Ruffwear Palisades Dog Pack

A multi-day dog pack whose saddlebags come off, leaving a harness, so your dog can rest from the load at breaks and in camp.

Who it suits

Fit, experienced adult dogs on multi-day backpacking trips, especially medium and large dogs.

Key facts

• Removable saddlebags; the harness can be worn on its own (Ruffwear)
• Molded, perforated foam back and belly panels; six points of adjustment; padded handle (Ruffwear)
• Ruffwear recommends no more than 25% of body weight including the pack, and starting a new dog with a light load (Ruffwear)
• Hand wash (Ruffwear)

What reviewers say

Treeline Review: Its best multi-day pack, tested by dogs from 38 to 80 lb on long trails including the Tahoe Rim Trail: the removable saddlebags let a dog rest from the weight, and two 1 L soft flasks came with it. It runs a bit large, is bulky for small dogs, and the neck and chest are not fully padded.

We did not test it ourselves.

Pros

• Saddlebags come off at breaks
• Long-trail tested by Treeline Review
• Padded handle

Cons

• Heavier and bulkier than day packs
• Runs a bit large, 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.