Best Dog Backpack

Importance of Good Travel Supplies

When you’re traveling, you want to pick the best dog backpack for your pet. Each dog is different, and you might have different needs for each trip. Some might need just a small pack to carry their water, while others might need to carry more substantial supplies.

Unfortunately, if you choose a product constructed using poor materials, it can be a waste of your time and money. In fact, it can even fail when you need it most! Dropping supplies or breaking at an inopportune time.

A well-made pack can last you hundreds of trips and reliably hold you and your pet’s supplies. If you prepare properly, you and your pet can have a great time traveling, hiking, camping, and more!

The Five Best Dog Backpack Picks

As a certified dog trainer, I have explored a wide variety of different products with clients and my own pets. I’ve used this experience to provide you with an all-inclusive list of the best dog backpack choices available.

Each of these products has a certain scenario or feature that makes it shine: durability, all-around use, value, etc. It is difficult to provide an all-encompassing choice of which backpack is best, but we have ranked them in terms of quality, price, versatility, and more.

Here is our unbiased review of the top 5 best dog backpack choices available!

All-Around Best Dog Backpack

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Review Highlights:

“… Really good stitching… Great product at fair prices! …”

“… the fit is perfect. We put a water bottle on each side. It was like walking an entirely different dog. Love this backpack!! …”

“… I love it… it sits nicely on the body and if the weight is even it doesn’t tilt to one side or the other. Sizing was perfect for my dog. He seems so happy wearing it! …”

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We love this product as an all-around pick. It provides ample storage space, lightweight-yet-durable material, reflective colors for safety, and much more. Overall, this dog backpack is a great choice for its value, versatility, and durability.

Feature Highlights:

  • Tough, durable, waterproof material.
  • Adjustable straps for the best fit on your pet.
  • Soft, comfortable lining prevents chafing and rubbing.

This product is a great choice for the vast majority of pet owners. You can use it at the beach, for hiking, camping, and even for service dogs to carry medicines or materials. It comes with velcro patches to customize the vest for that purpose as well.

To top it all off, this backpack also comes with its own collapsible water bowl for your pet. With durable waterproof materials, plenty of space for storage, and such a versatile set of uses, this product makes for a great choice. Recommended for: German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Border Collies, Labrador Retrievers, and more.

Best Value Dog Backpack

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Review Highlights:

“… Best Buy I’ve ever made… this thing is amazing. It holds all my emergency pills, my medical information, emergency treats, an 8oz bottle of water and anything extra… It’s amazing …”

“…  It has 2 storage pockets. Can hold quite a bit. Plus the handle on top makes it so you can pick them up easily, without hurting them at all… it fits great, looks amazing …”

“… I love this bag… it fits great! It is light weight and [my dog] loves wearing it! Each pouch will hold at least a water bottle, poop bags, my wallet, a phone, treats, and a tennis ball! …”

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You really can’t find a better value than this product. It’s made with durable materials and features a surprising amount of storage space, especially for the price! What’s even better is that you can choose between several different colors and sizes to best fit you and your pet!

Feature Highlights:

  • Lightweight material doesn’t weigh down your dog.
  • Utilizes breathable mesh to keep your pet cool.
  • Adjustable straps and sturdy buckles keep your pet secure.

This backpack is the perfect choice for the thrifty spender. If you don’t need a plethora of advanced features, but want a little extra storage space for your dog while hiking, camping, or traveling, this pack is the best choice for you.

With this product, your pet can carry a number of extra items in a securely fastened pack. The materials have quality stitching and you can easily wash the empty pack if it gets dirty. All-in-all its a great value for a great backpack. Recommended for: Australian Cattle Dogs, Australia Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Doodles, and more.

