RuffWear Palisades Pack Dog Backpack

2022-07-31T20:00:00

Took our 1 year old Standard Poodle backpacking for a week and had him carry some of his own light weight gear and some of the kids'. He was very comfortable in it and quickly learned that it was hiking time as soon as we would bring the pack to him and he would get very excited. My favorite feature has to be the easy pack removal from the harness. I use the harness on our daily runs and during our backpacking trip it was very easy to pop the pack off without removing the harness for break time.

Sam H.

Originally posted at

2022-05-02T20:00:00

The pack held up wonderfully on Kuma's first backpacking trip. He took some dips in the water before I could detach the pack and the contents (his food, and a few toys) remained perfectly dry. When we stopped for lunch being able to quickly get the weight off him was an asset. Love the pack!

Sean S.

Originally posted at

2021-11-09T19:00:00

This pack is wonderful. It allows my dog to carry several day's worth of food on multi- day backpacking trips. In addition to food, he carries his powder hound jacket, his rain jacket, and a chuckit ball. Usually if he's carrying his food, I don't have him carry water because I'm very careful about balancing not only the sides of the pack, but ensuring that the pack doesn't weigh more than it should. I also put carabiners on top so I can wrap his leash up when he's loose on trail.

Ellie O.

Originally posted at

2021-11-02T20:00:00

Pack survived its first trip 27+ mile loop with multiple water crossings. When the weight is balanced between the two sides it stays on perfectly. My dog didn?t mind it at all because he knew once he puts it on its adventure time.

Justin R.

Originally posted at

2021-10-12T20:00:00

I purchased the Palisades pack after extensively researching different options and also talking to a rep from Ruffgear. Though more expensive than many others , the quality and function are exceptional....comfort, too. Sophie, my golden retriever, wags her tail when I pull the pack out to go "hunting" for Chaga mushrooms. The ability to detach the pack is wonderful whether for rest stops or to load the pack. Hopefully it will hold up for many years. Thank you.

Wayne S.

Originally posted at

2021-08-19T20:00:00

This pack is fantastic! It stands up to the durability needs of outdoor gear for a dog, has a huge carrying capacity, compacts quite small, has perfectly designed pocket storage and features, and comes with two nice water bottles. Oh, and it's stylish as **** too! My pup carried about 10-15 lbs at a time in this on our 4 day backpacking adventure in CO recently and he was always content and the load carried nicely and well distributed across his front shoulders. The Core Cooler attachment also helped keep him cool in the exposed sun up in the mountains. Ruffwear nails it again!

Harry R.

Originally posted at

2021-08-19T20:00:00

This was great, it fits him super well. At first he wasn't sure how he felt but once we hit the trails he was having a great time. He had to fly over and crawl under logs, and the bag handled the abuse super well. He jumped in a lake and got it all muddy but it dried and cleaned up pretty well. The easy removal of the pack is super nice for breaks and the water poches were great. I was so proud of him carrying all his own food and water and saving the weight from me. No regrets on this purchase.

Arin R.

Originally posted at

2021-08-11T20:00:00

I had tried another dog backpack before this one that failed almost immediately. Every part of the ruffwear palisades pack is well designed and super functional. The fitting guide was spot on to start. I loved the adjustments-we got a perfect fit for my dog. The material, zippers, pocket sizes, and straps were all well thought-out and durable. I also loved the two 1 liter water bottles that were included. I really can?t say enough good things about this pack. It?s a lot more expensive than some other dog packs but it is worth the money!

Alesia Q.

Originally posted at

2021-08-02T20:00:00

Our Aussie didn't seem to know that he was wearing the pack. Carried all of his food for a nine day backpack abour 11 lbs. The pack is easy to put on and really like that the bags can be removed and use as a harness.

Charles P.

Originally posted at

2021-07-13T20:00:00

Purchased this pack for my dogs first multiple day backpacking trip. Worked really well. Got wet/dirty but was able to care a lot of weight. Make sure to keep the sides as even as possible!

Brittany B.

