Active dog people usually spend a lot of time on trails together with their dogs. Are you one of them? If yes, your dog carrying their own backpack might be a game changer for your hiking & camping trips!
Does your dog really need a backpack for your outdoor adventures? Of course, they don’t. However, it’s a very useful gear if you spend long hours or even days on forest trails together! It can be used to transport their own equipment. On one hand, you don’t have to store your dog’s stuff together with your own in your backpack. On the other hand, they can help carry some of the load. Additionally, correctly fitted and loaded backpack can help strengthen the muscles in your dog’s front area.
Are you considering getting a backpack for your dog? Before you start choosing the right model for your dog, read a few important rules!
How much weight can a dog carry in their backpack?
A dog needs time to adapt to a new load, even if it is very fit. If your dog is wearing the pack for their first time, go with empty pack. Continue with lighter weights. After your dog is used to carrying the backpack, ideally keep total carrying weight (pack+ content) under 25% of your dog’s body weight. For example for a 20 kg border collie, you can fill the pack max up to 5 kg total weigth. Some really fit dogs can carry 30-50% of their own body weight, however this requires months of trainings. Make sure to keep an eye on your dog when wearing a backpack, especially in the summer. Never use a backpack for a puppy or a young dog who is not fully grown yet.
How to use a backpack?
First, let your dog wear empty pack on walks or short hikes. Let them get used to wearing it. It will also give you the chance to get to know the pack and its features. Then work up to carrying some weight. Make sure to balance the weight on both sides.
How to fit backpack?
It is crucial to adjust and pack the backpack correctly. All packs that we sell have bags shaped to carry the heaviest loads over the dog’s shoulders, NEVER in the middle on their back! Backpack must always sit on your dog’s front end! The bags must stay away from the dog’s elbows! If they touch shoulders, you did not pack or adjust the the backpack correctly or have the wrong size.
Each backpack in our shop is featured with an instruction video for proper fit. Watch this before you put it on for the first time. Correct fitting of the backpack helps to hold the pack stable and comfortable while the load is distributed correctly.
How to pack the backpack?
Put the heavy gear to the lowest point in the saddle bags and towards the body – this will distribute the weight on dog’s front & NOT on their back. Make sure to balance weight equally on both sides! Check this by placing the pack on your thigh or arm to feel if the sides are equally packed. Also check how the backpack is moving on the dog when you start your trip. If it slips to one side, adjust the weight in the pockets to distribute equally.
It is crucial to adjust and pack the backpack correctly to avoid your dog getting a heavy load on their back!
Choosing the right backpack for your dogventures
Switchbak Harness
This harness offers the comfort of an everyday dog harness with handle with the bonus of 2 zippered pocket. It is optimal to store everyday essentials like pick-up bags, leash and some treats. It is a good choice if you are looking for a performance harness for both town & trail to occasionally stash some of your dog’s essentials in their own „backpack“.
Singletrak Pack
This pack comes with 2 collapsible water bladders which turns it into a hydration pack. The saddlebags fit close to the body allowing the dog to move quickly. It has a smaller storage capacity than Front Range Day Pack. The Singletrak Pack is great for active dogs & long days on the trail with just the essentials. For extra padding & comfort we recommend to use Brush Guard or Core Cooler (in particular for short-haired dogs).
Front Range Day Pack
This backpack incorporates the padded chest panel as you know it from the popular Front Range harness. With plenty of internal organization and storage room, this comfortable day pack enables dogs to carry their day’s provisions on hikes. The saddlebags create a passive compression system that is formfitting and supports efficient load carrying and pack stability. Is it very comfy to wear also for smaller dogs. We recommend this pack as best choice for day adventures.
The saddle bags of this pack have smaller capacity than those on the Palisades Pack, but it is still large enough for long day hikes or overnight backcountry trip. For extra padding & comfort we recommend to use Brush Guard or Core Cooler (in particular for short-haired dogs). Fits well also for smaller dogs.
What’s New in 2022? More breathability and flexibility, overall weight savings and improved colorfastness with new materials. Updated “flopper stopper” system for easier use when stabilizing saddlebags against the harness chassis andmore streamlined, refined saddlebag volumes.
Palisades Pack – New design 2022
This pack is designed for multiple days on the trail. It has a larger capacity than other Ruffwear packs & it includes two 1-liter collapsible water bladders. Also you can remove the “backpack” after reaching the camp site and let the dog wear the integrated harness individually. For extra padding & comfort use Brush Guard or Core Cooler (in particular for short-haired dogs). This pack is rather suitable for medium to large dogs. We recommend this pack as best choice for multi-day adventures.
What’s New in 2022? More breathability and flexibility, overall weight savings and improved colorfastness with new materials. Updated flopper stopper system for easier use when stabilizing saddlebags, new stash pocket configuration.
Amundsen Pack
This heavy-duty dog backpack is perfect for expeditions, strength training, and multiple day adventures. Backpack has an integrated harness that works well even when your dog is pulling. We recommend to use collar if your dog prefers to walk next to you . This backpack offers the largest storage volume, perfect fit and comofortable padding. It might be too robust for smaller dogs. If you spent many days with hiking and tent is your second home, this might be the right backpack for your dog.
Dog Backpack: useful gear or a fancy trend?
Active dog people usually spend a lot of time on trails together with their dogs. Are you one of them? If yes, your dog carrying their own backpack might be a game changer for your hiking & camping trips!
