Our pick
Our 12 testers unanimously chose the L.L.Bean Sonic Snow Tube as the best sled. It travels farther and faster than any other sled, and the pull strap makes it easy to haul back to the top of the hill.
The L.L.Bean Sonic Snow Tube has a hard-shell bottom that minimizes drag, protects knees and bottoms from the hard ridges of an icy slope, and makes it sail faster and farther than any other model we tried (other than the nearly identical Tube Pro Hard Bottom Snow Tube). Over four years of testing, the L.L.Bean snow tube has been successful on every kind of snow we’ve put it on, from wet and soft to frigid and crunchy. And thanks to the sturdy tow handle, even the littlest kids have had no problem hauling the Sonic Snow Tube back up the hill. One caveat: It’s almost impossible to steer, so it’s safest on a wide-open, straight sledding hill. The Sonic Snow Tube comes in two sizes. We recommend the extra-large size for two kids or an adult over about 6 feet tall. Typically priced over $150, it is an expensive sled. But it’s a durable one, as after four years of intense use, it has shown almost no signs of wear and tear.
Runner-up
The Tube Pro snow tube is almost identical to the L.L.Bean snow tube. The base price is lower, but once shipping is added in, the costs are about the same.
If the L.L.Bean Sonic Snow Tube is unavailable, or if you’re just looking for a different selection of tube coverings, we also like the Tube Pro Hard Bottom Snow Tube. In just about every way, the Tube Pro tube is identical to the L.L.Bean tube (in fact, Tube Pro once made tubes for L.L.Bean). The Tube Pro model has the same hard bottom, sturdy covering, nice pull rope, and heavy-duty inner-tube as the L.L.Bean Sonic Snow Tube. It also comes in the same two sizes. One difference is that Tube Pro offers an option to add a foam pad to the bottom of the shell (for an additional cost). It also sells a linking kit to attach two tubes together. At first glance, the Tube Pro model is considerably less expensive than the L.L.Bean tube, but the company is based out of Canada, and once shipping costs are factored in, the overall investment is just about the same. But if you’re looking to buy two, shopping on Tube Pro’s website may end up being less expensive.
Also great
The L.L.Bean Polar Slider DLX Sled is a high-quality, versatile plastic toboggan that’s almost as speedy as the snow tube. Unlike the tubes we recommend, it can be steered, and it’s a lot easier to load into a car.
In many ways, the L.L.Bean Polar Slider DLX is the sled we’ve been waiting for. Its design marries the speed, maneuverability, and portability of a plastic toboggan with a high-quality plastic that likely won’t shatter in the first winter. We’ve been critical of plastic toboggans for years, and this is the first one that has truly impressed us. This sled’s top speed doesn’t match the snow tubes’. But because it can be steered, you can use the Polar Slider DLX on a wider variety of sledding hills. At around $100, it’s pricey, but in addition to the durability, it offers a couple rider-friendly flourishes, such as the grippy and ever-so-slightly padded sitting area and the pull strap, which is easier to use than the simple rope found on most plastic toboggans. If the Polar Slider DLX Sled has a downside (other than the price), it’s the small(ish) size. We managed to get an adult and a kid (or two kids) on the so-called extra-large size, but that doesn’t leave any extra room.
Also great
The Jet Sled is big, boxy, and capable of holding a lot of bodies. It’s not the fastest sled, but it’s a load of fun for families or groups of friends.
The Shappell Jet Sled is all about capacity. Designed to haul gear out to an ice-fishing location, it’s boxier and deeper than the standard sled, and in our tests it was capable of fitting more people comfortably than any other sled we’ve found. More than once, we had it loaded with one adult and four kids. Compared with the other sleds we tested, the Jet Sled also felt safer: It never attains the race-car speed of the L.L.Bean sleds, and the high sides and wide front offer added protection and make it very difficult to tip over. (Some of our parent testers even relaxed their no-face-first sledding rule with the Jet Sled.) Because it’s so wide, this sled is also great for breaking in a new trail on freshly fallen snow.
Also great
The L.L.Bean Kids’ Pull Sled is a high-quality, easy-gliding sled that should have no problem lasting through multiple kids (or even generations).
To give your baby or toddler a more luxurious wood-crafted ride, try the L.L.Bean Kids’ Pull Sled and Cushion Set. It’s expensive, but I’ve used mine through four kids (over about 10 years), and it’s still in great shape. Metal bars under the wood runners add durability, and the side rails protect a tot from tipping out—without you having to deal with a fussy belt buckle.
