A basket sled is the most recognizable type of sled in dog mushing. It features an open framework basket — typically made from wood, plastic, or composite materials — mounted on two parallel runners. The musher stands on the runners behind the basket and steers using a handlebar or handlebow at the rear.
The basket area is used to carry mandatory gear, food, supplies, and sometimes dropped dogs or injured animals that need to be transported to the next checkpoint. A sled bag is usually placed inside the basket to contain loose items and protect cargo from snow and wind.
Basket sleds are the standard choice for distance and mid-distance racing because they offer a good balance of carrying capacity, durability, and handling. They ride higher off the snow than toboggan sleds, which helps in soft or deep snow conditions but can make them less stable on hard-packed or icy trails. Modern racing basket sleds are built to be as lightweight as possible while still meeting race safety requirements, with many top competitors using custom-built sleds tailored to specific race conditions.