This week’s Made in America post appears on a day when the Colorado Front Range is finally getting pounded with its first winter storm of 2012. If the weather forecasters are correct, we may see up to 18-inches of snow by the time the storm is done. What better day to feature a company that has its roots in Colorado and may actually help me get out and around. Redfeather Snowshoes was founded back in 1988 by another Colorado resident who too was snow-bound, but that individual was a triathlete who lived up in Leadville, Colorado at 10,000-feet. His original design utilized an aluminum frame with a ‘V’ shaped tail that reduced the chance of a tail from one shoe from hitting the other shoe, especially while running and overall improved maneuverability while snowshoeing. This simple change to the shape has lead to the modern sport of snowshoeing that we know today as noted by Jim Tucker on the United States Snowshoe Association (USSSA) website.
Redfeather no longer manufactures their snowshoes in Leadville, but they are still manufactured in America. Now a division of ORC Industries, who also owns Bell Canoe and produces ponchos for the U.S. military, Redfeather Snowshoes are now manufactured at the ORC factory in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The V-tail design is now used in a number of their snowshoes, but other features have been added to the product line over time. The Epic Binding, a ratcheting binding similar to a snowboard binding ratchet; the Summit Binding, an injection molded binding with a “stand up“ design for easy entry and exit; and the Live Action Hinge, a binding to snowshoe hinge that ‘springs’ the back of the shoe off of the snow when walking to allow people to run/walk with a more natural stride are just a few of the innovations that have been developed in their history.
All of the adult Redfeather snowshoes feature crampons below the toe and heel area. Crampons are essentially metal teeth used to bite into the snow and ice for traction and stability. Most models use powder coated stainless steel as the basis for their crampons with the exception of the running or ’Race’ series. The two models that fall under the ’Race’ series, the Vapor and Race, use titanium as the metal to help create a lightweight snowshoe weighing 2.4-pounds and 2-pounds, respectively.
While we were at the 2012 SIA snowsports trade show in Denver, Redfeather was showing off their current product lineup. There have been quite a few changes since my pair of Falcon running snowshoes came out of the Leadville factory. Redfeather now has a snowshoe for just about every age, ability and purpose. From the Snowpaw and Y-20/Y-22 for kids; the Guide for those who want to hit deep snow; or the Vapor, used by Erin O’Mara to win the BigFoot SnowShoe 10k Run in Traverse City, Michigan, a regional qualifier for the 2012 USSSA Snowshoe Championship, Redfeather has a snowshoe for everybody.
There is one particular Redfeather design that stands apart from any other snowshoe shapes in their lineup. The Arrow doesn’t feature a V-tail or more traditional round-tail, but an asymmetrical tail shape. The nose of the left shoe fits in the tail of the right shoe and vise versa allowing easier use for those with a narrower gait. Also since the outside frame of the tails follow the round tail shape, more surface area is left in the tail area to help the wearer stay on top of the snow providing more stability.
Along with selling just snowshoes, Redfeather also offers some of their shoes in a ‘kit’ package with poles and a carrying bag, all for only about $50 above the price of the select snowshoes alone. Even though the bag and poles are not U.S. manufactured, this kit is still a great package to help those individuals who have none of the equipment to get into the sport.
Redfeather Snowshoes start at $34.95 for the Snowpaw and top off at $274.95 for the Race running shoe and Guide backcountry shoe. Most models fall within the $150-$250 range. Not every model is available as a kit with bags and poles, but those items can be purchased directly from Redfeather’s website or an authorized reseller. All models are covered by their lifetime warranty, so not only are you buying an American made product, but you are buying one from a manufacturer that stands behind each snowshoe that they produce.
As simple as snowshoeing appears to be, it is important to get setup on the correct equipment. Along with being able to purchase snowshoes on their website, Readfeather also offers a fit guide and a 101 guide. Even though a good pair of snowshoes cost over $150, if treated well, they will last. The pair of Redfeather Falcons that I have in my garage are from the 1990’s and though they show some wear, the are as strong as they were when they came out of the factory.