Dog Harness Backpack

Product Description

The Ruffwear Approach Pack is an everyday pack with excellent performance, fit, and functionality. It provides dogs with the ability to efficiently carry a load, generating instant four-legged motivation to explore. The integrated harness, combined with the lightweight materials and a streamlined design, is comfortable and allows dogs to carry more trail necessities. Great for day hikes and overnight adventures. It's recommended that your dog carry no more than 25% of their body weight in their dog pack. If your dog is new to dog packs, start with a light load and work up to a heavier load as your dog gets accustomed to wearing the pack. The Approach Pack is available in 5 sizes. Select the correct size based on your dog's girth (measurement around the widest part of the rib cage). XX-Small: 13-17 inches (33-43 cm); X-Small: 17-22 inches (43-56 cm); Small: 22-27 inches (56-69 cm); Medium: 27-32 inches (69-81 cm); Large/X-Large: 32-42 inches (81-107 cm). Washing Instructions: Secure the fasteners; Hand wash with mild detergent; Air dry.

Features

• EFFICIENT LOAD CARRYING: The Approach Pack features a weight-forward saddlebag design that provides your dog with a comfortable method to carry the essentials for your trip. The pack's convenient, easy-access stash pockets are perfect for often used items and the capacity is ideal for overnight adventures.
• COMFORTABLE AND DURABLE: The Approach's streamlined design and lightweight materials and components allow for comfortable fit and long-term durability. The padded, comfortable handle offers an optimal balance point with good load dispersion for controlled and comfortable lifting (lift only as high as your dog can safely jump, as the buckles are not strength-rated for high-angle rope work).
• INTEGRATED HARNESS AND REFLECTIVE TRIM: The Approach's integrated harness features provide for leash walking (clip in via the V-ring), lifting (via the handle), and pulling (via the tow eye). The integrated, reflective trim allows you to keep an eye on your dog, even in low-light visibility environments.
• NON-SLIP STRAPS AND SHELTERED BUCKLES: The Approach's non-slip girth straps are easy to adjust, secure, and have pads to distribute load and increase comfort while lifting. The sheltered buckles stay in place for easy, one-handed clipping, and are protected from wear. 5 points of adjustment allow you to create a customizable fit specifically for your dog enabling a full range of motion.
• APPPROACH PACK SIZING: The Approach Pack is available in 5 sizes (see images for sizing chart): XX-Small: 13-17 inches (33-43 cm); X-Small: 17-22 inches (43-56 cm); Small: 22-27 inches (56-69 cm); Medium: 27-32 inches (69-81 cm); Large/X-Large: 32-42 inches (81-107 cm). Choose the right size based on your dog's girth. Girth can be determined by measuring around the widest part of the rib cage. For in between sizes, choose the smallest size.

Top Reviews

Worth it!
by Amazon Customer (5 out of 5 stars)
March 31, 2016

I went through 2 $40ish Outward Hound packs in two years before deciding on this one. The pack fits well and everything about it is great quality. It's what I would expect out of a good hiking backpack for humans. The zippers hold up, the straps don't slip on their own, and the D ring has held up under some serious pulling(darn chipmunks!). The handle on the back has also held up well when I've had to pick my dog up. The pack stays fairly balanced as long as I keep the contents weight distributed evenly enough. Even when she's run through some brush and trees it's not too off balance. I followed the recommended measurements when ordering for my 45lb Australian Shepherd and it fits perfectly. When the pack has gotten wet and dirty, I wait for it to dry and the dirt just brushes off and it's clean again. The bags are roomy which will be helpful when we start camping this summer and fall.

Edit: Update, I have used this pack for over a year now and I still love it. Everything about it has held up very well, through brush, water, and snow. The zippers, the lifting strap, the buckles, and the D ring have all done well. I can't imagine buying another pack.
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My Boxer (and I) love this backpack
by Terry (5 out of 5 stars)
April 24, 2015

My Boxer (and I) love this backpack! We use it all time when we go hiking or even on our daily walks to give her a job to do. It has large pockets so that she carries everything we need on our day hikes except the car keys. We've even used it when we go on vacation to pack everything she'll need for the trip. All the straps are adjustable so it can take a while to get everything situated correctly. However, having a deep chested sometimes hard-to-fit dog the more adjustable it is the better. We even used it once, with the appropriate counter balance, to bring one of her puppy friends along on a long walk!
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Not engineered wel or bad design
by Amazon Customer (2 out of 5 stars)
July 24, 2017

