. Snowshoes sold in North America and Japan are built in our factory in the US, while those sold in Europe have some final assembly done in our Cork, Ireland facility.

Understanding Prop 65

What is California Proposition 65?

Passed into law by California’s voters in 1986, Prop 65 is intended to help California residents make informed decisions about the products they buy.

The law states that companies selling products in California must display a warning when the product contains one or more of the approximately 800 chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer and/or reproductive harm.

Why has MSR placed a Proposition 65 label on some of its products?

By placing the Prop 65 warning on a product, MSR acknowledges that it contains one or more of the chemicals on the Prop 65 list, however the listed chemical may be well within the “no significant risk” range. MSR has not evaluated every product but out of caution, we include the warning.

Are consumers who use an MSR product with a Proposition 65 label at risk?

The label simply indicates that the product contains the chemical and because of that, there is a potential for exposure to it.

The California government states: “The fact that a product bears a Proposition 65 warning does not mean by itself that the product is unsafe.” The government explains, “You could think of Proposition 65 more as a ‘right to know’ law than a pure product safety law.”

For example, some MSR stoves contain brass. Exposure to brass is not itself harmful. However lead is a component of brass and should the brass be disrupted, a user could potentially come in contact with the lead. While the lead levels fall below the “no significant risk” range, MSR is still required to acknowledge its presence.

To learn more about California’s Prop 65, please visit: https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/general-info/proposition-65-plain-language

What types of chemicals are on the Proposition 65 list?

The Prop 65 list contains a wide range of naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals that are known to California to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm. They may be additives or ingredients in pesticides, common household products, food, drugs, dyes or solvents. They may be used in manufacturing and construction, or be the byproducts of chemical processes. Proposition 65 requires that the Governor of California maintain and publish a list of these harmful chemicals, and update it annually.

According to the state of California:

A chemical is listed if it has been classified as a reproductive toxicant or carcinogen by an "authoritative" organization on the subject. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the National Toxicology Program, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer are considered authoritative for carcinogens. For reproductive toxicants, appropriate authorities include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and International Agency for Research on Cancer. Chemicals will also be listed if they are required to be labeled or identified as a carcinogen or as a reproductive toxicant by an agency of the state or federal government.

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No Hassle Returns

We accept returns within 30 days of purchase. All returned items must be in new condition. Please be sure no dirt, grass or pet hair is on the item you are returning. Learn More

We Believe in What We Build

At MSR, we take pride in engineering the highest-quality outdoor gear available, and we stand behind everything we make. MSR gear is built to be exceptionally durable and easily repaired. And we back it up with the best service in the industry, all to keep your gear performing for you—and out of landfills. Visit our MSR warranty page for more info.

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