Toboggans, Snow Sleds and Pulks

We have mixed experiences using sleds to transport winter camping gear. In the right circumstances a sled offers advantages over backpacking. It easy way to move a lot of gear – up to 18,000 cubic inches and 200+ lbs – more than one can comfortably stash in a backpack. So if you are setting up a base camp, hauling supplies to a cabin or outfitting a scout troop, you might consider a sled. One can just hook into the harness and pull your winter gear rather than carry it.

Sleds work best in the right circumstances. This usually means adequate snow cover and a reasonably level, wide trail. In steep terrain a sled benefits from lashing the gear inside and stiffening of the sleds and/or harnessing. The addition of a rigid harness system is what differentiates a sled from a pulk.

Toboggans

Some winter travelers prefer the traditional toboggan design. Toboggans carry large loads, fit in a set of snowshoe tracks and due to their length they are very stable. They don’t work well in steep terrain or with cross-country skiers. Honestly, I have never used a toboggan, but the Canadian-based WinterTrekking has a nice article that gives a lot of information on toboggans.

Sleds

Our 1st sled was a $12 sliding model from the local Super-Mart that we modified with lashing, but they proved to be thin and the plastic cracked under the abusive conditions of winter camping. Carrying a broken plastic sled out of the woods is not fun. Unless you are only going in your neighbor’s woods, they are not to be recommended.

A more durable sled is the 5 lb, bright orange Paris Expedition Sled, which I have used as-is. The Paris Expedition Sled is made of .125 mm linear polyethylene and it has metal grommet reinforced tow holes with additional holes along the side for a towing harness and/or lashing. It tends to track straight and is a tough sled for the price. It is also a popular model for modifying into a home-made pulk. These sleds can be found at local hardware stores or ordered through Walmart or through REI ($33).

Last year I purchased a small Otter sled at Gander Mtn. Otter Outdoors offers 8 different sizes of their sled. Originally marketed for ice fisherman (some models even come with ice shack accessories), it supposedly will not crack even at -40 degrees. The sleds are deep (10-14″) and stable. It is my new favorite winter camping sled when a sled is warranted. Cabelas sells two small Jet Sleds ($25) that look like the Otter Outdoors design.

Commercial pulks

At the high end are commercially available pulks such as the ones from Granite Gear, Kirafu, Snowsled, WildernessEngineering or Fjellpulken.

The Granite Gear Expedition sled weighs 17 lbs and has a capacity of 15,000 cubic inches. With a crossed fiberglass stay system, flexible nylon connecting rods, and a zero play full body harness, this sled pulls and turns easily. The lightweight hull offers a low coefficient of friction (drag) over the snow. There is a durable cover with 3 compression straps to secure gear and a full-length zipper for access. The hull has molded-in ski runners and there is a brake prevents sled from sliding backward on slopes. The harness poles are constructed in such a way as to allow for hip rotation.
Kirafu offers three models: Expedition ($825, 15lbs/18000 cubic inches), Armadillo ($638, 12 lbs/12000 cubic inches and Military sleds (MILSPEC verisons).
SkiPulk offers two high end fiberglass sleds: the Weekender and the EWS Expedition Pulk and set ups for Paris Expedition sleds, and a mid-level Snow Clipper
Snowsled makes a variety of pulks for short 2 week expeditions to lengthy multi-week trips, adventure racing models and day trip versions.
WildernessEngineering offers an 11,000 BaseCamp Pulk and a 6 page instruction booklet.
Fjellpulken from Lillehammer, Norway offers a broad assortment of models for children, disabled, touring and expedition, rescue and dog racing. You can download a brochure here.
Northern Sled Works offers the Siglin Sled and Siglin Pulk as well as models for towing behind a snowmobile.

Build your own pulk

If your winter camping doesn’t warrant an expedition pulk there are resources for making your own pulk. Some that we like are:

My Cheap Snow Camping Sled by Michael Krabach who starts with a sled model called the HO! by Recreation Inc.
Build yourself an arctic sled
Mark Harris has a simple, cheap and quick to build design.
Penob Bob gives instructions for modifying a Paris Expedition Sled into a pulk
Here is a good discussion thread with pictures from individuals making their own sleds
PiceaRubens offers modifications to the Penob Bob design.
Mad River Rocket offers a pulk kit, material list and instructions.
Or visit skipulk.com and download the Pulkbook