We ran this post last month and it proved so popular we thought today’s storm was a good reason to repeat it, as you may need to find a cheap activity today. So it snowed… a lot. Despite the rutted and icy roads and slippery sidewalks, for many, a hefty snowfall is an excuse to go sledding, even if it is just down that tiny median in front of your home. Maybe you’re one of the lucky few with a store-bought sled and the envy of the sledding hill crowd. But if not, don’t despair. Coloradans are famous for their ingenuity when it comes to makeshift sleds. Our friend Jody Mace at Charlotte on the Cheap (a Southern gal, go figure) has come up with 17 DIY options.
Read her list and then look around your house. Likely you’ll find a sled. We can’t vouch for the effectiveness or safety of these techniques. Use your judgment. Keep in mind that anything you re-purpose for a sled will probably get ruined and no longer be able to serve its original purpose. But it’s worth it, right? What have you used as a makeshift sled? Leave a comment!
- Fast constructed sled: This Instructables page shows how to make a fast sled from a cardboard box, a trash bag and (of course) duct tape.
- Cookie Sheet
- Lid from plastic container
- Boogie board
- Baby tub
- Cushions from outdoor furniture
- Tarp (especially if the snow is icy and hard)
- Inner tubes
- Dog bed. Ask your dog first, and then wrap it in a trash bag with duct tape.
- Shower curtain
- Trash can lids (not the roll-out kind, obviously; you can’t tear those up)
- The old standby: cafeteria tray. Although you might not have one in your house.
- Trash bags. Here is an informative WikiHow article on how to sled with trash bags. (Bring spares.)
- Inflated baby pool
- Sleeping bag
- Air mattress. Below you’ll see a video of some people who made a sled from an air mattress and pantyhose.
- Yoga mat
