Snowshoeing is a blast. It's just like walking, but uses up a LOT more calories.

I go out a lot during the winter with my dogs. Here are a few things I've learned:

1. Use poles. They're very helpful when you start to tip over or for extra balance when you have to step over roots and things.

2. If you think you may be carrying a pack or other heavy thing on a regular basis and you're near the top end of the weight for a certain snowshoe, get the next size up. Same goes if you are going to be in deep powder. Go for the extra flotation.

3. If you're going to be traversing (going across rather than up or down) a lot of slopes make sure the shoes have a heavy duty crampon on both the toe and heel area of the shoes. You will slide and be very unhappy without an aggressive heel crampon. My roommate gave herself an awful groin pull when her snowshoe slid out from under her one day. Since then she's bought some better ones and been much happier.

4. We've discovered that wearing light hikers, or other shoe that fits well for long hikes, with a pair of overshoes like Neos, seem to make our feet the happiest. We tried using our Sorels, but they're just not made for long walks, and our feet ended up with blisters.

Go out there and enjoy. It's a great low key way to be outside in the winter.