I have to be stronger (or really be at a higher strength-to-weight ratio) than I currently am to enjoy skating -- I have to be able to get a fast rhythm going, whereas with classic there's several different speeds at which I can get a groove. I will say that I used to skate on trad skis just fine -- you don't have to buy skate skis to see if you like it, although the salesfolks will insist you need two sets because sales. And you can only skate on groomed trails -- you can classic ski anywhere.
I wish I'd bought metal-edged skis when I bought my trad skis -- they're great skis, and I got nicer skis at the price point I was looking for, but the terrain in the northeast ends up rockier and rootier and hillier, all of which would be nice to have edges on.
(I agree on snowshoes -- they force me to have an unnaturally wide stride, and I just don't enjoy it.)




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