At havohravo we’re always on the lookout for new products to expand our product portfolio. Recently, we decided to take a closer look at i-Dog’s ALM series. This set of harness, shock-absorber leash and running belt was designed in cooperation with Antony Le Moigne, a successful canicross & bikejöring athlete. Together with Marcela Capkova, former Canicross world champion, we started testing.
Harness Phoenix
Not just another X-Back harness, this is the first adjustable X-Back harness on the market suitable for canicross or bike/scooterjöring. It is adjustable at 5 different points!
Neck: both sides of the neck are adjustable to make the diameter perfectly fit your dog’s neck.
Belly: by adjusting the belly straps the harness can easily be positioned in the area of your dog’s ribs.
Back: allows you to fix the back parts, so that the harness perfectly fits your dog’s body.
Side: Allows for precise adjustment of the lateral connection between the belly part of the harness and the upper neck, in order to distribute the tensile force evenly on the straps between the lower and the upper part of the neck.
Chest: Adjustment of the distance between the two belly straps ensures a perfect fit depending on the shape of your dog’s chest and avoids the harness’ slipping from side to side.
Border collie, 18 kg – size XS
I have tested the harness with my border collie Keen at canicross. I really like the colours, design and materials of the harness – they are really awesome and make it feel high quality. The harness feels a little heavier than other X-Back harnesses, the weight is comparable with Non-stop Dogwear’s “Freemotion” harness . The first adjustment of the harness took me almost one hour – you can literally adjust it to the smallest detail.
Initially I could not decide whether size XS or S fits better and after adjusting the length (so that the leash loop starts at the tail base) I went with size S. However, after running and pulling at full speed, I realised that the harness slipped almost behind Keens rips so I had to change to size XS. With the smaller size it finally stretched nicely when pulling at full speed. Even the leash loop was far enough from the tail, so the hook would not touch Keen at all so he could pull hard and get the maximum out of every stride.
Don’t let the first adjustment discourage you. With further little adjustments after the first run the harness will fit your dog as if it was tailor-made.
However, be aware that the fit might not be ideal for long and thin dogs. It performs the best at full traction, so it is not a good choice for dogs, who do not pull constantly with the leash stretched for the whole time.
Malinois, 20 kg size S, 26 kg size M
For this weight category I asked Marcela to try the harness with her Malinois Gucci and Amidala. And here is what she thinks.
“From the start I was positively surprised by the material and design of the harness. The first adjustment took longer than expected, however you do this only once, so I didn’t mind. I tested the harnesses at canicross and bikejöring. When adjusted correctly, it fits Gucci really well, he has full range of motion and can effectively use his full traction power. I-Dogs Phoenix harness differs from other harnesses with lots of possible adjustments, however, like other brands, this harness won’t fit all breeds / body types. For Gucci it was a perfect fit because of his symmetrical body structure, but for Amidala and her long, thin body it just didn’t sit optimal. If you like the color and design of i-Dog harnesses you should definitely test them with your dog!”
Running belt Canyon
Running belt CANYON allows to define an adequate traction point at buttock height, reducing pressure on your lumbar vertebrae and increasing the transferred traction. Thanks to a double loop, the straps do not come loose even under heavy use. The carabiner used is ultralight (37g), which compensates for the phenomenon of the traction line swinging and ensures a straight pull during the run.
Running and hiking
At first the belt seems robust and personally I am not a fan of massive running belts since I am used to running belts from Non-stop Dogwear. However, it is very comfortable and lightweight and I was surprised, that after 1 training, and some minor adjustments it fitted perfectly. It does not slip upwards during run; it really fits exactly as you adjust it to your body. In my opinion, the used hook in the front is very useful – you can easily attach or detach the leash from the belt when needed without pulling it through the ring with a loop. At the same time, it is very light, so even when the dog is pulling at full speed, the leash does not vibrate up and down. This belt is also very comfortable for longer walks or hiking sincethe leg loops can easily be removed, if needed. The only negative for me is the small pocket at the back, which is too small for my phone, but at least big enough for car key.
