Ruffwear  Palisades Dog Pack

This pack is great for your dog. I have used it several times and it holds up well to the abuse a dog will put it through. Water bladders, keep me from having to use my water for the dog. Also, the fact that the pack is removable while the harness stays attached is awesome. Comes in handy when stopping for breaks, and makes the water easy to pour for the dog. It adjusts easily, and fits snug due to the multiple adjustment straps. If you like to take your dog on backpacking trips this is a must, and in my opinion it is the only one worth getting. They go the extra mile to make sure your dog will enjoy the comfort of this pack

This is a great harness and saddlebag setup. I use the harness every time I walk with my dog (Hunter) on a leash. It gos on easy and fast, once you've adjusted it to fit. Hunter used the saddlebags on a two day trip on the App Trail, caring his water in the nice bladders. I used the handle on the back to help him in tight places and up/down big drops. At first Hunter tried to chew it, now he doesn't even pay it any mind. It seems to be really durable too, I used it pretty regularly since August 2010 and it's still going.

I have purchased this pack for my Rottweiler for hiking purposes and day travel. We have done splendidly until one sunny day he ran through the bush with the pack on, and that was the the pack's last minute. Every buckle went flying out of the pack. My husband superglued them back to no avail. The pack is now collecting dust and the only thing existing is the vest with ripped out buckles. I am very disappointed, and perhaps Ruff Wear can come up with something a little more durable for such powerful bread needs.

I tried three or four different brands of packs before finally buying this one. I was trying to be cheap. Bad idea. This pack is worth every cent. I used to think that my dog was just lazy on the trail and sort of a coward about obstacles. Come to find out, he just wasn't comfy in his pack! Once I got this and took him on a hike and it is like I own a new dog! It balances great on the dog's back and can compress to a small volume when it does not have a big load in it. Also, the Y harness in the front is great. My dog really enjoys when we stop for a break and I can take his saddle bags off of him. He doesn't even know the harness is on. It never rubs his elbows or chest. He is a 63 pound Rhodesian Ridgeback mix with a big chest and he wears a medium. Bottom line: If you are a serious hiker and expect your dog to pull his own weight, this is the pack for you.

Works great! It took several adjustments to get it set up right and the fact that our dog is still growing doesn't help that! The pack easily holds his food, water, long (in-camp) leash, a toy, etc. We carry his sleeping pad and regular leash. When he sees the pack come out he knows we're going on an adventure and is excited to put it on. He acts like he doesn't know it's on him and he is more than capable of 10+ mile days. The only issue we have is the little velcro tabs that are supposed to hold the pack to the harness to minimize bouncing... the tabs aren't big enough to stay connected especially after getting wet. Our dog is currently ~12 months old and weighs 75 pounds.

Our Boxer Sam took to wearing this pack in no time at all. The harness fits great and we are able to easily adjust on the trail as needed. The built-in handle on the back is perfect for helping him up boulders or slippery slopes. Sometimes we'll just fill the water bladders and go for a long walk and this helps to exercise him more, plus it slows down a 1yr old boxer pretty well! Super Tough and sheds water well.

I've been very pleased with Ruff Wear, and this is no exception! Part of the reason I bought it was because it could server as a pack and a harness separately, and it has done an excellent job at both. It was also very easy to get my dog used to it gradually by putting just the harness on at first and let him wear it around the house, then taking him for walks in it, then attaching the packs. My dog absolutely loves getting wet, so when I let him he'll dash straight to the river or lake and practically dive right in. It's great to be able to remove the pack beforehand, or if I don't there are small drainage holes in the bottom of the packs to let it drain out. As far as sizing, I was surprised that my 70lb dog would wear a medium, but I did contact Ruff Wear directly from their website and they were great offering help and gave me a very clear answer of what size to get.

We just used our pack today on a hiking trip to Horsetail Falls, CA. With care in adjusting the load, our dog carried this pack without any effort. We use the harness for a car restraint anyway, and when we got to the trail head we just snapped on his packs. It couldn't be easier. Our dog, Trace, is a Bernese Mountain Dog. He weighs 98 lbs and wears the largest pack they make.

Our 80 lb deep-chested dog fits in a Medium. Highly recommend bringing your dog to the store to try on packs. Comfy, minimal tilting and strap slipping. The water reservoirs work well, but it's kind of a pain to unzip and drain into a cup repeatedly on the trail: when will he learn to use a mouthpiece?! Great for backpacking and can also be used to carry water for day hikes.

This pack really stands out from the rest in a number of ways, making it well worth the cost. The three things it offers that separate it from the rest are as follows: 1) A solid harness system that puts the weight on the dogs SHOULDERS not his/her back. This is key, the weight should be on the shoulders not the back, most dog backpacks put the weight on the back which is not good for the dog. 2) Detachable saddlebags! This is an awesome feature. When you stop for a break you put your pack down, why shouldn't your dog? With other dog packs you would have to remove the entire harness, with this system it is incredibly easy to take the weight off your dog. 3) Built in water reservoirs. This makes it really easy to balance the load and dispense water to your pup. You wouldn't wear an uncomfortable poorly designed pack yourself would you? Then why put one on your dog, this pack design is well thought out and easily the best out there. My dog thoroughly enjoys the harness and pack. I haven't had any issues with rubbing or raw spots. He will even play fetch with the harness on and not have any issues. Overall a great product and well worth the money. Your dog will thank you for getting such a nice pack for him/her.