(Photo: Thomas Hannich)

The Best Bet
According to the Farmers’ Almanac, a snowy start to the New Year is probably not in the cards. But sledding enthusiasts should prepare nonetheless (January and February are typically the snowiest months in the city). Snow tubes have replaced the plastic saucer as the preferred sledding vehicle for city dwellers—it’s zippy downhill, cushioned to prevent bone-rattling bumps, easy to repair (or cheap to replace), deflates for easy closet storage, and comes in a range of colors. Unlike traditional sleds with rails, tubes can slip over patchy snow coverage—a common city sledding condition—without getting stuck (36-inch round snow tube, $15.95 at Princeton Ski Shops, 21 E. 22nd St., nr. Broadway; 212-228-4400).