Atlas Snowshoes General Manager Holds Open Forum on Snowshoe Technology

The General Manager of Atlas Snow-Shoe Company, Daniel Emerson, a graduate of Stanford University and holder of ten snowshoe patents, recently held an open question and answer forum with outdoor industry journalists to discuss the current state of technology in snowshoes and how Atlas is contributing. Below is a transcript of the question and answer period:

QUESTION: Snowshoeing has been around for hundreds of years, what makes it so popular today?

ANSWER: From an equipment perspective, snowshoeing has never been easier or more fun to use. Technology and innovations during the last 15 years has been key to its growing participation, much in the same way the mountain bike revitalized cycling. Since its inception in 1990, Atlas has produced 15 distinctive patents specific to the improvement of performance snowshoeing.

QUESTION: What have been some of the most significant changes in product design and/or technology?

ANSWER: A) The “Spring-Loaded” Suspension by Atlas was the first snowshoe patent in over 40 years. Atlas Spring-Loaded Suspension gives your foot freedom to move naturally by allowing lateral flex. It is the only snowshoe that offers a true suspension system absorbing the variation in terrain and engaging the traction system for greater control.

B) Lighter Weight materials including Easton’s proprietary 7075-T7 aluminum and advanced molding technology has affected overall weight considerably. Less weight significantly reduces the strain on the knees and will allow one to hike or run longer on their snowshoes with less fatigue. Saving one pound on your feet is equivalent to taking 6.4 pounds off of your back.

C) Women-specific snowshoes have helped transform what was once a male-dominated sport into one now almost equally participated in by women. The Atlas Elektra, introduced in 2003, was designed from the ground up in order to fully address the specific biomechanical needs of women snowshoers.

D) Bindings are injection molded around actual boot lasts or molds and padded for great fit and performance. They’ve come a long way from the hide straps that one used to use to lash the snowshoes to your feet.

QUESTION: What should one look for when choosing a quality snowshoe?

ANSWER: Atlas coined the acronym “FACT”, in an effort to help educate consumers on what makes a snowshoe a “perfect fit”. F-Flotation: This refers to the surface area of the snowshoe. Users pick a snowshoe large enough to support their loaded weight. Also consider how light the materials are and the shape of the frame for efficient stride. A-Articulation: The suspension system regulates how the foot moves. Ideally, the foot moves naturally toe to heel and laterally side to side while keeping the foot centered on the snowshoe. C-Comfort: The fit, security, ease of use and support of the binding are essential. Atlas snow shoe bindings cradle the arch and ball of your foot and are the only snowshoe bindings molded separately for right and left feet. The switchback webbing design eliminates pressure points ensuring even blood flow and warmer feet. Easy on and off buckles like our Fast-loc™, SureClick™ and new ratchet buckles make our snowshoes glove friendly. T-Traction: Stainless steel crampons on the bottom of the snowshoe provide security for climbing, traversing, and braking downhill. Atlas invented the dual crampon system and now it’s the modern standard. We have also added Traverse Trac™, side traction rails for ultimate side hill traction.

QUESTION: Aren’t all snowshoes on the market pretty much the same?

ANSWER: At Atlas we like to remind consumers that you can’t get “too much snowshoe”. The higher the quality of product, the more “FACT” and the better the experience. But price point is not the only gauge and don’t assume all brands will share the same technology. Check out the technical features to make sure you are buying the right shoe for your specific performance needs. And if you haven’t bought a pair of snowshoes in while, you might want to take another look. New models with the latest technology can make a tremendous difference in how well you perform. As with all sports, as your skills progress, it may be time to upgrade your equipment in order to take your sport to that next level.

QUESTION: So what’s next in snowshoe innovation?

ANSWER: Atlas is developing some revolutionary snowshoe designs that will take advantage of technological innovations pioneered in products ranging from fishing poles to ergonomic chairs to the latest America’s Cup state-of-the art sailboats. We are excited to lead the push for the next generation snowshoe in an effort to enable our customers to hike farther, faster, and more comfortably. More specifically, Atlas engineers will continue to seek ways to reduce the weight of performance snowshoes as well as connect to footwear in ways that will transform the whole experience. Although encouraged by initial prototype testing, Atlas maintains a very strict practice of field-testing by professionals around the globe before any new innovation is brought to the consumer marketplace.