Originally posted at

2021-06-19T20:00:00

Our dog Alex is a 9 yr old pittie mix. I ve had lesser quality packs in the past and they usually list to one side. They stay balanced and look comfortable. He doesn?t mind them at all. They don?t get dirty easily either.

Shirley P.

Originally posted at

2021-06-10T20:00:00

tl;dr: Detachable bags are awesome, harness is very comfortable, weight is well-distributed, plenty of room for food/snacks/bowls etc., very durable. I got this harness because I wanted the detachable saddlebags. They went above and beyond; not only do the saddlebags pop on and off easily, but the hole that surrounds the harness's handle and leash hook is large enough to fit around the retractable leash I use, which means I don't have to detach the leash at all when taking the bags off. The harness itself seems to be very comfortable; Chani has no problems running around and performing tricks, even with a full pack. The weight seems well-distributed and supported; she hasn't complained about it at all. It's also very durable; she's very energetic, and it gets smacked around a lot, but hasn't shown any sign of wear or tear. The material has been easy to clean, and it dries out fairly quickly. Chani loves drinking from the included water pouches. On shorter hikes, I only fill them half full or so, and I alternate which one I use to keep the weight evenly distributed. The main bags are large enough to fit collapsible food and water bowls, as well as four days' worth of her food plus treats. I use the top pockets for her doggie bags, brush, and medicine (such as parasite prevention). We ramped up with baby steps (harness on, harness off, harness with empty pack, walk with harness, walk with backpack, then slowly adding weight). Chani adapted very quickly, though she's usually up for anything. This isn't her daily harness (although it is comfortable enough to be that), so she gets excited every time she sees me holding it, because she knows there's a long walk or hike coming. I still keep room in my backpack to fit the bags in case she starts to slow down, but I haven't had to. I do try to stay well under her weight limit and take breaks as necessary. Chani has a blast every time we go!

Heidi L.

Originally posted at

2021-06-07T20:00:00

I don?t know about everyone else, but I have a big dog who can drink a lot of water and have many things to bring on a long hike. My main attraction to this backpack was, if he had to, my dog, Trigger, could carry all his own stuff for a several day camping trip (besides more than about a day?s worth of water). We often gets up early in the mornings for a day long hike and will return as the sun is setting, and I really appreciate that Trigger can carry all of his own stuff: water, a water bowl, drool towel, a snack, a tennis ball, a rain jacket, **** bags, etc. Whatever he might need, he can carry, which is a huge relief for me since carrying both his water and stuff plus my water and stuff can be a LOT. We have used it for a short camping trip as well, a three day trip where we were able to carry in extra water and food from the car, and he was able to carry most of his own stuff (extra gear, leashes, and jackets). If we went backpacking and then set up camp, I?m sure he could carry enough food and water for a day as well, maybe three if we had a source of water. The function of this bag is great too, it?s easy to remove things and offer him water or snacks or grab a **** bag from him when needed. The handle is great and the design of the harness means I can pick him up and put him somewhere if I need to or if he?s being stubborn and won?t turn around for me (he sometimes gets annoyed with photos and will silently protest them, or on trails when he?s off leash, sometimes he likes to stop in the middle of the trail and block people who need to pass us). It?s obviously not made to carry him for a long period of time but I have no doubt that in a pinch (say he got injured), the harness would allow me to carry him as needed, since it?s clearly of the highest quality. Since the packs are removable, that means when it?s time to take a break, it?s a lot easier to relieve him of his load and keep the harness on, another key feature that drew me to this bag. Before a hike starts and after one is finished, I can take the packs off and let him relax in the car without the extra weight; if we take an extended break, I can also remove the packs and let him frolic. It also kept me from having to buy one of the harnesses as well (he usually just uses his collar and leash), and now that I?ve used an actual harness, I can see the advantages in using one. I will still stick to my leash and collar the rest of the time, as that?s what works best for him, but in some scenarios like getting on a boat, it?s nice to know that the harness handle is there to pull him out of an unsafe situation. With the adjustments of the harness, it has never not fit him which is saying something considering the both of us (me and Trigger) got massively out of shape over quarantine. We?re getting back in shape now and he?s loosing the extra fat pretty fast, regaining his lean form, but no matter what shape he was, the harness fit him perfectly. No chaffing noticed from me and no sore spots on his end as best as I can tell. The water containers carry enough water for him for a whole day, which is something I was worried about not having enough of when getting a backpack for him. Some of the downsides to this pack is that he does get a little hot. He doesn?t handle heat the best in general, preferring the winter just like me, but it does make it a bit harder to cool down for him. Good thing though, that they make a cooling attachment for the harness that should counteract that if purchased. Another thing is that the sides can and do get a bit of wear and tear; my dog has bad spacial awareness to begin with (runs into people sometimes and doesn?t care) and being three times as wide means he brushes up against all kinds of sticks and rocks and whatever else is out in the world. The only place that I?ve seen wear and tear is on the very lowermost outsides of the pack, but I am also aware that Trigger is particularly rough with it. The third thing is that even when just carrying his water, two liters of water (which is how much the provided water containers fit), can be pretty heavy, so as well as it fits and distributes weight and all that jazz, just know it?s entirely possible for your pup to get tired faster with the bag on. I get tired faster with a backpack too, and his levels of energy have never dropped so low with the backpack that I?ve been concerned about it, but he does get tired faster. Ultimately, I?m sure with enough experience carrying the pack and with him back in shape, it will hardly hold him back in the future (not that it stops him now, Trigger loves to go go go and will even encourage me to go faster at times). I recommend it if this sounds like what you?re looking for, if you?re not quite so hardcore nor ask as much of your own dog (or if they?re not willing to spend 6-8+ hours on a trail without extra weight) perhaps consider the smaller size packs. Overall the best dog bag around if you?re serious about the outdoors!

