REASONS TO BUY
Fully featured for steep and technical use
REASONS TO AVOID
Loud decking and bulky harness
Tubbs Flex VRT Review
This contender provides excellent traction, heel lifts, a comfortable binding, and moderate weight
This model is ready for almost any terrain and excels on steep ground.
Credit: Jessica Haist
RELATED: Best Snowshoes of 2024
Our Verdict
The Tubbs Flex VRT is a solid product that leans toward the high and wild. It has all the attributes we look for in a snowshoe for technical terrain. The size is moderate, the binding and deck are joined with a hinge, there are extensive steel crampon points, and the binding is secure enough in most conditions. Generally, for snowshoes, we award our top honor to those suited to mountaineering. Mountaineering snowshoes also work on trails, while trail shoes barely work at all in the high mountains. Because of this, top honors go to the more technical products, and the Flex VRT lands close to the top spot.
Editor's Note: This review was updated on December 20, 2022, to cover changes to the binding and traction systems.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Tubbs Flex VRT | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | | | |
| Price | $223.96 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $104.83 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $220 List $175.99 at Amazon | $283.60 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $80 List $63.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This is a top-scoring model with excellent traction and comfort | This model is a well-rounded performer and boasts a lower price than most, making it a great value | A good choice for off trail travel and softer snow | A good choice for firm, hard packed snow when you don't need a ton of float | Most cheap snowshoes have poor bindings, but we found the G2 to be comfy and secure |
| Rating Categories | Tubbs Flex VRT | Atlas Helium Trail | Crescent Moon Big S... | TSL Symbioz Hyperfl... | G2 Ratchet Binding |
| Flotation (30%) | |||||
| Traction (25%) | |||||
| Stride Ergonomics (15%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (15%) | |||||
| Bindings (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Tubbs Flex VRT | Atlas Helium Trail | Crescent Moon Big S... | TSL Symbioz Hyperfl... | G2 Ratchet Binding |
| Uses | Spring snow and steep terrain | Spring snow and moderate terrain | Deep snow | Groomed trails | Spring snow and groomed trails |
| Optimum Weight Load (per manufacturer) | 21": 80-160 lbs; 25": 120-200 lbs; 29": 190+ lbs |
23": 80-160 lbs; 26": 150-220 lbs; 30": 200-270+ lbs |
up to 225 lbs | S: 65-180 lbs; M: 110-260 lbs; L: 150-300 lbs |
21": up to 150 lbs; 25": up to 200 lbs; 30": up to 250 lbs; 36": up to 300 lbs |
| Weight (per pair) | 4 lbs 6 oz | 3 lbs 7 oz | 5 lbs 2 oz | 4 lbs 9 oz | 4 lbs 8 oz |
| Surface Area | 195 in² | 207 in² | 256 in² | 162 in² | 225 in² |
| Dimensions | 26 x 8" | 27 x 9" | 32 x 10" | 22 x 8" | 30.5' x 9" |
| Crampon/Traction Aids | Steel crampons and rails | Steel crampons and rails | Steel crampons | Many steel teeth | Aluminum crampons and teeth |
| Frame Material | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum | Composite | Aluminum |
| Deck Material | Plastic | Nytex nylon | Polyurethane fabric | Composite | Polyethylene fabric |
| Heel Lift | Yes | Yes | Optional | Yes | Yes |
| Binding/Deck Connection | Hinged | Hinged | Strapped | Hinged | Hinged |
| Binding System | Boa and rubber strap | Nylon straps with plastic buckles, rubber strap with pin-in-hole | Rubber straps with plastic buckles | Combination of rigid plastic, nylon straps, cam locks, and ratchet style straps | Ratchet straps with plastic buckles, EVA padding, rubber tension straps |
| Flotation Tails Sold Separately? | No | No | No | No | No |
| Men's and Women's Versions? | Yes | Unisex | Yes | Unisex | Unisex |
| Sizes Available | 21", 25", 29" | 23", 26", 30" | One size (32") | S (20.5"), M (23.5"), L (27") | 22", 25", 30", 36" |
| Tested Size | 25" | 26" | 32" | M | 30" |
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
Our testing team gets psyched when legacy snowshoe companies adopt new technology. In the case of the Tubbs Flex VRT, that new tech is a plastic deck and BOA system on the binding. While these aren't exactly new ideas (and this model has had them for a while), the snowshoeing world moves slowly enough that they qualify.
