It’s safe to say that kid-sized snowmobiles can be broken down into four major categories:
- 120cc kid snowmobiles (for about 6-8-year-olds)
- 200cc kid snowmobiles (for about 8-12-year-olds)
- 250cc-550cc mid-sized snowmobiles (from the age of about 12)
- Vintage mini sleds (size and performance vary widely)
If you want to get the best snowmobile for your kids, but don’t know where to start, this post is for you.
We at PowerSportsGuide have compiled all you need to know under one roof!
Do They Make Snowmobiles for Kids?
If you review the offerings of snowmobile manufacturers, it may surprise you that there are only eight purpose-built kid-sized snowmobiles on the market right now. Without further ado, these models are as follows:
- Polaris Indy 120
- Yamaha SRX 120R
- Arctic Cat ZR 120
- Arctic Cat ZR 200
- Yamaha SnoScoot (200 class)
- TaoTao SnowFox 200
- Irbis T150
- Polaris Indy EVO
You can find out more about these sleds by following the links above. But if you want to compare these mini sleds head-to-head, keep reading.
We’ve listed all the key specs of these models in one chart:
Kid Snowmobile Comparison Chart
| Specs | Polaris Indy 120 | Yamaha SXR 120R / Arctic Cat ZR 120 | Yamaha SnoScoot/Arctic Cat ZR 200 | Irbis T150 | Tao Tao Snow Fox | Polaris Indy EVO |
| Engine type | 4-stroke | 4-stroke | 4-stroke | 4-stroke | 4-stroke | 2-stroke |
| Cooling | Air-cooled | Air-cooled | Air-cooled | Air-cooled + Oil cooler | Air-cooled | Fan cooled |
| Cylinders | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Displacement (cc) | 121 | 123 | 192 | 150 | 170 | 544 |
| HP | na. | na. | 9 | 9.25 | 7.6 | 55 |
| Dry weight (lbs) | 147.5 | 167 | 207 | 328.5 | 375 | 409 |
| Length (in) | 75 | 73 | 84 | 100 | 95 | 144 |
| Width (in) | 0 | 36 | 36 | 38 | 45 | 44 |
| Height (in) | 31 | 34 | 36 | 43 | 38.5 | 41 |
| Track dimensions (“) | 69 x 10 x .19 | 67 x 10 x .69 | 93 x 10 x 1 | 143 x 15 x .83 | na. | 121 x 15 x .91 |
| Fuel tank capacity (gal) | 0.5 | 0.45 | 2.2 | 1.85 | 1.2 | 10 |
As you might assume, this limited supply can’t satisfy the demand, especially in the 250-550cc class. Because of this, vintage mini sleds and smaller full-sized fan-cooled snowmobiles are still popular choices for families.
For your convenience, we’ve done the research and included all the new and many vintage kid-sized snowmobiles in this post!
Which Snowmobiles are the Best for Kids?
Selecting the best kid-sized snowmobile for your child is a responsible task.
The best sled for a kid depends on many factors, such as their age, size, skills, and experience. A sled that may fit one 8-year-old may be too big for another 8-year-old.
Therefore, many factors other than age can play a role.
But what is the best snowmobile for kids? As a rule of thumb, the best sled for a kid must be the right size with the appropriate engine power.
First, the kid must sit on the saddle to make sure it fits perfectly. Also, you have to be sure that your kid can operate the sled safely and securely. Last but not least, he/she should be happy with the performance of the sled!
Too much engine power can be dangerous in many ways, but on the other hand, children can quickly become bored on an underpowered machine.
Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and see what the best snowmobiles are for children based on their age and skills!
The Best Kid Snowmobiles
120cc Kids’ Snowmobiles
The smallest snowmobiles on the market for children are the 120cc sleds. The manufacturers recommend these snowmobiles for children who are 6-8 years old. Unfortunately, by the age of 8, most children outgrow these machines or just find them boring.
These sleds are surprisingly small, as they are about 75 inches long, 35 inches wide, and weigh about 150-170 pounds. They are powered by 120cc, 4-stroke, single-cylinder engines that propel a 10” x 67”-69” track.
The 120 snowmobiles in production are the Arctic Cat ZR 120, which is almost identical to its twin sister, the Yamaha SRX 120R. The rival kid-sized Polaris snowmobile is the Indy 120.
Regarding vintage sleds, we have to mention the iconic Arctic Cat Kitty Cat. Although only a 60cc, 2-stroke engine powers this sled, it’s still popular among buyers thanks to its small dimensions and affordable price.
Since this sled was marketed from 1972 to 2000, you can find many on the used market!
Another popular 120cc snowmobile was the Ski-Doo Mini Z manufactured from 1998 through 2008.
200cc Kids’ Snowmobiles
The 200cc snowmobiles are intended for older kids who are more than 8 years old. Based on the estimate of Snowmobile.com, 200 snowmobiles are comfortable for riders whose height does not exceed 66 inches and who weigh less than 175 pounds.
You can find four 200 snowmobiles on the market right now, which are as follows:
- Arctic Cat ZR 200
- Yamaha SnoScoot
- TaoTao SnowFox 200
- Irbis T150
Like in the 120 class, the ZR 200 and the SnoScoot are twins and specifically designed to be kid snowmobiles.
These sleds weigh about 200 pounds and measure 84 inches in length and 36 inches in width. Their 192 HP engine provides only 9 HP to propel a 10” x 93” Camso Cobra track.
In contrast, the TaoTao SnowFox and the Irbis T150 feature a bigger chassis. They are about 100 inches long and weigh 290-300 pounds and they utilize a wider track.
