kev
9.5x30 isn't really descriptive. Are they large and double ended? Photo? They do sound large enough for most snow. Often times you'll get so tired on snow shoes that you will think they aren't really helping and you step out of the and promptly sink in to you waist - maybe they did help. A lot of guys get too small of snow shoe - how much do you weigh in your gear? With a winter pack?

I HATE snowshoes, and I can do anything on skis that can be done on snowshoes, easier. You will have to pick up the weight of the snow shoe and drag it forward with every step. Get the wrong kind of snow and it will build up on top of the snow shoe making it really tiring.

That said, I've seen flimsy skis in deep powder that simply didn't work, and some snow you will sink through regardless of what is on your feet. Snow is a very variable thing, especially a first snow.

Use a pole, one is enough. Read a book.

Jim