TSL Symbioz Hyperflex Elite - Women's Review

The TSL Symbioz Hyperflex Elite is one of the most futuristic and innovative designs we tested. TSL, a snowshoe company in the French Alps, engineered the first plast composite snow in 1981 and developed the first snowshoes with composite bindings. This model is the culmination of their revolutionary “Hyperflex” technology, smashing the rules about snowshoe performance. TSL named it the “Symbioz” because of its technical balance of lightweight frame, aggressive grip, and responsiveness to the terrain underfoot, saying it reflected a more symbiotic walking experience with nature.

Performance Comparison

Flotation

Flotation can be an essential feature depending on the terrain you prefer. A shoe's float isn't nearly as crucial if you are on packed trails with ice more often. The Symbioz Elite does not score highly in this metric because of its narrow footprint and longitudinal flexibility. Although we don't like how it sinks in deep powder, it is one of our trail favorites.

In general, snowshoes with more surface area tend to provide better floatation. However, the Symbioz Elite is designed to be narrow and short, which allows for a more natural stride but sacrifices some floatation. Stiff and flat snowshoes provide more surface contact since they distribute weight evenly across the shoe. On the other hand, the Hyperflex snowshoes are highly flexible, so the weight is spread evenly across the whole deck when your entire foot is flat on the ground. The hyperflex decking provides a springy momentum on groomed trails and an intuitive flexibility that allows a grounding sensation and the ability to sense the terrain underfoot.

Traction

If we wanted to slide downhill, we'd sledding instead of strapping on snowshoes. A few different features offer traction on a snowshoe, and the Elite has one of the most effective traction systems in our lineup. This shoe will keep you over your feet and off your bottom, whether ascending or descending.

The eight curved metal crampons on the underside of the minimal decking are snow piranhas. They are pretty sharp and cut through ice and crusty snow with ease. The canine curve of the eight spikes works similarly to a fishing hook in its ability to grab and hold its grip on the snow with every stride. The bi-directional spikes run along the bottom of the forefoot, making contact with the ground along with your foot; the flexibility of the frameworks to your advantage on uneven terrain, as the teeth bite more effectively than a stiffer snowshoe.

The stainless steel toe crampon bites like a snow carnivore, and the two rows of mountaineering-style spikes work with the flexible decking to give you a secure step wherever you put pressure underfoot. The Elite's composite decking also has cleats and ridges on the frame's underbelly and perimeter that offer traction while ascending, descending, or walking on flat ice. This snowshoe is a clear winner for premium traction and an excellent choice for packed trails or mountaineers in crusty, alpine snow. Since they are effectively sharp, be careful not to snag your puffy jacket or scratch the hood of your car. Luckily, the snowshoes have a carrying bag to keep the crampons sheathed until you're ready to dig into the slopes.

Walkability

Having snowshoes on can sometimes feel like wearing clown shoes. While this might be funny to watch for a moment, walking miles in snowshoes that make you bow-legged or duck-walk can make you stiff at best, not to mention that it's just awkward and uncomfortable. Because of its ergonomic shape and heel-to-toe flexibility, the Elite offers one the most natural-feeling strides.

The Elite is one of the most ergonomic shoes for a natural stride and conserving energy in snow conditions. Its short profile, flexible decking, and secure bindings give your foot an intuitive sense of the terrain you don't find in any other snowshoe. Even though it is heavier than summer footwear, the hyperflex decking reinforces your step momentum with carbon inserts that actively respond to your stride and the landscape. The resulting spring feels like a running shoe that bounces your step.

For larger-framed bodies, the width of a snowshoe is less consequential, but for those with a narrower gait, it can make or break an experience. The Symbioz Elite is slim and shaped like a foot. This design intends to give the best walking experience, and we found it especially delightful for women with small hips. The most futuristic feature that the Symbioz offers is its longitudinal flexibility. Generally speaking, we walk heel to toe, and a stiff, flat shoe can make it cumbersome to take your average step. This snowshoe, however, flexes and adapts to every step you take, making it one of the most delightful options for a brisk and effortless pace. Less muscle fatigue and ultra-comfort - our testers agree there is no better walking experience on packed snow.

Bindings

The Symbioz Elite boasts the most unique and “tailored-to-you” binding systems. Set-up is the secret sauce for the perfect fit. Although it requires extra attention during the first use, once you have the “pre-sets” dialed, it is one of the market's most comfortable and secure bindings. They are straightforward to use with gloves, and finding a better fit than these will be challenging.

The Symbioz Elite is comfortable and one of the most adjustable and secure systems we tested. We love the Lock Adjustment, and you press two buttons on the footplate to fit your shoe size precisely. Place your foot on the plastic plate and slide the binding heel in until it fits snugly against the heel of your hiking boot. The next pre-setting is the Memory Lock System, which uses straps to dial in the fit for a comfortable and stable toe cradle. After you adjust the toe box to your boot, no readjustments are needed, and the next time you snowshoe, you tighten and release the forefoot with a latch strap. You can efficiently dial in your custom fit by adjusting the ankle straps with a ratchet system.

The bindings provide a high level of foot flexibility, which makes walking very comfortable. The only downsides are a little time investment for each new user to dial in their pre-sets, and the binding is bulkier than we like when strapping these snowshoes to a backpack. Overall, they get top marks for comfort, adjustability, and security. They fit snugly around different boot sizes, and they never came loose on us during testing, no matter how far we roamed.

Should You Buy the TSL Symbioz Hyperflex Elite?

The TSL Symbioz Hyperflex Elite offers one of the best walking experiences of any snowshoe we tested on packed trails and crusty snow. However, they are not worth the investment if you need flotation for winter backpacking or enjoy hiking in fresh, unpacked powder. If you hike on packed trails or crusty alpine shows where traction greatly outweighs your need for floatation, the Elite offers premium stride ergonomics, especially for women with narrow hips and a flexible frame that supports bounce in your step. Their traction is unmatched, and the bindings provide the most custom fit in our lineup.

What Other Snowshoes Should You Consider?

The TSL Elite topped the charts consistently across all our categories besides flotation. If flotation is number one for you, consider the MSR Lightning Ascent, which offers excellent walkability and traction but can increase flotation with add-on tails. The Tubbs Mountaineer is also fantastic in deep snow and is a Hauss for heavier loads. If saving bucks is your priority, the MSR Evo Trail gives premium traction and comfortable bindings at a fair price.