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When it comes to Winter in the United Kingdom then let us face it the whole country just grinds to a halt. With just a few inches of snow that would not trouble other countries, ours grinds to a stop.

The resulting chaos is blocked roads due to inadequate gritting, and icy pavements that are too slippy to walk along. For many of us this means that we spend several days in front of the fire waiting for the snow to go away.

However going for a walk when snow is on the ground can be a most refreshing and invigorating experience, all it needs is a little thought. This is very true if you are planning on taking the kids sledging.

Always make sure you all have good sturdy pair of shoes with a high grip sole when going out for a walk, never try walking in snow or ice with trainers, as they will be both very cold and have no grip at all.

You can get steel spikes that can be temporarily attached to boots to help when walking on ice and snow that can simply be un-clipped before you go back inside.

These spikes make walking on ice and snow a doddle and this means that if you want to take the kids out sledging in Winter you can simply place small children on the sledge and pull them along behind you!

Or if you live out in the countryside and want to go out for an energetic walk in the snow but think it is too deep to walk in (After all walking in deep snow can be very energy sapping), then why not consider investing in some snowshoes? They spread your weight out, allowing you to walk over the deepest snow.

This then allows you to walk anywhere in snow allowing you to go out for an energetic walk, go shopping, or even take a pair of skis with you and walk up a hill and ski back down with your snowshoes in your backpack.

Or you can get the kids to wear them as well and all go out in them to walk to a hill to go sledging. They are very lightweight and you can easily unclip them from your shoes when you need to take them off. So if you want to take the kids sledging every time it snows and you cannot take the car then consider investing in some snow shoes along with the sledge.

When it comes to a good activity to do in Winter then sledging is very hard to beat. Normally as soon as it is cold and wet outside with the onset of Winter then it can be hard to motivate kids or adults alike to even go out for a walk, never mind a run or a cycle ride. Yet as soon as it snows they will most likely want to go sledging.

Sledging actually has numerous health benefits. Firstly it is by default always done in very cold weather, and colder air is more dense than hot air, hence it has more oxygen in it and so exercising in cold air is better for your whole body. More oxygen in your blood leaves you with a sense of feeling invigorated.

Sledging also involves both vigorous exercise when walking, or in some cases of excitement, running uphill, followed by a period of rest. This is in effect what is known as interval training, whereby a period of short hard exercise is followed by a rest, then followed by a period of short hard exercise again. Runners use this technique to improve speed. This form of exercise is great as it is a proven way to use around 10% more calories than a continuous period of exercise would do.

Also many people find Winter days depressing, yet exercise is one of the best known ways to beat depression, as it not only lifts the whole body system, but also raises the endomorphism level in the body, which is the thing in our body that make us feel happier. So going sledging can quite literally make your day feel like a better one.

Sledging is also a great family activity, as you do not need to be super fit to do it, all you need is the ability to walk uphill, and then sit down on the sledge. So both young and old can do it easily. You can make a whole afternoons entertainment out of it for free.

It is also very cheap to do with basic plastic sledges costing from just £5 upwards, meaning that it is within the reach of most families to buy one.

It is also a great group activity to do, not just with your own kids, but also to meet up with family and friends, and if you do this it will most likely also result in snowmen being built, followed by the all important snowball fight!

You can find a large selection of low cost Sledges at Splash and Relax for your seasonal fun this year! Splash and Relax also supply a range of Wholesale Sledges at trade prices.

When it comes to sledging downhill then over the years people have used just about everything that you can think of to go downhill, indeed on my alpine holidays over the years I have seen some races in the snow where the prize for winning goes to the maddest invention that people have found to go sledging downhill on. Indeed I have seen people race downhill on Christmas trees, up turned picnic tables, and even a caravan with the wheels taken off of it (This one did end up in tears though!)

More common things people will use as sledges are metal trays, which are ever popular with students. Large inner tubes from tractors are another favourite as they can normally hold 2 to 4 people, or more if you are brave enough.