Does your dog really need a backpack for your outdoor adventures? Of course, they don’t. However, it’s a very useful gear if you spend long hours or even days on forest trails together! It can be used to transport their own equipment. On one hand, you don’t have to store your dog’s stuff together with your own in your backpack. On the other hand, they can help carry some of the load. Additionally, correctly fitted and loaded backpack can help strengthen the muscles in your dog’s front area.
Are you considering getting a backpack for your dog? Before you start choosing the right model for your dog, read a few important rules!
How much weight can a dog carry in their backpack?
A dog needs time to adapt to a new load, even if it is very fit. If your dog is wearing the pack for their first time, go with empty pack. Continue with lighter weights. After your dog is used to carrying the backpack, ideally keep total carrying weight (pack+ content) under 25% of your dog’s body weight. For example for a 20 kg border collie, you can fill the pack max up to 5 kg total weigth. Some really fit dogs can carry 30-50% of their own body weight, however this requires months of trainings. Make sure to keep an eye on your dog when wearing a backpack, especially in the summer. Never use a backpack for a puppy or a young dog who is not fully grown yet.
How to use a backpack?
First, let your dog wear empty pack on walks or short hikes. Let them get used to wearing it. It will also give you the chance to get to know the pack and its features. Then work up to carrying some weight. Make sure to balance the weight on both sides.
How to fit backpack?
It is crucial to adjust and pack the backpack correctly. All packs that we sell have bags shaped to carry the heaviest loads over the dog’s shoulders, NEVER in the middle on their back! Backpack must always sit on your dog’s front end! The bags must stay away from the dog’s elbows! If they touch shoulders, you did not pack or adjust the the backpack correctly or have the wrong size.
Each backpack in our shop is featured with an instruction video for proper fit. Watch this before you put it on for the first time. Correct fitting of the backpack helps to hold the pack stable and comfortable while the load is distributed correctly.
How to pack the backpack?
Put the heavy gear to the lowest point in the saddle bags and towards the body – this will distribute the weight on dog’s front & NOT on their back. Make sure to balance weight equally on both sides! Check this by placing the pack on your thigh or arm to feel if the sides are equally packed. Also check how the backpack is moving on the dog when you start your trip. If it slips to one side, adjust the weight in the pockets to distribute equally.
It is crucial to adjust and pack the backpack correctly to avoid your dog getting a heavy load on their back!
Choosing the right backpack for your dogventures
Switchbak Harness
This harness offers the comfort of an everyday dog harness with handle with the bonus of 2 zippered pocket. It is optimal to store everyday essentials like pick-up bags, leash and some treats. It is a good choice if you are looking for a performance harness for both town & trail to occasionally stash some of your dog’s essentials in their own „backpack“.
Singletrak Pack
This pack comes with 2 collapsible water bladders which turns it into a hydration pack. The saddlebags fit close to the body allowing the dog to move quickly. It has a smaller storage capacity than Front Range Day Pack. The Singletrak Pack is great for active dogs & long days on the trail with just the essentials. For extra padding & comfort we recommend to use Brush Guard or Core Cooler (in particular for short-haired dogs).
Front Range Day Pack
This backpack incorporates the padded chest panel as you know it from the popular Front Range harness. With plenty of internal organization and storage room, this comfortable day pack enables dogs to carry their day’s provisions on hikes. The saddlebags create a passive compression system that is formfitting and supports efficient load carrying and pack stability. Is it very comfy to wear also for smaller dogs. We recommend this pack as best choice for day adventures.
Front Range™ Day Pack
€ 119,90
Switchbak™ Dog Harness
€ 89,90
Approach Pack – New design 2022
The saddle bags of this pack have smaller capacity than those on the Palisades Pack, but it is still large enough for long day hikes or overnight backcountry trip. For extra padding & comfort we recommend to use Brush Guard or Core Cooler (in particular for short-haired dogs). Fits well also for smaller dogs.
What’s New in 2022? More breathability and flexibility, overall weight savings and improved colorfastness with new materials. Updated “flopper stopper” system for easier use when stabilizing saddlebags against the harness chassis andmore streamlined, refined saddlebag volumes.
Palisades Pack – New design 2022
This pack is designed for multiple days on the trail. It has a larger capacity than other Ruffwear packs & it includes two 1-liter collapsible water bladders. Also you can remove the “backpack” after reaching the camp site and let the dog wear the integrated harness individually. For extra padding & comfort use Brush Guard or Core Cooler (in particular for short-haired dogs). This pack is rather suitable for medium to large dogs. We recommend this pack as best choice for multi-day adventures.
What’s New in 2022? More breathability and flexibility, overall weight savings and improved colorfastness with new materials. Updated flopper stopper system for easier use when stabilizing saddlebags, new stash pocket configuration.
Amundsen Pack
This heavy-duty dog backpack is perfect for expeditions, strength training, and multiple day adventures. Backpack has an integrated harness that works well even when your dog is pulling. We recommend to use collar if your dog prefers to walk next to you . This backpack offers the largest storage volume, perfect fit and comofortable padding. It might be too robust for smaller dogs. If you spent many days with hiking and tent is your second home, this might be the right backpack for your dog.
Amundsen Pack
€ 189,90
Approach™ Dog Pack – New Design 2022
€ 139,90
Palisades™ Dog Pack – New Design 2022
€ 229,90
If you need help with choosing the right size or model, do not hesitate to contact us!
Happy hiking!
Discover all Backpacks