Review: INOOK FREESTEP Snowshoes from France to enjoy snow hiking

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Written by Yasushi Hisatomi

Snowshoe hiking is popular all over the world as a relatively easy way to enjoy snowy mountains

When an activity becomes popular, many manufacturers offer new products that offer new ways to enjoy it, creating a virtuous cycle. This time, we will introduce FREESTEP INOOK , which has over 20 years of experience in France, the home of snowshoeing, and is making its first appearance in Japan this season, allowing you to fully enjoy the "play" of snow hiking .

table of contents

General features
Recommended points
Points that interest me
Specifications and ratings
Detailed review
Summary: What kind of activities do you recommend?

General features

With over 20 years of experience as a specialist snowshoe manufacturer, INOOK , which develops, tests, produces, and maintains quality control entirely in France, offers a model that is easy to use and stable. Features include soft-padded bindings that allow for easy fine-tuning with the buckle lever, a resin frame that combines flexibility and grip, a "Natural Step" toe joint that allows for a natural walking style, and an auto-gliding system that switches between walking and climbing modes with the push of a walking pole. These snowshoes are designed for snow hiking and are easy to use, even for first-time snow hikers. On the other hand, they may not be quite suitable for trekking or backcountry hiking, where rough terrain and heavy portability are required.

INOOK Snowshoes FREESTEP

INOOK

26,784 yen

2160g (pair)

Recommended points

Easy to adjust and remove bindings
Resin frame that combines flexibility with stability and grip
Switch between walking and climbing modes by simply pushing with your walking poles
Enjoy the smooth slide downhill

Points that interest me

Easy to loosen under heavy loads
It's bulky
Less support in tough terrain

Specifications and ratings

item	Specifications and ratings
Toe adjustment	strap
ankle strap	Soft pad Ratchet Buckle
Front claw	Multi-spike concept
Blade Crampons	Harsh Iron Features Denticular frame profile
Climbing support	Auto Gliding System
Size (cm)	23×65
Weight (g)	2160
Size variations	One size fits most (approximately 22cm to 30.5cm)
grip	★★★☆☆
buoyancy	★★★☆☆
Ease of putting on and taking off	★★★★★
Fixed force	★★☆☆☆
Ease of walking	★★★★☆
The fun of the descent	★★★★★

Detailed review

Easy to adjust and remove bindings

FREESTEP is secured at three points: the sole, instep (toe), and ankle, so it holds firmly in place when worn. Furthermore, the size can be adjusted by pinching the heel and moving it back and forth, the toe straps can be adjusted by simply pulling, and the ankle straps use a ratchet buckle system that simply fastens by threading the strap through, just like ski boots. There's nothing confusing about it, so even beginners can use it right from the start without any discomfort

Resin frame that combines flexibility with stability and grip

The hard resin (plastic) frame is both light and durable, and has flexibility and a peripheral edge that aluminum pipe frames lack. This makes it easy to walk steadily and less slippery when walking on soft or hard snow or uneven terrain. This type of construction is common in European-made snowshoes, and is designed to accommodate the diverse snow conditions and terrain of the European Alps, where people walk not only on fluffy new snow, but also on crusted slopes and traverse glaciers. This also applies to Japanese mountains

Switch between walking and climbing modes by simply pushing with your walking poles

Like standard snowshoes, these have a "walking mode" that raises the heel to make walking easier, and a "climbing mode" that raises the heel to make it easier to climb steep slopes, but this model also has a "fixed mode" that fixes the heel in place. While this isn't used in many situations, it can be easier on soft downhill slopes as it allows you to walk with your feet sliding

Personally, what I like most about INOOK snowshoes is the mode switching. Normally, to switch to climbing mode, you have to hook the heel pin with a walking pole or something and pull it up, which can be a bit of a hassle. Switching back to walking mode is also a hassle. On the other hand, with this model, you can switch between modes simply by pressing two points with your walking pole. The truly stress-free feel makes them perfect for beginners

Enjoy the smooth slide downhill

Snowshoes vary in ease of walking and "ride comfort" depending on the shape of the frame, but if you look at the rear of this frame, you can see that it is slotted in just like a ski. What this means is that less of the snowshoe digs into the snow surface, while also reducing resistance when sliding the snowshoe. This means that it becomes easier to walk downhill as you slide with each step, allowing you to enjoy the unique pleasure of descending with snowshoe hiking

The parts that interest you

Easy to loosen under heavy loads

The toe strap doesn't fit snugly against the side of the shoe, so it loosens as you walk. If your weight is light, it's hardly a problem, but if you're doing serious hiking with a load of over 10kg, the looseness becomes noticeable and you'll need to tighten it several times

It's bulky

Compared to thin and compact models like snowshoes or MSR's LIGHTNING series, the combined height of the bindings and frame is a drawback, and it's a bit of a concern that it's too bulky to strap to a backpack. However, the weight itself is light, so carrying it around on the ground isn't a problem

Less support in tough terrain

The spikes and blades on the underside of the frame provide ample grip. However, the five front claws on the front of the skis leave a small gap between them and the snow, so they don't dig in as well when you kick into a slope. Also, the heel isn't that high in the climbing mode, so it can be difficult to maneuver, especially on steep slopes

Summary: What kind of activities do you recommend?

The easy handling, natural walking feel, and ample grip, combined with the sophisticated French design, make these boots ideal for those looking to enjoy snow hiking. They're easy to walk in a variety of snow conditions, including fresh snow, wet snow, and icy snow, and offer stable, safe walking even on uneven terrain up to a certain gradient. Above all, I found this model particularly enjoyable when rhythmically descending fluffy snow. However, if avoiding danger on steep slopes or other challenging terrain with a heavy load is your top priority, I'd recommend other options

In addition to the regular size, FREESTEP also comes in a smaller model, FREESTEP Light, for lighter people such as women , so you can choose the model that best suits your body type and purpose.

INOOK Snowshoes FREESTEP

INOOK

26,784 yen

2160g (pair)

INOOK Snowshoes FREESTEP Light

INOOK

26,784 yen

1920g (pair)