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The best sleds bring out the kid in all of us. It doesn’t require nearly as much equipment as many other snow activities, and you can often do it right in your own driveway or yard. Sledding is a fun way to get out in nature while also getting your heart pounding by hiking uphill and soaring downhill on your sled. There are many types of sleds, from traditional toboggans that can carry a whole family to snow tubes and plastic saucers that are best suited for a solo sledder to utility sleds that can speed travel and carry gear. We’ve chosen the LL Bean Sonic Snowtube as our best overall pick, as it’s the most versatile and can shred the local hill to a larger ski mountain if you have one in your area that allows it. But everyone’s outdoor gear needs differ, so here are our picks for the best sleds.
- Best overall: LL Bean Sonic Snowtube
- Best budget: Snow Saucer
- Best for jumps and tricks: Mad River Rocket
- Best splurge: Northern Toboggan Company Classic Wooden Toboggan Sled
- Best for ice fishing and hauling gear: Shappell Eagle Claw’s Jet Sled
How we chose the best sleds
To choose the best sleds, we headed to the nearest snowy slopes and sledded down them, of course. Fortunately, I live in Vermont, where we like to say that we have “nine months of winter and three months of damn poor sledding.” I’ve been an avid sledder my whole life. And I regularly sled everywhere from my driveway to Lincoln Gap, one of Vermont’s mountain passes, and Cochran’s Ski Area, which is in my backyard.
To pick the best sleds, we recruited testers from 12-60 years old. We tried snow tubes and saucers, toboggans and utility sleds, cheap sleds and expensive sleds. We navigated deep snow and packed powder, light fluff and snow that felt more like concrete than fluff. We sledded solo, in tandem, and with sleds loaded to their maximum weight capacity and beyond. We navigated grass and rocks, kickers, and more.
The best snow sleds: Reviews & Recommendations
Now that you’re getting excited about winter and your own sledding adventures, we’re presenting our top recommendations for snow sleds across categories and a range of prices.
Best overall: LL Bean Sonic Snowtube
LL Bean
Pros
- More durable than many snow tubes
- Semi-rigid base slides exceptionally well on a variety of snow surfaces
- Air inside cushions the ride
- Ride it on your sitting or lying
Cons
- The ride is bouncy
- Minimal steering
- Anything air-inflated can pop if it hits a sharp object
Specs
- Weight: 10 lbs (regular); 17 lbs (XL)
- Size: 34″ outside diam. x 10″H (regular); 40″ outside diam. x 12″H
- Material: 600 denier polyester top, Heavy-duty butyl rubber inner tube, Semirigid polyethylene base
- Price: $129
For many people, part of the fun of sledding is that feeling you get from your sled spinning and bouncing down the hill. LL Bean’s air-filled Sonic Snowtube gives you an exciting ride, but it does it with less jarring thanks to the inflatable innertube inside that takes the impact down a notch. Like all circular sleds, this sled will spin sideways or even backward as you descend. It’s great in a track but can also be used on open slopes. Initially designed for commercial tubing parks, it’s semi-rigid with a slippery, long-lasting polyethylene base for stability on the descent. So, testers had a fair chance of riding this sled to the bottom of the hill instead of falling off midslope. While plenty of innertube-shaped sleds are flimsy and can pop, this one is made from heavy-duty materials that will keep it in your quiver for many years to come. In our testing, dog toenails did not cause tube damage. But if the inner tube does leak or pop, LL Bean sells replacements.
The Snowtube can handle the weight and mass of kids and adults. It comes in regular and XL, which is big enough for two teenagers or an adult and a child to ride tandem. It’s made for both groomed and powdery slopes. Handles help you hold on, and a tow strap makes getting the tube back up the hill easy. The Sonic Snowtube comes in five colors.
Best budget: Snow Saucer
Amazon
Pros
- Affordable
- Super light
- Can be stored indoors or outdoors
Cons
- Not the most durable
- No shock absorption
Specs
- Weight: 1.7 lbs
- Size: 26” round
- Material: Plastic
- Price: $14.99
The lightest and most affordable sled in this test, the Snow Saucer is a basic concave, circular snow sled you can ride sitting or lying down on your stomach or back. Get a running start or sit to start, and you’ll be soaring down the nearest snowy slope before you know it.