250-550cc Mid-Sized Snowmobiles
There’s no question that finding a snowmobile for a teenager is serious business. Once they outgrow the 200-class, their parents can only choose from a very limited supply. To be more precise, the production mid-sized sleds marketed for teenagers are the Polaris Indy EVO, Yamaha SXVenom, and the Arctic Cat Blast series.
The popular Indy EVO shares the same chassis and engine with the more powerful Indy 550, but it utilizes a different suspension, seat, and handlebar. These features make the sled smaller, which made it possible for children and smaller adults to ride it.
What’s more, its performance is artificially restricted by a speed governor, so the sled tops out at about 50 mpg.
Another great teenager snowmobile was the Ski-Doo Freestyle 300 built on the chassis of the Tundra 300. Although Ski-Doo discontinued this model in 2008, you can still find one with a bit of luck.
It’s also not uncommon for parents to purchase a smaller full-sized snowmobile for their teenage kids.
The most popular models are arguably the small-displacement fan-cooled sleds like the Polaris Indy 550, Yamaha VK540.
If you’re considering buying a full-sized sled for your kids, you have to be sure that they can fit properly and handle its power!
Vintage Mini Snowmobiles
If you can’t find a new sled that fits your kids, you should consider a vintage mini snowmobile.
Sure, they come with less advanced features and utilize outdated 2-stroke engines, requiring more care and attention.
On the other hand, vintage kid snowmobiles are cheap to buy and easy to work on. What’s more, you can find dozens of models in various sizes so you can choose from a number of options.
Based on our research, the most popular vintage kid snowmobiles are as follows:
- 1963 Honda White Fox
- 1965 Polaris Lil’Andy
- 1966 Sno-Craft Pow-R-Sled “Tiger”
- 1966 Sno-Craft Pow-R-Sled “Wildcat”
- 1969 Couparral Snowflake
- 1969 Couparral Sno Pony
- 1969 Powerall SnoWolf
- 1969 Homelite Ranger
- 1970 Yardman Sno Cub
- 1970 Montgomery Ward Mini 99
- 1970 Dauphin Flipper
- 1970 Polaris TX Playmate
- 1970 Snow Spirit
- 1971 Moto-Ski Mini Sno
- 1971 Auto-Ski Mini-Jet
- 1971 Ski-Doo Elan single 250cc 12 HP
- 1971 Sno-Prince Junior
- 1971 Somovex Chimo
- 1971 Wee Ski Pocket Rocket
- 1971 Boa-Ski Mark 0 (Baby Boa)
- 1971 J.C. Penney SnowTamer
- 1971 Ski-Lark
- 1971 Wee-Lark
- 1972 Arctic Cat Kitty Cat
- 1972 Bolens Sprint 293 (Mini sprint)
- 1972 Cadet 250
- 1972 Moto-Ski Cadet 250
- 1973 Ski-Doo Elan twin 250cc 16 HP
- 1973 Ski-Doo Elan SS twin 250cc 22 HP
- 1974 Alouette Junior Brute
- 1975 Polaris TC 175
- 1977 Yamaha Enticer 250
- 1978 Yamaha Exciter 340
- 1982 Yamaha Bravo 250
- 1989 Yamaha Ovation 340
- 1989 Yamaha Phazer 480
- 1991 Polaris Indy Lite 340
Kids’ Snowmobile Dimensions and Performance
What Size is a Kid Snowmobile?
As a rule of thumb, the average size of kid snowmobiles are as follows: (L x W x H)
- 120cc class: 72-73” x 31-35” x 30-34”
- 200cc class: 84” x 36” x 36”
- 250-550cc mid-sized class: 112-117” x 38-44” x 41-46”
How Much Does a Kid Snowmobile Weigh?
Generally speaking, a kid snowmobile weighs about 150-430 pounds, depending on the model.
The 120cc kid snowmobiles weigh about 150-170 pounds, while the 200-class weigh about 200-300 pounds. The mid-sized sleds for teenagers are significantly heavier, as their weight ranges from 370 up to 430 pounds.
How Fast Can a Kid Snowmobile Go?
Kid snowmobiles can go as fast as 8 – 50 mph. The slowest models are arguably the 120cc sleds as their top speed is limited to 8 mph, while the 200 class tops out about 25-40 mph.
The mid-sized models like the Indy EVO or Ski-Doo Freestyle can reach a (limited) top speed of 50-55 mph.
What is the Fastest Kid Snowmobile?
The fastest kid snowmobile is the Polaris Indy EVO, with a limited top speed of 50 mph. Without the speed governor, this little sled can hit a whopping 70 mph!
Takeaways – Related Questions About Kid Sleds
What is a good snowmobile for a 12-year-old child?
Based on our research, the best snowmobile for a 12-year-old is the Polaris Indy EVO, or any 440-550cc fan-cooled sled with a smaller chassis.
What is the best youth snowmobile?
The best youth snowmobiles are the Yamaha SnoScoot, Arctic Cat ZR 200, Ski-Doo Freestyle 300, and the Polaris Indy EVO.
Does Ski-Doo make a youth sled?
To the regret of many fans, Ski-Doo doesn’t currently make youth sleds. Many years ago, the Canadian manufacturer marketed two widely popular youth Ski-Doos, the Mini Z and the Freestyle 300.
Does Polaris make a kids’ snowmobile?
Yes, Polaris currently manufactures two different kid-sized snowmobiles, the Indy 120 for the smallest riders and the Indy EVO for teenagers.
What is a mid-sized snowmobile?
Mid-sized snowmobiles are often referred to as ¾-sized snowmobiles as well. As the name suggests, mid-sized snowmobiles are larger than the tiny 200-class machines but smaller than full-sized sleds. Therefore, these machines are typically 90-115 inches long, 38-44 inches wide, and weigh about 250-430 pounds.
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