In some ways, the Flex VRT is an amalgamation of many different snowshoes in our review. In other ways, it takes the best of the best from other products. However, the end result is nothing remarkable. It is solidly built, functions well, and hits a versatile design combination.
Performance Comparison
This model is made to explore.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Flotation
The fully rigid decking of the Flex VRT is supportive and works well on firm-to-moderately soft snow. In normal "trail" and dense snow conditions, the Flex will have all the float you need. The rigid, molded, and stiffened deck makes the surface area effective in floating on softer snow.
Testing flotation with the VRT.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Traction
In head-to-head testing, the generous crampons combined with hardened steel longitudinal rails provide excellent traction for the slipperiest of packed snow and ice. Whether the snow is slippery from wind-packing action or from melt-freeze metamorphosis, the sharp steel spikes of the Flex VRT will bite in. Augmenting the crampons and rails (which are noticeably bigger than on other models) are ridges molded into the deck and tiny metal spikes on the tail. Our testers found these two features particularly beneficial on descents.
The Flex VRT had the deepest traction rails and teeth.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Stride Ergonomics
The Flex VRT is moderately sized, with a hinged binding/deck junction and a rigid platform. This configuration, combined with the excellent traction noted before, makes the Flex one of the best snowshoes in our test for the steepest and most technical terrain. The integrated heel lift allows the user to snowshoe straight uphill with the crampons and flotation fully engaged while keeping the foot mostly level. For all these reasons, we recommend the Flex for rugged, firm-snow travel. In all other conditions, there is likely a better choice.
A slightly flexible deck complements the hinged binding to deck attachment.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Ease of Use
Every tester loved the BOA system for wearing. The primary disadvantage of these bindings, in terms of ease of use, is that they are bulkier to pack. Beyond this, we found the operation of this binding to be straightforward.
The BOA system is quick and easy to use.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Bindings
In our experience, including rugged terrain in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park, the bindings of the Flex hold on tenaciously enough. Some other online reviews indicate that the BOA system can ice up. Our test team has experience with the BOA system on snowshoes, ski boots, and snowboard boots and has had no problems in the wettest and coldest of conditions. In short, we trust the bindings of the Flex but understand hesitations around this mechanical device.
The hybrid BOA and heel strap configuration of the Flex is well suited to spread the force of the binding pressure over the softest of winter footwear. That being said, these snowshoes are designed for use in rough terrain where stiffer footwear will likely be worn. In that case, even the tightest cinching bindings do not cause undue pressure. If you use stiff mountaineering boots for snowshoeing, the stretchy rubber straps are secure without compromising comfort.
Foam padding under the BOA panel enhances comfort.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Should You Buy the Tubbs Flex VRT?
Hikers who are seriously considering this snowshoe should have high and wild terrain on their wish list. The feature set of the VRT is optimized for big mountain travel. Folks who are staying away from steeper or technical terrain can pay less or find a model with other, perhaps more desirable, features.
This rubber pin-in-hole strap (included) is a nice accessory that makes transporting this model easier.
Credit: Ian McEleney
What Other Snowshoes Should You Consider?
Those looking to the Flex VRT for mountain use would also do well to check out the MSR Lightning Ascent. They have similar features with bindings that are slightly easier to use. The MSR Evo Ascent is also a technically minded model but also performs well on mellow trails and is a bit lighter than the VRT.
—
Ian McEleney
You Might Also Like
