Cold weather can mean long days inside for kids and adults with not much to do but watch TV and dream of summer days. But don’t wish away the snow. Instead, embrace it with a durable wooden sled that provides hours of fun sledding down snowy hills.
Wooden sleds typically have a higher price than their plastic counterparts, and for good reason. Wooden sleds are more durable and can often last for years and even decades when cared for and stored properly. Wooden sleds provide a comfortable and stable ride that is especially important when being used by young children. We also like wooden sleds because of their timeless and classic look.
Sledding is a fun way to burn calories during the snowy months and provides lasting memories with friends and family. There’s no expensive equipment or lift passes needed, and the skills required to stay on a sled are thankfully limited. If you’re ready to take back frigid weather with a classic pastime that’s fun for every age, check out our top picks for wooden sleds.
1. Flexible Flyer Metal Runner Sled
For a classically styled wooden sled that will have you sliding down a snowy hill with ease, we recommend the Flexible Flyer Metal Runner Sled. Riders can easily and accurately steer the sled when sitting or in the lying down position by guiding the steering bar. The powder-coated steel runners on the bottom of the sled provide a fast ride on packed snow. The 48-inch long smooth birchwood sled is safe for kids ages five and up.
Pros: The Metal Runner has an impressive weight limit of 250 pounds, making it a great option for both kids and adults.
Cons: The Metal Runner weighs 12 pounds and can be cumbersome to carry. It’s easiest to transport with a pull rope, but one is not included.
Flexible Flyer Metal Runner Sled$152.49$179.9915% OffBuy Now On Amazon
2. Flexible Flyer Wood Toboggan
Fly down the hill with speed in a large group on the Flexible Flyer Wood Toboggan. The Toboggan is six feet long and can hold up to three riders at once. Made with northern hardrock maple, the toboggan has a steam-bent hood design that is secured in place with durable countersunk zinc-plated screws. The slick wooden bottom sits on top of the snow instead of sinking and creates a smooth surface that is perfect for sledding. Flexible Flyer also sells an optional cushion pad that makes the seat of the toboggan water resistant and absorbs bumps.
Pros: The Toboggan is made in Canada and comes fully assembled with a pull rope for added portability.
Cons: Because of the Toboggan’s length, it can be difficult to fit in a car or store when not in use. The Toboggan has the highest price tag on our list.
Flexible Flyer Wood Toboggan$179.99Buy Now On Amazon
3. Millside Industries Convertible Garden Wagon Sleigh
It’s a sled, it’s a wagon, it’s a whole lot of fun in one with the Millside Industries Convertible Garden Wagon Sleigh. A great option for kids and for parents who want to save their backs (the Millside has an extra-long handle for easy pulling), the sled and wagon combo comes with four wheels and four ski feet. The hardwood deck and rack measure 16 inches by 34 inches and has an anti-tip design and heavy-duty undercarriage to keep young riders safe. Customers can also purchase a weather-protection shield canopy to keep riders dry and warm.
Pros: The Millside has a 300-pound weight limit that makes it a great option for carrying loads on dry and snowy ground.
Cons: Changing the tires to skis can be a bit tricky. The sled doesn’t provide a high backrest for riders and weighs 24 pounds, making it difficult to lift.
Millside Industries Convertible Garden Wagon…$138.38Buy Now On Amazon
4. Flexible Flyer Baby Pull Sled
For the smallest snow lover in your family, we recommend the Flexible Flyer Baby Pull Sled. The sled arrives fully assembled and ready to use. Safe for ages 18 months to four years, the sled measures 29 inches by 14 inches by 11 inches and has a wide base for a comfortable, stable ride. Reinforced metal plates keep the pieces of the sled securely fastened and safe from scratching little riders. A high, curved backrest provides ample support for riders and customers can also purchase a padded insert that provides added comfort and blocks cold air from circulating.
Pros: The Baby Pull Sled weighs only 8.5 pounds and comes with a tow rope attached.
Cons: The Baby Pull Sled has a maximum weight limit of 50 pounds and can’t be used with older kids or adults.
Flexible Flyer Baby Pull Sled$129.95Buy Now On Amazon
FAQs
For this, we'd recommend sanding the surface of your sled and applying 3 coats of Exterior Oil-Based Clear Spar Varnish or Polyurethane for best protection.
How do sleds interact with snow and how does that affect their speed? ›
Frictional force exists between your sled and the snow and is directed back up the hill. That's why you'll eventually stop at the bottom of the hill and why certain sleds allow you to go faster than others.
