Review: Atlas Run Snowshoe

Does your running routine screech to a stop once winter sets in? Do icy pavement and drab urban environs lack a certain romance, driving you to you opt for other activities—all the while ruing your diminishing fitness level and the re-entry pain you’ll feel come April? That pretty much described me, so I picked up a pair of Atlas Run snowshoes and managed to extend my running season all winter long. One pull on the crisscross binding strap brought the sleek and lightweight snowshoe tight to my foot. Running full-speed on snowy mountain trails was easy and natural, with the Run’s Spring-Loaded suspension system launching me out of each step and a double-crampon system providing excellent traction. At 22 inches long and with a mere 134 square inches of surface area, these won’t work well cross-country; but on the trails they’ll open up a whole new world. $200; atlassnowshoe.com.