RuffWear Approach Pack Dog Backpack

2021-12-05T19:00:00

This pack is perfect. It?s indestructible, unmovable and big enough for backpacking. My Australian cattle dog, Grace can comfortably carry her food, water for the day, and essentials (treats) when we hike Idaho?s wilderness. Up, down, through water and over obstacles, it stays in place.

Kathy G.

Originally posted at

2021-11-28T19:00:00

It was his first time wearing a backpack (he wears a harness daily) and was a little confused at first but after about 15 minutes of being on the trail he was all about it and got the zoomies while wearing it. The only thing I will critique is the design around putting it on and taking it off. Only one side in the front detaches so you have to bend your dogs arm to get it through the loop which is difficult with a full pack halfway on.

Michael D.

Originally posted at

2021-11-25T19:00:00

I purchased this pack to facilitate poop cleanup on group human+dog runs. Now my dog carries a stash of bags, hand sanitizer, bags of poop, treats and my car keys. We'll probably use it for ski touring and other trail activities too! Seems to slide off to one side but it probably just needs to be adjusted for a better fit. Reflective piping is a nice touch.

Matthew P.

Originally posted at

2021-11-13T19:00:00

I am always happy with Ruffwear items. This pack did not disappoint. Stays in place. Fastens on easily. Puppy seems to not even notice!

Barbara I.

Originally posted at

2021-10-31T20:00:00

Overall we had a great experience with this product. I bought it for both my dogs so they could carry their food for our backpacking trip. They did really well with it. I do wish it was water proof, my dogs love water and even though I had their food in a ziplock it still got wet a little bit.

Taylor L.

Originally posted at

2021-10-22T20:00:00

We got this pack for our dog for our first backpacking trip with her so she could help carry her necessities. It was great! She is a hound mix, so can be a bit tricky to fit, but this pack was adjustable enough to fit her very well. We made sure to give her a couple walks using it before the trip so she could get used to it, and after a little initial hesitation about putting her head through this contraption, she was completely fine with it. I definitely recommend this pack, and equally recommend making sure you give your dog time to get used to it if they haven't used something similar in the past as I'm sure it seems a bit strange at first to them! Our dog is used to a harness, but this is a whole lot more than that. I was concerned it might not have enough room for everything we wanted to have her carry, but we were able to fit three meals of kibble, treats, poop bags, a toy, and a small bottle of water with some room to spare!

Evangeline H.

Originally posted at

2021-10-09T20:00:00

I, the human, love this pack. It's easy to get on, fits all the essentials for both dogs (my spoiled Chihuahua is too small for a pack so his sister carries his stuff), stays in place pretty well, and holds up to all the brush and trees my dogs insist on going through. BUT... It chafes the bejeesus out of my dogs armpits. I bought it for backpacking, but 3 miles is about the max she can wear it before she's bleeding. It never has more than 7lbs in it, per the recommendations. I have a 27lb basenji mix. She was in between xsmall and small, and i got the small. It seems fit her girth, but maybe she's just too long? I feel liked the straps shouldn't be in her pits, but it's just how they sit.

Megan

Originally posted at

2021-08-11T20:00:00

The item seems sturdy and comfortable for my dog. I haven't put any weight in it but I think that it will balance nicely. The color is perfect for hiking in dense areas! All the straps are easy to adjust and the fabric is stitched well.

Sierra G.

Originally posted at

2021-08-09T20:00:00

I wouldn't say my dog loved the pack because, well, she didn't really want to wear a backpack (who can blame her?), but it fit well, didn't shift or slide around too much, and was able to hold her food, shoes, jacket and leashes for a 5-day backpacking trip. Only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I found it a little difficult to get on and off, especially when it was full. Looking forward to using it again!

Chelsey R.

Originally posted at

2021-08-08T20:00:00

Just exactly what I was looking for - my dog actually liked it

Susan P.

Originally posted at

2021-07-26T20:00:00

On all our adventures my dog can carry his own water snacks and toys, it?s pretty amazing.

Chris D.

Originally posted at

2021-07-25T20:00:00

Great! Perfect size for overnight trip.

Angela H.

Originally posted at

2021-07-22T20:00:00

This pack + the roamed leash are my new go-to even for short hikes. Pros: holds lots of supplies, easy on/off, strong against pulling at leash, east to see bright orange, stores flat when not using. Cons: hard to keep balanced so it usually drifts to one side or the other while my dog is wearing it; doesn?t have a front loop, which would be nice to prevent pulling; not water proof for when he runs into streams; straps can be hard to adjust; second belly strap is kind of far back, on the belly instead of rib cage Overall functional and will probably last a long time, but if I could trade it in for a smaller one I probably would.

Anne

Originally posted at

2021-07-15T20:00:00

My dog has put this bag through some vigorous testing and have found several faults: -If he runs too hard with a full pack the zippers will pull apart and lose two days of food in the woods causing the backpacking trip to be cut short -If he takes the bag for a swim (not recommended) the interior contents get covered in a weird slimy white material -If the bag is filled with small but heavy items they flop around too much and hit his elbows when he walks -If the contents are light but bulky he is sometimes wider than the trail allows -If its wet out the bag gets waterlogged fast and becomes very heavy -If its too warm he gets hot and tries to swim with the pack on -If he rolls over with a full bag he may become a stuck turtle -The bag has trouble staying level and not sagging even when perfectly balanced That said there have been no real tears and the overall quality is what I would expect from Ruffwear and it is a great pack option.

renee

Originally posted at

2021-05-06T20:00:00

I've been on multiple backpacking trips with this pack and it performs every time. My dog *really* puts it through its paces, running through scrub and doing all he can to destroy it, but it resists his efforts. This is one time I wish Cusco wasn't between ruffwear sizes - he has a 27 inch girth and the small is too tight on him, but the saddle bags on the medium are a bit oversized for his compact 55 pound frame - I never fill them and wish there were straps to cinch the saddle bags down a bit. Youi also do need to be very careful to keep the saddlebags evenly weighted or it will sit crooked on the dog, but I think that's best for the dog anyway. The pictured dog is 55 pounds with a 27 inch girth and is wearing a medium.