In deeper snow, the Snow Saucer has less buoyancy than wider or longer sleds. But it’s a great choice for a packed track or more compacted conditions. Riding this sled, you can expect to feel any variations in terrain. The Snow Saucer has no shock absorption. Cutouts in the saucer serve as handholds. Pull up on the hand holds, and you’ll be able to nudge the saucer left or right. The saucer has holes for a tow rope, which is not included. We didn’t miss it. This snow sled is so light it doesn’t need a tow rope to get it back up the hill. At 1.7 pounds, even most kids can carry it.
The Snow Saucer may only be one step up from a plastic lunch tray, but it’s still a heck of a lot of fun. We recommend the Snow Saucer for a single rider.
Best for jumps and tricks: Mad River Rocket
Mad River
Pros
- Easy to steer
- Stoppable
- Extremely rugged
- Comfortable
- Can also be used for casual sledding
Cons
- Pricey
- Can inspire sledders to take risks
Specs
- Weight: 7 lbs
- Size: 47” long x 20” wide x 6.5” tall
- Material: High-density polyethylene (HDPE) 50% recycled
- Price: $300
Climb on board, kneel on the high-density foam pads glued to the bottom of this sled, and strap yourself in with the nylon knee strap. Then you and your highly maneuverable Mad River Rocket are ready for a rollicking ride down whatever slope you decide to ride and ready for any tricks you want to try. If you’re a sledder who wants to jump, twist, spin, and get intentionally rowdy, this sled is for you. Of all the sleds we’ve tested over the years, this is one of the only ones we’d call high-performance. This sled lets you lean to steer precisely enough to avoid trees and other obstacles while using your hands like outriggers for stabilization. It’s also one of the only sleds you can slow by leaning back or hockey stop with a hip snap as needed.
The Mad River Rockey has an inverted keel with three channels molded into the plastic. In the snow, those channels create center and side monorails of snow that hold the sled on track as you lap your run. If it’s deep enough, the sled eventually will carve a bobsled track down the mountain with snowy walls on either side. The foam knee pads absorb the impact even when you’re getting air. Advanced sledders have ridden the Mad River Rocket down New Hampshire’s Tuckerman’s Ravine, Utah’s Snowbird Ski Resort, and countless hiking trails they snowshoe up and slide down. It’s been backflipped, front-flipped, 360ed, 720d, and more. But it’s also fun to use like any other plastic sled—sitting or on your stomach, solo or with a friend.
Best splurge: Northern Toboggan Company Classic Wooden Toboggan Sled
Northern Toboggon
Pros
- Handcrafted for durability and beauty
- made from sustainable materials
- great for a group
- can also be used for hauling
- Can be engraved
Cons
- Expensive
- bulky to store
- requires a break in period for best performance
Specs
- Weight: 20 lbs
- Size: 15.5 w x 15.5 h x 64” l
- Material: sustainably harvested red oak
- Price: $595
Toboggans are designed to be ridden sitting; they’re steerable and stable but fast. This sled is beautiful and durable. Traditional wooden toboggans are often passed down from generation to generation and become family heirlooms. Wooden toboggans are classic, beautiful, and in the case of Northern Toboggan Company’s Classic Wooden Toboggan, hand-crafted in northern Minnesota from sustainably harvested red oak.
Toboggans are characterized by a hood that bends up and back over the front sledder’s feet. It’s contiguous with the rest of the sled, which is long and flat with stabilizing wooden cross pieces that also define where passengers should sit. Northern Toboggan Company forms their toboggan hoods using hand-steaming, not chemicals. The natural wood sled is then finished with linseed oil. It’s ready to ride when you receive it. But be aware that wooden toboggans require a break-in period. Using the toboggan will polish and harden the sled’s underside, making it fast. And once it’s broken in, you can wax it if you want to make it even faster
The Classic Wooden Toboggan Sled uses stainless steel hardware, a nylon pull rope riders use like reins for steering, and polyester roping along the perimeter for handholds on or lashing gear. The ride is stable, directional, fast, and so much fun.
This toboggan is built to be used by up to two adults or three children, but it’s just as fun to ride alone. Add a cushion to increase your comfort. And, if this toboggan isn’t big enough to hold your friends or family, don’t stress. Northern Toboggan Company also makes an eight-foot version for four or more riders.
Best for ice fishing and hauling gear: Shappell Eagle Claw’s Jet Sled
Shappel
Pros
- Very sturdy
- Easy haul over rough terrain
- Lots of room for gear
- Comes in camo colorway
Cons
- Overkill if you’re just looking to joyride
Specs
- Weight: 15 lbs
- Size: 54 in. by 25 in. by 10 in.
