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MSR 25" x 8" Lightning Snowshoes, with New Bindings (Buy or Rent!) - $199 (mill valley)
condition:
excellent
make / manufacturer:
MSR
model name / number:
Lightning
size / dimensions:
25" x 8"
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This is the 2nd pair: 25" long MSR Lightings. The Lightning is the original design; MSR later added heel-risers (the Ascent model), and also sold this frame (the Lightning) with different types of bindings (the Lightning Explore has a ratchet-binding, the Lightning Axis has an adjustment to allow for toe-in or toe-out gaits and the Lightning Flash has a ratchet-binding, but not the heel lift.) Confused? For me the key takeaway is the word "Lightning." If you buy a MSR Lightning, you're getting the bar-frame versus a pipe frame, or even no frame. As I said in my ad for my Lightning Ascents, most casual snowshoers don't need MSR Lightnings.
If you plan to walk across the meadow by Palisades with a coffee in one hand, anything will do.
Here's why people pay extra for MSR Lightnings:
1) The frame (the metal that holds the deck) are bars of metal, and not bent pipes. Pipes are round, and round pipes don't grip the snow as well as bars.
2) The teeth on the bars (look at photo of the bottom) enhance the grip.
3) The Lightning is lighter than most other snowshoes.
4) MSR Lightning snowshoes have a reputation for lasting and lasting. The rubber straps need to be periodically replaced (I always carry a few spare), and the harnesses (what the straps attach to) also should be watched--and probably replaced at 15 years--but that's about it.
= = = =
The clue that MSR bindings are near the end of their lives seems to be when they look dirty yellow, sometimes chalky. Since the bindings that were on these shoes were old, I replaced them last month. The new bindings on these snowshoes are straight from MSR and have never been used or even touched by snow. Photos were taken yesterday. In one of the photos I'm showing a yellow-ish binding that I've retired. In another photo I'm showing the date-stamp indicating the manufacture-date of the bindings that are being sold with this shoe. If these bindings are good for 15 years, like MSR states, then you've got some time!
(There's another pair of MSR Lightning Ascents posted here on the SF Bay Craigslist - that pair includes the red "Paragon" binding. That's a great deal, so it's weird that they've been posted so long. Seems the seller doesn't respond...)
I wrote "Buy or Rent." That's right; pay me $199, and I'll buy them back from you two months from now for $159. (Just don't drive over them!) That's $40 for a two-month rental. Why such a good deal? Why not...
Just added a photo taken last week; our group is headed back from Meiss Meadow to the Carson Pass SnoPark.