i used to showshoe all the time, back when we had real winters. had to use them for a couple months a year just to get down the mountain to access a vehicle to get to town. but haven't had to use mine in a handful of years with these warmer Pac NW winters.

every now and then folks ask me which ones to buy to use for funning around. while wood are classic, the modern aluminum and poly models are cheaper, easier to maintain, lighterweight, tougher. yet even these can cost a bit too much for to supply a whole family.

so my question is this: has anyone used those US-Canadian military magnesium versions? are they any good?

i ask because they're so damn inexpensive. the ones i fondled 30 years ago seemed incredibly tough and sturdy. should i recommend them to others????

ie: here they are, brand-new with bindings, for $40 thru sportsmanguide, which to me appears to be a stunningly good deal:

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=1044944

ps- i personally never found a need for ski-poles. i did fine without them and could still use my arms to carry gear, like a rifle. re: which snowshoe style is best, for trekking any distance at all i used models with a dragging tail, not the bearpaw oval sytle which are better suited for in-camp use.