Many people still make their own sledges out of wood though, as often many people leave it too late in winter to buy a sledge, and you guessed it, as soon as it snows everywhere sells out of them, leaving many people with no choice but to make their own. So if you do want to go sledging yourself or take the kids sledging this winter then make sure you buy one in plenty of time, and ideally buy one in summer whilst they are very cheap.

These days a wide range of traditional and modern plastic sledges can easily be sourced on the Internet, and if there is a large group of you then you can even club together and buy them wholesale and get a good discount.

At the lower end are the snow glider type of sledges, which are designed for one person, you simply place your bottom in them and hold the handle between your legs, they are light as a feather to carry as well as starting at under £5.

Next up are the disc sledges, which you simply kneel in and hold the handles on either side, these are good for thrill seekers as they are fast but with not much control!

Then are the normal sit in plastic sledges, which can hold 1 to 2 people depending on their size, and many now feature steering handles, which can also be used as brakes to stop with.

Or you could choose a traditional wooden toboggan, which can hold up to 3 people, these are more expensive than plastic sledges but can last a lifetime if treated well.

You can find a large selection of low cost Sledges at Splash and Relax for your seasonal fun this year! Splash and Relax also supply a range of Wholesale Sledges at trade prices.

One of the most fun and exciting winter activities that you can do is sledging. People young and old alike all love sledging. Nearly everyone remembers the first sledge they got especially if you were lucky enough to have snow when you got given one on Christmas day. More fonder still will be that first memory of rushing downhill on your sledge with the wind grabbing at your hair for the very first time.

Yet sledging still gives us that same buzz of adrenaline every time we do it, as every occasion is different with the uncertainty factor adding to the thrill of the experience.

Sledges come in various forms and whilst the modern plastic ones are great in several ways, as I will come on to in a minute, a traditional wooden sledge can be a lifelong friend.

A traditional sledge will be made out of hard wearing wood, with metal bands attached to the runners. Whilst they go quite quick anyway, if you wax these runners each year using an old candle then this form of sledge can be made to go like a rocket. It is just like waxing a pair of skis, it also helps the sledge cope with a better variety of snow conditions.

A traditional sledge will need some more care than a plastic one, as it will come with the wood varnished, and every 5 years or so you will need to sand it down an give it another coat of varnish. However doing this will not take long, and by caring for your sledge it will last for years, and often still be in great condition even for your grandkids to use. Over the years you can come to really love a traditional sledge, as unlike a plastic one it is unlikely to crack or get damaged.

Plastic sledges are great and they do have the advantage that they cost a lot less than a wooden sledge will do, however at the low cost prices they are today you should regard them virtually as a disposable item. They are lightweight but will not cope well with running over rough ground like a traditional sledge will.

They will not become your friend over the years like a traditional sledge will, as a plastic sledge will not develop a patina over time.

So this winter when it comes to sledging when not invest in one that will last you and your family a lifetime?

You can find a large selection of low cost Sledges at Splash and Relax for your seasonal fun this year! Splash and Relax also supply a range of Wholesale Sledges at trade prices.

Sledging is one of the best free activities that you can do in Winter as once you have bought your sledge, so long as you have a suitable hill near you, then it is 100% free to do.

However, there are a few things to think about before you go sledging to ensure you have a good time and get the best from your trip.

Firstly, buy a sledge. This may sound silly but many people do not get around to buying one until it actually snows, and then get frustrated at finding none of the shops have sledges in stock. So buy one today, even if it is a mild Winter this year, it probably will not be the next year. Most sledges are now made of plastic so it will not do it any harm to spend a season gathering dust in your garage if it does not snow.

Secondly, by buying one now you will ensure that you keep your kids happy and have no crying as they have not got a sledge but their friends have. Also by buying one now you will ensure that you get one at a reasonable price, as funnily enough the minute it snows, all sledges that were selling at £10 will be selling for closer to £30 each. Ideally buy one in Summer, as they are plastic they are very lightweight and easy to store. Just do not put anything heavy on them or they will crack, and once cracked are useless as the snow will force its way through the even a hairline crack.

Make sure that you have something to pull it with, and attach a rope of around 3-4ft long and around 8mm in diameter to the front of the sledge. Not only does it make it easier as you can pull it back uphill rather than carrying it every time, it also means that you can tow the kids back home on it if they get tired from all that sledging.