I am not happy with this product. It is very hard to balance weight in the pockets on the pack. Unless it is perfectly calibrated, the pack constantly shifts to one side or other. So when my GSD drinks a bottle of water, and I don't have an even number of bottles or even weight to distribute, I am screwed. When the weight in the side pockets are out of balance, the pack keeps slipping down one side of the dog. This is very hard on my 100 lb GSD.
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Careful if ordering for a small dog. X-small is NOT that small
by Peter Gitta (5 out of 5 stars)
October 14, 2015

Seems like a great quality pack, but WARNING if you have a small dog. 15-18lb range, DON'T follow the sizing instructions. My Border Terrier is 15lbs with an 18.5" girth. EXACTLY in teh x-small chart, but the bags looks HUGE on her and the straps were taken all the way in. I reordered the xx-small and it's perfect, although now the straps are all the way let out as far as they go.

The dogs really love these things. With out it on a walk, she just trots along content. With the pack on, she struts on her toes, tail waging wildly all proud like she's telling everyone, "Look at me! Check it out, I'm wearing a backpack!" Pretty funny.

Thanks Amazon for the easy exchange.
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Perfect
by Mad Cantoo (5 out of 5 stars)
May 28, 2013

I had read reviews on the upgrade from this one where you could remove the pack. I thought that would be handy, but didn't want to shell out the difference. So I took a chance on this one due to other reviews.

Glad I did. Stitching is solid. Material is solid. I like the handle. It does ride forward over the shoulders. The pack size itself is large, but can fit a 1L water bladder easily and that is what I use for weight. It has the big pockets, and then one smaller pocket above it to put treats, keys, whatever in.

Someone else mentioned in a review about a male dog perhaps urinating on the straps. Like that review, I didn't see a problem of misplaced stream on it, which I have had problems with on the cheaper pack I got from Petsmart.

The straps fit great. They didn't seem to rub him. He ran around quite happily with it. It is a little hard to put on a full pack if your dog wiggles, but mine sits very nicely while I take the time to strap it on. I like the breast Y-shaped strap; the cheaper one I had previously bought did not use it, and with the Ruffwear Approach I really felt like the pack was secure on my dog. I wasn't worried about it slipping and sliding or putting pressure on his neck. We went on a 6-mile hike and it remained in place the entire time.

I like the color. Bright enough to be noticed.

In all, very pleased. Not sure about how heat will be with this--we didn't go on a hot summer day yet! There is no mesh material to help with that (probably because mesh won't hold up to heavy use?). I hope to update this review in the future once we have tried a hot humid day in Texas, rather than a cool spring day in Montana.
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Will transform your dog!
by Tammy Luedtke (5 out of 5 stars)
June 12, 2013

HELLLLO! My name is Hendrix and I'm a 6+ year old Rottweiler/Shepherd mix. My mom bought me this pack for my very first hiking/backpacking trip. It took me about 5 minutes to get used to the pack when my mom had me practice carrying weight around the neighborhood before the trip. Now, I can't wait to carry my load and I love the feeling of being on a mission and contributing to the pack.

We did a 3 day/2 night trip on the Appalachian Trail in southern North Carolina. Everyone that knows me thinks I'm a lazy dog because I lay around the house and cuddle a lot. But I'm just bored with domestic life. A fenced in backyard and 2 walks a day for 30 minutes is lame. I walked 15 miles in one day on my first hiking trip, carrying all my own food, treats, and gear. I only stopped for breaks when the humans insisted. My mom and her boyfriend kept looking at me and wondering what the heck got into me -- where all my energy was coming from. It was the sense of being on a mission, with my pack and leading them through the wood. The smells, oh the smells, out in the wilderness -- I was in doggie heaven.