How do you sled in the snow? ›
Everyone should sit face-forward on their sleds with their feet downhill. Never go down the hill face-first because this can lead to a serious head injury. Never stand on a sled. Everyone should go down the hill one at a time and with only one person per sled (except for adults with young kids).
How does the snow help the sled move down hill? ›
Snow has a lower coefficient of friction than grass, so the force of friction will be smaller, and you will go down the hill faster. The normal force and gravity are the main forces during sledding, so the more you weigh, the greater the force will be and the faster you will sled down the hill.
What is the easiest and most durable finish for wood? ›
Polyurethane is the most durable option for indoor woodworking projects. It's highly effective at protecting cabinets, doors, furniture, and floors from scratches and abrasive damage. Polyurethane is also water-resistant and is intended to enhance the natural appearance of the wood with a satin or mid-gloss finish.
What is the best material for snow sled? ›
Fiberglass or other composite shells offer the greatest strength to weight but they are easily damaged by rocks. Due to the strength and cost of composite sleds, you usually find this material in larger expedition style pulks. Most sleds for short to mid-sized pulks use some form of high density polyethylene.
What is the friction between a sled and the snow while sledding called? ›
The snow exerts a kinetic frictional force on the runners of the sled, so the sled slows down and eventually comes to a stop. The coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.050.
What purpose does sled pulling and sled pushing provide to sprinting ability? ›
The use of a sled for training can help to develop stronger calf's, glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps, which are essential for running, jumping, and many other sports all brought on by how you push or pull the sled under certain loads.
What are the benefits of sleds? ›
What Are the Benefits of Sled Training? Pushing a sled forward is an exercise that can be used to improve sprinting performance, burn calories, and build strength in the quads, hamstrings, and calves without any eccentric (negative) force, such as landing during running.
What age do kids stop sledding? ›
Young kids (5 and under) should sled with an adult, and kids under 12 should be watched at all times. Everyone should sit face-forward on their sleds with their feet downhill. Never go down the hill face-first because this can lead to a serious head injury. Never stand on a sled.
Inner tubes and pool floats
Sticking with the water theme, inflatable inner tubes and other forms of water floats (think the flat kinds you'd use in a pool) can make great sleds.
How do you stop on a sled? ›
To slow down or stop on flat terrain, put both feet out into the snow. In steep terrain we recommend sitting towards the back of the sled, putting both feet flat on the ground and holding on tight to the front of the toboggan. If you need to brake at high speed, simply pull the front of the toboggan up into the air.
Why does the speed of a sled increase as it moves down a snow-covered hill even though no one is pushing on? ›
Explain why the speed of a sled increases as is moves down a snow-covered hill, even though no one is pushing on the sled. acceleration due to gravity increases speed.
What is the energy of a sled rolling down a hill? ›
As the sled slides down, its kinetic energy increases and does not remain constant. The decrease in gravitational potential energy is equal to increase in kinetic energy. They are not equal as some energy is lost for doing work against friction. Gravitational potential energy and the kinetic energy both must decrease.
How to make a snow sled go faster? ›
Tip 1: If you have a day or so, spray water on your track to make a layer of ice. Tip 2: Spray cooking spray oil on the bottom of your sled to lubricate it. Snowboard or ski wax will last longer, but it is more expensive. Tip 3: Use sand paper to sad down the rough edges on your sled (if there are any).
What is the most durable wood finish? ›
Polyurethane Wood Finish
Polyurethane wood finishes are synthetic coatings that are highly durable and water resistant, making them the best clear coat for wood protection.
What is the toughest wood finish? ›
It is arguably the hardest & most durable of all topcoats. And in recent decades polyurethane, or poly (as I'll call it for short), has become the go to topcoat finish for woodworkers everywhere. Nearly every finish & topcoat manufacturer has come up with a poly product for sale.
What is the best finish for cedar wood? ›
Opaque finishes
Alkyd oil-based primers usually offer the best shield against discoloration by water-soluble extractives. Latex paint, particularly 100% acrylic formulations, remain more flexible with age and are better able to accommodate dimensional changes by stretching and shrinking with the wood.
What wood finish is best for outdoors? ›
Epoxy finishes provide the most protection of all outdoor finishes, creating a thick, plastic-like, water-impermeable barrier on the surface of the wood. This makes them the finish of choice for boat builders. Although epoxy finishes do a great job at blocking moisture, they don't offer any UV protection.