Also ideally get one sledge per two kids, as this will mean that they are not waiting around too long in between goes on the sledge, and hence they will keep warm. If they have to wait ages for their turn they will soon get cold and want to go home.

When you do take them sledging then make sure that you have a ratio of one adult to two children for safety. Ideally one to one is best.

You can find a large selection of low cost Sledges at Splash and Relax for your seasonal fun this year! Splash and Relax also supply a range of Wholesale Sledges at trade prices.

When it comes to this winter, if it is going to be anything like the past two winters in the United Kingdom then there is a high chance that it will snow, and if it does and you have children, then make no mistake you need to have a sledge ready to take the kids out on one. If not you may have a very unhappy household.

Also when it snows you may well search online as that is where the best deals on cheap plastic sledges are to be had, the problem is that if you wait until winter you may end up paying over the odds or finding that everywhere is out of stock.

You also need to consider that when it does snow you may well be able to find a company online that has them in stock, but cannot get them to you due to the heavy snow. Whilst next day delivery is a good option if the company offers it, it has to be taken in context as to whether the weather may prevent delivery.

There is many a person who has ordered a sledge that the supplier has in stock only to find that it is not delivered until after the snow has gone, only for it to sit gathering dust until next winter. So make sure you plan ahead to avoid an unhappy household!

Also when ordering online always make sure that the supplier has physically got the stock in. Do not buy if there sledges are “Due in soon”, as the chances are they will not arrive in time, or if it is snowing they may be “Due in soon” as the sledges are stuck in transit due to the snow.

To get a good deal online you could also consider clubbing together with some friends to buy a pack of five plastic sledges, as typically this will result in the price dropping from £14 per sledge to £8 per sledge when five or more are bought. And let us face it at that kind of price you could buy five, keep two and sell the other three for enough money to cover the cost of your own two sledges. Makes you think does it not?

When looking at buying a sledge online always go for a supplier that offers a wide range of sledges as in the event that the one you want is out of stock they may well offer you an alternative sledge for the same price.

You can find a large selection of low cost Sledges at Splash and Relax for your seasonal fun this year! Splash and Relax also supply a range of Wholesale Sledges at trade prices.

When it comes to winter many more of us are finding that in the past couple of years winters have got much colder and as such many more of us are finding that we have enough snow to go sledging on. But when it comes to sledges do you opt to buy a modern plastic sledge or buy a traditional sledge made of wood? (Although you can now buy ultra-lightweight aluminium sledges that fold up for ease of carrying and storage.)

Well they both have their own advantages and disadvantages, so let us look at them in more detail.

Firstly when looking at cost, in general plastic sledges are cheaper with prices from as little as £5, with a good family sledge being available for less than £20, however you can get plastic sledges that have a ski on the front that you can use to steer with that can cost £45 or more.

In general they are very durable although they can be prone to cracking if you put too much weight on them, or they go over a stone. Typically you will get two to three seasons use from them before they wear out. But their low cost reflects this.

They are also lightweight and thus carrying or pulling them to and from your sledging area requires little effort, they also take up very little space to store, although you will need to take care when storing them to ensure no weight is put on them that might crack them.

Traditional sledges tend to be made of wood with metal edged runners. They are very sturdy and will in general last a lifetime, and in Europe are often handed down from one generation to the next. Unlike plastic they will not crack or split, and will not be damaged running over stones.

They do cost more to buy and typically start at £50 or more, but you are paying for an item that will last longer than a plastic sledge. Indeed if treated well they will not wear out. A traditional sledge can also take a lot more weight on it than a plastic sledge will, without any fear of it breaking.

They do take up more space to store, and a wooden sledge is always going to weigh a lot more than a plastic one, but you are buying a quality item that can be used not just for your kids but their grand kids.

If you go sledging every year then a traditional sledge should be on your shopping list.

You can find a large selection of low cost Sledges at Splash and Relax for your seasonal fun this year! Splash and Relax also supply a range of Wholesale Sledges at trade prices.