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Ruff Wear Approach Pack -- Sizes Medium - Large
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Ruff Wear Approach Pack -- Sizes Medium - Large

Item # 771046

$74.95

Item qualifies for annual
REI Member Refund (typically 10%)

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Discover the joy of hiking with your best friend! This Ruff Wear dog pack is perfect for day or weekend adventures with your pooch.

  • Trim saddlebag design moves easily with dog's body, allowing easy navigation through dense woods
  • Web Master™ harness improves load distribution, support and stability; padded, five-point design is adjustable for maximum comfort
  • Built-in handle allows you to help your dog through those tough spots on the trail; a leash can be attached to sturdy D-ring (leash sold separately)
  • Made with durable, water-resistant ballistic nylon; waterproof zippers help protect contents from moisture
  • Daisy-chain gear loops on saddlebags provide external attachment points for additional gear

Sizing is based on girth and length. For girth, measure around the widest part of your dog's rib cage. Size Medium: 26 - 36 in. girth, 732 cu. in. capacity; size Large: 32 - 48 in. girth, 976 cu. in. capacity.

Imported.

Item 771046

Ruff Wear Approach Pack -- Sizes Medium - Large Specs

Specification

Description

MaterialNylon
Number of pockets2 main compartments

Ruff Wear Approach Pack -- Sizes Medium - Large Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Ruff Wear Approach Pack
 
4.1

(based on 8 reviews)

86%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Tough (4)
  • Good quality (3)
  • Good value (3)

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Travel (4)
    • Reviewer Profile:
    • Long-time pet owner (4)

    Reviewed by 8 customers

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    Nov

    25

    2008

    (5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

     
    3.0

    to bad it is not completely waterproof

    By happy human dog

    from portland, OR

    About Me Long-time Pet Owner

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Easy to fit
    • Tough

    Cons

      Best Uses

        Comments about Ruff Wear Approach Pack:

        I love this pack but...why make a bag with waterproof zippers and only water resistant material? i'm sure this boils down to marteial cost but i think it worth it. i would pay the extra to have a completely waterproof bag. I live in Portland and it rains ALOT here. 20 minutes into my rainy hike water was already pool in the bottom of both bags :( other then this complaint the bag is my favorite when it is dryer - Super durable, great fitting options and strong hardwear.

        • Gift:
        • No

        (5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

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        Oct

        27

        2009

        (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

         
        5.0

        My mutts new favorite toy

        By AshleyW

        from Denton, TX

        About Me Multiple Dog Owner

        Pros

        • Cute
        • Fun
        • Good Quality
        • Huge interior
        • Stays put

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Harsh Weather
          • Large Dogs
          • Outdoors
          • Small Dogs
          • Travel

          Comments about Ruff Wear Approach Pack:

          I was originally going to buy the mountainsmith dog pack. My dogs are brother and sister and weigh about 55 lbs each. It said for a medium 40 - 80 lbs so I figured no problem. I had brought my dogs up to REI so I could fit them for shoes but decided to try the packs on just in case. They were way too big. They looked un-natural and bulky. I went in to get a small but it just looked ridiculous and more like a tiny mail bag.

          I didn't want to spend the extra money but I went in and got the ruff wear pack in medium. It was definitely larger looking but it fit so well. The chest piece in the front kept everything in place and it made it so easy to pick them up when they fell or things got slippery. The waist strap goes in a diagonal to secure the pack around the littlest part of their waist. The straps never moved or loosened up (even when my boyfriend carried my mischievous mutt for a while because he wouldn't get off the trail scent of another female. Boys!)

          Make sure to fit the pack before your trip. It took a while to get them fitted just right however I am confident I wont have to adjust them again. We loaded each side with 2 water bottles and a zip lock of food plus a lil bowl. Both dogs were fine with the weight and my boy dog ran all around the house like I'd put his harness on for a walk. He loved the sense of responsibility.

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          Images shared by AshleyW

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          Tags: Using Product

          Images shared by AshleyW

          Image Thumbnail

          Tags: Using Product

          (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

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          Aug

          26

          2009

          (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

           
          2.0

          Not for the rough and tumble...

          By Pet me I

          from Mid-Atlantic

          About Me Outdoor dog club owner

          Pros

          • Assist handle
          • Bright color
          • Washes Well

          Cons

          • Causes Irritation
          • Tears Easily
          • Wears Quickly

          Best Uses

            Comments about Ruff Wear Approach Pack:

            I settled on the Approach pack for my English Springer Spaniel. The panniers are too large in the size Small, but an X-Small does not fit. We tried several sizes in every main-stream brand and model and he seems to be in between sizes in each. So, the Approach was as close as we could get.

            Ruff Wear sizing in general seems to run the gamut. In the overcoat he is a Medium or a Large, in the Float Coat a Medium and in the packs he is a Small.

            I have never come close to completely filling the panniers even on multi-day overnight trips. This makes it difficult to pack a stable, balanced load when contents are constantly shifting. The load should be high on the sides to help with center of gravity, but the result with overly large panniers is gear sinking to the bottom and bouncing with each step.

