REI Ultra Dog Pack - Small

Comments about REI Ultra Dog Pack - Small:

Used this for the first time on a short hike to get my pup used to it. when we first got it on she wasn't too thrilled, but as soon as we got to the trail it wasn't even on her anymore. I had a larger pack before that was more cumbersome and while it did keep her from wandering off to investigate smells and noises she wasn't too comfortable in it, so it seemed. With this pack, it fits her well, saddlebags don't bounce around and, unfortunately, she is her regular spastic self.

The cinch cords on the packs are great for keeping a water bottle from bouncing all over inside.
Kind of similar to some of my jackets, the waterproof zippers aren't the smoothest to use.

The downside I did find due to her spastic self being maintained is of pointless.
that the bags are not very waterproof. she went for a dip in the river to cool off and the bottom part of the bags let the water wet the contents a litle bit. I guess the zippers help in the rain (don't know yet), but if the bottom allows water to absorb or seep in it seems kind
overall i'm satisfied and would probably buy again, although i don't know if the few design features over the cheaper model are really worth another 20-30 bucks.

Comments about REI Ultra Dog Pack - Small:

Today was our third day test-driving the Small REI Ultra pack on our 9month old, 40lb pup. He is a turbo-charged mixed breed that does not sit still and while we bought this pack specifically for an upcoming backpacking trip I can see getting a ton of use out of this thing.

We have so far had him carrying one 16 water bottle in each side along with extra stuffing to fill out the bags which zip out to be quite large. I also measured--each side fits 10 cups of kibble--thats a lot! The cam locks and three straps allow a great range of adjustment and it fits him great. The belly cam lock does keep opening on its own however so I may do as one reviewer suggested and duct tape it shut. The packs stay snug against him and don't seem to bang around at all. He adjusted quickly to wearing it even with weight and blasts around almost like he's not wearing it at all.

My favorite part is the handle. Its super easy to grab him quickly to get him out of the way (usually of downhillers) and I can see it being useful for hoisting etc.

He also took a quick dip today and while the contents of the bottom of the compartments were damp it did seem to keep most of the water out. My car keys were in the top pocket and I quickly fished them out, they were totally dry.

My main issue with it is the sizing is deceptive--make sure you read the specs!!! Our dog is hardly "small" but he fits in the lower range of this size of pack. His girth is 25" and from withers to base of tail he is 17".

One other minor concern (and apologies for the less-than-savory descrip); when fitting this pack--if you have a male dog make sure the "waist" strap clears his man parts completely and rides as far forward as possible. On our puppy it does ride a little close, and as he is just learning how to lift his leg properly I have observed him going to urinate and not "clearing" that strap entirely when squatting. It is adjusted correctly and there's not much to be done about it, just wanted to let people know to watch for that. It will need an extra hose off after use if thats an issue.

Overall, I am a big fan of this thing so far, we'll see how it holds up on the real trip and for the long haul, but I am expecting it to be just fine.

***One more note--if you have a dog that already pulls a lot on a collar or a harness and expect to do a lot of on-lead hiking with this, please take some time to train your dog first. I hate harnesses as a rule because they engage the dogs' opposition reflex and actually make them pull harder. I could see someone fully geared up with a 40lb backpack on getting yanked over by a dog wearing this and causing serious damage. Spend some time rewarding your dog for yielding to leash pressure, and make sure they understand cues such as "wait" and "lets go" before you head out for any longer trips. And have fun!***

Comments about REI Ultra Dog Pack - Small:

I did some extensive research & comparison between this dog pack and Ruff Wear's Approach and Singletrak at my local REI store before making the purchase. The purpose of this pack is to have my 9-yr old dog (35 lbs) carry his own water, bowl and potty bags on weekend short hikes.

The REI Ultra Dog Pack is better padded than Ruff Wear Approach and Singletrak and the padding also feels more breathable. The pouches lay flat when empty (unlike the Approach) but has enough room for a regular size bottle of water in each (I use 17 fl. oz. Platypus Softbottles) without unzipping the expansion, plus a foldable bowl and a roll of potty bags. The Ruff Wear Singletrak comes with Platypus bottles but doesn't have much room for anything else. The hardware on the REI Ultra Dog Pack, especially the leash ring, also feel more solid and the stitching more secure. When the load is evenly distributed between the two pouches and the straps comfortably fitted but snug, this pack does not shift around on my dog's back.

If your dog has never wore a weighed pack before, it is best to spend a few days to acclimate him to it. Start with 2 days practice (multiple walks per day) with empty pack, then move on to 2 days of half-weighed pack, and finally 2 days of fully weighed (the amount you want him to carry on his first hike) pack. Be sure to check the fitting of the straps to make sure it is comfortably snug on your dog and practice the best way to put it on/take it off without causing you or your dog too much stress. We now go on our daily walks with my dog wearing this pack whenever we can. It keeps him more focused on our walks and he also gets more out of the walk by carrying some extra weight on him.

