Not bad
joe1avs at REI on 10/16/2008
The pack was cool and good but without a balanced load it will slide to one side because there isn't a stabilizing strap. Our dog is 50 pounds but the medium was a little too big and the small looked way too small. She really couldn't run with it on because the sliding seemed to counter her natural stride. It was a cool pack but we returned it and went with another.
Good stuff - good price
Arntor the norseman at REI on 09/02/2008
I´ve used the adventure dog pack all summer, and I must admit that I´m impressed with it. when I first packed it out, it seemes like a toy thing, but it actually works. It´s a bit smaller than dog packs I´ve used earlier, but is roomy still... The only thing that irritates me about it is the clips that is used to tighten it; they slacken all the time. Apart from that it sits beautifully on the back of my 20 kg siberian, and I´ve not experienced wounds due to bad fitting at all! The price is wonderful!
All in all a very good buy!
Packs a lot
Vantucky Wild at REI on 09/01/2008
I use this mostly on day hikes. Occasional 3 day hikes. Have 3 dogs that i rotate two packs with. 80lb lab mix, 60lb pitbull rottweiler, and their son who is 70lb. Good: Stays pretty balanced with a slightly uneven load and loose straps. Handle works well to hold them back and assist over obstacles. The D ring is great to run the leash through the back and attach to a choke collar. Doesnt pull the pack all over and doesnt get caught under the pack. Con: Handle on pack #2 broke within an hour, straps loosen really fast. An easy fix would be to glue velcro to the main strap and the tail of the strap once u figured out where it should be. Or tie it.
Sturdy, Great Features, Easy to Use
JennyC at REI on 07/16/2008
My 52-lb. American Foxhound wore this on a short backpacking trip, and it was wonderful! She acted like it was comfortable to wear from the very first time I put in on her.
Her 6 lbs of stuff for the 2 days (leash, training collar, food, water, tie-out cable, collapsible dishes, dog boots, nail trimmer) fit easily in the pockets with room to spare, and we were even able to attach her rolled-up bed pad to the pack under the handle/leash portion.
The handle was indispensable for helping her over fallen logs, and the pack stayed in place with no trouble even when it was slightly off-balance. It got muddy, so I washed it in the gentle cycle and air dried it and it looks almost new again!
The only thing that kept me from giving this 5 stars was that the strap running under her abdomen was ALMOST not able to be adjusted short enough for a snug fit. I know there are other breeds out there whose below-the-ribcage girth is even smaller than hers, so this may be something to consider when you order. Everything else was a good fit, and the sizing chart was accurate based on chest girth.
Best Dog Pack I've Had
REA at REI on 06/04/2008
I bought two of these for my 60 lbs American Staffordshire Terriers and they work great in several areas. First they're constructed well and with flaps over the zippers they really are good at keeping the rain water out. Second, when hiking with my wife & I, carrying the packs our dogs seems calmer and to enjoy staying with "the pack" instead of wandering off after each new scent to investigate. Even if they are only carrying a couple of water bottles each they are much better trail dogs when wearing the packs. Third, these packs are made well enough I can load them up. I'm a strong advocate of exercising a dog to keep them mentally stable and by loading the pack with 15 lbs to 20 lbs (7.5 lbs to 10 lbs per side) I can give my two âbone & muscleâ AmStaffs a real road workout in about 40 minutes.
I have noted, as several others who have purchased the Adventure Dog Packs, that the belly & chest cinches can work loose over time. However, unlike some, I am not having any trouble adjusting the packs while on the dogs.
On the lighter side of life, I have four sculpted plastic containers, which when filled with water and frozen can each keep up to six bottles or cans cold for several hours. Upon investigation I find the containers fit perfectly inside the dog packs; and on further investigation I find one dog is now able to carry 12 cold waters bottles & the other is able to carry 12 cold cans of beer on those long hot day hikes or the overnight wilderness adventures. Now ask yourself, do you really think these Adventure Dog Packs only come in blue and a pale ale color on accident. I think not
REA
Share the load!
Timmyboom at REI on 09/21/2007
After a summer full of hikes carrying water & snacks for the both of us, I decided it was high time my dog started to pull her own weight in this affiliation. I decided to go with the REI pack due to past experience with REI/Novarro hydration packs.
Fresh out of the box my dog walked around with her tail between her legs looking like she was embarassed to have the pack on. After just a few minutes outside, however, she was trotting along like she wasn't even wearing a pack. The next day I added a 250ml Nalgene bottle in each side pocket and we headed off into the woods. Again, she took maybe 10 minutes to get used to the added weight but soon enough she was pulling me along and looking back with that, "Hurry up, slow poke!" look.
The only real issue I have with this pack is that there aren't any cinch straps to take in some of the excess room when the pouches aren't completely full. But as far as fit & function go, it's a winner!