Direct mounting your running shoe to your snowshoe

We have been questioned often about whether our snowshoes can be direct mounted to someone's running shoe.  We thought we would address our view on the subject.

Direct mount involves removing the snowshoe binding and attaching a running shoe securely to the snowshoe.  See photo below.

People tend to consider a direct mounted shoe-to-snowshoe when they are not happy with the binding that came with their snowshoes. It may not hold their foot securely in the snowshoe or will come loose while running. 

Here at Dion Snowshoes, we don't recommend direct mounted running shoes to our snowshoes for the following reasons:

1. Most methods of direct mount have just 2 screws or rivets holding you on "top" of the frame and cleat. Our binding is on the bottom, under the hinge strap, and you are "laminated" into the snowshoe which gives you better feel, control, and performance.

              

2. Most of our cleat "warranty" issues are from "direct mount" people that put them on at their car and walking around the parking lot, into the signup building, to the start finish, etc.

3. Unless you have a pair of dry shoes to change into at the Finish line, you can't take your snowshoes off and walk back to where your warm clothes are.
4. If you do it incorrectly, and it fails during a race or a trail run, you can't fix it on the trail in the middle of the . You won't be able to finish the race on one snowshoe and walking back to the Start/Finsh line will be a problem.
5. For a two day race  or racing two days in a row, the direct-mounted snowshoe could fail on the first day.  Then you will need to fix or replace it in order to race the next day.
6. For a two day race or racing two days in a row, if you race the first day, you will need to dry the running shoe in order to race the next day.
7. Most people use old beat up shoes to direct mount which are usually on the verge of breaking down. They may not hold up during the race.
8. If you are trying to save on the weight of your snowshoe, most methods of direct mount weigh about the same as our binding so there is no weight advantage.
9. Most direct mount methods can cause injury from the ball of the foot being pounded with pressure points from the cold, hard screws or rivets.
10. You lose the ability to quickly change cleat size or frame size if snow conditions change.
11. It is technically illegal for use in races, especially National or World Championships. A snowshoe cannot be “modified” in any way. However, we’ve only seen it enforced at one Championship and later allowed.

 

If you would like to tell us your experience with directly  mounting your running shoe to your snowshoe, feel free to contact us through Facebook, Instagram or our email: info@dionsnowshoes.com.