Best Sledding Gear for a Backyard Hill This Winter
A good snow day turns even a small backyard slope into the best hill in the neighborhood. The right sleds make that hill faster, safer, and a lot more fun for every age.
We picked gear that holds up to a whole season of runs, not a single afternoon. You will find a steerable sled for teens and adults, a classic toboggan for the whole family, and a few picks that keep the little ones happy.
Before the first storm, walk your hill and clear rocks, stumps, and anything near the bottom. A flat runout with no fence or street at the end matters more than any sled.
1.Best Steerable Sled: Hammerhead Pro HD
The Hammerhead Pro HD is the sled that makes grownups want to take one more run. You ride it head first on a padded deck, and the front runners steer with a simple handlebar, so you can carve around the big pine at the bottom instead of bailing into the snow.
It is built from a steel frame with a tough plastic deck, and it handles packed snow and icy tracks better than any plastic saucer. Teens love it, and it holds up to a full winter of use.
It costs more than a typical sled, but it is the kind of gear that gets handed down instead of tossed out in March.
Hammerhead Pro HD Sled
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600+ reviews
A steerable steel frame sled with a padded deck that carves through packed snow and icy runs.
Shop on Amazon →2.Best Family Toboggan: Flexible Flyer Wooden Toboggan
Nothing says winter like four people piled on a wooden toboggan. Flexible Flyer's classic toboggan has a curled front, a pull rope, and side rails to hold onto when the hill gets bumpy.
The longer sizes seat a parent with two or three kids, which makes the first big run less scary for younger riders. Wood also glides well on fresh powder where short plastic sleds bog down.
Add a padded cushion and store it out of the weather between storms. A quick coat of paste wax on the bottom keeps it fast for years.
Flexible Flyer Wooden Toboggan
Check price on Amazon
900+ reviews
A classic wooden toboggan with a curled front and side rails that seats the whole family.
Shop on Amazon →3.Best Classic Runner Sled: Flexible Flyer Steel Runner Sled
The steel runner sled is the one your grandparents rode, and it still works great on packed snow. The wooden deck and steering crossbar let kids lean and turn without much practice.
Runner sleds shine once a hill has been packed down after a few hours of use. On fresh, deep powder they sink, so keep a tube or toboggan around for the first runs of the day.
It also looks great leaning against the porch rail with a wreath on it, which gives it a second job all December.
Flexible Flyer Steel Runner Sled
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1,800+ reviews
A wooden deck sled on steel runners with a steering bar that handles packed snow beautifully.
Shop on Amazon →4.Best Snow Bike: STIGA Snowracer
The STIGA Snowracer is a sled with a steering wheel, a padded seat, and a brake. Kids feel like they are driving a snowmobile, and the steering ski makes it easy to stay on the track.
The brake is the real selling point for parents. Riders can slow down before the bottom of the hill instead of dragging their boots.
It works best on a packed run. Give it a few passes with a toboggan first and it will fly.
STIGA Snowracer Classic Snow Sled
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1,100+ reviews
A steerable snow bike with a padded seat and a brake that gives kids real control on the hill.
Shop on Amazon →5.Best Plastic Toboggan: Slippery Racer Downhill Xtreme
For pure speed on a budget, a long plastic toboggan is hard to beat. The Slippery Racer Downhill Xtreme fits an adult and a child, has molded handles, and comes with a tow rope for the walk back up.
Plastic is light enough for a six year old to drag uphill without help. It is also tough enough to survive being dropped on the driveway a hundred times.
Keep a spare in the garage for visiting friends. The whole yard has more fun when nobody waits for a turn.
Slippery Racer Downhill Xtreme Toboggan Snow Sled
Check price on Amazon
5,000+ reviews
A long, lightweight plastic toboggan with molded handles and a pull rope that seats two riders.
Shop on Amazon →Quick Tips for a Safer Backyard Sledding Hill
Clear the runout. Make sure the bottom of the hill is flat and open, with no fence, street, or pond in the path.
Feet first for kids. Young riders should sit up and go feet first. Save head first sleds for older kids and adults.
Pack the track. Make a few slow runs with a toboggan to pack fresh snow. Runner sleds and snow bikes need a firm base.
Light the hill. String outdoor lights along the walk back up if you sled after dark. It keeps everyone on the same path.
Set up a warm up spot. A fire pit and a thermos of cocoa at the top of the hill keeps the fun going for hours.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of sled is best for a small backyard hill?
A plastic toboggan or snow tube works best on short, gentle slopes because they slide well on fresh snow. Runner sleds need a longer, packed run to get going.
Are steerable sleds safe for kids?
Steerable sleds like the Hammerhead are best for teens and adults who can control speed. Younger kids do better on a snow bike with a brake or a sit up toboggan.
How do you make a sled go faster?
Pack the track with a few slow runs, then rub paste wax or ski wax on the bottom of the sled. Colder days with firm snow are always faster than wet, slushy afternoons.
How should I store sleds in the off season?
Dry them off and store them in a garage or shed out of direct sun. Wooden sleds and toboggans benefit from a light coat of wax or sealant once a year.