Best Dog Harness For Hiking
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Hiking is a great way to spend quality time with your dog while encouraging him to exercise. If you are heading out on a hike, you will need to have the right equipment to keep you and your pup safe, starting with a good harness.
The best harness for hiking should make it easy for your dog to move freely and safely without being weighed down. Therefore, the harness you choose should be lightweight for easy movement.
With so many harnesses on the market, its hard to know which works best for hiking. Here is a breakdown of the best types of harnesses and their features when hitting the trails with your dog.
Compare Best Dog Harness For Hiking
Safety Crash tested for safe car rides | Safety 3M reflective material | Safety No choke design | Safety Step-through design | Safety Reflective strips and patch |
Adjustments Five adjustment types | Adjustments Seat belt handle attachment | Adjustments Easy snap buckles | Adjustments Reflective strip | Adjustments Four adjustment points |
Price High price range | Price Mid price range | Price Low price range | Price Mid price range | Price Mid price range |
Style Steel nesting buckles | Style Chest o-ring for no pulling | Style Reflective strip | Style Back & front clip | Style Design distributes weight evenly |
How We Tested:
- We purchased 5 of the best dog harnesses for hiking.
- We spent several hours testing these harnesses
- These products were purchased with our own money, not in exchange for a favorable review
Harness Considerations
- Safety: A crash-tested harness that restrains your dog in the car in case of a sudden stop or impact is the safest kind. Some attach easily to your car’s seat belt system and are also walking harnesses.
- Durability: There are many durable materials used in the construction of dog harnesses, but rip-stop nylon, canvas, and denim are some of the more durable.
- Material: Harnesses are made from leather, plastic, nylon, and other types of fabric. If your dog tends to get wet while on walks, consider something that dries quickly. If your dog chews, then you will need a sturdy harness.
- Adjustments: A harness should have many points of adjustment in order to fit dogs of all shapes and sizes. A harness with at least 4 adjustment points is ideal to find your dog’s perfect fit.
- Comfort: Harnesses should be made from comfortable materials to prevent chaffing. Soft mesh and plush fabrics can help provide adequate comfort around nylon, if well designed.
- Cost: A good harness is a small investment. There are many quality harnesses at reasonable prices, depending on your needs.
- Style: There are many harness styles and the best choice will depend on your dog’s personality and size. Some styles are no-pull, standard, step-through, dual strap, etc.
- Visibility: If you walk your dog in low-light conditions or hike in wooded areas, you may want a high-visibility harness. Some include reflective material or tiny LED lights to make sure your dog can be seen.
The 5 Best Rated Dog Harnesses For Hiking
OVERALL BEST
1.
Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Harness
Product Info
- Safety: Crash tested for safe car rides
- Adjustments: Five adjustment types
- Price: High price range
- Style: Steel nesting buckles
Pros
- Includes seat-belt loop for car
- Chest pad provides comfort
- Difficult for dogs to escape
Cons
- Harness is heavy
- Buckles are in awkward areas
Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Harness is perfect for hiking with your dog and was designed by engineers with influence from the rock climbing world. Its all steel buckle system and breathable material makes hiking safe and comfortable for your pup.
It is also a crash-tested dog car harness that keeps your dog safe while riding in the car with straps behind the front legs.
With five adjustments points, it’s easy to get a near custom fit for any kind of dog, regardless of his size and proportions.
The chest pad reduces stress on the trachea and sternum while dispersing kinetic energy across the chest of the dog. This is important during hikes if your dog tends to pull. The chest pad and straps are also designed with comfort in mind, making this harness a good choice as a hiking harness.
It is also a crash-tested dog car harness that keeps your dog safe while riding in the car with straps behind the front legs.
With five adjustments points, it’s easy to get a near custom fit for any kind of dog, regardless of his size and proportions.
The chest pad reduces stress on the trachea and sternum while dispersing kinetic energy across the chest of the dog. This is important during hikes if your dog tends to pull. The chest pad and straps are also designed with comfort in mind, making this harness a good choice as a hiking harness.
BEST FOR DURABILITY
2.
Chai's Choice 3M Reflective Dog Harness
Product Info
- Safety: 3M reflective material
- Adjustments: Seat belt handle attachment
- Style: Chest o-ring for no pulling
- Price: Mid price range
Pros
- Two leash attachment options
- Mesh padding on chest and belly
- Available in many sizes and colors
Cons
- Best for larger dogs
- Sizes may run small
Chai’s Choice 3M Reflective Dog Harness is a durable and highly reflective option for your hiking in any situation. This harness is crafted to remove pressure from your dog’s neck and disperse it through soft and lightweight mesh padding on the chest and belly.
It is also equipped with reflective piping interwoven into its durable nylon exterior to make sure your pup is visible when hiking in low light. With 4 adjustable straps, nine vibrant color options, and a wide variety of size choices you can customize this harness for your dog.
Chaotic walks and car rides will be a thing of the past if select the chest-mounted O-ring to discourage pulling. You can also buckle your dog in for road trips by slipping a seat belt through the sturdy built-in handle on top of the harness.
