‘Shoe' the blues away

Outdoor exercise in the winter is all in the shoes that you wear.

When a steep layer of snow blankets the ground, attempting to walk or run on it with regular shoes will only take you to the nearest foot bath for some warm relief. Cross-country skis and their requisite poles can navigate this snowy terrain, but the costly and cumbersome equipment, along with the learning curve, are not always inviting to beginners.

Snowshoes offer a way to benefit from the exercise of an outdoor walk merely by substituting your footwear. The shoes are usually comprised of a nylon or canvas platform surrounded by metal frames three times the size of one's foot. They are attached to the feet with bindings, and the toe end of the shoes are raised to aid walkers with maneuverability.