MSR Evo Trail Snowshoe Review

Bottom Line

The MSR Evo Trails offer some of the best value among our lineup of the best snowshoes. At a great price, these snowshoes provide features of a more expensive snowshoe. Parallel traction rails and durable claws deliver excellent traction, and the stiff plastic decking is durable and provides good flotation.

The bindings on the Evo Trail are among the easiest to use of any we tested. One strap tightens the forefoot, and the other tightens the heel. Simply pull the tail of the strap, aided by a loop at the end to tighten. Releasing is as easy as pulling the oversized grip on the release lever that is ergonomic enough to use even with gloves on.

These snowshoes are one of the smallest we tested and have one of the lowest surface areas of any snowshoes we tested. We found the MSR Evo Trails to be most at home on trails and when encountering light powder. Off-trail and in deep snow, they are quickly out of their depth. But for the price, their features and performance can’t be beat.

Flotation

The MSR Evo Trail is one of the smallest snowshoes that we have tested. They only come in a 22-inch length, meaning they might not be ideal for heavier hikers/loaded packs. This short size, combined with some of the largest cut-outs we’ve seen, meant that they’re lightweight, but their flotation suffered in some conditions.

We tested these on trails in the rolling foothills of the Chugach Mountains, on alpine ridges, and in the deep snow above the treeline.  We found these snowshoes worked great in many conditions, going from the trail into moderate amounts of powder and back again. We sunk deeper than we had hoped when using these on a long uphill hike where we were breaking trail. The flotation of these snowshoes can be augmented with MSR’s additional tails, but if you aren’t frequently venturing into deep powder, these should be enough for most scenarios.

Traction

The MSR Evo Trails offer impressive traction, especially for a lower-priced option. It has the same dual traction rails as more expensive snowshoes that provide top-notch traction. While shorter than others, these rails still provided plenty of bite on ice and deep powder.

We were also impressed by the molded fins built into the underside of the decking. Their stiff plastic bite into the snow, providing exceptional traction while walking downhill. The fins extend around the edges of the frame and down the tails, which adds extra grip while keeping their weight low.

Walkability

Walking in the Evo Trail was excellent, thanks to its relatively short length. There is no feeling of being weighed down, and the single piece of stiff plastic decking cuts down on weight while still being supportable. We do wish for some more shape to these snowshoes. They do not have much paper from the tips to the tails, which results in some overlap while walking especially in the tips and tails. 

We also wished that these snowshoes had a slightly more rocker. While their tips rise to keep them above the snow, the rest of the snowshoe is almost completely flat. Others we tested have a rockered shape where the tips and tails are elevated, but only the toes of the MSR Evo Trail have that shape. This means these snowshoes have a little “clomp” to them, especially when walking downhill.

Ease of Use

With two straps to tighten and loosen, putting on and taking off the MSR Evo Trail is simple and quick. One strap tightens the midfoot, leading to a rubber webbing system across the front of the foot. We love the rubber webbing that cradles the foot and keeps it secure.

A single, continuous strap around the heel keeps it locked in securely. Simply pull on the trails of the straps, and the caming tightener locks into place. To release, pull the red tab on the release lever to loosen. One pull of each release lever, and the snowshoes come off easily. We especially loved the oversized tab on the release lever, which makes it easy to grip while wearing gloves.

Should You Buy the MSR Evo Trail?

If you want a balance of price and quality, then the Evo Trail is the snowshoe for you. Its attainable price still embodies qualities and features found in more high-end snowshoes. The easy-to-use binding is well-designed and gloves-on friendly. The dual traction rails combined with molded plastic traction bars on the underside of the deck provide exceptional traction.

The affordable price of these snowshoes means they have to make some concessions. A lack of heel riser makes walking uphill more exhausting, and these snowshoes only come in one length. Their small size and relatively low surface area mean they are not the best choice for deep snow adventures well off the beaten path. We recommend these for hikers who mostly stay on the packed trail but still expect a high-quality product from a recognized brand.

What Other Snowshoes Should You Consider?

MSR Revo Explore Review – With many of the features of the Evo Trail, the Revo Explore provides more traction and flotation in a slightly larger platform for enhanced performance in off-trail conditions.

Tubbs Wayfinder Review – While slightly more expensive, the Wayfinder is another excellent entry-level snowshoe with more surface area and larger sizes to accommodate different weights.

Tubbs Flex RDG Review – The Flex RDG provides the versatility and performance of the Evo Trail with higher performance and an easy-to-use boa binding system. If the Evo Trail left you wanting more but you don’t want to spend more than $200, then the Flex RDG is a great choice.