Camping and hiking can be a great way to get out in nature with your pup. Yet, you need to make sure you have the right gear for the job. Today we’ll be looking at the best dog harness for hiking. It’s important to find the right harness to give your dog safe and protected travels along the hiking trails.
Here’s a quick list of our top picks for the best dog harness for hiking:
Who Needs To Use A Dog Harness For Hiking?
When planning to go on a hike with your dog, it’s important to use a proper harness. A harness will keep your dog safe and secure while on a leash. Whereas a traditional collar can increase the risk of neck injuries on walks. For more information, consider the differences between a collar vs. harness.
Additionally, not everyone on the trails will want to encounter your dog. Be considerate and use a leash along with the harness. Here’s a YouTube video that explains 15 tips for hiking with dogs:
How Does A Dog Harness Work?
A dog harness for hiking works like any traditional halter style harness. They wrap around the outside of your dog’s chest to give a more stable anchor for leashes. In most cases they go across in two places. Once along the chest, and across their neck. This allows for the pressure distribution along their body to be even. That way if you have to pull your dog back, it doesn’t hurt their neck.
How Do I Choose A Dog Harness For Hiking?
One of the most important parts of choosing a dog harness for hiking is its design. You want to choose a harness that sits across the body of your dog. Front hook harnesses can restrict some movement in the shoulders. Thus, you’ll want to opt for a body harness for the safest and most secure option. Yet, if your dog doesn’t walk well on a leash, then a front hook harness is the best choice for you.
Buy a dog harness for hiking that matches your dog’s size. It’s important to get the right size harness to avoid any slipping or an improper fit. Without the right fit, it can become uncomfortable or painful for your dog. This can be due to the incorrect weight or pressure distribution of the harness. To find the right fit, measure your dog across the chest and neck as shown below:
Choose a dog harness for hiking that is well made so it lasts. Your dog’s harness will endure lots of wear and tear while out on hiking trails. Thus, it needs to be durable. Not to mention, you want the harness to keep your dog safe and contained in any situation that arises.
Below is a checklist of things to look for when choosing a dog harness for hiking:
- Ensure the harness design matches your needs.
- Buy a dog harness that fits your dog’s size.
- Choose a harness that is well made.
What Is The Best Dog Harness For Hiking?
We’ve looked at a range of dog harnesses for hiking and have selected five harnesses. The main things we’ve looked at are quality, price, and sizing. We’ve reviewed these five dog harnesses and listed some pros and cons for each harness.
our #1 rated
VKTECH
Adjustable Dog Harness
Quality
Price
Our rating
The VKTECH adjustable dog harness is available for all dog sizes and in three color options. The harness features a hand strap to grab your dog, making it easy for attaching your leash. Moreover, the collar also has an adjustable buckle for extra comfort.
Customers who purchased this harness liked how strong the material was in use. People said that the stitching has no problems, and was well put together to fit their dog. Customers also said that the harness was safe and strong with excellent quality.
A few customers who used this for their large dog said that it didn’t fit or work too well. Many people commented that the harness works better for small to medium size dogs. Some customers also said that the quality would not hold up for very strong dogs.
PROS
- Safe.
- Strong straps.
- CheckExcellent stitching.
CONS
- Doesn’t fit very large dogs.
- Thinner quality.
our #2 rated
PET ARTIST
Nylon Mesh Dog Harness
Quality
Price
Our rating
The PET ARTIST nylon mesh dog harness is made for small and medium dogs in four color options. The harness features a solid pattern with a reflective belt along the bottom. It also includes a complimentary leash that matches the harness.
Customers who purchased this harness said that it has a good neck. People said that it was made from very high quality materials that did not have any smell. Customers also said that the harness works well with its adjustable Velcro straps.
Some people who purchased this harness said that it was too small to fit over their puppy’s head. A few customers who used this harness said that the included leash was too short. Other customers reported that the overall size was much smaller than expected.
PROS
- Good neck.
- Reflective body.
- CheckAdjustable Velcro.
CONS
- Somewhat small.
- Short leash.
our #3 rated
FML PET
Reflective Nylon Harness
Quality
Price
Our rating
This reflective nylon harness by FML Pet comes in a range of sizes and 15 different color options. The harness features a large buckle and adjustable comfort straps. It also has high levels of padding with cotton and net cloth materials.
Customers who purchased this harness said that it works well for both large and small dogs. Many customers also said that it’s easy to put on their dog without trouble. Other customers commented that the harness fit well and was made of good quality materials.
A few customers who purchased this harness said that the sizing was a bit larger than expected. A couple people who purchased this harness said that the buckle failed on them after a few days. Some customers also said that their harness was too small.
PROS
- Works for large dogs.
- Good quality.
- CheckEasy to put on.
CONS
- Runs large.
- Thin buckle.
our #4 rated
Truelove
No-Pull Dog Harness
Quality
Price
Our rating
The Truelove no-pull dog harness comes in a range of sizes and 11 different color options. The harness features 3M reflective padding for visibility in the night. This helps to protect dogs from vehicles and general safety for when it’s dark outside. Additionally, the vest works in all weather conditions and buckles on top.
Customers who purchased this harness said that it’s very durable and versatile for any dog. People said that they liked the wide amount of color options to choose from. Customers also said that it was elegant and has sturdy plastic fasteners.
Other people who used this harness said that it was a little difficult to adjust. Some customers also said that it was a little small, yet worked on their large dog. Other customers commented that it was a little heavy.
PROS
- Sizes for all dogs.
- 11 color options.
- CheckDurable.
CONS
- Difficult to adjust.
- Runs small.
our #5 rated
Paw LOVE
Soft Nylon Mesh Harness
Quality
Price
Our rating
This Paw LOVE soft nylon mesh harness comes in a range of sizes and 11 color options. The harness features a lightweight and breathable air mesh. It also has the basic halter style design with additional padding for added comfort.
People who purchased this harness said that it has neat and high quality sewing along the fabric. Some customers said that the harness works well regardless of the season. Other people said that it has a soft breast band to go across the dog’s chest.
Some customers who used this harness said that it was kinda thin for use in the wintertime. A few customers said the collar part was somewhat small for their dog. Other people also said that it would not fit a medium dog, and works better for small dogs.
PROS
- 11 color options.
- Breathable mesh.
- CheckDurable stitching.
CONS
- Thin.
- Small.
Our Choice
Each dog harness for hiking we’ve reviewed works for those looking to take their dog in the outdoors. All the harnesses have decent materials, comfortable padding, and many different color options.
After comparing all the products the best dog harness for hiking is the VKTECH adjustable dog harness.
This harness works well for both small to medium range dogs, making it fit many different breeds. The leash attachment is on the back giving it a more sturdy leash anchor for hiking. We also like the fact that the straps are adjustable with Velcro.