During a winter marked by 12 inches of new snow every other day, snowshoes become a necessity, even just to take the dog for a walk in the morning. In abundant powder like the kind that dumps in Utah, it's equally important to have lightweight snowshoes with superior floatation.

When I initially came across the MSR Lightning Series, the three-binding system seemed daunting. Then I reminded myself that my last pair of snowshoes had only a heel strap that rarely stayed in place and a single toe binding, resulting in frequent and irritating slip outs. Looking forward to the security of the triple-strap bindings and a heel strap compatible with any boot, I set out on the Lightning Ascents for a nighttime, deep-powder trek.

When snowshoeing on powdery slopes, it's best to have lightweight gear. Here, the Lightning Ascent completely delivers, weighing in at just three pounds, eight ounces. Lighter snowshoes also allow you to last longer without becoming overly fatigued—another plus when the dog is too lazy to blaze the trail in deep powder. When ascending, the Ascent naturally offers a leg up in the form of the Televator, a metal bar that normally lies flat behind the heel but can be raised to hold the heel in place and reduce pressure on your calves when climbing uphill.

The women's model is narrower and constructed for a more feminine stride, another nice detail. But one of the smartest, most innovative features has to be the placement of steel crampons around the rims. The 360-degree crampon design allows for enhanced stability and balance on uneven terrain and cruddy snow. It also helps you stay vertical when Fido decides—without warning—to step on the back of your shoes in mid stride.

All materials used in the Lightning Ascent shoes are waterproof, so they don't freeze easily. That's pretty handy if you tend to be careless (like me) and leave your snowshoes on your front deck. I should consider changing this bad habit. Snowshoes that perform this well should be better protected from anyone who may be tempted to "borrow" them off the deck or front yard.

One tip: Having to readjust the bindings a couple of times along the way, I discovered it best to take the extra minute to make sure they are perfectly strapped on from the outset. This will avoid having to fumble around in the snow to readjust, though the straps are easy to manipulate. While three bindings offer great security, I find that two would be ample for my smaller-sized feet. But for people with shoes larger than size five and a half, the Lightning Ascent is perfect.

$260; msrgear.com
Also available for men