Guide: The Best Products for Hiking With Your Dog

Guide: The Best Products for Hiking With Your Dog

Earlier this year on Instagram we asked you about the hiking products YOU love that make hikes easier and more enjoyable with your dogs. Once again we were blown away by your responses, and decided to turn them into an easy to reference guide. We will keep adding to this list as we get more great recommendations from YOU, the amazing pet parents and pro-trainers in our TOC Fam! PS: One of the easiest ways to be sustainable is to buy less. With that in mind, we compile these lists to try to help you find quality products so you don't have to keep buying things. Just because it is on this list doesn't necessarily mean you need it to hike with your dog. Please feel free to also check around for used versions of these products! [Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning TOC may get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you.]



Dog Clothing and Accessories For Hiking

  1. A First Aid Kit

 
assorted first aid products in spread in front of the red Kurgo kit

From @peevepaisley: “…Have the Kurgo first aid kit in the car and an few key items (mostly for paws) in the pack.”

 

2. A High Tail Hikes Long Line

 
a red biothane long leash wrapped up in an oval and the leash has gold hardware

From @hounddog_mack: “Fav products: @hightailhikes long lines & safety straps — biothane is a gift in cold, snowy, wet weather!” PS: Use code TAILSOFCONNECTION for 10% off on all products!

 

3. The Ruffwear Harness

 
the red ruffwear harness on a white background

From @ruby_top_of_the_hills: “Love the Ruffwear harness, provides comfort and control…”

 

4. The Kurgo Adjustable Lead

 
the gold with black trim adjustable lead by kurgo gathered together in somewhat of a mishapen oval

From @peevepaisley: “…The Kurgo adjustable lead is great too - has a daisy chain connector so you can hook it to you and go short when it’s crowded to regular when it’s not.”

 

5. High Visibility Gear

 
orange yellow and silver dog harness from ruffwear

From @wigglebutt_bailey:Love this post! High visibility gear (we used to use a blaze orange bandana but Bailey’s fur is pretty long so we switched to a harness), especially during hunting season.” Note: TOC found this harness on REI’s site.

 

6. A Y-Shaped Harness

 
a black y shaped blue 9 harness with a purple piece extending across the top and silver accessories

From @petuniapickles_gsp: “So many things😂. Trying to find a few that might not be on here already. I think one that can get overlooked is a harness that has a Y shape in the front so it allows for natural and safe movement especially in a hiking situation.” Note: TOC found this harness on Amazon.

 

7. A Collapsible Water Bowl

 
green plastic bowl with black trim and green lid

From @brew_stah_the_dog: “GSI Outdoors Collabsible bowl it’s for human hikers so it has a lid and actually stays upright 👏🏻 every dog specific one I’ve ever gotten…doesn’t…”

 

8. A Dog Backpack

 
orange ruffwear dog backpack with silver accents

From @amientus04: “Love my dog’s backpack! I have him carry his own collapsible water bowl and poop bags (as well as a Ziploc that I put the dirty poop bags in. Gotta back out his waste!).” Note: TOC found this backpack on Amazon.

 

9. The Wilderdog Harness

 
a bright blue magenta and army green harness side by side at a diagonal on a dark wood table

From @maural33: “…And I usually use the Wilderdog or Kurgo harnesses and clip on the back for extra freedom (normally she’s an easy walk front clip kinda gal 😂).”

 

10. The Ruffwear Convertible Waste Leash

 
the grey dark grey and blaclk ruffwear covertible waste leash in somewhat of an s shape on a white backdrop

From @sara.bolds:Ruffwear leash that converts to a waist leash. Great for downhill sketchy spots where you need both hands…”

 

11. A Water Bottle that Doubles as a Bowl

 
a pink plastic dog water bottle with a black bowl attached to the top and a black carabiner hanging from the side .jpg

From @brimounteer: “…I bought a water bottle on Amazon that doubles as a water bowl so I don’t need a collapsible bowl as well…” Note: TOC found this water bottle on Amazon.

 

12. Extra Balls

 
the orange and blue rubber chuckit balls in their packaging with a golden retriever on it in the right corner

From @pheebadoodle: “Lots of extra balls. This is her highest reward so I can always use it as back up if I see she has own ideas…”Note: TOC found these balls on Amazon.

