Skis, snowboards, poles and boots – these are just a few of the winter sport items that use carbon fiber in their construction. Carbon fiber has been the material of choice for higher end equipment due to its high strength to low weight ratio. Not only is it light weight and strong, but it is the type of material that can make an overall product stronger by adding additional layers in higher stress areas. Wanting to tap into the advantages of this material, Crescent Moon of Boulder, Colorado is in the process of testing their newest and lightest snowshoe, the Kilo.
The new Kilo is simply named after its weight – 2.2-pounds with bindings for both pairs, making them easily one of the light pair of snowshoes on the market. Crescent Moon is not new to the snowshoe market, they have been around since 1997 and primarily use aluminum in the construction of their frames. At the SIA show this year, they are showcasing the Kilo that is uses carbon fiber in the construction of the entire frame of this snowshoe.
There have been other snowshoes constructed of carbon fiber, but Crescent Moon has developed a shoe that is much more refined. The final production models of the Kilo will be a monocoque construction as opposed to the two piece construction of the prototype Kilos that Crescent Moon had at their display. For those of you who are cyclists, the monocoque technique has been used for years in the cycling industry to create the lightest and strongest frames possible out of sheets of carbon fiber fabric and resin. The Kilos produced using this type of molding technique will show no obvious seams and more importantly, an even stronger product than the prototype.
Crescent Moon is bucking the tread of companies that produce products using carbon fiber. While most companies are abandoning the idea of manufacturing their products in America (flip over just about any carbon fiber bicycle frame), they will be producing the Kilo in Boulder alongside of their other snowshoe models. Even though the U.S. might have more environmental regulations than China, that still does not deter them. Also they are already working on plans to recycle the carbon fiber scraps that are left behind from manufacturing. They are familiar with recycling manufacturing ‘waste’ as they are already doing so with the aluminum and stainless steel scraps that are left behind from producing their other snowshoes.
The Kilo is scheduled to be released in the Fall of 2012 for the 2013 snowshoeing season. They are designed for the snowshoe racer in mind with an approximate size width of 8.5-inches and length of 24.5-inches. The price tag of these carbon fiber beauties is going to be fairly steep when compared to other high-end snowshoes – an estimated MSRP of $399.99 to $449.99. For those of you looking for an advantage for the 2013 racing season or just want a pair of shoe shoes lighter than most footwear, the Kilo will be worth the ‘weight’.
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