Best For: Mountaineering
During our winter-long test, the MSR Lightning Ascent proved to be the ultimate tool for climbing (and descending) the steep and deep stuff. Their flat, blade-style frame and gnarly, aggressive crampons provide unmatched traction (even when we tested them on Mount Rainier’s near-vertical slopes), and the four-strap bindings lock snowshoes securely to boots without undue compression. [from $270; cascadedesigns.com]