Snowshoes and pac boots get along just fine. If you choose a pickerel shoe-long, skinny, lots of upcurve in front, moderate tail in back, you can kinda ski down the slopes. Snow shoes are slower than xc skis, but better suited for working in the snow-trapping, hunting or woods work is lots easier on shoes than skis. the current fad in snowshoes -paw is a high tech bear paw design-more maneuvearble than the longer shoes, but less flotation, generally bearpaws are good for tracks or bushwacking.