Cub Scouts Template
Snowshoe
bindings
from
an
old Inner
Tube
(with
thanks to
Vic
Mower)
A little over twenty years ago, I complained at work to my friend Vic Mower that the leather bindings on my old, bear
were a pain to fasten and I wanted to replace them. Vic told me to wait a day and he'd show
The next day, he brought in his beavertails and showed me the bindings: a simple toe cup and elastic heel strap cut a
from an old inner tube. I made a pair like them for my beavertails, and they're still on the old Northwoods snowshoes in
116th Lynnwood Scout Group
Cub Scouts Template
I've since bought some high-tech L.L. Bean and Tubbs snowshoes with fancy nylon strap bindings, and they're n
satisfying
as
the
old,
innertube
Lay out an old innertube (yes, you can still find them - try a trucking company or truckstop) on a flat surface, then place
boot
on
Use a Sharpie or a good ballpoint pen to trace the outline of the boot onto the innertube. Trace around the heel and up
from the widest part of the boot - continue tracing straight lines from each side, to about five inches beyond the toe of
picture,
I
haven't
traced
beyond
the
heel
of
the
boot:
you'll
want
to
stretch
Then draw a line perpendicular to the two straight lines, across that 5" point. The binding in the picture isn't exactly per
was my first try twenty-odd years ago, and it worked, so I never saw the need to
About 3/4" back from the perpendicular line, draw a couple of rounded "ears". These will extend to about 9" in total w
size 10 green rubber Wellington, to 11 or 12' or more for a massive snowmobile boot. The taller the toe of the boot, th
(and the further beyond the toe the pattern should extend). With a 3/16" arch punch or rowel punch, put a hole in e
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Cub Scouts Template
about
an
inch
all
Set in about an inch from the edges of the pattern, and bracketing the ball of the foot, cut two slits about 2" long, pa
sides
of
the
binding.
Punch
a
hole
at
each
end
of
each
slit,
to
prevent
Leaving an inch or more of material at the sides and heel, cut a slot beginning about 1" aft of your slits, and down to th
be
your
heel
strap.
At
the
two
90-degree
corners,
punch
a
hole
again,
to
pr
Fold the front part of the binding back, and slide the "ears" through the slots. Pull these tight to form the toe cup. Use ny
through the holes in the "ears" and around the usual pivot point for the bindings. Be sure to space the lashings far enou
the toe of your boot to fit comfortably between them. The top part of the toe cup will
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Cub Scouts Template
Here's
the
finished
binding
attached
to
a
Note that the binding in the first picture at the top of the page has a "tail" at the end of the heel strap. After making th
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Cub Scouts Template
discovered it would be nice to have some sort of handle to grab when stretching the binding over the heel of my boot. I
a new set, I'll put a tail on both bindings, and I'll punch holes in the centers of these tails and tie on a rawhide or parach
make
it
easier
to
grasp
in
There are lots of references on the web to snowshoe bindings made from old innertubes - including one unbiquit
version - but none I've found to date uses this closed-toe design. They all have a rubber flap that lies over the toe o
sandal.
Vic's design is superior in at least one respect. The "sandal" style allows the elastic heel strap to slowly pull the toe of y
through the elastic toe wrap. Every time a tailgating dog tramps on the back of your shoe, your foot is jerked a little
loosening the heel strap, and about the third time the tailgater gets you, your foot pulls out of the binding. This can cau
nice
person
to
bark
unnecessarily
at
the
On the other side of the coin, if your boots are thin rubber wellies and don't have much substance, the constant pressu
heel strap against the closed toe cup will eventually crowd your toes in the boot. A good, rigid hiking boot, however, r
and
a
tailgating
dog
just
makes
you
fall
on
yo
Vic Mower died early in 1989. He's missed, and I often wonder how many other things he might've taught me if he'd
stick around a little longer.
116th Lynnwood Scout Group