Ruffwear, Singletrak Dog Pack, Hiking Backpack with Hydration Bladders, Red Currant, Medium

I am posting this review after about a month of daily use. I will update the review after some time has passed or if my opinion of this product should change.For starters the quality of the pack is top notch. You can tell great care has been exercised to ensure quality materials and workmanship. Seams are heavy duty and well reinforced and the materials are thick and durable. Zippers are also of high quality and open and close without hanging up or getting the pack material caught in them. The layout of the pockets is superb and the pack has a nice low profile that hugs the dog and adds very little bulk. The straps are a little tricky to get the hang of and will require some tinkering to get them set just right but once set, they remain snug and secure. The water bladders have been great for me so far, I have not had issues with leaks or any of the other problems I saw reported in the reviews.This pack is for my 70lb German Shepherd and it fits her quite nicely (I purchased the large model). As I said getting it set for her size was a little tricky and I have had to readjust a few times but overall I am happy with how it fits her. It does not seem to impede her movement or chafe her in any way, although I will admit it would be difficult to know for sure if she were uncomfortable. I will say one odd thing I have noticed is that toward the end of our walk (about 1.2 miles each trip) for the last few blocks she really seems to drag and I almost have to pull her to get her to come. I have never had this issue with her before the pack and it has made me wonder if she is simply tiring quicker from the extra weight (not likely from a younger, healthy high energy dog) or because the pack is somehow uncomfortable by that point in the trip. It may also be that she is still getting used to it. For reference she only carries the two bladders, typically half to completely full, so it isn't that much extra weight.I will say her behavior has been modified by the addition of the pack to our daily walks. She is generally a well behaved dog but I did have issues with her pulling before we got the pack. The change has been amazing. When she has it on she tends to stay right by my side and walk and a smooth even pace, mostly ignoring distractions. The additional work seems to help her focus and give her something to keep her from getting sidetracked. This was a primary motivation behind the purchase so I am very happy with that aspect.I will say this, if you are looking to get your dog a pack that will last and likely be the most comfortable choice for him or her, look no further. I think the quality of this product is undisputed. The only question is, how will your pet take to it?

I bought the Ruffwear Singletrak Backpack for my 70 lb. Rough Collie. I wanted a lightweight, low-profile backpack with good ventilation that could stand up to a variety of sub-optimal terrains and rough treatment. Atticus (my dog) and I enjoy hitting the trails, marshes, fields, and beaches that come with living on the South Carolina coast, but we also needed something he could wear around town without looking silly in. I bought the Medium size in Cloudburst Gray to go with my dogs 29" girth.After using this backpack for a few weeks in all kinds of terrain I have to say that this pack is pretty close to perfect. I've owned several other packs from a Kurgo Baxter Pack to a Outward Hound DayPak, and this pack is by far the best made pack we've ever owned. It's made out of quality, durable materials with careful detail to the seams. The zippers are seamless and don't catch. I was skeptical over if I'd actually be able to lift my 70 lb. dog off the ground, I DID!! Not only that, but he didn't even seem all that uncomfortable with it. A lot of packs push the 'handle' feature, but until now I've never actually owned a pack that would let me lift my dog without risking the packs integrity. It's no belay harness, but it will certainly do for extracting a dog up to his ears in pluffmud. I was a little weary of the plastic clip instead of the metal D-Rings I'm used to, but it has held up just fine. My dog is fairly well behaved on a leash though. I may not trust it to hold up against a heavy puller though, if your dog is I strongly recommend clipping into a backup system (like a slip collar) in case the ring does fail.The pockets are a perfect size for the water bladders that come with it, I fill mine halfway then freeze the water so it helps keep my dog cool in the blazing heat and humidity. In the other pockets I usually put a snack for me, and a snack for him. I have a small collapsible bowl that I snug in behind one of the water bladders, however if you have a fabric collapsible bowl you should be able to fit it into the side pockets just fine, and if all else fails you can always clip a bowl to the D-Ring or leash with a carabiner. The pockets without the water bladders are actually quite roomy and can easily fit one of his tug toys, my tablet, my keys and wallet, and several other items in them.What I really love about this pack though is that it doesn't hinder my dogs range of motion. It's slim design allows my boy to do all the things he does without it, and that is just awesome. He doesn't overheat despite the 105 degree heat index because of the the great ventilation, and I know that I can rely on this pack to hold up to all sorts of adverse conditions. I've fallen in love with this pack, and my dog has too! Every time he seems me take it out his tail starts wagging, and he knows we're in for an adventure!To Summarize:Pros:Great ventilation to prevent overheatingUsable Handle for lifting, supporting, and extracting (even large breeds)Great quality materials and buildLow-Profile does not impede movementNo ChaffingHighly Customizable ensures perfect fitSuper durable and easily cared forCons:May need to use a backup (such as a slip collar) when utilizing the non-metal D-ring for heavy pullers.Have to lift dogs front leg to slip into harness

I bought this for two uses: 1. For when we go hiking and 2. For taking my dog on longer runs and being able to get her water to prevent her from overheating. I have not had a chance to use it hiking yet, and I haven't used the water containers, but we've done a few short test runs and a few walks just to get her accustomed to wearing it. I was really happy with how well it fits her and the harness seems strong and comfortable. If adjusted well, the pack didn't move around on her at all. I did find the straps a little tough to adjust, but once I figured them out they were fine. The color is nice and the handle is really handy for being able to move your dog if necessary (mine can be reactive on leash, so it's a nice feature for me). My only concern is that my dog likes to pull and she's rather strong in her front shoulders. I'm worried about how much leverage she'll have when going downhill hiking, but on our first run she didn't pull too much in this, so I hope she doesn't start. I also found the pockets on the side a little small. I had hoped to fit a collapsible bowl in there, but it only fits in the same pocket as the water bottles and I doubt it will fit when the bottles are full. I guess I'll have to clip the bowl to the outside, which isn't a problem assuming the clip doesn't break.