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I love a good hike. I love my dog. Combine the two and I could climb mountains… Literally.
Hiking isn’t just good for you. Taking your dog out on the trail provides them with a beautiful source of enrichment. You may have heard the numbers on sniffing—twenty minutes of sniffing equates to an hour’s walk! Your dog’s brain is stimulated while you both get in some cardio.
It’s a win-win, really.
Why use hiking harnesses for dogs?
If safety is an important factor for you, investing in the appropriate harness is essential. These types of harnesses provide a small source of protection from things like low-hanging branches and weather. They’re also often equipped with handles, which make controlling your dog—or lifting them to safety—a bit more intuitive.
I have a small dog that looks suspiciously like a squirrel, so I require handles on his harness. I can grab and lift him high should we encounter any other off-leash dogs with higher prey drives or need to carry him across running water.
It’s more for my peace of mind, but I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
Below are some options, starting with one my dog and I have used for over a year:
Kurgo RSG Townie Harness – Saddlebag
This Kurgo dog harness has a breathable mesh underside, leash attachment on the back, a handle, and MOLLE space. You can attach fashionable patches or functional compartments to your dog’s harness, including a compatible hydration flask and dog first-aid kit.
The interior even has a tag with spots for your contact information and your dog’s name. (I highly, highly recommend some sort of ID for your dog should they get lost. GPS tracking, such as an AirTag attached to their collar, is an investment with a priceless return.)
Spice has had this particular harness for over a year and it surprisingly fits like a dream. It adjusts on both sides of the belly and the chest using clips to secure… and it doesn’t have material between their front legs. This frees up their mobility and reduces the potential for chafing.
Its design is also wonderfully simple; I can throw it on him faster than it took me to write this sentence. Yes, seriously. That quick.
I should mention Spice wears the size X-Small, fitting dogs with 12-18″ rib cages. (Spice’s ribs measure 15″.)
Cost
Amazon: $52.95 – $58.95
Kurgo: $52.95 – $58.95
Prices vary depending on size. Deemed accurate 09/25/2023.
Ruffwear Multi-Use Support Dog Harnesses
Ruffwear is a well-known “adventure” brand—harnesses for walks, hikes, and everything in between, they have it.
Orange is an oddly-occurring color, easier to see due to its largely absent in nature (thus why hunters wear it), so having it as an option is excellent in my opinion. They offer more colors such as purple and red, and have a large range of sizes. The XXS fits dogs with 13″-17″ rib cages, perfect for petite dogs.
The strap across the chest and two around the ribs allows for size adjustments. this matters for deep-chested or barrel-chested dogs—finding a compatible harness can be rough! Five points of adjustment solve that problem
Plus, having three straps can also help distribute weight and pressure when lifting or supporting your dog.
Even with those straps, it’s low-profile, leaving your dog’s skin room to breathe and cool down. This lack of coverage does have a downside: one attachment point. You’ll have to leash your dog at the shoulders, not the chest… so it’s not a no-pull harness.
(Psst! Another bonus… all sizes cost the same. I think that’s pretty fair.)
Cost
Amazon: $69.95
Deemed accurate 09/25/2023.
OneTigris Tactical Dog Harnesses
Now, with a name like “tactical dog harness,” you expect a certain level of durability… One that could withstand a multi-day hike or rough play. With this harness, that’s exactly what you get.
The OneTigris harness has a handle, two points of adjustment, two points of attachment (at the back and nape), and breathable mesh lining. There’s also space for your dog’s ID, which I recommend utilizing immediately. (And perhaps attach a GPS tracker too, especially if you’re in less-populated areas. The return on investment is priceless.)
The XX-Small fits dogs with chests 13″-18″ and comes in green, grey, black, blue, and brown. It’s recommended to measure your dog’s neck, too, due to the neck opening’s structure.
At the nape you can find the harness’ handle, which is the one downside I’d mention… Placing the handle more towards the center of your dog’s back can make lifting them less uncomfortable for your dog. But it does have a handle when some other dog vests do not.
OneTigris makes up for it with a one year warranty on their products. Go take a hike and test it out!
Cost
Amazon: $26.99 – $40.99
Prices vary depending on size. Deemed accurate 09/25/2023.
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