Ruffwear Approach Dog Pack

A day hiking and light overnight dog pack: saddlebags on a padded harness chassis, with a system that keeps the bags from swinging.

Who it suits

Fit adult dogs on day hikes and light overnight trips, in a wide range of shapes and sizes.

Key facts

• Capacity 5 L (XS), 10 L (S), 13 L (M) and 21 L (L/XL); pack weight 0.73 to 1.3 lb (Ruffwear)
• Ruffwear recommends no more than 25% of body weight including the pack, and starting a new dog with a light load (Ruffwear)
• 150D polyester ripstop shell with DWR and PU coating; aluminum V-ring leash point (Ruffwear)
• Hand wash and air dry; if between sizes, Ruffwear suggests sizing down (Ruffwear)

What reviewers say

Treeline Review: Its best overall dog pack after testing several versions over six years with five dogs in five states: inner pockets keep heavy items close to the body, and the ‘flopper stopper’ keeps the saddlebags from shifting. It wished the neck and chest were padded, and you have to lift one of your dog’s legs to put it on.

We did not test it ourselves.

Pros

• Best overall in Treeline Review’s long-term test
• Saddlebags stay put
• Wide range of dog shapes

Cons

• Chest and neck straps not padded
• Some shifting on steep descents, per Treeline Review

Good to know

• The AKC says a pack and its contents should generally weigh no more than 10% of a healthy, well-conditioned dog’s body weight unless your vet advises otherwise.
• Ask your vet before your dog carries any weight, and do not load a pack on a puppy or a dog with joint, back, heart or breathing problems.