7 Things You Can Use As A Sled

Major winter storms call for majorly awesome snow days. The weather isn't just an excuse to hole up and finally catch up on Jane The Virgin while surveying your bounty from that big grocery store haul, but to fully embrace all that blizzards have to offer. Enjoying the outdoors can tend to get a bit pricey, however. Snowboards and skis are ludicrously expensive, and that's saying nothing of the absurd priciness of snow shoes. They're just glorified tennis racquets, right? For those without a trusty toboggan to ride the wild snow banks and hills of Winter Storm Jonas, you've still got options. These 7 things you can use as a sled range in price from incredibly affordable to absolutely free.

The DIY spirit is one of the best things about sledding. Sure, you could fork over $490 for a sled that The Wall Street Journal has referred to as the best "for long-term velocity," or you could go back to your (cheap) childhood roots. You know, back when the biggest sledding worry you had was the competition between you and your friends over which inspired, makeshift sled could get you down a hill the fastest and without wiping out. Or more, depending on what kind of rough and tumble kid you were. Go back to a kinder (but not always gentler) time as you ride out Winter Storm Jonas.

Cardboard

High on the list of free and DIY sleds is cardboard. The stuff is fairly durable for an afternoon of sledding and is something you probably won't be upset with ruining, especially when you're hitting your highest speed sledding down a particularly steep hill. This Instructables guide takes the cardboard sled one step further with a bit of duct tape, trash bags, and a need for speed.

Lunch Trays

Think about the hard plastic trays you'd get in any cafeteria or school lunchroom: Given the abuse a lunch tray goes through over the course of its life and the generally unimpressive quality of food at such places, a little snow may actual be therapeutic for both you and the lunch tray.

Laundry Basket

This may be a better bet for the younger crowd, say, between three and five years old. Laundry basket sleds have been hauling around goods and children for years and are surprisingly versatile, though not necessarily all that fast.

Trash Bag

According to Living On The Cheap, there is slight science and bit of reasoning to using a trash bag or tarp as a sled. Icy, hard snow makes for ideal conditions for bags and tarps, potentially pushing you faster down a hill and for far cheaper than a spinner or toboggan.

Garbage Can Lid

Garbage can lids are apparently sad Biden meme-approved, so if you're struggling to find the perfect sled alternative, at least take comfort in that. Depending on how hard you hit the hills, you may want to grab a hammer to tamp the lid back to a decent shape or simply retire the entire trash can altogether.

Cushions

Ride in DIY luxury with a camping cushion or grab the nearest outdoor cushion from a patio set, throw it in a hefty bag, and prepare for a fast ride for minimal effort or money.