2012 Winter Buyer's Guide
Tuesday, November 01, 2011

L.L. Bean Summit Trekker

By: Category: Winter Buyer's Guide, Men's, Snow Sports, Snowshoes
L.L. Bean Summit Trekker
Photo: Courtesy of L.L. Bean

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GUIDES

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THE SELL: The quintessential all-rounder. THE TEST: Made by Tubbs for L.L. Bean, the Summit Trekker doesn't have any bowl-you-over technology. Rather, its simplicity and dependability set it apart. "All I needed and nothing more," said a Vermont-based tester. Aggressive steel crampons and a sturdy heel lift make for secure footing, even on steep and icy sections of trails. The binding's dual-sided pull straps cinched the comfy basket in a second and kept our feet snug in everything from off-camber wind crust to powder. A single glove-friendly strap released the binding just as easily. Bummer: a fully pivoting binding makes it hard to reverse without burying your tails. THE VERDICT: No frills but plenty of function. 4.4 lbs

Grip: 4.5
Comfort: 5
Ease of Use: 5

Brand: L.L. Bean

$199

Brand Name Description Price Date Keywords
Atlas Elektra 9 Snow Shoes Atlas's Elektra 9 series includes telescoping poles, beginner shoes, and intuitive bindings with virtually no learning curve. $210 Outside Magazine, December 2012 Snowshoes, Gift Guide, Gear
Atlas Race The Atlas Race, at just over two pounds, is one of the lightest snowshoes on the planet. $320 2013 Winter Buyer's Guide Winter Buyer's Guide, Gear of the Year, Snowshoes, Gear
Easton Mountain Products Backcountry The Backcountry snowshoe is ideal for more technical terrain. $249 2013 Winter Buyer's Guide Winter Buyer's Guide, Snowshoes, Gear
MSR Lightning Ascent The Lightning Ascent features teeth all around the frame for maximum grip. $270 2013 Winter Buyer's Guide Winter Buyer's Guide, Snowshoes, Gear

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