The Best Dog Backpacks of 2024

The canvas build holds up well against rocks, brush, and just about anything else your dog will come up against on the trail. The interior is lined with mesh to keep your dog cool and comfortable.

The two main zipper compartments can carry food, water, and bowls. The smaller side pockets can hold waste bags and treats. The top handle is ideal for holding and controlling — but not carrying — your dog.

The understated design is the only real gripe we have with the Hoppy Camper. The brown, green, and black options look sharp, but they’re best used in urban settings. The colors blend in with the outdoors, making it harder to find your buddy if he goes dashing off into the woods.

This lightweight vest is perfect for your four-legged running partner. The pack is made with a nylon ripstop body and stretch nylon mesh. The multipoint harness system customizes the fit, ensuring comfort. And the top ring keeps your leash securely attached.

Large, expandable side pockets hold food and accessories. Side-stash pockets keep smaller items like waste bags and a leash within easy reach. The included bowl collapses for an easy fit, and zippered bottle pockets mean your pooch can carry your water as well.

Ultimate Direction’s Dog Vest is a great way to keep your dog equipped on long trail runs. At just 11 oz., this pack is ideal for full days on arduous terrain.

What we loved? This tactical design is made with a Mil-spec 1000D nylon, making it hyper-durable against any unexpected rips or tears while on the trail. The two spacious 3L pouches with outer bungee pockets provide enough storage for water, food, a bowl, a rain jacket, and other necessities. We found that despite loading up the pouches and taking the dog for an extensive hike, the pack stayed well-balanced on her without leaning one way or another. 

Our one gripe with this dog backpack is that the outer bungees tend to get caught on branches and sticks. Our tester’s dog basically became a walking tumbleweed after one got stuck to the bungees on their hike. However, the strong materials and adjustability still make this pack one of our top picks.

If you’re a hunter or a backpacker planning a weekend trip in the backcountry for you and the pooch, the OneTigris Mammoth Dog Backpack is a surefire choice for its decent packing space, utilitarian design, and versatility.

While the colorful designs and patterns initially caught our eyes during our search for the best dog backpacks, it was during our actual testing in the field that the Wilderdog pack made us rave. We threw this backpack on our 65-pound shepherd mix for a several-mile hike in the alpine desert. From graceful leaps over the sagebrush to steep climbs up granite faces, the pack stayed on securely and comfortably for our pup.

The large vestibules, available in sizes 5-12 L, depending on your pup’s size, are spacious for water bladders, treats, and a small bowl. There’s a small pocket with a dispenser for a roll of poop bags, making it easy to clean up your dog’s waste on the go. While the large storage bags are awesome for packing the essentials, remember not to get too generous with loading them up.

We only have a few complaints about the Wilderdog Backpack. Unfortunately, the underside straps have no padding or mesh material to help with moisture control. The strap material is a bit rigid, so if cinched too tight, it could cause discomfort for your adventure buddy.

Furthermore, this pack’s rain-resistant material makeup does well warding off light sprinkles. But, it’s not totally waterproof. When lead tester Meghan LaHatte did her classic “sink test” for moisture protection, she found that the interior of the pack was quickly penetrated after a few seconds of water exposure. So, maybe opt to leave this one at home during those late summer showers.

The Wilderdog Backpack is decently priced for what you get. With its ability to accessorize and customize, its versatility in backpacking and hiking environments is commendable. We recommend this to folks looking for an affordable, simple dog backpack with larger storage space.

This versatility is superb for backpacking excursions where you may want to give your dog a break from carrying his load without having to personally haul the entire backpack. Better yet, folks who live in smaller spaces or van-lifers will love that this design doesn’t take up any unnecessary cargo space. With just a few clicks, the storage vestibules can be taken off.

The harness on its own is highly durable, consisting of ballistic nylon and mesh lining. There are two aluminum D-rings and a thick carrying handle located on the backside. We tried out the large size on our 70-pound labrador husky mix during a few alpine excursions in the late summer. The vestibules aren’t massive but provide just enough space for some snacks, water, and baggies.

We tested the Terrain Dog Lightweight Adventure Pack during the height of monsoon season in Colorado, and the water-resistant fabric did exceptionally well in keeping those precious packed items protected from the elements. Our tester’s dog, Ellie, loves to take trail detours to creeks, puddles, and rivers, so the moisture resistance was icing on the cake.

Between the pack’s removable storage and durable design, it is hard to find many cons with this one. However, there are quite a few straps and buckles on this design, and the harness on its own is pretty heavy compared to other designs. Adjustments are tedious, and the saddlebags need a more secure system to attach to the harness. When tester dog Ellie took off in a sprint, the small Velcro straps were just not enough to keep the vestibules in place.

