Airboard Freeride 180: Forget what you thought you knew about sleds

If Evel Knievel himself was caught snowbound on some Rocky Mountain peak, the Airboard Freeride 180 would be his vehicle of choice. And who could blame him? This baby is your childhood sled on steroids. At first glance, the inflatable sled may usher memories of that one lackluster tubing experience, but this is not some flotation device that's been relegated to winter. Piloting is more like riding a boogie board on the crest of a tsunami. You turn by angling your body, with your knees on the board and your feet aiding direction and speed control as they drag in your wake. Wider than the Airboard Classic, this Freeride is built for deep pow, churning up waves of white as you carve up the back bowl. But you can take to new heights on the terrain park kickers, where the air-inflated elements add a blissful touch of cushion when you land. The board collapses into a 19- x 12.5- x 2.7-inch cube that fits in most daypacks and comes with a hand pump for easy inflation. You can even post videos of your exploits on the Airboard site. $349; Airboard.