Winter in Calgary means snow and lots of it. For almost my entire life I have not been a fan of winter. I often dream of a life in Hawaii where they don’t even sell shovels for clearing your driveway. But since having kids, I’ve become an increasing fan of getting outside in the winter. Clara loves it, and I’m sure Ryker will want to be out there with his sister as soon as he’s old enough. Because of this we’ve found ourselves tobogganing a lot this year and even if we’re just heading to the park Clara wants to take a sled with us.
We currently have two sleds. One was a gift, and the other we bought this year for tobogganing. They’re both great in their own way, but what’s the best sled for you this winter in Calgary? Here’s an in-depth look at 8 of the best sleds you can buy online (or in store).
This sled is ideal for toddlers on gentle slopes. I definitely wouldn’t recommend sending them down a giant hill on this one. It’s also good for towing the little ones. The high back and safety strap keeps them firmly in place, even if they fall asleep.
This unique looking sled – or luge – is ideal for kids five and up who have a need for speed. Its light weight makes it easy to carry up the hill, and the design makes it easy to steer. It can withstand weight up to 250 lbs, so if Dad wants to take a rip down the hill on it as well, he can!
You just can’t have a list of sleds without including the classic wooden toboggan. I won’t pretend it doesn’t come with a cost though. This winter classic is six feet long and one reviewer even says they managed to get their entire family of five on it. It comes with a waterproof pad to keep your butt comfy, but as I mentioned it comes with a steep price tag at just under $290.
This plastic sled with tow rope is big enough for two kids to sit in, or one adult – if you’re so inclined. The super slick hard plastic bottom makes for a speedy ride down the slopes and the rope makes it easy to pull up the hill.
This is the first of our two sleds on this list and I have to say there is a lot to like about this sled. It was recommended to us by our friends at Off-road Discovery and it’s easy to see why. The higher walls on it are perfect for pulling kids over rough terrain without fear they’ll fall out. The way the rope attaches gives you a steady, strong pull without fear of it snapping off. Lastly, it’s size makes it great for going down hills with your kid. I’ve linked to where you can buy online, but you can also pick this up at your local Canadian Tire.
Traditional Baby Sled with Pad
This is the second of our sleds on this list and this one was a favourite when Clara was little and will likely get some use towards the end of winter with Ryker. It’s great for pulling kids through fairly even snow and as an added bonus looks great in pictures if you’re thinking of doing an outdoor photoshoot. I wouldn’t recommend this for more serious use though. I once took Clara through Fish Creek with it and she ended up spilling out a couple of times (oops :o).
What a time to be alive that this is a thing that exists. I would have loved this as a kid. Imagine the speed! The races! The jumps! The injuries!
Last of the best sleds you can buy online, but certainly not least, is the sled that everyone HAD to have when I was kid. I have no idea if it’s still cool or not, but based on the ones I’ve seen on the toboggan hills in my neighbourhood, they’re still going strong. All the cool kids had one when I was little, so obviously that meant I did not. The wipeouts on one of these were always epic, but on the plus side it was way harder to crash than on a traditional sled.
Those are the best sleds you can buy online. Did I miss a great one? let me know in the comments!
For more Dashing Dad check out:
- 16 Free Things To Do With Your Kids
- Things To Do Over The Winter In Calgary
- Do You Need A Nanny? An Interview With The Good Nanny
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