Your looks will never work, I've seen people on a couple steep muddy courses that couldn't make the run up wearing bmx shoes due to lack of traction, road shoes would really suck. If you're going all new eggbeaters are one of the easiest with mud, time works well and is a very close second, personally I still like my spd, occasionally they do get a little clogged but that hasn't stopped them from working fairly well overall. Just as important, get mtb shoes and preferably ones with front spikes or cleats.