Those issues aside, the Terrain Dog Lightweight Adventure Pack is a 2-for-1 deal and a great option for dogs needing adaptability in backpack design. This pack is one of the most heavy-duty we’ve tested and is ideal for long hours on the trail with your canine companion.

The new Front Range pack has an easier adjustment system with plastic sliders that assist with tightening and loosening while the pack is on your dog. Our tester actually has the older model and can confirm that customizing the fit is much more streamlined in this recent iteration. Gone are the days of lopsided fits and constant readjusting with these added tailor points and buckles. 

Test subject Opa, a 65-pound shepherd mix, tried this backpack out on multiple hikes in mud and snow in Colorado. She wore the size L-XL, and it fit her well after some fiddling with the straps and buckles.

Even as she ran through miles of rough sagebrush, the Front Range’s durable materials held up extremely well despite constantly being scratched and poked by the foliage. This is thanks to the 300-denier polyester ripstop that comprises the shell. Better yet, the minimal exterior design made it so she didn’t get caught on any branches, an aspect sometimes overlooked in pack designs.

In terms of weight distribution and support, Ruffwear blew it out of the park with this backpack. The radial cut harness shifts the packed load of the Front Range Day Pack forward and creates a natural compression on your dog’s torso. This keeps the packed weight impressively stable while evenly spreading out the weight so your pooch doesn’t get any hot spots or pressure points while romping about. 

The Front Range backpack is advertised as a day pack, but our tester found that it is better suited for overnight or multi-day excursions due to the larger size and storage space. However, it is typically better to have more space than less when packing for even the shortest hikes. Available only in two colorways, a pastel green and dark black, it would be nice to see Ruffwear offer some more options. 

Between the three secure leash attachment points and overall ergonomic design, the Ruffwear Front Range Day Pack is a fantastic dog backpack for folks seeking plenty of storage space without causing their best friend any discomfort during that next weekend adventure. 

The two large saddlebags provide plenty of room for food, treats, toys, and bowls. Smaller storage pockets are easy to access for smaller items like treats and poo bags.

Details like breathable mesh and reflective strips for visibility make this one of our favorites. And the bottle opener on the chest strap lets your pooch join in on the post-hike celebration. Take note, however, that this pack is a bit on the bigger size, and may not work for smaller dogs.

The rear-mounted leash hook lets your good boy take the lead. If your dog needs help getting over sketchy terrain, you can use the padded handle to help him over the obstacle.

The application is simple as well. The pack goes on easily — just throw it over your dog’s head and lift the sides to buckle it on. It makes putting it on an excited pup much easier.

These packs max out at a whopping 16 L for the large size. This means you can carry just about everything you need for a hike and then some — plus some extra weight to slow your zoomer down.

The reflective trim helps you see your pooch in low light, and the single-haul handle on the top lets you help them with technical areas.

Ideal for thru-hikers and backpackers who want to bring their canine companion along, the Mountainsmith’s K-9 Dog Pack is a superb choice.

This extremely lightweight pack has two large side pockets and smaller stash pockets on either side. The large pockets are expandable, which is a nice touch. You can zip them down to a smaller size when you’re not carrying much. Breathable mesh runs the length of the back, keeping your dog cool on warm days.

One gripe is that the stash pockets on the side don’t have closures. They still work well for waste bags and treats, but we don’t recommend putting your keys or wallet in there. Otherwise, this is a great pack for people who want to introduce their dogs to hiking with gear.

Built for long-distance, multiday adventures, the Palisades has 24 L of space in its largest iteration. Even the smallest pack can hold 12.5 L of gear. It’s also loaded with very smart features, notably the removable saddlebags.

The storage bags unclip without having to remove the entire harness. This lets you give your pooch a rest without having to take off the whole setup.

A third chest strap helps you dial in the fit and minimizes sliding. Cross-load compression straps cinch down your gear when the bags aren’t full.

The Palisades also prioritizes visibility. Its bright red color is easy to spot, and the reflective strips are complemented by a light loop for attaching a safety light.

On the outside, the Lifeunion pack sports 600-denier double polyester construction. A built-in rubber handle and a strong D-ring leash attachment provide excellent control on the trail, in the parking lot, and everywhere in between. All of the zippers are high-quality and long-lasting.

For such a durable pack, this fine piece of canine gear is relatively lightweight, thanks to its mesh and polyester construction. The pack comes in three sizes, and dogs between 19 and 100 pounds will easily fit. Even though this pack is quite adjustable, owners of very small dogs will need to look elsewhere.