Best Dog Backpack for Hiking: Day Packs and Multi-Day Packs

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A dog backpack lets your dog carry their own water bowl, poop bags and a few light items on the trail. It also adds weight and work, so the right fit and a light load matter more than pockets. We did not test these packs ourselves. The test results on this page come from Treeline Review, whose testers hiked with their own dogs in 10 packs, on trails from the 165 mile Tahoe Rim Trail to the Chinook Trail in the Columbia River Gorge, over several years. Load guidance comes from the American Kennel Club and from the makers, and size and capacity facts come from the makers.

The short answer: Treeline Review’s best overall pack is the Ruffwear Approach, a day and light overnight pack in four sizes. For multi-day trips its pick is the Ruffwear Palisades, whose saddlebags come off at breaks, and its best affordable pick is the light Wilderdog Dog Backpack.

How we chose: a product gets a page in our catalog only if it is current on the maker’s own site and we can match it to the version a review site covered. We picked from Treeline Review’s winners and name some of its other tested packs without a link. We did not test anything ourselves, and we do not list prices or star ratings.

Before your dog carries anything: ask your vet

The AKC says to consult your veterinarian before your dog wears a pack, because a pack can make some conditions worse, including back problems, hip or elbow dysplasia, heart conditions and breathing problems. It says puppies that are still growing, and senior dogs with health problems such as arthritis, should only wear an empty pack, if any. If your dog is a puppy, is older, or has joint, back, heart or breathing problems, ask your vet first.

A pack does not make a dog fitter or healthier on its own, and it adds to the work of a hike. Treeline Review warns that a pack can raise the risk of overheating and fatigue, depending on the weather and your dog’s fitness. The AKC lists early signs of heatstroke such as heavy panting, rapid breathing, excessive drooling and bright red gums, and VCA Animal Hospitals calls heatstroke an immediate medical emergency: stop, take the pack off, cool your dog with cool (not cold) water and get them to a vet.

How much weight can a dog carry?

Use the lowest figure that applies to your dog, and let your vet set the limit:

• AKC: for healthy, well-conditioned dogs, the pack and its contents together should generally weigh no more than 10% of the dog’s body weight. Your vet can tell you whether your dog can carry more (AKC).
• Wilderdog: recommends that a dog initially carry no more than 10% of their body weight, pack included, starting light and adding weight over time (Wilderdog).
• Ruffwear: recommends no more than 25% of body weight as an upper limit, pack included, and starting a dog that is new to packs with a light load (Ruffwear).

For a 50 pound dog, 10% is 5 pounds, and that includes the pack itself, which can weigh a pound or more. Treeline Review also suggests making one thing harder at a time, distance or weight, as your dog gets used to a pack.

The picks

Best overall: Ruffwear Approach

The Ruffwear Approach is a saddlebag pack on a harness chassis. Ruffwear lists capacities of 5 liters (XS), 10 liters (S), 13 liters (M) and 21 liters (L/XL), and pack weights from 0.73 to 1.3 pounds. The shell is 150D polyester ripstop with a water-resistant coating, and the leash point is an aluminum V-ring. It is hand wash only, and Ruffwear suggests sizing down if your dog is between sizes (Ruffwear).

Treeline Review’s testers used several versions of it over six years with five dogs in five states. They liked the inner pockets that keep heavy items close to the body and the “flopper stopper” that keeps the saddlebags from swinging, and it held up on single and multi-day trips. They wished the neck and chest straps were padded, said you have to lift one of your dog’s legs to put it on, and noticed it shift forward on steep descents.

Best for multi-day trips: Ruffwear Palisades

The Ruffwear Palisades has saddlebags that come off, so your dog can wear only the harness at breaks or in camp. Ruffwear lists molded, perforated foam panels, six points of adjustment and a padded handle, and it is hand wash only (Ruffwear). Treeline Review lists capacities of 12.5, 17.5 and 24 liters by size.

Treeline Review’s testers took it on long trails, including the Tahoe Rim Trail and the Chinook Trail, with dogs from 38 to 80 pounds. They liked the removable bags for resting and the two soft water flasks that came with their pack. They found it heavy and bulky for smaller dogs, said the newest version runs a bit large, and noted webbing around the neck that can dig in.

