Review: INOOK FREESTEP Snowshoes from France to enjoy snow hiking
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
Snowshoe hiking is a popular activity around the world as a relatively easy activity to enjoy snowy mountains.
When activities become popular, a happy, virtuous cycle will be created, where many manufacturers will propose various ways to enjoy themselves through new products. This time, we will introduce FREESTEP INOOK , the home of snowshoes, to help you fully enjoy the "play" of snow hiking
table of contents
General features
This model is easy to use and stable by INOOK a specialized snowshoe manufacturer with over 20 years of experience as a specialized snowshoe manufacturer, and is consistently engaged in development, testing, production and quality control in France These snowshoes for snow hiking are gentle, making them easy to operate, even for first-time visitors to snow hiking, including soft pad bindings that allow for easy fine adjustments and easy to put on and take off, resin frames that combine flexibility and grip, "Natural Step" joints that allow you to walk in a natural way, and a walking/height mode switching (auto gliding system) that can be simply pushed on the stock. On the other hand, it's a bit disappointing for trekking and backcountry, which is based on harsh terrain and portability.
![INOOK Snowshoes FREESTEP [Japanese official distributor product]](https://images-fe.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81smUbVn8JL._SS300_.jpg)
Recommended points
- Easy to adjust and detachable binding
- A resin frame that combines flexibility, stability and grip
- Simply press the stock to switch walking and climbing modes
- The fun of downhill that allows for smooth slides
Points that interest me
- It is easy to loosen against large loads
- It's bulky
- Low support on tough terrain
Specifications and ratings
| item | Specifications and ratings |
|---|---|
| Toe adjustment |
|
| Ankle strap |
|
| Front nail |
|
| Blade Clampon |
|
| Climbing support |
|
| Size (cm) | 23×65 |
| Weight (g) | 2160 |
| Size variations | One size (fitting size approx. 22cm to approx. 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 detachable binding
FREESTEP is fixed at three points: the sole, instep (toe), and ankle, so the fixation force when worn is secured. Furthermore, you can adjust the size by pinching the heel and forward/backward, the size can be adjusted, the toes are simply pulled on the strap, and the ankle is a ratchet buckle system that allows you to simply tighten the strap through the strap just like that of ski boots. There are no difficult parts to understand, and even beginners can use it from the beginning without any discomfort.
A resin frame that combines flexibility, stability and grip
The hard resin (plastic) frame combines moderate lightness and durability, and has flexibility and outer edges that aluminum pipe frames do not have. This made it difficult to walk on terrain with hard and soft snowy quality and continuous undulations, making it easy to walk, making it easy to walk. This kind of construction is common in European snowshoes, but it can be said that it can be used to accommodate the diverse snow quality and topography of the European Alps, where not only fresh snow is soft, but also traverses and glaciers on crusted slopes. And this applies to mountains in Japan as well.
Simply press the stock to switch walking and climbing modes
Just like standard snowshoes, it comes with a walking mode that allows the heel to rise and makes it easier to walk, and a climbing mode that allows the heel to rise and make it easier to climb steep slopes, but this model also offers a fixed mode that allows the heel to be fixed. Although there are not many situations where you can use it, it can be easy to walk on soft descent slopes, such as by sliding your feet.
Personally, my favorite INOOK snowshoe is the mode switching. To enter normal climbing mode, you need to hook the heel pin with a stock or something similar and pull it up, but this is a bit of a hassle. The same goes for returning to walking mode. On the other hand, with this model, you can switch to each mode simply by pressing two points in the stock. The stress-free feel is perfect for beginners.
The fun of downhill that allows for smooth slides
The shape of the frame of snowshoes has subtle differences in walking ease and ride comfort, but looking at the back of this frame, you can see that they are detached like skis. What does this mean is that while the area that bites into the snow surface is reduced, the resistance when sliding the snowshoes is reduced. In other words, it becomes easier to walk by sliding down the trail, allowing you to experience the unique fun of snowshoe hiking.
The parts that interest you
It is easy to loosen against large loads
The toe straps do not align perfectly with the sides of the shoe, so they become loose while walking. If the weight was light, I hardly noticed it, but if I do serious climbing with luggage exceeding 10kg, I can no longer ignore the looseness and I have to retighten it several times.
It's bulky
Compared to thin and compact models like Wakan and MSR's LIGHTNING series, the height of the binding and frame is a problem, and I'm a little concerned that the volume is too large to tie it into a backpack. However, the weight itself is lightweight, so there is no particular problem with carrying it around in the lower world.
Low support on tough terrain
The spikes and blades on the back of the frame provide ample grip. However, the five front claws on the front have some space between them and the snow surface, so the feeling of biting when kicking into the slope is a bit unsatisfied. Also, the heels are not that high in the climbing mode, so it can be a pain when you hit a steep slope.
Summary: What kind of activities do you recommend?
The easy-to-use operability, ease of walking close to natural walking, and ample grip, combined with a sophisticated design that is typical of France, make it perfect for enjoying snow hiking. It is easy to walk in a variety of snow qualities, such as fresh, wet, and ice-burns, and even on undulating terrains, so you can walk steadily and safely, even at a certain degree of slope. Above all, I was able to experience the unique pleasures of this model when I rhythmically descended through the fluffy snow. On the other hand, if you want to prioritize avoiding danger on tough courses such as steep slopes due to heavy loads, we recommend other options.
In addition to the regular size, this FREESTEP , FREESTEP Light , so it's a good idea to choose the best model that suits your body shape and purpose.
![INOOK Snowshoes FREESTEP Light [Authorized Japanese Agent]](https://images-fe.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/819LrmrFV3L._SS300_.jpg)