Isabelle E.

Originally posted at

2021-06-07T20:00:00

I don?t know about everyone else, but I have a big dog who can drink a lot of water and have many things to bring on a long hike. My main attraction to this backpack was, if he had to, my dog, Trigger, could carry all his own stuff for a several day camping trip (besides more than about a day?s worth of water). We often gets up early in the mornings for a day long hike and will return as the sun is setting, and I really appreciate that Trigger can carry all of his own stuff: water, a water bowl, drool towel, a snack, a tennis ball, a rain jacket, poop bags, etc. Whatever he might need, he can carry, which is a huge relief for me since carrying both his water and stuff plus my water and stuff can be a LOT. We have used it for a short camping trip as well, a three day trip where we were able to carry in extra water and food from the car, and he was able to carry most of his own stuff (extra gear, leashes, and jackets). If we went backpacking and then set up camp, I?m sure he could carry enough food and water for a day as well, maybe three if we had a source of water. The function of this bag is great too, it?s easy to remove things and offer him water or snacks or grab a poop bag from him when needed. The handle is great and the design of the harness means I can pick him up and put him somewhere if I need to or if he?s being stubborn and won?t turn around for me (he sometimes gets annoyed with photos and will silently protest them, or on trails when he?s off leash, sometimes he likes to stop in the middle of the trail and block people who need to pass us). It?s obviously not made to carry him for a long period of time but I have no doubt that in a pinch (say he got injured), the harness would allow me to carry him as needed, since it?s clearly of the highest quality. Since the packs are removable, that means when it?s time to take a break, it?s a lot easier to relieve him of his load and keep the harness on, another key feature that drew me to this bag. Before a hike starts and after one is finished, I can take the packs off and let him relax in the car without the extra weight; if we take an extended break, I can also remove the packs and let him frolic. It also kept me from having to buy one of the harnesses as well (he usually just uses his collar and leash), and now that I?ve used an actual harness, I can see the advantages in using one. I will still stick to my leash and collar the rest of the time, as that?s what works best for him, but in some scenarios like getting on a boat, it?s nice to know that the harness handle is there to pull him out of an unsafe situation. With the adjustments of the harness, it has never not fit him which is saying something considering the both of us (me and Trigger) got massively out of shape over quarantine. We?re getting back in shape now and he?s loosing the extra fat pretty fast, regaining his lean form, but no matter what shape he was, the harness fit him perfectly. No chaffing noticed from me and no sore spots on his end as best as I can tell. The water containers carry enough water for him for a whole day, which is something I was worried about not having enough of when getting a backpack for him. Some of the downsides to this pack is that he does get a little hot. He doesn?t handle heat the best in general, preferring the winter just like me, but it does make it a bit harder to cool down for him. Good thing though, that they make a cooling attachment for the harness that should counteract that if purchased. Another thing is that the sides can and do get a bit of wear and tear; my dog has bad spacial awareness to begin with (runs into people sometimes and doesn?t care) and being three times as wide means he brushes up against all kinds of sticks and rocks and whatever else is out in the world. The only place that I?ve seen wear and tear is on the very lowermost outsides of the pack, but I am also aware that Trigger is particularly rough with it. The third thing is that even when just carrying his water, two liters of water (which is how much the provided water containers fit), can be pretty heavy, so as well as it fits and distributes weight and all that jazz, just know it?s entirely possible for your pup to get tired faster with the bag on. I get tired faster with a backpack too, and his levels of energy have never dropped so low with the backpack that I?ve been concerned about it, but he does get tired faster. Ultimately, I?m sure with enough experience carrying the pack and with him back in shape, it will hardly hold him back in the future (not that it stops him now, Trigger loves to go go go and will even encourage me to go faster at times). I recommend it if this sounds like what you?re looking for, if you?re not quite so hardcore nor ask as much of your own dog (or if they?re not willing to spend 6-8+ hours on a trail without extra weight) perhaps consider the smaller size packs. Overall the best dog bag around if you?re serious about the outdoors!

