I love my Trackers. They are great in deep powder and OK in hardpack. Best for trail bustin'. The only downside is my friends always make me lead, because their wimpier shoes can't handle the deep stuff. The bindings are awesome. Usually one adjustment after a few hundred yards and they stay tight and dependable for hours afterward. Can't wait for a winter with decent snow!

Customer Service

Haven't needed their customer service, but it's supposedly unparalleled.

Similar Products Used:

Atlas, Tubbs

I was a bit doubtful about the quality of these shoes, having picked them up on a closeout from REI-outlet. I paid $199 for the pair (Lightfoot 9x30) with the classic binding). There didn't seem to be anything really special about the shoe, and I started to wonder, why I hadn't paid retail for something with a newer look. This weekend I got to use them for the first time up on Hooser Pass (11,500). I was out with my parents who had rented shoes and we were going off trail through mixed terrain (some fresh powder 24" deep, some steep, some flat, some packed, some crusted). There were sections that the rental shoes just couldn't hack (too deep or steep). After a while, I traded with my dad who was using a Tubbs 9x30. The difference was amazing.
The full hand lacing on the Sherpas is far superior to the attachment on the Tubbs. It not only provides extra traction, but also more evenly distributes the load of body weight to the frame (on the Tubbs, you could feel the attachment points). Also the lacing absorbs shock and makes the whole shoe function as one unit causing the shoe to be quieter on the packed and crusted sections.

The binding looks antiquated when compared to the ski style lock down bindings on the Tubbs, but I found it to be much more comfortable (I felt hot spots as soon as I strapped into the Tubbs - My dad complanined about them aftef the hike). Also I found the more complicated Shepra binding to actually be faster to put on and take off (big surprise there).

The crampons are much more substantial than those on the Tubbs (I don't remember which model (sorry). But I do remember ascending and decsending with aplomb where my parents couldn't hardly stand up.

Customer Service

I had questions about the step in binding. I emailed cust service and was promptly replied to. The step in can be has for about $130 direct from Sherpa. I'm not so anxious to get them after my good experience with the classic binding.

Similar Products Used:

Tubbs

I have the 8x25 featherweight model.

Con: Expensive at retail. The classic binding isn't as secure as the new ratchet set-ups or Tubbs' TD-91 (?) and the shoes tend to slip and eventually come loose until I get the binding adjusted *just* right. Very popular with my hiking / climbing friends; they're always out on loan so I rarely get to use them (is this a "con" or a "pro"???)

Pro: Awesome shoe for climbing - the best. Very rugged; I'd go ANYwhere on my Sherpas. Bombproof; as much as I find the binding to be a nuisance when it slips, there's next to nothing that can go wrong with it and it's very easy to work with when wearing heavy mittens.

Who should buy it? Anyone that needs a reliable, rugged, climbing shoe.

Who should not buy it? Someone with limited ????? that needs a shoe for recreational hiking (the Sherpa Mountain is overkill for that use -- they over other, less expensive models that would be a better "fit".

Similar Products Used:

Redfeather Blackhawk. Tubbs Katahdin (very nice product). Atlas (model???).

The pair I bought were the previous year's model, with the classic binding, and longer crampons than I've seen on some other Sherpas.

These snowshoes were great for ascending and descending icy slopes, and the adjustable pivot binding worked as advertised. But the bindings were a constant annoyance: they frequently slipped loose, the straps often got snagged in the metal clasps, and they were impossible to adjust with mittens or gloves, esp. when they became encrusted with snow and ice. On one trip in which four of us were all using Sherpa Mountains, dealing with the bindings was so time-consuming that we found it easier to posthole our way up the slopes.

I eventually returned the pair I bought; even at $140 they weren't worth it.

Customer Service

None.

Similar Products Used:

Tubbs and Atlas something-or-others with ski-boot bindings.

Sherpa at one time was an excellant manufacturer with a warranty that could be relied upon. It appears that Sherpa has recently been purchased and no longer stands behind its warranty. Makes me wonder if perhaps they are breaching thier preexisting duty, warranty. I was wearing a pair of Sherpa snowshoes, when the bindings pulled off through the rivets holding them to the shoe. Looks like a manufacturing defect to me, the head of the rivet is small and pulled through the hole in the binding. I called Sherpa to have them repaired and was amazed when they told me they no longer stood behind thier warranty. As an attorney, I was amazed that the Sherpa company would be so bold as to decline to repair the shoes do to a manufacturing defect, and also to inform me that the warranty given on shoe sold prior to the purchase of Sherpa is no longer valid. I for one will not purchase any product from Sherpa in the future. I also own a pair of Atlas snowshoes and find them to be a very good pair of snowshoes. The Atlas bindings are superior and I hope that if there is a problem with them ever, Atlas will do the right thing and repair the problem if is a design or manufacturer defect with the shoe. Good luck with Sherpa if you have a problem with your shoes.

Customer Service

The new owner of Sherpa are no longer standing behind the warranty of shoes sold prior to the new owner acquiring Sherpa. Is this a breach of warranty? My binding pulled of the shoe. The head of the rivet holding the binding to the shoe pulled through the hole in the binding. I called Sherpa to have it repaired and they informed me that they no longer repaired the shoes for free, even when it is a design defect, and thier original warranty covered it. Now they charge a fee, customer service, I think not!

Similar Products Used:

None

My wife inherited two pairs of Sherpa snowshoes that her parents purchaces back in the early seventies. After over twenty years of regular use in Adirondack Mountains, they had stood up well, although the webbing had begun crack in places. After 20+ years, who can complain? A call to Sherpa confirmed that they would make repairs...free of charge. They not only replaced everything but the frame, but also upgraded the original bindings and crampons for an additional +/- $50! So, for $100 we had essentially two brandnew pairs of snowshoes. This is the best customer service I have ever encountered. It even beats LL Bean.

Customer Service

See above

Similar Products Used:

tubbs, northface,

Good all around snowshoe except in light powder,has a good binding, and exelent traction in ice and over exposed logs and rocks. traction lacing broke easy.

Customer Service

shirpa charged me $38 to fix them

Similar Products Used:

None

The Mountain is Sherpa's top of the line and comes in 4 sizes: Bigfoot (10""x37""), Tracker (9x34), Lightfoot (9x30), and Featherweight (8x25). I bought the Tracker a few years ago and they are the best shoe I have used and better than anything my buddies use. The Sherp-Fit binding is easy-in/easy-out whether I am wearing my Hard Boots, Leather boots, or just messing around in sneakers with no adjustments necessary. I have the Alpine II claw and havn't had a problem with traction. The dual rotation feature is nice also for varying conditions. They Sherpa Mountain line is also the easiest line to field service in an emergency. Certainly better than the Tubbs, Atlas, Northern Lites high end offerings.

Customer Service

No experience but have heard it is excellent.

Similar Products Used:

Atlas, Tubbs, Northern Lites

I RENTED THESE NICE SNOWSHOES FOR ABOUT $6.00 A DAY AND FELL IN LOVE WITH THEM.THERE LITE WEIGHT
AND EASY TO PUT ON IN DEEP POWDER.THE ONLY PROBLEM IS WHEN GOING DOWN HILLS MY TOES WOULD GO DEEP INTO THE SNOW,BUT I PLAN ON BUYING A PAIR MYSELF.

I,ve been useing Sherpa Snowshoes from practically ther day they came out and I've NEVER hada problem. When things have worn out, the Sherpa warrenty is to be depended on.