How to Repair and Replace Snowshoe Bindings

Step 1: Can your bindings actually be replaced?

All of our bindings are designed to be replaceable (except on youth snowshoes), but damage to the snowshoe deck or frame itself can prevent bindings from being successfully replaced. Perform a thorough check of your snowshoes to make sure none of the following issues are present:

• Damage to the snowshoe deck/frame that compromises the structural integrity
• Broken traction rails (on the underside of the snowshoe)
• Damaged retainer bar, which physically secures the binding to the deck
• Youth snowshoes (Tyker and Shift models) cannot accommodate replacement bindings

Step 2: Identify your snowshoe deck.

Knowing the model (and gender, if applicable) of your snowshoes is critical to choosing compatible replacement bindings. The two-part names of our snowshoes represent 1: the deck (ie. Revo), and 2: the series (ie. Explore). The best first step is to see if your snowshoes still have the model identifier on the tail end of the deck.  It should look something like this:

If it doesn’t or the label is no longer legible, compare the shape and build of your deck to the images below. Please note: color changes regularly and should not be used to determine model. Your snowshoes may or may not have Televator heel risers (the wire bar located near the tail end of the deck).

Look at the material of your deck and the underside design and compare with the models above.

• Evo decks are made of a single piece of hard plastic, with two parallel traction rails underneath.
• Revo decks are made of a hard yet flexible plastic platform with toothed metal edges and a metal retainer bar under the bindings.
• Lightning decks feature ballistic-grade fabric decking surrounded by a 360° metal traction frame and two metal retainer bars underneath.

Some old-school Denali snowshoes, made from 1995 to the 2010s, are still around and kicking. As the predecessor to the Evo, they are also made from a single piece of hard plastic, but they are rectangular, with no taper down the length like our newer models. There are essentially two models, the Classic/Evo and the Ascent. The Ascent features a Televator heel riser (a metal bar that pops up to support your heels on steep ascents); the Classic/Evo does not.

Step 3: Identify your snowshoe series/binding model.

The snowshoe series (the second part of MSR snowshoe names) correlates to the binding used on that model. Bindings have changed over the years, so use the images below to determine which binding you have and which series it indicates. An asterisk indicates the current binding for each series.

Snowshoe Series	Snowshoe Bindings (*Indicates the Current Binding)
Trail	*Paraglide
	DuoFit
	PosiLock (image coming soon)
Explore	*Paradigm
	HyperLink
	SpeedLock (image coming soon)
Ascent	*Paragon
	*TriFit (found on Evo deck only)
	PockLock AT (image coming soon)

Step 4: Identify your snowshoe size/gender.

The width of your snowshoe deck dictates which size bindings you need; the length has no impact on binding compatibility. To determine if you have men’s/large or women’s/small snowshoes, measure the retainer bar on the underside of the deck from end to end. This bar is where the binding is physically connected to the deck.

• Men’s/Large retainer bar length: 5 ¼ inches / 13.3 cm
• Women’s/Small retainer bar length: 4 ¼ inches / 10.2 cm

Note: Evo snowshoe models sold before 2025 were only made in a men's/large size and therefore will only fit men's size bindings. Measure your retainer bar to be sure.

Step 5: Confirm if you need a left- or right-side replacement binding.

Left and right bindings are not identical, and it is critical to order the correct side (replacements are sold as a single binding, not a pair). Somewhere on the binding itself, depending on the model and year, the side will be labeled with an ‘L’ or ‘Left’ / ‘R’ or ‘Right’. This may be on the footplate, under your midfoot when you’re wearing them, or closer to the front under the ball of your foot.

If you can’t find a designation, you can tell a left from a right by looking at the heel strap. If it’s made of a soft, flexible material and folds over on itself, the extra length at the end points in the direction that coordinates with the side the binding goes on. AKA, if it points left, you have a left-footed binding. If it’s a rigid plastic ratchet-style binding, the opposite is true; the end of the heel strap that goes into the buckle will point right on a left-footed binding.

An exception to the rule: Paraglide bindings have flexible heel straps that point in the opposite direction as the 'foot' of the binding. However, Paraglide binding sides should be easily identified by the L or R on the footplate.

Step 6: Order and install your replacement binding.

Congratulations, the hard part is over! Now that you know exactly what snowshoe deck, series, size and side you have (phew), you can select the correct replacement binding. Please use the chart below to identify which binding you need.

You may have multiple options to choose from; this is because in some cases we offer replacements for both the currently produced binding and the previous binding model. If you have the previous binding model, you can choose to keep the same binding if we offer it or you can upgrade to the latest binding option. Current bindings are indicated with an asterisk.

Please note, replacement bindings are sold individually; if you choose to upgrade to the newest binding model you will need to order a Left and a Right version to replace both of your existing bindings.
 

Once your binding arrives, the repairs is tedious but straight forward. On the bottom side of the snowshoe the binding hinges on a clevis pin which is held in place by a lock ring.

Needle nose plyers and a small flathead screwdriver are most useful to removing this lock ring. Watch the video below for some tips and tricks but that is all there is to it.

If you have any trouble getting the clevis pin through the new bindings this is caused by an extra layer of paint blocking the opening, you can scrape it out by rotating the narrow point of the needle nose plyers inside of the opening.