Marcela: „I tested the belt not only for running, but also for longer hikes when I used it during walking. The wide belt is very comfortable and fits well. It is a good choice not only for intensive runs, but also for a long hike.“
Traction leash Opale
This leash is available in 2 lengths – 190 cm or 240 cm (stretched to 100%). The karabiner used is ultra-light (28g), which compensates for the phenomenon of the traction line swinging and ensures a straight pull during the race. The traction leash has a loop on the karabiner side so that you can keep your dog close, especially at crowded areas at competitions. The version for canicross is available with 3 different strengths of shock absorption, the version for bike or scooterjöring is available in 2 strength variations.
Canicross, bikejöring, hiking
I tested the leash running, in particular the 190 cm version, with Keen a medium, 18 kg border collie, who pulls like a horse. The leash is comfortable to grab by hand, the webbing is soft and does not „burn“. At first glance the carabiner seem huge, but it is indeed very light and easy to operate. It includes a safety screwing mechanism that takes some time getting used to, but I fell in love with the leash so much, that I ended up using it for all activities. The size of the hook might be a disadvantage when used with short harnesses on sensitive dogs. Even though it is very light, my whippet was irritated by it when used in combination with harness Short from ZeroDC.
Marcela asked for the stronger shock absorbers for the test.
„I like the leashes a lot, especially the large hook at the end, which is very easy to operate. Me and my dogs prefer the strong shock absorber, so I used for both dogs the variation Strong Dog for dogs over 25kg. It feels even stronger than the bungee leash from Non-Stop Dogwear and is definitely a good alternative for professional as well as recreational athletes“
I believe that this set of products will become very popular among passionate „pullers“. The harness is great in particular for dogs born for canicross that have a compact body structure. Careful when choosing the right size – the smallest size XS fits a border collie, so this harness is unfortunately not an option for smaller dogs. Running belt and leashes are made of very nice materials and work perfectly not only for running, but also for hiking. Big advantage are several strengths of the shock absorber. Surprisingly, the nice turquoise colour remains beautiful even after 6 months of usage.
You can find all Products in our shop and if you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]
Martina
i-Dog ALM Series Review
At havohravo we’re always on the lookout for new products to expand our product portfolio. Recently, we decided to take a closer look at i-Dog’s ALM series. This set of harness, shock-absorber leash and running belt was designed in cooperation with Antony Le Moigne, a successful canicross & bikejöring athlete. Together with Marcela Capkova, former Canicross world champion, we started testing.
Harness Phoenix
Not just another X-Back harness, this is the first adjustable X-Back harness on the market suitable for canicross or bike/scooterjöring. It is adjustable at 5 different points!
Neck: both sides of the neck are adjustable to make the diameter perfectly fit your dog’s neck.
Belly: by adjusting the belly straps the harness can easily be positioned in the area of your dog’s ribs.
Back: allows you to fix the back parts, so that the harness perfectly fits your dog’s body.
Side: Allows for precise adjustment of the lateral connection between the belly part of the harness and the upper neck, in order to distribute the tensile force evenly on the straps between the lower and the upper part of the neck.
Chest: Adjustment of the distance between the two belly straps ensures a perfect fit depending on the shape of your dog’s chest and avoids the harness’ slipping from side to side.
Border collie, 18 kg – size XS
I have tested the harness with my border collie Keen at canicross. I really like the colours, design and materials of the harness – they are really awesome and make it feel high quality. The harness feels a little heavier than other X-Back harnesses, the weight is comparable with Non-stop Dogwear’s “Freemotion” harness . The first adjustment of the harness took me almost one hour – you can literally adjust it to the smallest detail.
Initially I could not decide whether size XS or S fits better and after adjusting the length (so that the leash loop starts at the tail base) I went with size S. However, after running and pulling at full speed, I realised that the harness slipped almost behind Keens rips so I had to change to size XS. With the smaller size it finally stretched nicely when pulling at full speed. Even the leash loop was far enough from the tail, so the hook would not touch Keen at all so he could pull hard and get the maximum out of every stride.
Don’t let the first adjustment discourage you. With further little adjustments after the first run the harness will fit your dog as if it was tailor-made.
However, be aware that the fit might not be ideal for long and thin dogs. It performs the best at full traction, so it is not a good choice for dogs, who do not pull constantly with the leash stretched for the whole time.
