Folding / Collapsible Snowshoes

I searched and searched, and am suprised there are not "foldable" snowshoes out there. They are basically a skin and a frame, why couldn't the frame collapse somehow? Make them more portable?

There are trips where I bring them and trips I don't, because of the bulk, and then end up regretting it

Has anyone seen a mod or even a model that used to exist? 

Is an 8x25 inch snowshoe really that hard to strap on your pack?

Several other threads already devoted to this general topic (stowable / collapsible / ultralight-ultrasmall snowshoes).  There was a collapsible design from a small startup a few years ago (looked like an aluminum X with batwing fabric stretched between the points), but it is no longer manufactured now.

I looked more recently at inflatable snowshoes, of which there are a few, but they may not do as well for steep slopes / sideangling.

The perfect snow flotation device for approaches that also becomes small and light enough to stow in your pack for the technical pitches is a unicorn-- good luck with your search, and let us know if you come up with something.

Years ago a company called Ramer made some aluminum snowshoes that clipped on like a automatic crampon, these were rather small, but not collapsible.
Also, a company called Verts made some pretty small,  again not collapsible , snowshoes that worked great for approaches.
For the really esoteric, there were Snowfangs, put out by Mike Lowe, I believe, or you might be able to score some Grivel snowshoes.
Both of these were steep approach specific, again, neither of these folded, but intended for climbing.

It would be so cool if someone developed a hybrid crampon/snowshoe such that you can attach and detach the floatation part to a Crampton you use for climbing

Ven Popov wrote: It would be so cool if someone developed a hybrid crampon/snowshoe such that you can attach and detach the floatation part to a Crampton you use for climbing

check out Billy Goat Ascent  Plates

https://billygoattech.com/

I think anything that makes them foldable/collapsable would just add to the overall weight. I'd rather have lightest snowshoes rather than the most convenience, if I had to choose. There may be a problem with the workings getting gummed up with ice/snow out in the field so when you try to put them back into a snowshoe, it just doesn't work, so you're SOL.

mario molina wrote: Years ago a company called Ramer made some aluminum snowshoes that clipped on like a automatic crampon, these were rather small, but not collapsible.
Also, a company called Verts made some pretty small,  again not collapsible , snowshoes that worked great for approaches.
For the really esoteric, there were Snowfangs, put out by Mike Lowe, I believe, or you might be able to score some Grivel snowshoes.
Both of these were steep approach specific, again, neither of these folded, but intended for climbing.

Verts are the latest cool kid toy in the backcountry these days. The guy who makes them has probably sold more pairs this season than in the previous 10 years combined. I'm not sure how much they weigh, I can throw mine on a scale. There's a light model coming next year that shaves half the weight. They're not collapsible but they're small enough to strap on a pack and forget about.
They work extremely well when wallowing in UT fluff up a steep couloir and don't suck anywhere near as bad as you'd imagine on firm snow. The calf-pump is similar to what you'd feel when you begin ice climbing.

The BG plates listed above don't have as much surface area and are a tad heavier and over engineered from what I remember. If things are steep and hard enough that you actually need crampons the plates aren't doing anything other than get in the way.

Boissal . wrote:

Verts are the latest cool kid toy in the backcountry these days. The guy who makes them has probably sold more pairs this season than in the previous 10 years combined. I'm not sure how much they weigh, I can throw mine on a scale. There's a light model coming next year that shaves half the weight. They're not collapsible but they're small enough to strap on a pack and forget about.
They work extremely well when wallowing in UT fluff up a steep couloir and don't suck anywhere near as bad as you'd imagine on firm snow. The calf-pump is similar to what you'd feel when you begin ice climbing.

The BG plates listed above don't have as much surface area and are a tad heavier and over engineered from what I remember. If things are steep and hard enough that you actually need crampons the plates aren't doing anything other than get in the way.

^ I disagree.  Verts work well in soft powder, but are sketchy to dangerous on hard snow.  Billy Goat Plates were developed after Jack Hannon (RIP), from Pemberton, won a pair of Verts in a ski comp and decided to come up with a more secure solution.  BGPs are held on by a crampon and work extremely well in all snow conditions. I've gotten up couloirs, that without them would have been impossible; steep terrain where I definitely want and need a crampon! No more wallowing, or possibly sliding to your death strapped to plastic :-)

edit - the Plates have been a pretty standard tool for steep skiers around Whistler/Pemberton for 7 or 8 years now, plus the CDN Rockies. American skiers are catching on and Noah Howell is using them...

And Verts are the only game in town around Cham... If they're good enough for Jeremy Jones and the De Le Rue brothers they should be good enough for the rest of us mortals.
Different tools for different uses really. Verts if it's steep and soft, plates if it's steep and punchy, and crampons if it's stiff. More surface area is useless if you're climbing hard snow you're not going through, pointy things are the only way to go.

The plates look pretty cool and I'm wondering why they seem marketed primarily towards skiers. Any reason not to use them for general mountaineering instead of traditional snowshoes? How's the flotation relative to something like the MSR lightning ascent? 

Thanks guys these are all solid answers, did not know there were so many options out there! 

The plates work extremely well for mountaineering. They were developed by skiers and don’t have a very large marketing department, just one guy, Lance Edwards.The product is not well known outside of Western Canada and mostly by word of mouth among steep skiers.
They do not provide as much flotation as a snowshoe, due to their size.  When I get home I will update this post with the exact dimensions.  The upside is they are quite light and very easy to stow in a pack.

edit - Using a not super accurate scale, the Billy Goat Plates weigh roughly 650g/pair and measure 12.5” long x 7.75” wide.

FYI. Ramer Assault snowshoes.  Painted a bit so I don't lose them!  They're much nicer than Verts.  One Ramer heel piece broke, so I took some off my Footfangs.  Good luck finding some, though.