Isabelle E.

Originally posted at

2021-05-26T20:00:00

My dog's Palisades Pack made it through a 100-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail and still looks great. It is much higher quality than any other brand of backpack I have seen at any store...but that's the norm with RuffWear products. I have a 150-pound dog and the large/XL pack fit great. It was able to hold 3?4 days of food (about 6 pounds), a RuffWeat knot-a-tether, a RuffWear Bivy Bowl, 2 liters of water in the included pouches, and his RuffWear Sun Shower Raincoat. We did have a small problem with an inner strap on the bag, but customer service promptly helped solve the issue. I would definitely recommend this bag and I plan on purchasing another one for my newly adopted dog!

David

Originally posted at

2021-05-23T20:00:00

While easing my pup into carrying more and more weight (started with empty saddlebags), he still frolics through the woods as if the pack wasn't there!

Jonathan O.

Originally posted at

2021-04-13T20:00:00

Gray is a large dog. He has an especially large head. The main challenge I had with this pack is getting the fit dialed in while still being able to easily get the harness on and off. To get over his head, I needed to move the adjustment points to their maximum. Once it was on, I needed to adjust the harness to get the fit to be snug against his chest. Improvements: - larger range of adjustments - larger head hole - larger chest plate - chest-mounted leash attachment (the like Flagline, Switchbak, or Front Range) - Seam sealing - Zipper waterproofing

Kyle

Originally posted at

2021-04-02T20:00:00

It?s great and Indy loves it, she even swims with it on. Need to be able to shorten the waist strap a bit more but other than that it is very well made, top quality. We?re headed for the Pyrenees as soon as they let jus into Europe. I?ll let you know how it worked out after 1054 km.

James M.

Originally posted at

2021-03-17T20:00:00

This pack is just what we needed. It is well thought out and well made. Best of all, Jack doesn?t mind wearing it.

Keith A.

Originally posted at

2021-03-16T20:00:00

When I received this, I immediately unpacked and sized up on my girl Maggie. She was excited because she thought we were going out for a few nights. Unfortunately it was only for sizing. The last pack lasted 4 years, but she was tough on it as she liked to go through the bushes. Now to reinforce sections that should make this one last longer.