Most Durable Pick

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Review Highlights:

“… Fantastic item. Fits my medium sized lab (55 lbs) very well. Lots of pockets for her gear. Balanced very well – stays in place and inline. It stays right where it should centered on his back …”

“… it fits great… I usually fill it with whatever supplies we might need during our walk (food, water, toys, waste bags) It’s holding up great after a few months! …”

“… My husband and I love this dog backpack… He now holds his doggy bags, our cell phones, keys, and sometimes water with a collapsible water bowl… We love how high quality it looks and feels. Highly recommend! …”

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$36.99 ($36.99 / Count)

This product is a great choice if your dog really wears their backpacks. It has thick, durable material instead of the standard hiking nylon. It uses dense cotton canvas that does not tear easily, and features a number of pockets and water bottle holders.

Feature Highlights:

  • Uses dense, durable cotton canvas material.
  • Features two pockets and several water bottle holders.
  • Adjustable straps give your pet the most comfortable fit.

With dense material, this pack is a great choice for medium or large-sized dogs who spend their time hiking and camping, and need gear that can handle being scraped against rocks and pulled at by branches. This material is not lightweight waterproof nylon, but heavy-duty canvas.

If you need an incredibly durable pack that still includes all the basic features you need while traveling and camping, this pack is a great choice. It can withstand some solid wear and tear, but still functions exactly as needed. Recommended for: German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Pitbulls, Boxers, and more.

Most Versatile Backpack

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Review Highlights:

“… I love these packs, I love the harness they come on. The zippers are sealed, and even in a torrential rain, wet crossings, and in tall wet grass, her contents stayed dry. The harness fits nicely …”

“… Loved it… we used it for a multiple day backpacking trip in Colorado and he carried all of his own food, gear and water and some of our stuff on the way back …”

“… Awesome pack! … we had her carry a little water and food for herself with no issues at all. Bag is very well built … So far very happy with the bag …”

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$104.00

If you’re looking for the king of features, this is your pick. It features waterproof material, removable saddlebags, two-liter water bladders to dispense water from (without any bottles needed), and reflective fabric for ultimate visibility.

Feature Highlights:

  • Durable and waterproof nylon material.
  • High-quality harness with leash attachment.
  • Storage saddlebags easy to remove and attach as needed.

Why carry multiple water bottles and waste your space when you could simply fill the bladders in this pack instead? When not in use, the water containers can collapse out of your way. The saddlebags, which you can remove as needed, feature plenty of space for all your dog’s needs.

On top of all the various features, the pack can also withstand rain, snow, and other moisture to keep the contents dry. It balances well on the dog when packed correctly and doesn’t slide to either side.  Recommended for: Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Boxers, Border Collies, and more.

Best Small Dog Choice

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Review Highlights:

“… Fit my frenchie perfectly! The backpack is functional with a pouch to hold poop bags. You can actually fit a good amount of items in it. I recommend this product …”

“… it fits perfect… The quality of the material and velcro are solid. I was able to fit a few poop bags, 1 pee pee pad, small zip lock sandwich bag with treats and there is still room for one of those mini bottles of water …”

“… The pack is fairly light and I was able to put in two collabsable food dishes and his treats without it becoming too heavy. The pack was durable and balanced. It stayed on him really well and he looked adorable! …”

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$25.98 ($25.98 / Count)

Small dogs simply can’t lug around a lot of weight. However, if you want your little dog to feel included and even help carry a few of their supplies, this pack is a great choice. It doesn’t overtax your dog, while still providing surprisingly ample space for a few items.

Feature Highlights:

  • Durable nylon material for long-lasting use.
  • Surprising 1.6 L load capacity!
  • Adjustable straps provide the best fit for your pet.

Your small breed dog can happily carry their poop bags, a few treats, and a small bottle of water with them when you go for walks or hikes. This bag uses durable materials that last, and adjustable straps for a great fit.

In addition to the basic features, this bag also comes with a poop bag holder that lets you easily access the bags for quick waste removal! Overall, it’s a great choice for small breed dogs. Recommended for: French Bulldogs, Pugs, Maltese, Boston Terriers, and more.