As we travel and sail the world we're never alone, our Australian Shepherd Rose comes along for every adventure. Hikes, swims and urban exploring, she's there for all of it!
Very early on we discovered that one problem with having an active dog by your side is carrying their water and other supplies. The best solution we've found is the Ruffwear Approach Dog Pack.
We purchased our first Ruffwear Approach in 2020 and were so impressed with the performance we bought a second one a few years later which is in storage as a spare. If you're thinking of buying one for your dog, here's what you should know.
CONTENTS:
Ruffwear Approach materials
When looking for a dog pack one of the key considerations is durability so before we get to the design, let's take a look at what the Ruffwear Approach is made of.
Approach Pack Shell | 150 denier polyester |
Harness Chassis | Laminated, molded bonded mesh with perforated foam |
Buckles | ITW Nexus Airloc buckles with a side release and center support for crush resistance |
Leash Connection | Anodized 6061-T6 aluminum |
Zippers | YKK |
In four years the only part of the Ruffwear Approach that our adventurous little boat dog has managed to damage is the shell. In Croatia and Spain when we were hiking she'd drag the bag across jagged rock faces which abraded the fabric on the outer face of the saddle bags. She still didn't manage to rub all the way through but to protect the bag I sewed a sacrificial layer of fabric on top.
The rest has held up very well, especially given almost all of our adventures are off the beaten path. We go up narrow hiking trails, through rivers and along salty beaches, harsh environments to drag a dog hiking pack through.
Physical design
The design of the Ruffwear Approach dog backpack is based on a horse's saddlebag. It has a pair of radial cut, weight forward pouches each with a vertical stash pocket close to the dogs body and a larger pouch further out.
Here's some of the features included in the design.
Aluminum V-ring leash attachment at the front
Reinforced webbed loop leash attachment at the back
Padded grab handle on the back
Reflective trim
External gear loops
Ruffwear Approach fit
The backpack comes in multiple sizes from XS through to XL; our Aussie Shep wears the Ruffwear Approach Pack Medium. It has five points of adjustment so you can ensure an optimal fit for your dog, including under the belly and around the chest. The girth straps have pads which make them more comfortable and there are "flopper stoppers" to help stabilise the pack.
On their YouTube channel Ruffwear have a helpful video guide on how to correctly fit the Approach Pack.
Functionality of the Ruffwear Approach
When we're out on adventures our Aussie Shepherd is almost always wearing her Approach dog backpack. It doesn't have any noticeable impact on her movement and due to the clip design we only had to set the sizing once then could take it on and off with the buckles.
Having the dual attachment points is useful and the webbed loop can double as an attachment point for a safety light or tracking tag.
One thing you need to be aware of when using a Ruffwear backpack is balancing the weight. Each side of the pack needs to be a similar weight or it becomes unbalanced and starts to slip to one side. This throws the dog slightly off balance.
Check out this video to see Rose run, jump and climb while wearing her Ruffwear dog backpack as we explore a hiking path in Mallorca, Spain.
Pros and cons of the Ruffwear Approach
Having owned the bag for a few years now here's our review of the pros and cons of the Ruffwear Approach pack.
Pros of the Ruffwear Approach | Cons of the Ruffwear Approach |
After 4 years of use in a range of environments the pack has generally held up well. The strap adjustments don't slip over time ensuring a consistent fit. The grab handle is very useful, especially when we need to give a little support to lift her on and off the boat. | Doesn't come with water bags like some of the other Ruffwear packs do. We use collapsible hydration packs from Hydrapak. |
Overall we think Ruffwear is a good brand that makes high quality dog packs and we would absolutely recommend the Ruffwear Approach to people looking for a functional, well made dog hiking bag. By comparison we've also owned the smaller Ruffwear Singletrak, and the fit and balance of the Ruffwear Approach is far superior.
Fast FAQ
Having owned and used dog packs for a few years now, here's a bit of knowledge we have to share.
Q: Are dog backpacks ok for dogs?
A: If your dog is fit and healthy, and you have a correctly fitted dog pack that isn't overweight then they should be okay to wear one. If you have concerns you could always speak to your vet or get product advice from Ruffwear.
Q: How much should a dog carry backpacking?
A: Ruffwear recommends that the weight of the bag doesn't exceed 25% of the dogs weight, with advice to keep your dogs age, fitness and breed in mind. For Rose we waited until she was fully growth then introduced the empty bag before slowly adding weight. She weighs 22kg and never carries more than 3.5kg of weight, most of which is water.
Q: What to put in a dog backpack
A: We only do day hikes so in our dogs backpack you'll generally find water, an asthma puffer, disinfectant, a dog bootie and the keys. People who are going on multi-day hikes may take dog kibble, a medical kit, collapsible bowl, dog booties, poop bags, a dog climate jacket, leash, sleeping mat and dog treats.
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