Best affordable: Wilderdog Dog Backpack

The Wilderdog Dog Backpack is a light day pack. Wilderdog lists about 5 liters (S), 8 liters (M) and 12 liters (L), pack weights of 9.5 to 14.5 ounces, a water-resistant cotton and poly fabric, four pockets, a built-in poop bag dispenser, a top handle and a back-mounted D-ring. It is machine washable on gentle and hangs to dry (Wilderdog).

Treeline Review’s testers found it stayed stable even when their dogs pulled ahead on a leash, with good clearance behind the front legs. On some dogs the front sat over the shoulder joints, they wished for padding at the neck and chest, and the D-ring sits a little far forward.

Other packs the testers tried

Treeline Review’s best lightweight and best large-capacity packs come from Non-stop Dogwear, which the review links to other shops, so they are not in our catalog. Among its other tested packs, the Mountainsmith K-9 Pack was ventilated and durable but rode into the armpits of long-bodied dogs; the Kurgo Baxter is reflective with lots of adjustment, but has smaller bags that sat low; and the Outward Hound Quick Release Daypack is light and breathable but was not very durable and rotated side to side. The testers called the Life Union Saddlebag’s fit odd and hard to adjust.

What to look for

• Fit first: Treeline Review calls fit the most important thing, because packs suit different body shapes. Measure your dog’s chest at the widest point and use the maker’s size chart. Our guide to measuring a dog for a harness shows how.
• Room to move: the straps should not sit over the shoulder joints or rub behind the front legs. The AKC suggests you should be able to fit one or two fingers under each strap.
• Size of the bags: bigger bags make it easy to overload a dog. For day hikes, a few liters is often enough for water, a bowl and waste bags.
• Handle: Treeline Review says a sturdy handle helps you boost a dog over rocks, logs and stream crossings, and keep them close.
• Leash point: a strong D-ring or V-ring on the back lets the pack double as a harness on easy trails.
• Visibility: reflective trim helps at dawn and dusk; add a light for night walks if you hike late.

How to start your dog with a pack

1. Ask your vet whether your dog can carry weight, and how much.
2. Let your dog wear the empty pack at home and on short walks, with praise, until they are relaxed in it.
3. Add a light load slowly. The AKC says to balance the weight on both sides and keep sharp objects out of the bags.
4. Build up distance or weight, one at a time (Treeline Review).
5. Check for rubbing at each break, and take the pack off to let your dog cool down. Carry enough water for both of you.
6. Protect paws on rough or hot ground with dog boots, and on hot days see how to keep a dog cool in summer.

For days on the bike instead of the trail, see our guide to choosing a dog bike basket or trailer.

Heading out on a long or warm walk? See our guide to the best dog water bottle for walks and how often to offer water.

FAQ

How much weight can a dog carry in a backpack?

The AKC says no more than 10% of body weight, pack included, for healthy, well-conditioned dogs, unless your vet says otherwise. Wilderdog suggests starting at no more than 10%, and Ruffwear gives 25% as an upper limit. Start light and ask your vet.

Can a puppy wear a backpack?

The AKC says puppies that are still growing should only wear an empty pack. Ask your vet when your puppy can carry weight.

Are dog backpacks bad for dogs?

Not for a healthy dog with a good fit and a light load, according to the AKC, which also says a pack can make back, joint, heart and breathing problems worse. A pack adds work, so watch for overheating and fatigue, and ask your vet first.

How should a dog backpack fit?

Snug enough that it does not slide, with one or two fingers of room under each strap (AKC). It should not sit over the shoulder joints or rub behind the front legs, and the weight should be balanced on both sides.

Can my dog wear a backpack in the heat?

A pack adds weight and covers more of the body than a harness, so it can make overheating more likely (Treeline Review). Hike in the cooler part of the day, keep the load light, take the pack off at breaks and see our best dog cooling vest picks. If your dog shows signs of heatstroke, call a vet at once.

For more, read the dog leash, harness and carrier buying guide, our best dog leash picks and how to stop a dog pulling on the leash.