Boots for snowshoeing?

I just picked up a cheapo set of snow shoes (Thunder Bay) on Marketplace and went out yesterday. I really loved it but have a question. I wore them over my LL Bean duck boots. Everything felt fine, but I noticed a bit of scuffing on the leather section of the boot. How much wear and tear is to be expected from snow shoeing? Do expensive sets protect boots better than cheapo ones? Do some people have dedicated boots for snow shoeing? If so, what's a popular brand? Do gaiters help with this at all?

I can live with replacing my duck boots a little more frequently, but if there's an obvious way to avoid it, i'd love to hear it. Thanks!