Lauren P.

Originally posted at

2021-03-25T20:00:00

Great experience, easy on easy off. Quality construction with useful space for all the essentials. Picked the orange poppy color and love it! Thank you Ruffwear.

Andrew T.

Originally posted at

2021-03-16T20:00:00

The approach pack is amazing, fits all my dogs things with ease. The color pops and matches his booties. The only downside I experienced with it was it can be difficult to adjust. Sometimes having to remove the pack from my dog make adjustments and refit the pack. But otherwise a great saddle bag style pack for dogs.

Travis B.

Originally posted at

2021-03-15T20:00:00

We use this pack on our longer hikes. The fit is perfect, lots of storage, and now he can pack some of his own things! Overall we love this pack! We bring it on every trip!

Jarrett F.

Originally posted at

2021-01-26T19:00:00

I bought this pack for a last minute trip to the Lost Coast Trail in California. My dog was an experienced hiker but hadn't been on an overnight hike before. She's a French bulldog mix and right between the small and medium size measurements. I bought both sizes. The smaller pack didn't adjust wide enough to fit over her chest so medium was the only option. The panniers are a bit larger than needed for the amount of weight she can carry, but not too large to be an issue. The handle is great!! No issues lifting a 45 lb dog over a stream with it. The pack got some heavy use, but cleaned up well without any damage.

Michelle

Originally posted at

2021-01-20T19:00:00

We have been on a few hikes with this backpack. It doesn't seem to slip or shift at all when it is evenly packed. I love the bright color!

Michelle S.

Originally posted at

2021-01-11T19:00:00

Have a small, wide, young male rescue dog. Walks with another on leash. He really does super well with this pack. Gives him a little "job" to do. Besides, he can carry his and Tripod's (his 10Lb, 3-legged, female rescue companion) **** bags, treats, pet first aid, extra plastic bags, leashes, and inclement weather gear. Took my female rescue on Colorado Trail last summer sans pack--she only has 3 legs; did not want to stress her and I sure did not want to carry her! Daily pre-hike training with this is a must especially with multiple dogs .You have to get your mutt to like it; be fit for the carry, and, what to expect. From you! You will carry bulk of dogs' needs. Adjust pack to dog carefully. Good color for humans to see: orange. Suggest small light. Balance contents. NOT water proof! Good product. Got an XS for him.(he carries our 3-legged dog's bags too--they are light). I don't expect for him to carry a lot; its just good discipline.

Naomi B.

Originally posted at

2021-01-06T19:00:00

my dog loves this pack and we put in ten miles on his first trip with it on. ..Looking forward to all the adventures in the future.

robert t.

Originally posted at

2021-01-04T19:00:00

Great! The backpack fits great and is great quality!

Sarah M.

Originally posted at

2020-12-08T19:00:00

Camping, hiking or for a day out, this backpack can fit it all. We loads it up his **** bags, water, our gear, his gear.

Martha J.

Originally posted at

2020-11-28T19:00:00

Amazing- we loved it! It’s big enough to hold her gear and scout was comfortable in it!

LeAnn I.

Originally posted at

2020-11-19T19:00:00

This pack was a game changer hiking up scrambles with my pup. We were able to more easily access her water bowl etc with the pockets for quick breaks and with the handle pick her up for scrambles taller than her

Bryanne P.

Originally posted at

2020-11-15T19:00:00

Kinda hard to put in water on one side and balance it out. Not packs fault just a learning curve. It fits well never bunches up or falls off. She runs into everythong with this and hasnt torn it yet! Very tough. She will stop in her tracks snagged on boulder etc..lol. doesnt restrict she can run for miles wearing it. I am very pleased

perceval s.

Originally posted at

2020-10-19T20:00:00

This pack is fantastic!!! It's the perfect size for our 53 lb ACD. Granted he doesn't love it as much as I do but we are working on that. The quality is also incredible, super durable and easy to clean.

Kathie L.

Originally posted at

2020-10-16T20:00:00

I bought 2 of the Ruffwear Approach Dog Packs (size Medium) for my 2 Pitties (51 lbs and 63 lbs). They fit great and they have been fantastic for our recent 2 day/1 night camping trips. I operate a dog training business in NC and part of our program is that we offer clients access to our monthly pack walks & socials, day hikes and as of this year: 2 day/1 night camping trips and these packs have been PERFECT for us trainers and our clients! We love our Ruffwear Approach Packs. We keep the weight to under 10% of the dog's body weight. So for my own dogs they carry 1 liter (2.2 lbs) on each side of their pack (2 liters total per dog). Given that we are hiking on some pretty rugged terrain with lots of elevation change, the 9 pounds they carry (between the two of them) is a MASSIVE help for me and they have no issue whatsoever carrying the weight. As mentioned, we do hike on some pretty rugged terrain so the bottom of the saddles are frequently getting scrapped across rocks and so far they are holding up nicely but time will tell. I think it would be nice if the next pack model included some type of extra layering on the bottom of the saddles to improve longevity and help with wear and tear as they get banged up from rocks and boulders. But again... 5 stars.... as always... Ruffwear comes through with another great product. You get what you pay for and they are absolutely worth the price.

Dave

Originally posted at

2020-10-13T20:00:00

Ruffwear makes great products and this backpack did not disappoint. Easy to fit to my dog and the pack fits all the gear I needs for a day trip or overnight trip.

Naomi K.

Originally posted at