Derek K.

Originally posted at

2021-03-02T19:00:00

The harness fits like a glove. We haven’t tried any weight yet, but she doesn’t mind wearing it.

Dawn S.

Originally posted at

2021-03-02T19:00:00

The harness fits like a glove. We haven?t tried any weight yet, but she doesn?t mind wearing it.

Dawn R.

Originally posted at

2021-01-18T19:00:00

Took the pup out on a short day hike in a very rocky area, packed with water and a bit of dog food and he acted like he didn't even notice. The stability of the pack is superb and had to use the integrated handle many times as my dog is a big ***** and needed the extra motivation to jump down off some of the "boulders". Being able to take the pack completely off and use the webmaster harness standalone was my biggest draw to this pack and it doesn't disappoint. Putting the pack on and taking it off is a breeze and so far taking him running with it, I have noticed zero spots where it rubs or irritates him. Would and do highly recommend this pack.

Boston W.

Originally posted at

2021-01-03T19:00:00

Bentley, our 5 year old 60lb black lab, loved the Palisades pack. The medium was a perfect fit and the pack stayed attached to the harness even after he went berserk chasing a deer.

Madeline A.

Originally posted at

2020-12-19T19:00:00

I was worried about sizing for my 4yo 74lb female Plott Hound who has a 32in girth. I ended up going with the medium and it's perfect! I have the straps almost totally maxed out, but she's comfortable and I don't have to worry about a bunch of extra material. She seems totally comfortable and the pack hasn't slowed her down at all! Yet another great product from Ruffwear!

Bethany

Originally posted at

2020-11-23T19:00:00

This harness is great and doesn’t shift. It has a third strap that goes over the lower belly and that makes a huge difference in stability. It’s easy to put on and it doesn’t rub on her legs. My 70 lb German Shepherd uses a medium, but we probably could have gotten the large for her. The packs are removable. I’m really happy about that. The pack is really sturdy, but she’s a wild pup. Lol. She jumped in a lake with the harness on and it held up really well! She also snagged the packs on tree branches and weeds while running. Absolutely no damage. This is really well made and we’ve been through about 7 different brands before this.

Miranda D.

Originally posted at

2020-11-17T19:00:00

I use this item with my Service Dog. It's great for carrying her and my day stuff. I can put the collapsible bowl, the water bladders that came with it, my medicine and her treats, all without overloading her. I love that the pack comes off 1) only when intended & 2) very easily when I do want it to. We live in the desert, so in the summer, it is often too hot for her to wear the pack, so I pop it off and throw it over my shoulder or in the car. I also love to fill the bladders 1/3 full and put them in the freezer, then add water before leaving, so she has both a cool pack on each side of her and a cool drink of water when we're out. It settles very nicely on her and she carries it well. It's incredibly durable and looks super sharp as a Service Dog vest. Best Product ever!

HeatherJean G.

Originally posted at

2020-11-08T19:00:00

The pallisades pack is lovely and efficient. Even though it is the most expensive one it is worth the money ??

Khiabet M.

Originally posted at

2020-10-19T20:00:00

My Weimaraner just carried his pack for the first time on our last backpacking trip. Though it took him a bit to realize he was three times as wide as normal, by the end of the trip he settled in well and willingly packed in his sleeping bag and pad. I loved that he carried the poop bags out. I'm still getting the balance figured out, but it helps to keep the bulk about the same on each side as well as the weight. Well-made and designed, and as a plus the harness may be used on its own as well.

Erica A.

Originally posted at

2020-10-19T20:00:00

My Weimaraner just carried his pack for the first time on our last backpacking trip. Though it took him a bit to realize he was three times as wide as normal, by the end of the trip he settled in well and willingly packed in his sleeping bag and pad. I loved that he carried the **** bags out. I'm still getting the balance figured out, but it helps to keep the bulk about the same on each side as well as the weight. Well-made and designed, and as a plus the harness may be used on its own as well.

Erica A.

Originally posted at