When it snows, do as the eskimos do

Some of our fondest winter memories of childhood are of building snow forts after big blizzards. So, we were pretty excited when we came across Eskimold from Tundra North Manufacturing, Creston, British Columbia. This ingenious igloo-building kit contains a mold to create the perfect-shaped snow block, a plastic saw to trim the blocks and cut holes for a window or door in the igloo, and instructions printed on snow-durable paper.

The Eskimold combines modern manufacturing with the laws of physics to create snow blocks that are formed with angles at the top and bottom to create the perfect "lean" necessary for constructing a dome-shaped igloo. The convex and conclave ends to the Eskiblocks allow each to fit together like tongue-in-groove panels and keep them from falling inward. Since the molds are tapered slightly from top to bottom, the packed snow easily slides out.

Made from high-density polyurethane for durability in the cold, Eskimolds ($18) stand up to tough treatment from kids. For more information, visit eskimold.com.

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