To buy less expensive shoes in a set with poles and bags, the best time of the year is November and December. Lots of the box stores like Target, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Costco, etc sell them for under $75 for the set. I did a lot of calling a couple of weeks ago looking for some and Cabella’s had a couple for $70 just for the shoes. I bought one of the 2 they had. Higher end stores like REI have them but are more expensive.
Uncle_Fun
Check out Menard’s too and see if they have any left. They had Yukon Charlie’s which are a popular lower priced brand. You should easily be able to get some for $75 or less and if you get that into it get better ones later.
I’m a big fan of Redfeather and they are generally reasonably priced. A good quality snowshoe should last for at least five years and if you use them often, you’ll easily get your moneys worth no matter what you pay.
If you’re going to buy poles as well, that is where I’d recommend getting as good as you can afford. My first set of poles were pretty cheap and they didn’t last more than a month. I bought a pair of Komperdell’s and couldn’t be happier with them. Pricier but definitely worth it.
When buying poles, look for ones that have the snap style lock rather than the twist lock. The twist locks tend to loosen up occasionally as you’re using them and over time, the wear and tear will cause them to fail much quicker than the snap lock style.
We like Tubbs brand. Great bindings easy on and off. We’ve gotten several sets from eBay slightly used at half price or less. Poles are just ski poles from Goodwill. These combos work great for us as occasional users.