Shred Sled Review and Giveaway

Today I'm reviewing the Shred Sled, but I'm not going to follow my usual review template (The Basics/The Bongga/The Blah/The Bottom Line). Instead, I'm going to tell you a story.

I've been fascinated with caster boards ever since I first saw them. A skateboard that doesn't require you to push off from the ground! Just wiggle around, and the thing moves by itself! That kid looks like he's snowboarding! I'll bet it's a lot of fun! I've got to get one for the boys!

Then I actually stepped on one. And promptly fell off. Okay, it's harder than I thought. And the boys are only 5. They're definitely too young for this.

Then I was asked to review the Shred Sled, the next generation caster board with 4 wheels and a dual-deck board. All my optimism surged forth -- okay, maybe I can't do it, but I know The Pea would love it! And once the boys can use it in a couple of years, I know they'll love it too.

The Shred Sled arrived, The Pea tried it, and after 5 minutes she gave up. Alfie got on it and decided it was too dangerous for his old bones. We both thought it would end up gathering dust in the garage.

But, surprise, surprise. 3Po fell in love with the Shred Sled and insisted he try it. Poor kid -- at first he could barely even position his feet. He's only 5, and his legs are so short that to get his feet in the proper position, he has to spread his legs so wide, almost like a half split, that we thought he would have zero control. But he kept trying. He stayed on for a second or two. Then four or five. Then it turned into ten or twelve seconds.

Alfie saw 3Po trying, and his competitive juices bubbled up. He got on the Shred Sled, and his long-dormant windsurfing skills came to the fore. Alfie did it! Which only served to inspire 3Po even more. I held his hand and walked with him as he wiggled around, the way a parent would help steady a child on a bike. Jammy got in on the action. And over the next 2 or 3 days, they both learned to ride the Shred Sled.



Now he and his brother Jammy are carving up the sidewalks! They are having SO much fun, now all 3 boys (Jammy, 3Po and Alfie) are fighting for Shred Sled time. Two days ago I tried it with Alfie holding my hands, and I think I've got the hang of it -- sort of. The Pea tried it again yesterday and I'm happy to say that in another day or so I think she'll be almost as good as her brothers.



So our Shred Sled story has a happy ending. It's a wonderful product that gets everyone out and about, and we can't wait to go and get more Shred Sleds!

I'm planning to do another post on the Shred Sled with some tips on how parents can help their kids learn to use the Shred Sled (and how nervous adults can join in the fun!). But for now, I'll leave you with this short safety video:

And don't forget, the recommended age range for the Shred Sled is 8 and above. Yes, my boys are only 5, -- but they took the training wheels of their 2-wheelers at age 3, and managed to get the basics of snowboarding after their first try, so we let them try it out. We know their physical capabilities, just as you should know your own child's abilities. So don't take this as an endorsement to go out and get one for your 5-year old -- neither Shred Sled nor I can be held responsible for any injuries that occur!

Giveaway time! One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win their very own Shred Sled! To enter, leave a comment on this post with your family's favorite outdoor activity. This is required for entry and must be completed before any extra entries are considered. For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

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6) Tweet this giveaway (leave a comment with a link to your tweet). Here is a sample tweet you can copy and paste:

Win a Shred Sled from @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/mn5xrm

This giveaway ends at midnight PST on September 9, 2009.; I will draw a winner at random on September 10 and post the winner's name on the comments section soon after. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

I received a product sample for this post, but no monetary compensation. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.