The appeal of the Esla kicksled ($256) isn't hard to understand. Sturdy, fast, and versatile, it's both a toy and a cargo mover, and it's "perfect for hauling an eggnogged uncle across the snow with ease," says Wired. The current edition isn't that different from the ones that Finnish builder E.S. Lahtinen made when he committed to the business in 1933. His grandson eventually added a hinge to make the seat collapsible, but the frame is still made of solid birch and the runners are galvanized spring steel. "Twist the handles and the steel bends, turning the boxy frame with surprising agility."
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