Dog backpacks for hiking
Two builds of the same pack: one where the saddlebags come off and one where they don't. Both use the EZ Fit™ harness, both adjust in about 30 seconds, and both come with a Kobuk water bladder. Four sizes, fitting a 17" to 42" chest.
EZ Fit™ adjustment
Dialed in 30 seconds or less
Triple-stitched
On the 2-Piece pack
Water-resistant
Built for rain and creek crossings
Bladder included
Kobuk bladder with every pack
What size does my dog need?
Two measurements and you’re done. Take them before you pick a size — breed and weight aren’t reliable on their own.
- 1
Measure the girth
Measure around the widest part of your dog's ribcage, just behind the front legs. Snug, not tight — you want two fingers underneath.
- 2
Measure the neck
Around the base of the neck, where a collar sits. Write both numbers down before you pick a size.
- 3
Between two sizes? Size down
EZ Fit™ straps take up slack, so the smaller size usually adjusts to fit. A pack that starts too big can't be cinched small enough.
“My dog's measurements were right on the border between a medium and a large, so I went with a medium, and he still has some room in the straps.”
Backpack size guide
| Size | Chest girth | Neck |
|---|---|---|
| S | 17–22" | 10–14" |
| M | 22–27" | 14–20" |
| L | 27–32" | 16–23" |
| XL | 32–42" | 22–30" |
Still between sizes? Send us your dog’s measurements and we’ll tell you which size we’d ship.
1-Piece or 2-Piece?
Same harness, same sizes, same included water bladder. The difference is whether the saddlebags come off.
| Feature | 2-Piece | 1-Piece |
|---|---|---|
| Saddlebags | Slide off with EZ Latch™ | Sewn on |
| Works as a harness alone | Yes — take the bags off | No |
| EZ Fit™ harness | Yes | Yes |
| Kobuk water bladder | Included | Included |
| Triple-stitched | Yes | Water-resistant and durable |
| Sizes | S · M · L · XL | S · M · L · XL |
| Colors | Six | Three |
Goes with the pack
The harness on its own for everyday walks, a spare bladder, and the 4-inch carabiner for people who want a really big carabiner.
LARGE CARABINER
$15.00
Questions people ask before they buy
- Measure around the widest part of your dog's ribcage, and the base of the neck. Small fits a 17–22" chest and a 10–14" neck; Medium 22–27" and 14–20"; Large 27–32" and 16–23"; X-Large 32–42" and 22–30". If your dog lands between two sizes, take the smaller one — the EZ Fit™ straps take up the extra, and an oversized pack can't be cinched down far enough to sit still.
- Ask your vet for a number specific to your dog. It depends on age, build, conditioning and the terrain, and a healthy young dog in shape is a different animal from a senior. Start well under whatever number you land on, keep the two sides even, and add weight over several hikes rather than all at once.
- The saddlebags. On the 2-Piece they slide off with the EZ Latch™ system, so the harness stays on your dog and you can drop the bags at camp or use it as a plain harness on a short walk. On the 1-Piece the bags are sewn on. Everything else — the EZ Fit™ harness, the sizes, the included water bladder — is the same.
- The EZ Fit™ buckles latch down and the leftover strap tucks into rubber loops, which is what keeps them from working loose. If a front strap does slip, it's almost always because the pack is a size too big — recheck the girth measurement against the size you bought. Loading both saddlebags to the same weight also matters more than people expect.
- Water-resistant, not waterproof. It sheds rain and shrugs off a creek crossing; it isn't rated to be submerged. The sleeping mat and sleeping bag are the ones with a genuinely waterproof bottom.
- Yes — a Kobuk water bladder is included with every pack. It rolls up flat when it's empty and fits the saddlebags. The double-locking top is there so it pours without leaking in the bag.