I had never heard of these before, and was just looking for a regular sled on Amazon to buy as a Christmas gift. When I saw these were the top rated product in the sled department, I figured I'd give them a try. They are SO MUCH FUN!!
The foam is several inches thick and molded for your knees and shins, so it doesn't hurt your knees. And they're much easier to control than a sled, but go just as fast. Sort of like skiing, but closer to the ground, so you don't have as far to fall if you do end up wiping out. You can use your feet as brakes and to control your speed by just digging your toes into the ground behind you, and go faster or slower by leaning forward or back, and go around corners easily by shifting side to side, again sort of like skiing.
I'm in my 40s, so not hurting myself is important to me, since I can't bounce back quite as easy as in my younger days. But these make me feel like a kid again and I have a huge smile on my face every time I use them. Plus they're very light and easy to carry while you hike up, by just slinging over your shoulder (or you can wear them, though that is not quite as easy when going up and you will feel somewhat like you're dressed like a hockey goalie). The velcro on the straps is also very strong -- that's actually the only difficulty is getting the velcro un-done because it's so strong. But that should just mean that they hold up over repeated uses.
I rarely right reviews, but these were so much fun and a pleasant surprise that I made an exception here. I've used these several times this winter when hiking in the snow with my dogs -- it's a much more fun and faster way to get back downhill. Every time I use them on trails with other sledders, everyone always asks me where I got them and how fun they look. One note is that they will be a bit slower and harder to use in fresh, deep snow. The harder packed it is, the faster you'll go. And these can get going quite fast, so be careful your first few tries before you get used to controlling them. I've been able to hike up a canyon about two miles and then ride them all the way down, around corners and over bumps, etc.
Highly recommend for all ages, as long as your knees are flexible enough that you can kneel.
| Age Range (Description) | Kid |
|---|---|
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 20.5 x 10 x 4.5 inches |
| Package Weight | 1.04 Kilograms |
| Brand Name | Sled Legs |
| Manufacturer | Sled Legs |
| Part Number | SL-L1-OR |
| Size | Small |