            Besides the panniers being too large, I was happy with it for a while.

            The older style Ruff Wear packs were much more durable being made from a ballistics nylon. These new models are made from a lighter/ thinner material that just did not hold up to our use. I got about 6-months of use from this pack and it is falling apart.

            I do not know if Ruff Wear's decision to use a lighter material was weight based or production cost based. If they were trying to cut back on the weight of the pack itself, it would make more sense to reduce the size of the panniers. I see far too many dogs carrying loads that are way too heavy. Manufactures who produce packs with panniers that are out of proportion are simply encouraging uneducated dog owners to fill them and put too much weight on their dogs.

            I will not buy another Ruff Wear pack unless they go back to a more durable nylon. I will not be replacing my dog's pack twice a year at the cost of these packs. If you and your dog are more than just casual backpackers, you should look elsewhere for a more durable pack.

            Yes, we require more out of our gear than the average consumer, but other gear we use does not wear out this fast. Even under our demands, I should get at least a year out of any dog pack. Most consumers purchase gear expecting to get many years out of them, so my expectations of at least a year is not out of line.

            • Gift:
            • No
            • Sizing:
            • Feels full size too big

            Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

            (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

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            Jan

            11

            2009

            (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

             
            5.0

            The Best

            By Squirrel Jim

            from Black Hills of South Dakota

            About Me Long-time Pet Owner

            Site Member

            Pros

            • Good Value
            • Tough
            • Versatile

            Cons

              Best Uses

              • Larger Pets
              • Travel

              Comments about Ruff Wear Approach Pack:

              This is the first dog pack I have had. I researched a lot of them and always came back to the Ruffwear. The sternum and chest strap was perfect for keeping the pack straight on my pall. She ran, jumped, tore through the under brush and was chest deep in snow. The pack did not slip or cause hot or rub spots. It appeared very comfortable for her to wear and it was easy to access the compartments. It was very easy to set up and adjust the straps to fit appropriately.

              • Gift:
              • No

              Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

              (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

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              Jun

              12

              2009

               
              5.0

              worth the money

              By thoppes

              from Redding CA

              About Me Multiple Dog Owner

              Pros

              • Easy to Put On
              • Good Quality
              • Holds plenty of food
              • Made well
              • Tough

              Cons

                Best Uses

                  Comments about Ruff Wear Approach Pack:

                  our 2 Boxers used these packs to carry their own food when we went on the Pacific Crest Trail. The packs held up very well. The dogs didn't mind carry things as long as they got to go....

                  • Gift:
                  • No
                  • Sizing:
                  • Feels true to size

                  Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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                  Apr

                  26

                  2009

                   
                  4.0

                  Best dog pack available

                  By brandykai[@]

                  from Portland, Oregon

                  About Me Dog Trainer, Single Dog Owner

                  Pros

                  • Carries lots of stuff
                  • Easy to Put On
                  • Good Quality

                  Cons

                  • Black strap colors fur
                  • Bulky

                  Best Uses

                  • Outdoors
                  • Travel

                  Comments about Ruff Wear Approach Pack:

                  The best dog pack out there. It fit the best and is pretty much rip proof. Only con is it becomes bulky when packed with your stuff.

                  • Gift:
                  • No
                  • Sizing:
                  • Feels true to size

                  Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

                  Was this review helpful? Yes / No

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                  Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

                  Apr

                  17

                  2009

                   
                  5.0

                  great pack

                  By bbenson

                  from wisconsin

                  About Me Long-time Pet Owner

                  Pros

                  • Fun
                  • Good Value
                  • Tough
                  • Versatile

                  Cons

                    Best Uses

                    • Larger Pets
                    • Travel

                    Comments about Ruff Wear Approach Pack:

                    my 140 pound st/retreiver puppy pulls alot when walking. the pack seems to stay in place very well and i can control him better. we like to hike and he can carry his own water!

                    • Gift:
                    • No

                    Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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                    Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

                    Feb

                    20

                    2009

                     
                    4.0

                    Great Pack

                    By GregoryW

                    from Boston MA

                    About Me Long-time Pet Owner

                    Site Member

                    Pros

                    • Good Value

                    Cons

                      Best Uses

                      • Younger Pets

                      Comments about Ruff Wear Approach Pack:

                      This is our second RuffWear Approach pack, and it is considerably better than the previous model.

                      The tear-drop shape of the saddlebags put most of the weight on the front shoulders. The previous Approach pack was much longer and put a lot of the weight on the middle of the back.

                      We've looked at the other dog packs, and none come close to the RuffWear harness system. I don't know if it is comfortable, but it looks both comfortable and secure.

                      There are plenty of loops and rings to attach stuff. We put a 0.5 liter water bottle on each side which seems like a better fit than a hard nalgene bottle.

                      Another reviewer mentions that the saddlebags are not waterproof, and that is correct. They're not even very water-resistant for that matter.

                      The only other complaint I have is the size of the straps. I have a boxer and she is 30" around, so she barely fits into the small pack. The medium pack is too much for her.

                      • Gift:
                      • No

                      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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