- Material: HDPE polyethylene
- Price: $69.99
A lot of sleds are made purely for fun. This sled can slide down your hill of choice, competing with snowtubes and toboggans for fun and speed. But Shappell’s Eagle Claw Jet Sled is a functional tool, too, made for hauling on ice and snow.
A sled is the best way to move gear for hunting, ice fishing, and winter expeditions. This one is made from thick and durable polyethylene with high sides and a tow rope. It’s stable enough to tow your kids by skis or snowshoes, to get your gear onto the ice for winter fishing, or to shuttle firewood from the woodpile to your door. And it’s not just for winter. Use this sled year-round for garden chores or to drag gear to an idyllic spot on the beach. Molded Runners add strength and stability. And high sides hold the load in. Add DIY PVC poles to turn this sled into a proper pulk sled for best control when you’re towing a load. These are just some of the reasons it’s the best value.
Things to consider before buying your next sled
Price
Sleds can cost tens to hundreds of dollars. The most affordable options may make sense for sledders who plan to hit their local hill for just a few days a year. If you plan to haul gear on your sled, you’ll need to spend more for a sled with the durability and structural integrity to manage a load. And if you want a more comfortable sled, one that has higher performance, or one that is handmade from sustainable materials, that will cost more, too.
Materials
Plastic sleds like the Mad River Rocket and Shappell Eagle Claw’s Jet Sled require little or no maintenance. Dry them out when you’re not using them, and you can store them indoors or outdoors out of the sun. A wooden sled will benefit from periodic oiling. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions. Inner tube sleds need to be inflated before use. Inner tubes can be punctured, which will require a patch or replacement.
Weight
To get down the hill, you need to go up the hill. When you’re sledding, that usually means walking while towing or carrying your sled. A heavier sled will take more energy to bring back up the hill. A light sled will take less. If you have a heavier sled, use the sled’s tow rope or add one yourself to most easily bring it back up to the top of your run. A tow rope can also be handy if you’re sledding with small children who may want to ride back up the hill while you pull.
FAQs
Most sleds can support one adult or one adult and a small child. But some sleds, like Northern Toboggan Company Classic Wooden Toboggan Sled, are made for three or more passengers. Snow conditions will determine how much weight a sled can handle. With a heavy load, a sled can get bogged down in deeper snow, or can go uncomfortably fast on hardpacked snow. Every sled has a sweet spot that may take some experimentation to figure out.
Once a snow base is on the ground, all snow is great for sledding. It may take a few runs to make a track in powdery snow, but powder snow is the softest and most forgiving. Hard-packed snow is the fastest, which can be good or bad depending on your objectives. Always take inventory of potential hazards in and near the slope you’re sledding, and have a bail plan before you start downhill.
As with most gear, your sled will last longer if you take good care of it. When you’re not using it, store your sled out of direct sunlight, which can break down plastics and make wood dry and brittle. Avoid rocks when you’re sledding. Sledding over a rock can damage the bottle of a sled and slow it down or put a hole in it. Dry your sled before storing it. Mold and mildew can be stinky and slimy and unpleasant to sit on. They can also degrade the materials sleds are made from. Some sleds, like Northern Toboggan Company’s Classic Wooden Toboggan Sled, are made to last generations.
Final thoughts on buying the best sleds
- Best overall: LL Bean Sonic Snowtube
- Best budget: Snow Saucer
- Best for jumps and tricks: Mad River Rocket
- Best splurge: Northern Toboggan Company Classic Wooden Toboggan Sled
- Best for ice fishing and hauling gear: Shappell Eagle Claw’s Jet Sled
For as long as there has been snow, people have been sledding. And anything that lets you slide downhill can be a tool for the job, from a trash bag to a handcrafted wooden toboggan. We’re trying to say that whatever sled you buy, with some good heated clothing, gloves or mittens, winter boots, a hat, other warm accessories, and a desire to have fun, you’ll have a good time. Some sleds will last longer than others, some will slide faster than others, some will be a little less jarring, and some will make it easier to sled with a friend or a family member or two than others. But if you buy any of these sleds, you pretty much can’t lose.
Berne Broudy is an avid outdoorswoman. She has skied mountains from Vermont to Chile to Greenland, and she has sledded along the way, whenever possible. In the winter, Broudy also Nordic skis, fat bikes, and “ski shoes” with her dogs. Broudy is a veteran journalist who writes about travel, gear, and people for many lifestyle, trade, and consumer publications, including SKI, Outside, Men’s Journal, Gear Junkie, and more. She has headed PopSci’s BOWN for Outdoors and Sports for the past 15 years. Follow her @bernebroudy …
