Boulder foam snowshoe makers launch crowdfunding campaign

BOULDER — Longtime snowshoe manufacturer Crescent Moon Snowshoe Co. is looking to innovate its industry with the first all-foam snowshoe.

To do that, the owners are turning to crowdfunding, having raised more than half of their $20,000 goal with nearly a month left.

The idea has been in the heads of the Crescent Moon founders for several years, when co-founder Tamara Laug, a serious runner, realized that the company should be making snowshoes that felt like running shoes.

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Her partner, Jake Thamm, started to test out the concept, carving what he called “ugly prototypes” out of foam.

“They felt great,” Thamm told BizWest. “It was a much different experience than the normal aluminum snowshoe.”

Two years ago, the project started to get really underway when Crescent Moon partnered with one of the lead designers for Crocs Inc., who had a specialty in foam and running shoes.

Now, Crescent Moon is raising capital to make the molds for the foam shoe, a small one that will fit most men and women.

Thamm said the company is committed to making the shoe, which they’re calling the Eva, whether or not the crowdfunding goal is met.

In fact, a big reason for doing the crowdfunding campaign was to assess the market possibilities for the Eva.

“We really wanted to get a feel for people in the market in general and see what their response was,” Thamm said. “This was a great way to tap that. If we could raise that amount of money we think that’s a solid indication of our products and the market ability. It’s a strong endorsement of the idea itself.”

Not only would it help them have confidence in the market availability, but it would help potential retailers see that the market is there for the shoe.

So far, Crescent Moon has raised nearly $13,000. For $160 — the retail price of the shoe — backers can preorder the Eva, set to arrive in the fall. For $272, backers can buy two pairs of shoes that includes free shipping and a 20 percent discount. Offering significant incentive for two pairs of shoes was intentional, Thamm said.

“For over 20 years we’ve made and sold snowshoes, and it’s very often that people buy more than one pair at a time,” he said. “Anecdotally, I’d say it’s more than 50 percent of the time. People buy them for themselves and one other person so they can go out together. We built in that incentive in response to how people buy.”

Thamm said Crescent Moon plans to to have its foam shoes ready by fall, in time for the next winter season.

“We having a willingness to experiment and look outside the typical snowshoe shape,” he said, referring Crescent Moon’s place as one of the first brands to make a snowshoe specifically designed for women. “We’re excited to move forward on our all-foam idea. We’re brimming with confidence and are right on track to bringing something totally different to market.”

Thamm added that for many, the aluminum shoes can be off-putting, which can be solved with the foam design. The foam shoes also provide additional warmth, with the two inches of foam underneath protecting the foot from ever touching the snow.

“There’s a certain intimidation to aluminum shoes,” he said. “They look foreign on your feet and until you use them and understand them they’re not naturally inviting to you. The foam shoe is like a big overgrown running shoe. It feels like a natural extension on your foot. It has a great deal of float so you can walk, run or hike and go out and enjoy the snow.”