One consideration is ease of use. If they are a pain to get in and out of, you will not be using them as much as you would if they were easy to get in and out of. And not using snowshoes when you should be (or not be using them!) can lead to potential disaster.
As the others have mentioned...
Steven Hawking - Background: In the 70's we went hiking in Harriman St Park with a young woman who had cerebal palsey who had never hiked. We carried her when needed and she had herself a time. I realize Dr. Hawking hasn't been confined to a chair his entire life but I'd still offer the lift.
Unrelated to this particular material demise; but Shoe Goo is a fine product for reattaching soles in a pinch. Tore the sole off of a mountain bike shoe that used "clipless" SPD pedals and used Shoe Goo to reattach it. Years later still holding.
Just happened to have a conversation last week on the Tapestry of Bayeux (having just passed through that French town) and now this!
I thought that comet looked familiar! How cold was it at the Battle of Hastings?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapestry_of_Bayeux
It costs roughly $1,000 to delete a pound of weight from my road bike. Titanium upgrade is pricey. It cost nothing to take the weight off me and I get to enjoy the results.
Cycling aside; I have for years viewed staying fit as a tug of war with one end of the rope in my hands and the other in a...
I have two pairs from Rocky Mountain and Sealtec. I never have used them for hiking just cycling (like todays 25F commute to work in gaslined Jersey). Hiking has always been wool and gaitors with spare sox in tow just in case.
A couple suggestions:
For the campsite- A hatchet for breaking up firewood and driving tent stakes.
A few heavy duty zip ties can come in handy and don't weigh anything
For the hike: A signal mirror. Cell phone may be worthless
I keep 10' of 1 inch...
I tried it last year once and (admittedly it was my first time) I decided to pursue something more stable. Found in a mountaineering book a description of a diaper sling made out of webbing and have been carrying it since. Just seemed safer.
I bought the book Massage for Cyclists by Roger Pozeznik and the checklists for pre and post ride massages are framed and hanging in my bathroom. The pre-ride massage sparks life back into legs and the post ride is self love for the spent. The book was ~$15 and a sound investment. I hike in...