How to buy the right snow shoeing gear

When you think about snowshoeing, do you picture someone strapping tennis rackets onto his feet and going for a jog across the snow? In reality, snowshoeing is a bit higher tech than this, and the sport, like cross country skiing or mountain climbing, requires specialized equipment. So what kind of gear should a beginner buy or rent before heading out on a snowshoe adventure? We asked an expert.Here is what to look for when choosing equipment for this sport.