NIn addition to downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing is establishing itself as a further mode of transport among winter sports fans. If you don’t want to be out and about in giant slippers all the time, but only want to go cross-country through deep snow while hiking, you might like products like the Above from ABS. Such snowshoes are inflatable and, when deflated, fit into a backpack for day trips. Also, the above only weigh about a kilogram. We packed a pair and took them for laps in the fresh snow.
ABS snowshoes look like rubber dinghies for your feet. The torso made of strong Cordura fabric, which is to be filled with air, increases the stepping surface and is intended to prevent you from sinking in when walking on deep snow. If you want to get them ready on the go, you only have to take a break of about five minutes to inflate them. A small pump is included in the scope of delivery, otherwise a standard bicycle pump will also work.
Now you step on by putting the cap of the shoe under a strap at the front and pulling one up at the height of the heel at the back. Both straps need to be tightened, which works quite well even with gloves on. We’re ready to go. After a few yards, unless the shoe has a slightly protruding sole to stop it on the way down, you’ll see that the rear strap will slip down. The strap hardly held on our snowboard boots, but it did on the mid-height hiking boots. After a few minutes we had to make a quick adjustment. After that, the Above held up fairly reliably during our hike through the snow. You first have to get used to the feeling of walking, because the rubber dinghy always gives way around your feet.
In the test
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Inflatable snowshoes
So we stamped through a hilly forest landscape, up and down, raising and lowering the Above. Compared to other snowshoes, you don’t shuffle through the snow with these. The Above adhere completely to the soles, the rear part of the heel moves up with every step. That’s acceptable on the level. But when going uphill, it’s better to walk with normal snowshoes, also because you can fold out a bracket at the back to build a small step that you step on when lowering your heel. In addition, only two claws hold the walker on the snow. Because the front claw has deep prongs, which is actually a good thing, over time it collects snow under it, which gets stuck so that the prongs no longer fully grip.
Inflatable snowshoes are a nice idea for those who want to take a shortcut through the deep snow during their hike and can stow the walking aids in their backpack. But for the price of 220 euros you get products for professionals, for example from Tubbs, who have ambitious snowshoe hikers on their feet.