 

13. A Dog Sleeping Bag

 
a husky lying in a greyish blue dog sleeping bag with the yelllow fleece lining exposed and a bag rolled on the upper right in the corner

From @rescuedog_lady: “…your dog deserves the same sleeping conditions as you - that means if *you* need an insulating sleeping pad or a cool-down coat, so does your dog...”Note: TOC found this sleeping bag on Amazon.

 

14. A Tick Key

 
pink puple and green tick keys in a v formation

From @ebpertner: “Tick key!! I find it much easier to use to remove ticks (from dogs and humans) than regular tweezers.” Note: TOC found these tick keys on Amazon.

 

15. A glow collar

 
a neon greon glow collar in the nite howl packaging

From @chanzmcmanus: “Also, a glow collar! This is more for us TBH. Our pup has good recall but when we are out at night the collar makes him easier to see so he can explore more freely and we can still see him and not call him back unnecessarily.” Note: TOC found this glow collar on Amazon.

 

16. The Fido Pro Rescue Harness

 
a chocolate lab in profile wearing a red fido pro harness and a blue collar with a white pattern on it and a blue dog tag on a snowy slope

From @karliemarianne: “We bought a @fidopro rescue harness in case our guys gets hurt and needs to be carried out of the woods. Haven’t had to use it yet but I don’t leave home without it.”

 

17. An outfox hood

 
A brown dog in profile with its mouth open wearing a black net hood over its head an neck in front of a blue sky and a wheat field

From @ranajean: “Outfox hood during foxtail season @outfoxfordogs.”

 

18. A Dog Rescue SLing

 
a skier wearing a chocolate lab on his back using the Fido Rescue Pro red harness with black straps. The skier has a black backpack on his front, black pants, ski poles in either hand, a bright blue jacket and a gray beanie.

From @daysofdarby: “…For really long adventure hikes I also throw in a sling in case D gets hurt and I have to carry her out.” Note: TOC found this sling on Fido Pro.

 

19. A Spare Dog ID Tag

 
A silver heart shaped dog tag that reads charlie in the middle

From @dug_the_adventurer: “A spare ID tag! In the UK dogs must wear ID tags by law when they’re out and about (plus if Dug gets lost I want someone who finds him to be able to call me!), but Dug has lost his in brambles before when it snagged. So now I carry a cheap spare with the correct details on it so if he does lose his tag there’s no change of him going on to get lost without my details on him.” Note: TOC found this tag on Amazon.

 

20. A K9 backpack

 
a white woman with a black pontytail carries a bright blue backpack with a brown and white dog in it. She has no sleeves and is wear bright greenish blue shorts

From @bulldognamedcoco:Our K9 backpack! Couldn’t live without it, as a Frenchie owner she can’t handle big hikes so when she gets tired we pop her in our backpack and carry on.” Note: TOC found this backpack on Amazon.

 

21. A GPS Collar

 
a grey whistle gps collar

From @lulolilbigdog: “My favorite hiking gear if my dog will be off leash are: … a GPS collar…”Note: TOC found this Whistle GPS collar on Amazon.

 

22. A Kong Safestix

 
A blue braided plastic Kong SafeStix which is curved with blue small balls on each end

From @manateelotti: “…For playtime and making sure she leaves sticks alone we have a Kong Safestix. Sure gets you some strange looks but our stick-obsessed dog super quickly accepted that instead of wood…”

 

23. Musher’s Secret

 
an open jar of musher's secret with the lid slightly over it on the left

From @chanzmcmanus: “Where we live and hike can get super cold and icy and they often treat the roads and sidewalks with salt so Mushers…on his paws before and after we go out is a must for us. We’ve got a pot of it by the door and a stick applicator for the car.”

 

24. RollOut Travel Bowl

 
A grey square folding bowl made of fabric with orange lining and black trim

From @wheresadieroams: “Our @muttruk gear is always a must on adventures! We always carry the…roll up bowl…”

 

25. A Frisbee

 
the green fabric chuckit frisbee with the blue piping

From @miorlanski: “…Frisbees (one of the dogs cannot be on a 20 min off leash walk without having those discs for at least a few throws)…” Note: TOC found this frisbee on Amazon.