It is also equipped with reflective piping interwoven into its durable nylon exterior to make sure your pup is visible when hiking in low light. With 4 adjustable straps, nine vibrant color options, and a wide variety of size choices you can customize this harness for your dog.
Chaotic walks and car rides will be a thing of the past if select the chest-mounted O-ring to discourage pulling. You can also buckle your dog in for road trips by slipping a seat belt through the sturdy built-in handle on top of the harness.
BEST FOR COMFORT
3.
HDP Big Dog No Pull Dog Harness
Product Info
- Safety: No choke design
- Adjustments: Easy snap buckles
- Style: Reflective strip
- Price: Low price range
Pros
- Large top handle for grip
- Extra padding
- Distributes weight evenly
Cons
- No chest ring attachment
- Bulky for smaller dogs
- Runs large
HDP Big Dog No Pull Dog Harness offers a light weight option with a no-choke design. This harness makes an excellent solution for larger dogs who need adjustments behind the front legs, as well as senior dogs that need a more gentle option.
The extra wide chest padding distributes the weight throughout your dog’s chest and shoulders, which assists dogs with a comfortable walking experience.
The top mounted D-ring, it gives dogs plenty freedom of motion while leaving the ultimate control to you. A built-in top-handle allows you to maneuver your dog around obstacles or help him over rougher terrain.
The extra wide chest padding distributes the weight throughout your dog’s chest and shoulders, which assists dogs with a comfortable walking experience.
The top mounted D-ring, it gives dogs plenty freedom of motion while leaving the ultimate control to you. A built-in top-handle allows you to maneuver your dog around obstacles or help him over rougher terrain.
BEST LIGHT WEIGHT
4.
Pawtitas Camouflage Reflective Padded Dog Harness
Product Info
- Safety: Step-through design
- Adjustments: Reflective strip
- Price: Mid price range
- Style: Back & front clip
Pros
- Runs small
- Only two adjustments
Cons
- May run small
- Only two adjustments
Pawtitas Camouflage Reflective Padded Dog Harness has a step-through design that makes it easy to put on any dog. It is great for hiking in the day or night, since its reflective strip is designed to reflect light from the environment or ambient light. It even works in low light conditions, providing maximum visibility when you need it most.
This harness has thick neoprene padding which means it’s ultra-comfy to wear, and is available in different sizes and camouflage colors so you can find the right fit for your deep chested dog’s custom shape.
This harness has thick neoprene padding which means it’s ultra-comfy to wear, and is available in different sizes and camouflage colors so you can find the right fit for your deep chested dog’s custom shape.
BEST REFLECTIVE
5.
Blueberry Pet 3M Reflective Dog Harness
Product Info
- Safety: Reflective strips and patch
- Adjustments: Four adjustment points
- Price: Mid price range
- Style: Design distributes weight evenly
Pros
- Available in several colors and sizes
- Eco-friendly materials
- Made from lightweight materials
Cons
- No front ring attachment
- Sizes run big
This harness features reflective material throughout to add visibility during low light hikes, and the easy assembly is great for daily use.
This harness is made from lightweight materials for the ultimate in comfort, and the unique dual-vest design helps to distribute weight for dogs who like to pull.
There are four adjustment points for the perfect fit on any type of dog. The striped straps provide a look that will have your dog walking safely and in style.
This harness is made from lightweight materials for the ultimate in comfort, and the unique dual-vest design helps to distribute weight for dogs who like to pull.
There are four adjustment points for the perfect fit on any type of dog. The striped straps provide a look that will have your dog walking safely and in style.
Harness Features
- LED: An LED dog harness is usually constructed from lightweight materials, and comes with a variety of useful features, such as adjustable light modes, reflective strips, and rechargeable batteries for hours of use.
- Back Clip: Back-clip harnesses attach on top of a dog’s back or shoulders. These are best for smaller, calm, or well-trained dogs.
- Front Clip: Front-clip harnesses have a leash attachment on the chest. This gives the owner more control and stops the dog from pulling. These are best for larger dogs or dogs that pull.
- Multi-Clip: Some harnesses come with attachments on both the front and back. This gives you the option to use it as a front or back clip when walking your dog.
- Reflective: A reflective harness is a necessity if you walk your dog at night or in low-light situations. This keeps your dog from harm and makes him easier to see.
- No Pull: No-pull harnesses are a simple way to discourage your dog from pulling. They usually have a front clip attachment and some have front and top controls for dual control. There are usually straps that cross above the dog’s shoulders and behind their front legs.
- Step-through: A step-through harness means your dog puts his front legs between two loops to get into the harness. Once the dog’s legs are in position, a single buckle attaches behind their front legs.
Final Thoughts
Dogs love being outdoors and having the right harness on your dog for hiking will make the experience much safer. Hiking is not only great exercise for your dog, but you get to spend quality time and bond with your pup, as well as a great way to fight weight gain and keep him fit and healthy.