We're back now, and whenever I see my pack -- I run in circles and long for another hiking trip. For now, I'm happy to use my pack to carry beer for my mom to the beach and at parties. WOOF.
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Looks and fits great!
by Kate T (5 out of 5 stars)
November 28, 2015

Awesome doggie backpack! I researched for months before finally purchasing this one because the price was a lot to justify for me. I am glad I bought this pack. We tried on cheaper versions at the local pet stores but they moved around too much and did not fit well. My German Shepherd Dog measures 31 inches and weighs 84 pounds but he is only 1 year old so I got the large/xl size so he can mature and fill out into it. It fits him great with lots of room to expand when needed. The extra strap length from tightening it I tucked into the padded area so there is now no hanging material. At first he tried to shake it off but it doesn't move or slide around at all. He can run, walk, sit, and lay with it on comfortably. The bags fit A LOT of stuff in them! There is almost too much room but if you're hiking or taking day trips this is a good "problem". I thought the bags would flop around too much or be too saggy but they are not. Also, I read a review stating this did not work for male dogs but as long as the belly strap is fitted to be flush with his belly he can urinate fine without getting any pee on the strap. The materials are thick and rugged feeling without being heavy. The orange color is vibrant and makes my mostly black dog stand out. Overall I would definitely recommend taking the plunge and buying this dog backpack.
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Large for 85 lb Lab fits great
by Locke (5 out of 5 stars)
May 31, 2015

My dog is 2yr old 85 lb black lab. Very muscular as he runs/hikes every week. I measured his girth and it was 32 in, right on he divide between sizes. Reading other reviews says to buy smaller so I tried that and got a medium. Had to expand all the straps to max length and it barely fit. Took a walk and it was extremely snug with some of the straps rubbing a little too tightly for a distance trip. Paid to return it and bought he large. The large fits perfectly! He loves wearily this pack, more than I can say for his old cheap $15 saddle bags. Conforms nicely with many straps to secure it to the dog. Material feels really sturdy and so far no rips or wear. Highly recommend.

Pros:
-good material
-lots of straps ensures secure fit
-orange color is great for finding him in the woods

Cons:
-no free returns of you want a different size
-more color options would be nice
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Great choice for a first pack
by DeVone Staggs (5 out of 5 stars)
December 6, 2017

I love this pack! My dog loves this pack! When I began the search for a pack for my dog I quickly became overwhelmed with all of the options and then discouraged because most of the common cheaper brands didn't carry a pack big enough for my Pyrenees. Upon reading the reviews on this pack, however, I decided this one would be worth a shot. I am so glad that we went with this ruffwear pack. It is super easy to fit although it has 5 points of adjustment and my boy quickly became accustomed to wearing it. The packs are quite large but not overwhelmingly so and they do not flop and become a nuisance when the pack load is light or empty. I especially love the color as it is easy to spot in case I become separated from my dog out on a trail. I would definitely recommend, especially if you're looking for a good day-pack for a large dog.
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Overall pretty happy with this dog backpack!
by Nathan Z. (4 out of 5 stars)
April 26, 2019

We got this for our 60lb labrador, we've used other Ruffwear products in the past and have overall been very impressed with the brand. The underside of the harness for the backpack is quite a bit different from a normal Ruffwear harness. I definitely recommend purchasing the additional brush guard but for the price really wish it was just included. My only slight complaint is the pockets are a little too big in my opinion. Our lab's an american field lab with a leaner frame, we got a medium sized backpack and she looks a little silly wearing it just because the pockets are so freakin big. Will add a picture to the review shortly...
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Looks and fits great!
by Kate T,Top Contributor: Pets (5 out of 5 stars)
November 28, 2015

Awesome doggie backpack! I researched for months before finally purchasing this one because the price was a lot to justify for me. I am glad I bought this pack. We tried on cheaper versions at the local pet stores but they moved around too much and did not fit well. My German Shepherd Dog measures 31 inches and weighs 84 pounds but he is only 1 year old so I got the large/xl size so he can mature and fill out into it. It fits him great with lots of room to expand when needed. The extra strap length from tightening it I tucked into the padded area so there is now no hanging material. At first he tried to shake it off but it doesn't move or slide around at all. He can run, walk, sit, and lay with it on comfortably. The bags fit A LOT of stuff in them! There is almost too much room but if you're hiking or taking day trips this is a good "problem". I thought the bags would flop around too much or be too saggy but they are not. Also, I read a review stating this did not work for male dogs but as long as the belly strap is fitted to be flush with his belly he can urinate fine without getting any pee on the strap. The materials are thick and rugged feeling without being heavy. The orange color is vibrant and makes my mostly black dog stand out. Overall I would definitely recommend taking the plunge and buying this dog backpack.

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