Are you sure your snow shoes aren't labeled right and left? Mine are, and it's hard for me to imagine that the shoe would fit on the "wrong foot." The bindings sound different from what I have, where you just loosen the strap on both sides (which can be done before you start putting them on), slide your foot in, and pull tight on both sides. When you have the strap tight, you snap down the little clamps on both sides and do the snap in the back. I find it easier to do sitting down, but I have done it standing, bending over, either on the trail or in the street.