 

26. THe Ruff Rescue Harness

 
a husky wearing a red harness with handles attached to it while a white man holds the handles with one hand. he's wearing a grey t-shirt and shorts and hiking boots and white socks and his torso and head are not shown. They are on a mountain overlook

From @camembert.chronicles: ”…Something else I find important is an emergency dog carrier like ruff rescue, this gives me a way to more easily carry my dog if they are ever seriously injured…”

 

27. Dog Boots

 
blue dog boots with grey and yellow accents and a rubber sole

From @camembert.chronicles: “…I also always bring his boots in case he were to have an open wound on his paw to help keep it protected…” Note: TOC found these boots on Ruffwear.

 

28. An Extra Collar

 
a stack of biothane collars on the beach next to succulents and sea shells. From top to bottom they are magenta, teal, blue, orange and yellow and have some water drops on them

From @indy_inspired: “…In the backpack we always have a collar and leash (in case something breaks)…”Note: TOC found these biothane collars on Mossy Pawz’s site. They are featured on our friend, Kassidi Jones’, Pet POC Diretory here.

 

29. A Bear Bell

 
A silver bell on top of black mesh attached to a black strap with a yellow embroidered bear which is attached to the green packaging

From @lulolilbigdog: “My favorite hiking gear if my dog will be off leash are: a bear bell…” Note: TOC found this bear bell on Amazon.

 

Human Clothing and Accessories For Hiking

1. The MuttRuk Sidekick Hip Pack

 
A grey fannypack with black piping and orange and blue writing and the MuttRuk logo

From @hounddog_mack: “…@muttruk sidekick to carry treats, keys, phone etc— the built in water bottle holder is 👌…”

 

2. Sandals

 
Black Teva sandals in profile with a small yellow Teva logo on them

From @indy_inspired: “…I also always bring a pair of sandals…”Note: TOC found these sandals on Amazon.

 

3. A Multi Tool Knife

 
a grey leatherman tool is fully extended so you can see all of the parts of the knife

From @indy_inspired: “…In the backpack we always have a…a multi tool knife…” Note: TOC found this knife on Amazon.

 

4. A Car Seat Cover

 
a golden retriever sits on a black car seat cover in the back seat of a car with a black interior. The back window shows green trees in bloom.

From @hounddog_mack: “…And a car seat cover, important all year between the sand, dirt, mud, and snow 😂…” Note: TOC found this car seat cover on Amazon.

 

5. The Deuter Fanny Pack

 
A mauve colored Deuter fanny pack

From @manateelotti: “…I found a Deuter that's big enough to hold my camera. That thing was a game changer!” Note: TOC found this Deuter fanny pack on Amazon. Check the size of your camera before you buy this model.

 

6. An Old Nalgene Bottle

 
A pink plastic nalgene water bottle with markings for the ounces of water on the outside and a grey cap

From @agoodfeeling_inco: “Use an old Nalgene bottle to pack out 💩 on your hikes!”

 

7. The Patagonia black hole 5L waist pack

 
a blue patagonia fanny pack with grey piping and yellow font

From @peevepaisley: “The Patagonia black hole 5L waist pack is amazing. Small front pocket for treats, two mesh pockets for water or hauling out 💩. Huge interior and wide band…”

 

8. A Headlamp

 
a dark purple headband with a light on it in the middle and a light purple pattern around the light on the band with the logo for Votchelo on it next to batteries above a purple and white vitchello box and next to a blue rubber vitchelo arm band

From @hanks.oysterdog: “In our backpack first aid kit (every single hike)…headlamp.” Note: TOC found this headlamp on Amazon.

 

9. A Waterfly Pack

 
A grey waterfly fanny pack with blue and black water bottles peeking through from pockets on either side

From @maural33: “Love this thread - I’m interested to hear about what others bring, as we are still learning! So far, I’ve found that Waterfly (found on Amazon) makes a great hiking/walking fanny pack - there’s one that has two water bottle holders so one for her, one for me (and I use their smaller one for neighborhood walks). Great pockets for treats, keys, phone, extra gloves, first aid etc…”

 

10. A CamelBak with the water pouch removed

 
A grey camelbak backapack with a bright blue tube sticking out of one strap

From @brimounteer:”…I have a camelbak with the water pouch removed that then hold my car keys and water for the pup…” Note: TOC found this CamelBak on Amazon and it still has the water pouch.

