Pulk
Type of sled
title: "Pulk" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["sports-equipment", "sledding", "sliding-vehicles", "human-powered-vehicles", "outdoor-recreation", "dog-sports", "cross-country-skiing"] description: "Type of sled" topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulk" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Type of sled ::
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| image4 = Rød pulk.JPG | image1 = Fjällpulka (cropped).JPG | image2 = Rodeln 01.jpg | image3 = Ake Torsætra-4 (cropped).JPG | footer = {{ubl | Upper left: Pulk pulled by a skier | Upper right: Kid on a toy pulk | Lower left: Adult and child pulling toy pulks uphill | Lower right: Small skiing pulk with harness A pulk (, , ; ; from ) is originally a Nordic term for a low-slung boat-like sled, sometimes without runners, capable of being pulled by hand on foot or skis, or by light draft animals such as dogs or reindeer. A toboggan could be called a pulk. They are classically made out of wood and other natural materials but are nowadays made of plastic, which makes them inexpensive.
Pulks are originally meant to carry supplies such as a tent or food, or transport a child or other person. In Norway, Finland and Sweden, pulks are often used by parents to pull small children on skiing trips. In Finland and Sweden, pulks exist as a winter toy, mainly for children, for going downhill.
Akja{{anchor|Akja}}
A larger pulk, designed for transporting larger amounts of goods, is called a akja ( ; ; , Akia). The term stems from older Sami akio, akje and , akkio, akkia, which in turn is a borrowing from Proto-Norse, cognate with , , "driving, fording", to the root ak (), "drive, ford, ride", ultimately related to "act".
Listed old Sami synonyms includes: geres, kerres, låkkek and pulka.
File:D. 72, Boots-Akja mit zwei Flammenwerfern mit Nachfüllungen.png|German "boat akja" (Boots-Akja) during World War II File:D. 72, Waffen-Akja mit feuerbereitem leichtem Maschinengewehr.png|German "weapon akja" (Waffen-Akja) during World War II File:Sperrholz-Akja Schemata.jpg|German "plywood akja" (Sperrholz-Akja) blueprint
Slider{{anchor|Slider}}
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Visby_ringmur_-KMB-_16001000217224.jpg" caption="Saucers]] and pulks being ridden in [[Visby]], Sweden"] ::
In the Nordic countries, toy pulks made of plastic are very common for winter recreation. They typically hold 1–2 children and have footrests on the front.
There are various derivatives of the plastic toy pulk. In English, such are typically referred to as "sliders" in various compunds, etc. Some classic examples includes:
Gallery
File:Mann og reinsdyr med pulk En person sitter i pulken. I bakgrunnen Et telt med et barn åpningen - Norsk folkemuseum - NF.06789-069.jpg|Reindeer pulled pulk File:"Lägret på Dødesfjeldet" (5491958856).jpg|Sami with wooden pulk File:12 04 2003 repo.jpg|Pulk pulled by a skier File:Testing gear at 30 below 150206-A-SF624-790.jpg|US Army pulks File:Alpinmuseum Kempten 2013-06-15.16 Mattes (33).jpg|Pulk with sail File:Army-athlete-and-sporting-school-with-sleds-on-the-march-in-Jämtland-391764667469.jpg|Swedish Army pulks File:Sotilasahkio ja mäystinsukset RUK-museo.JPG|Wooden pulk in museum File:Winter hiking in Finland 2007.JPG|Snowshoers with pulled pulks File:Pulka plastique tracté par un skieur de randonnée nordique.JPG|Skier with pulk
References
References
- "pulka sbst.". [[Swedish Academy]].
- "The Sámi and their reindeer". University of Texas at Austin.
- "ackja sbst.". [[Swedish Academy]].
- "Sled / Slider".
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