The Atlas Helium Trail ($150) is a light-weight and surprisingly cheap snowshoe designed to be used on rolling hills and straightforward terrain. It has nice traction and has a brand new Wrapp binding system, corresponding to the Paragon Binding on MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes. The Helium Trail Snowshoes additionally include heel lifts (televators) which make climbing hills simpler and are usually not normally discovered on cheaper “trail” snowshoes.
Specs at a Glance
- Gender: Unisex
- Sizes: 23″ (3 lbs 2 oz), 26″ (3 lbs 7 oz)
- Traction: entrance crampon, aspect traction rails
- Crampon Material: Carbon Steel
- Heel Lifts: Yes
- Shape: Teardrop
- Deck Material: Plastic
- Max Recommended Load: 23″ (as much as 160 lbs), 26″ (as much as 220lbs)
Snowshoes are heavy, starting from 4 to 5 kilos per pair, relying on sizing. But the factor that units the Helium Trail Snowshoe other than different makes and fashions is the truth that they solely weigh 3 kilos and a pair of ounces, which is an astonishingly low weight for a 23″ snowshoe. The 26″ snowshoe, which I’ve been utilizing, weighs 3 lbs 7 oz per pair.
While the Helium Trails are exceptionally light-weight, the brand new net-like Wrapp binding may be very easy to make use of and cozy. It replaces the webbing model binding Atlas used final 12 months when these snowshoes have been first launched, which had a defect the place the binding may very well be reduce by the aspect traction rails. That previous binding is historical past and the issue has been utterly mounted on this new mannequin.
Atlas additionally provides the Helium snowshoe with two completely different binding techniques. The Helium BC Snowshoe is sort of equivalent to the Helium Trail besides that its binding makes use of a urethane ski strap as a substitute of the Wrapp binding, whereas the Helium MTN Snowshoe has a Boa-based binding system. I just like the Helium Trail and Helium BC one of the best of those three as a result of they’re the best to strap to the skin of a backpack. Boa Bindings are very cumbersome and troublesome to pack compared.
Teardrop Design
The Atlas Helium Trail is a teardrop-shaped composite snowshoes with a entrance crampon and aspect traction rails. The entrance crampon is made with carbon metal whereas the metal traction rails present grip for side-hilling on sloped surfaces. The Helium has a chunky televator heel elevate, which you’ll be able to flip as much as scale back calf pressure when climbing hills. This have to be carried out by hand since there’s no different option to grasp the televator wire, however an excellent whack together with your trekking pole handles is sufficient to flip them again down after they’re now not wanted.
The plastic decking is surprisingly sturdy and has loads of flex in it once you step on obstacles like rocks or small ledges. Louvers (angled slits) reduce into the floor of the decking hold the deck versatile whereas shedding powdery snow. I take into account the flotation good, however not extraordinary for a 26-inch snowshoe. But their mild weight makes all of the distinction on this dimension!
The Helium Trail’s entrance crampon offers a superb chunk in ice, exhausting snow, and blended rock and snow for hill climbing. The Helium MTN and Helium BC fashions have barely extra aggressive entrance crampons, however I doubt the distinction is that materials.
New Wrapp Binding
The Altas Helium Trail binding is a urethane “net” that wraps excessive of your boot. One aspect is completely connected to the snowshoe whereas the opposite two corners have straps that you simply tighten over your boots. It’s quite simple and stays shut for those who tighten the straps snugly. The binding is “handed” so you have to put your proper foot into the right-hand snowshoe and your left foot into the left. A “RIGHT” and a “LEFT” are embossed within the backside of the binding so you’ll be able to’t combine them up.
As you stroll, the binding pivots by a big entrance gap within the entrance of the snowshoe, so the entrance crampon digs into the snow in entrance of you whereas the rear of the snowshoe floats on prime of the floor of the snow offering flotation. This is an ordinary snowshoe design.
In addition to the webbing, a rear urethane strap is used to lock your heel in place. If you don’t use the heel strap, your heel and boots gained’t monitor straight or degree, making it a lot more durable to stroll. When you’re able to tighten the heel strap, you pull it tight. It’s held in place by a compression buckle and gained’t slip.
Unless you alter footwear, you’ll be able to set the heel strap as soon as and neglect about it. When you placed on the snowshoe, you’ll be able to step into the entrance half of the Wrapp binding and easily safe the skin corners. It does assist to make use of winter boots which have little ridge within the heel, just like the Oboz Bridger 10″ that I’m carrying right here, so the heel strap doesn’t slip down the again of your boot. Most insulated winter boots supposed for climbing have this (see 10 Best Insulated Winter Hiking Boots).
Recommendation
The Atlas Helium Trail Snowshoe is surprisingly light-weight but nonetheless absolutely featured (together with a televator and aspect traction rails) for a snowshoe that’s solely supposed for gently rolling terrain. I’ve ignored that steering and use it like I might use any backcountry snowshoe on mountain trails. While I did discover fault with the earlier mannequin of Helium Trail and its former webbing-based binding, I believe this new Wrapp binding is a house run. If you’re searching for a snowshoe that may be very light-weight and straightforward to make use of, I’d seize a pair of those Atlas Helium Trail snowshoes. I do know I’ll be carrying mine this winter.
Disclosure: The writer owns this product.
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