Toys for playing on the snow

The Mad River Rocket

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Nowhere is human innovation more evident than in toys to play on snow. If there's someone in your life who loves winter, or ought to love winter more, check out these ideas:

I'm partial to Tubbs snowshoes. ( www.tubbssnowshoes.com ) They get it right: top quality, thoughtful designs. If you are shopping for snowshoes, at least use them as a point of comparison.

Sleds have come a long way from the days of cafeteria trays. To see the latest challenges and toys for sliding on snow, check out the Mad River Rocket ( www.madriverrocket.com ), Hammerhead Sleds ( www.hammerheadsled.com ) and Airboards ( www.airboard.com ).

Finally, look at the Karver and Meta from Karhu ( www.karhu.com ). I've never seen anything quite like them . . . sort of a common-sense mating of cross country skis and snowshoes, perfect for poking around in the woods of the Northeast.