I like Crank Brothers Candy pedals because they still work in the mud and snow and allow a fair ammount of float. Shimano are more mechanical with a definate limit to the float and don’t like heavy mud or snow.
Shoes, get whatever fits, they’re all much of a muchness really, XC shoes are all stiff, AM shoes (MP66’s for example) are a bit floppy, lower end Xc shoes and some inbetweeny higher end ones are in between stiffness.
Propper XC shoes are a nightmare to walk in on hard surfaces as there’s no flex. But too much flex can lead to ‘hot spots’ on the soles of your feet where they press on the pedal. They also don’t clip out so easily as the sole gives as you try an rotate your foot out.
