Run through snow on lightweight, foam snowshoes. We tested Crescent Moon’s unusual 2017 design.

Boulder-based Crescent Moon Snowshoes turned heads at this year’s Outdoor Retailer Winter Market with an unexpected take on the age-old invention. The EVA is a rocker-shaped, foam snowshoe that promotes running on snowy terrain and weighs 1 pound 11 ounces per foot.

The unique rocker shape does away with the binding hinge found on other snowshoes. The curve not only supports the natural stepping motion, but the foam material is malleable and responds more like a running shoe than a traditional snowshoe.

We got an advanced look at a prototype pair of the new design. Some features may change, but we got a decent feel for the concept.

Crescent Moon EVA Foam Snowshoe

We tried a pair of EVAs around frozen lakes and wooded areas surrounding Minneapolis. The first thing we noticed was that the shape and cushion promotes running, climbing, and descending.

Unlike rigid aluminum or carbon snowshoes, the soft, upturned foam deck comfortably cruises over hard-packed snow and encourages agility.

Below deck, hard plastic cleats bite into icy terrain, providing plenty of grip, especially on hillsides.

There’s plenty of cushion, thanks to a solid, 8-inch-wide foam deck.

We did not have the chance to try the EVA snowshoes on deep snow or powder to test flotation. We also didn’t use them on tricky mountain terrain yet. We’ll test these under more conditions for a full review soon.

On hard snow, they were great. The advantages were light weight, comfort, and ease of use.

One question that remains is the long-term durability of a foam-and-plastic snowshoe, especially compared to metal and carbon fiber.

But the innovative design and overall comfort earned the Crescent Moon EVA our Best In Show award following OR’s winter market. These will be available fall 2017 for next winter.

The EVA is live now on Kickstarter until April 23.