 

11. A 65L Backpack

 
a large black camping backpack with multple straps across the front and a water bottle holder on both sides

From @rescuedog_lady: “…I camp with a 65L backpack…” Note: TOC found this backpack on Amazon.

 

12. An Ice Pick

 
a stainless steel ice pick with a blue rubber handle

From @cthulu.the.saint: “…For backpacking trips in winter I like to carry an icepick/handshovel/small mallet/hatchet or similar in case gear gets frozen in after a snowfall, we need to drink from a frozen water source, or to collect ice chips for snacking or boiling down.” Note: TOC found this ice pick on Amazon.

 

13. A Walker Family Goods Fanny Pack Sling

 
a seafoam walker family goods fanny pack sling with a light green strap and a white and black star flower design logo

From @one.ear.up.frank: “Fanny pack from @walkerfamilygoods comes with us on all our walks; it's the perfect size for poop bags, a little Stasher treat bag, another Stasher with eye rinse and emergency Benadryl (since apparently Frank is allergic to bees)…”

 

14. A Small Phone Battery Pack Charger

 
a black plastic narrow rectangular battery pack with a red base and 4 blue tiny round lights on the bottom

From @hemorn: “I have a small phone charger in my pack if needed to call out and my phone has died.”Note: TOC found this battery pack on Amazon.

 

15. A Gardening Vest From Duluth Trading Company

 
a burnt orange gardening vest with multiple pockets

From @the_bramleywolves: “I bought a gardening vest from @duluthtradingcompany and it’s fabulous. Lightweight, and full of pockets and attachment sites. I clip the treat pouch on, and put leashes in the pockets, lens cloth, hat and gloves, Chuckit ball… it’s amazing how much I can carry, have accessible and yet also have my hands free. It’s definitely my fave piece of gear and I hike with a few off leash dogs every day.”

 

16. A Salomon Vest

 
a royal blue salomon vest with a water bottle sticking out of the back left strap

From @manateelotti: “…When we go running together I have a Salomon vest with two water reservoirs. One is for me, the other for her so that I can give her some water straight from the tube. That's been super handy. It also has enough space for all kinds of extra stuff I might need, like her frisbee. ;)…”Note: TOC found this Salomon vest on Amazon.

 

17. The MuttRuk Phoenix Backpack

 
a grey backpack with black accents including interior of straps, straps across the front, and netted cup holders on both sides

From @wheresadieroams: “…Our @muttruk gear is always a must on adventures! We…use the Phoenix backpack. The treat pockets are amazing and when I need to carry a larger pack I miss them 😂

 

18. A Whistle For Recall

 
two black narrow whistles with stainless steel tops next to a golden retriever who has two black and grey straps above it at a diagonal

From @miorlanski: “Whistle for recall…” Note: TOC found this whistle on Amazon.

 

19. The MuttRuk Duty Bag

 
a flat orange bag in a rectangular shape with a wider top with a black ribbon across the top with a clip and clasp on either end around it.

From @wheresadieroams: “Our @muttruk gear ! We always carry the duty bag…”

 

20. A Smaller 25L Backpack

 
a teal backpack with grey piping and the Zomake logo at the top next to circles that highlight features of the fabric. First circle at the top right has zoomed in fabric with water drops and next to it reads water resistant nylon fabric.

From @camembert.chronicles: “Ooo so many things to mention! I use a small backpack for (25L) which holds water & human snacks, safety and camera stuff…” Note: TOC found this backpack on Amazon.

 

21. AllTrails App

 
The All Trails app logo and header from the Apple app store page

From @petuniapickles_gsp: “…Another one is using apps to research [trails] and see reviews before you go (I like bringfido and AllTrails) and to navigate when there (AllTrails). It’s also fun to have a record of all the hikes you’ve done and how you’d rate them...”Note on AllTrails from @brew_stah_the_dog: “…Since it’s crowd sourced, it often will send hikers and tourists to sacred Native sites, see @indigenouswomenhike @native_power_rangers for better details.”

 

22. An Extra Clean T-Shirt

 
A beige t shirt on a wood surface that reads "I'd love to but my dog says no" in all caps white lettering across the chest

From @indy_inspired: “…I also always bring … a clean shirt to change into for the drive home which is so lovely after a big hike.” Note: TOC found these t-shirt on Black Dog Mom Shop’s site. They are featured on our friend, Kassidi Jones’, Pet POC Diretory here.

 
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