Are you waking up to some snow? Maybe you’re one of the lucky few with a store-bought sled. You’ll be the envy of the sledding hill crowd this snow day. But sometimes things change without notice, and we are not always notified. We’re in the south where snow is a rarity, so you may have found yourself in a conundrum when the white stuff starts pouring down. Lots of snow, no sled.
There’s a long tradition in the South of makeshift homemade sleds. In fact, I’d argue that snow sleds repurposed or created from household materials are the traditional sleds for snow days in the South. Whatever the reason, you need a sled…stat. Here are some ideas for alternatives to sleds that we have used or have seen used in case you find yourself caught without one.
Keep in mind that anything you repurpose for a makeshift sled will probably get ruined and no longer be able to serve its original purpose. But it’s worth it, right? Also, make sure you’re sledding on a hill that’s not crowded, and without obstacles like trees and rocks. One last time: Sled at your own risk.
Here are some fun ideas for alternatives to sleds:
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Creative Sled Alternatives
The stores are sold out, your kiddo broke their sled on the first run of the day, or your Amazon delivery got rescheduled due to bad weather. There are a few things you probably have around your house to use in a pinch as a sled alternative. Plus we’ve got some fun tips on how to make them screamin’ fast.
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Sledding with a river tube. Taken in January, 2010 in Charlotte, NC.
- Cardboard: Larger pieces work best. It’s not gonna be a long-term option, but it will hold up for a few runs. Plus, if it’s below freezing it will hold up longer because the snow won’t be melting and it won’t get water-logged.
- Lid from a Plastic Storage Container: Got one of those Rubbermaid large storage containers or sweater boxes? Some people use the bin itself or a laundry basket, but the high sides make it a bit of an injury risk and increase the chance of breakage. Just use the lid. One of our family’s favorite DIY sleds was made from the lid to one of our plastic storage bins! We drilled holes in the sides and attached a string to make it easy to pull. On that particular snow day, it worked wonders-providing hours of fun as we glided across our snow-covered backyard.
- Cafeteria Tray: The cafeteria tray is the old standby, although you might not have one in your house. We did this on the regular in college, and I can personally attest to the speed of a cafeteria tray on fresh snow. However, it needs to be a flat tray (not one with separate compartments) to function well.
- Heavy-Duty Garbage Bags: Those big black garbage bags you’ve got in your garage for leaves and yard waste will hold up well. Learn how to make a sled out of a trash bag and maybe a piece of cardboard. If you have some cardboard and a trash bag lying around, you’re in business! According to a how-to guide on instructables.com, you can make a sled by simply folding the cardboard into a curved shape and taping the trash bag over it.
- Air Mattress: Blow it up and head on out!
- Pool Float or Inner Tube: Do you have an inner tube left over from pool season? Do you have an tube left over from pool season? It probably won’t stay intact enough to use this summer, but you can get a whole lot of fun out of it now. Sledding with a river tube. Taken in January, 2010 in Charlotte, NC.
- Cookie Sheet: Sneak a sturdy cookie sheet from the kitchen for a sledding adventure. Do you have an old cookie sheet gathering dust in your kitchen? Repurpose it into a sled! I’m partial to the rimmed cookie sheets because they’re flat on the bottom. You probably can’t fit an adult’s tushie on there, but it will fit your kid’s perfectly.
- Vinyl Outdoor Cushions: We saw some people using them.
- Old Tarp: A simple, large tarp can also be an excellent makeshift sled, especially if the snow is icy or packed. These work best with smooth, almost icy surfaces. It glides over smooth, hard surfaces and can hold multiple riders.
- Smooth Hubcaps: (Don’t try it with wire wheels!)
- Innertubes: Inflated innertubes work great for sledding! If you have an old innertube that has been punctured, you can cut it open and let the kids sit inside it.
- Baby Pool: We actually saw a family using an old baby pool. Repurpose it into a sled! If you have an old baby pool that’s seen better days, flip it inside out. With the smooth side facing up, it works surprisingly well as a sled. You can even fit the whole family in it for a group ride! The one they were using would not slide well since the snow was soft, but they turned it inside out (turning the smooth side out) and it worked great. Their entire family went down together in it and they had great fun.
- Baby Tub: If your tush is small enough, you can use a baby bathtub as a homemade snow sled. If you can fit in it, and if there’s no baby that will need a bath in it, give it a go. For smaller riders, a baby tub can be a fun sled.
- Dog Bed: Ask your dog first, and then wrap it in a trash bag with duct tape. If your dog won’t mind parting with its bed (or if you have an old one that’s no longer in use), try wrapping it in a trash bag and securing it with duct tape.
- Trash Can Lids: Do not damage the roll-out trash cans provided by your county or trash company. It’s probably not a good idea to use the lids from your roll-out trash cans, but the round lids that come off completely work well as DIY sleds.
- Office Chair Mat (without the pokey things): Some mats for office chairs are smooth on one side and don’t have the gripping spikes on the back.
- Laundry Basket: A laundry basket might not seem like an obvious sled, but when paired with a sturdy rope, it becomes a fun way to slide around.
- Boogie Board: Did you know your boogie board can work for snow sledding?
- Yoga Mat: If you have a yoga mat, you can take a head-first dive down the slope.
- PVC Pipes: For a more advanced project, you can create a sled using PVC pipes. With a plywood board on top and a bit of creativity, you can make a sturdy sled with an attached rope for easy pulling.
Speed It Up!
You can also increase the speed of your sled (or sled alternative) by treating the bottom with ski wax, car wax, Pledge, or cooking spray.
Enjoy the Snow!
No matter what you use, the goal is to enjoy the snow and create lasting memories with your family.
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