A word of caution before purchasing this pack: measure your dog properly. My dog is 18-inches from base of neck to base of tail and the pack's belly strap barely missed his boy bit. If your male dog is under 18-inches from base of neck to base of tail, the belly strap may interfere with him urinating.

Comments about REI Ultra Dog Pack - Small:

I use this bag pretty often. We love taking our dog Chona on little mini adventures. Now Chona is able to carry all her own things (water, treats, brush, poop bags, small toys and small towels.) we've used the handle to hop and fence and pass her over (it wasn't a tall fence but hey it worked excellent.)The bag clips-in in three places. under the belly and chest, then from the chest to the throat/tracea area. it doesn't seem to bother her at all, on the contrary she seems to strut in it.The bags on each side are collapsible so that things aren't jumbling around. they also have light reflectos for night walks. the back side is made of a mesh material that allows for air flow. overall great bag!

Comments about REI Ultra Dog Pack - Small:

Love this pack! I spent a lot of time looking for the perfect pack for my dog. He is a 40 pound border collie mix and this pack fits him perfectly. I love the bright color for when we're hiking through the forest or walking near roads. My friends all have Ruff Wear packs for their dogs, but I prefer this REI pack for many reasons: more padding, extra pockets for small items you'll need on the fly, it fits higher on his shoulders lessening the weight on his back, has an extra buckle that makes it easier to take off and put on, and there is an extra cinch in each pocket to tighten them closer to his body when the pockets are not full. On our first hiking trip with the new pack it was the only one to not get filled with water when all the dogs ran into the creek (the other dogs were wearing the Ruff Wear approach bag or the Palisades pack). Overall, I'm extremely pleased with this product!

Comments about REI Ultra Dog Pack - Small:

I love this pack. My dog loves this pack. Very similar suspension to the more expensive Ruffwear packs. The only issue is the buckels come undone every once in awhile. My dog swam with this pack on, and carries all his own food/water. I would say this pack is somewhat over priced, but it is expandable and has handy cellphone/key/treat/ID pockets. My dog calmed down with this pack on, he gets tired quicker, and has more focus. I would say get this pack and make your dog carry their own stuff!!

Comments about REI Ultra Dog Pack - Small:

My dog Teddie has been using this pack for a year. It goes on easily and carries her water, treats and boots. Here in So Calif. the trails sometimes become too hot for her feet and having access to the boots is important. Previously she has gone through several packs in less than 6 months including the "Rough Wear" which did last the longest. The pack rides higher and I think she likes that better.

Comments about REI Ultra Dog Pack - Small:

My dog and I LOVE this pack. It is comfortable for her and stays on securely on even long hikes. She is a great hiker when she has this on and I am happy not having to carry her water, treats, poop bags etc. The handle also comes in very handy when she gets stuck in deep snow! I would recommend this to anyone who wants to do a lot of hiking with their dog.

Comments about REI Ultra Dog Pack - Small:

The pack is just fine in regards to all of its features, however the sizing is off. I received a small and tried it on three separate dogs, a german pointer, blue heeler, and lab/border collie mix, having chest girths 28, 27.5, 29 inches respectively. The pack fit was too small and fit none of them well, with all three dogs being at a healthy weight and of average size. Getting the medium in the mail soon, but trust your instincts and the other customer review pictures:

a medium sized dog, like the aforementioned ones, need a medium size pack.

Comments about REI Ultra Dog Pack - Small:

I bought this pack so that my dog could help carry his share when on hiking/backpacking trips. Our first real use was on a 3 day, 26 mile trip in which my dog carried all his food, bowls, treats and leash. The pack is very durable and stood up to his constant rolling on the gound (in sand, rocks, leaves, granite, and any other surface he could find), running through the brush and jumping into streams. The pack stayed in place well and I was very impressed with the large capacity for such a pack.
My only two complaints are with the cam buckles and with a raw area on my dog at the end of the trip. The cam buckles are nice because they allow for fast and secure adjustment of the straps but they have a tendency to come open and allow the straps to loosen while on the trail. It's an easy fix by putting a piece of electrical tape or duck tape around the buckle once the size is adjusted. The second problem was a raw spot that was caused by the pack in the "armpit" area, but this may have been my fault because I let the pack get unbalanced for the last few miles of our trip. Just something to watch for.
Also, as mentioned in an earlier review, be sure to measure your dog before ordering a pack. My dog weighs about 45lbs and I consider him to be a medium sized dog but the straps for the medium sized pack were too large and the small fit well.
Overall, I was very impressed with the durability, capacity, ease of setup/use, and general convenience of the pack.