Looking to buy some new bindings for a pair of Ojibwa style shoes. Thinking of trying to find a pair of the Bob Maki rubber bindings. What do you guys prefer?

Thanks, Zim

I use the H style . Make my own.

I have neoprene bindings 30 years old and still like new. Sorry I cant remember the brand.

^^^^^^
Sherpa??
I have some that age (or older) also.

I like the rubber ones. Work pretty good, but probably not the best if youre in steep terrain. I like them cause they are quick to put on, fit over bunny boots and are easy to get out of. The getting out of them part is really nice if I punch through into some overflow or through thin ice. I think that GV Snowshoes makes some of the rubber ones or you can make them from heavy truck tire inner tubes.

Same here !! Easy to repair on the trail if needed

I used the rubber ones in the lower 48. Worked great if you had areas of open water and a foot or more snow. Easy on and off when wearing hip boots. Not much open water in AK when trapping season starts.

I don't go miles on them like you folks but I made some like the oldies (lamp wick ) but I used some nylon straps like 3/4 in wide from some baggage carrying handles .I tied them (they are all one piece of strap for each shoe ) according to the you tube video . You twist to get in and out. They are sooo simple and they work better than the ones I bought . I think the natives used that type for centuries ( before White 17 ) They cost me 0 and you can tie them to fit any size boot ! I got BIG feet .

Maki worked great but if you ever fall through the ice it wouldn’t be good.

I guess if you fall through the ice wearing snowshoes it would be a solemn occasion.
What about the Maki bindings that would not allow a quick release?

Thanks, Zim

I went through once wearing makis trapping beaver in the spring. Thankfully it was only waist deep. I got pretty wet trying to take the snowshoes off. Meanwhile my son was laughing his head off while watching the whole escapade.

Your son would never laugh at anyone in that situation. In the many hours I’ve spent trapping and fishing and hanging out he’s always been respectful and very concerned about others feelings. HA!!

I received a couple PM's asking about H style bindings and questionable ice.

Here are a couple of pix that will be familiar to most but might be a new idea for someone.

I take an old truck inner tube and cut some slices from it....makes a big rubber band. I slip two of them over my showshoes to hold them together in the sled.



When I am not sure about the ice or working around a beaver house I sip one rubber band over each boot and up my leg.




Next, just stick your toe through the toe strap of the H binding and stretch the rubber band over the toe of your boot and under it.




If you go through into the water...a quick twist of your foot will free it from the snowshoe.

These are really handy too if you are on and off your webs in short intervals tending traps.

Looks like the H bindings would with well. Thanks for the tutorial and pics.

I have two pair of Maki bindings and like them a lot. They are two different sizes on two pair of snowshoes for different boots I might wear. I have gone through the ice with them and if they fit really tight on your boots they take a quite a bit of effort to get off since they are stiff and don't stretch too easily. Luckily it was shallow and I was able to reach under the water and turn the snowshoes themselves so I could extract them from the hole in the ice. I'm sure you could pull them off it they did not fit too tight on your boot. I would hate to go all the way under with them on no matter what bindings I had on.