In Deep Powder

• Cross-country skis have an edge in deep powder, but neither piece of winter gear is of much help in this type of snow. Speed snowshoes have a small surface area, which makes them almost useless in deep snows.
  
  

Packed Mountain Trails

• Speed snowshoes--or aerobic snowshoes, as they are sometimes called--are fantastic for trekking up and down snow-covered mountains. Cross-country skis are not recommended for steep, mountain trails and, in fact, they can be dangerous to use in this situation.
  
  

Groomed Trails

• Cross-country skis and speed snowshoes are easily usable on a machine-groomed ski trail. However, cross-country of skis will allow the winter traveler to glide far across the white countryside with a minimum of effort.
  
  

Breaking Trail

• Cross-country skis have a big edge here. Cross-country skis are good for breaking trail in small to moderate amounts of freshly, fallen snow. Speed snowshoes are not of much benefit in fresh snow.
  
  

The Forest Trail

• Unless the trail is wide, straight and crosses flat terrain, aerobic snowshoes are best to use. On a narrow, steep and twisting trail in the heart of the winter forest, speed snowshoes will be very much the better choice.
  
  

Hard-packed Crust

• On a hard-packed crust that covers vast open areas, cross-country skis will get you across the terrain quicker, as long as the crust is strong enough to hold the skier up at the surface level.