Malinois, 20 kg size S, 26 kg size M
For this weight category I asked Marcela to try the harness with her Malinois Gucci and Amidala. And here is what she thinks.
“From the start I was positively surprised by the material and design of the harness. The first adjustment took longer than expected, however you do this only once, so I didn’t mind. I tested the harnesses at canicross and bikejöring. When adjusted correctly, it fits Gucci really well, he has full range of motion and can effectively use his full traction power. I-Dogs Phoenix harness differs from other harnesses with lots of possible adjustments, however, like other brands, this harness won’t fit all breeds / body types. For Gucci it was a perfect fit because of his symmetrical body structure, but for Amidala and her long, thin body it just didn’t sit optimal. If you like the color and design of i-Dog harnesses you should definitely test them with your dog!”
Running belt Canyon
Running belt CANYON allows to define an adequate traction point at buttock height, reducing pressure on your lumbar vertebrae and increasing the transferred traction. Thanks to a double loop, the straps do not come loose even under heavy use. The carabiner used is ultralight (37g), which compensates for the phenomenon of the traction line swinging and ensures a straight pull during the run.
Running and hiking
At first the belt seems robust and personally I am not a fan of massive running belts since I am used to running belts from Non-stop Dogwear. However, it is very comfortable and lightweight and I was surprised, that after 1 training, and some minor adjustments it fitted perfectly. It does not slip upwards during run; it really fits exactly as you adjust it to your body. In my opinion, the used hook in the front is very useful – you can easily attach or detach the leash from the belt when needed without pulling it through the ring with a loop. At the same time, it is very light, so even when the dog is pulling at full speed, the leash does not vibrate up and down. This belt is also very comfortable for longer walks or hiking sincethe leg loops can easily be removed, if needed. The only negative for me is the small pocket at the back, which is too small for my phone, but at least big enough for car key.
Marcela: „I tested the belt not only for running, but also for longer hikes when I used it during walking. The wide belt is very comfortable and fits well. It is a good choice not only for intensive runs, but also for a long hike.“
Traction leash Opale
This leash is available in 2 lengths – 190 cm or 240 cm (stretched to 100%). The karabiner used is ultra-light (28g), which compensates for the phenomenon of the traction line swinging and ensures a straight pull during the race. The traction leash has a loop on the karabiner side so that you can keep your dog close, especially at crowded areas at competitions. The version for canicross is available with 3 different strengths of shock absorption, the version for bike or scooterjöring is available in 2 strength variations.
Canicross, bikejöring, hiking
I tested the leash running, in particular the 190 cm version, with Keen a medium, 18 kg border collie, who pulls like a horse. The leash is comfortable to grab by hand, the webbing is soft and does not „burn“. At first glance the carabiner seem huge, but it is indeed very light and easy to operate. It includes a safety screwing mechanism that takes some time getting used to, but I fell in love with the leash so much, that I ended up using it for all activities. The size of the hook might be a disadvantage when used with short harnesses on sensitive dogs. Even though it is very light, my whippet was irritated by it when used in combination with harness Short from ZeroDC.
Marcela asked for the stronger shock absorbers for the test.
„I like the leashes a lot, especially the large hook at the end, which is very easy to operate. Me and my dogs prefer the strong shock absorber, so I used for both dogs the variation Strong Dog for dogs over 25kg. It feels even stronger than the bungee leash from Non-Stop Dogwear and is definitely a good alternative for professional as well as recreational athletes“
Harness PHOENIX
€ 72,90 – € 82,90
Traction Leash OPALE 190 cm
€ 31,90
Traction Leash OPALE 240 cm
€ 35,90
Waist Belt Canyon
€ 71,90
Conclusion
I believe that this set of products will become very popular among passionate „pullers“. The harness is great in particular for dogs born for canicross that have a compact body structure. Careful when choosing the right size – the smallest size XS fits a border collie, so this harness is unfortunately not an option for smaller dogs. Running belt and leashes are made of very nice materials and work perfectly not only for running, but also for hiking. Big advantage are several strengths of the shock absorber. Surprisingly, the nice turquoise colour remains beautiful even after 6 months of usage.
You can find all Products in our shop and if you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]
Martina