Ruffwear Approach Pack II - 2007 BCS

It is a great well made product. But I did buy a second one that had a soft piece of cloth going all the way around dogs belly.

I have a Rottweiler and the one I bought works great for him.But he has a lot of fur.

I also have my little girl she is hound/pit bull mix. This model would not work for her. She has very little hair under her belly and I know this pack would chaff a bit.

But my cattle size dog is very happy :)

Thanks backcountry for the great deal.

Mark

This pack is great, my dog gets so excited as soon as he sees it. I love it because I don't have to pack his water, food and bowls which save a lot of weight in my pack. Just like my young son, I think my dog feels empowered by carring his own weight. The adjustments are great but pay attention to the sizings. He is a compact dog and weighs about 60 lbs. and he has the medium, the adjustments are as tight as they can go on the top.

I was confused that this was the "II" version but it is the '07/'08 model. I figured it out and still purchased it. I saw new approach packson the AT last week and i actually like the simplicity of this model. The fleece straps that cover the belly harness move a little and get real dirty, but , they are washable. it held up well in the rain and on steep approaches. Be sure not to make the rear belly strap too tight, it will prohibit dogs from being able to squat and sit down comfortably. The crossing chest strap kept the load over the shoulders right were it should be the whole time, Awesome Pack!

We originally bought this pack (the Approach Pack II) for our pup, but were disappointed to learn that the pack did not separate from the harness. The compartments are decent and hold a lot, but do not allow much for organization. After seeing the upgrade, the Ruffwear Palisades Pack II, we knew that a little more dough meant a lot more pack. I would recommend that you check out the Palisades packs (http://www.backcountry.com/store/RUF0003/Ruffwear-Palisades-Pack-II.html) before buying the Approach Pack II. The detachable feature is well worth the price difference, especially when the harness costs $20 on its own! By the way, our dog Jaeger is a 60 lbs lab basset mix (somewhat compact for her weight) and wears a small.

This Harness/Pack is great, very easy to put on and comfortable for the dog. Just make sure that you get the front part right over the shoulders so the pack doesn't lean right or left making it uncomfortable for the dog.
It has two places to clip the leash, the one at the front is great if your dog is walking right by you, but if he starts to pull away or continues to want to go faster use the back clip. This clip gives you more leverage to stop the dog with out hurting him/her.
The two side bags are great for water, food we also put a shammy towel in to wet down and put over the dog to help keep him cool. It was great not to have to pack all of that stuff myself and Zeppelin loved the pack and never fussed about it once.

This is a well made piece of equipment but VERY STIFF. Additionally, I am having a lot of trouble fitting it to my dog. The measurements do not seem to coordinate with those posted in the description. I am not going to return it but I will have to rework the straps to fit. This will involve cutting and restitching with an industrial sewing machine that , thankfully, I own.

This works great for my coon hound who has a large chest but gets very thin. He gets excited every time we bring it out. He weighs 60-65 lbs and the medium is almost to big, he could fit in a small which is cheaper however, the pockets are smaller as well.It fits plenty of water and treats for both of us. It never seems to bother him, leave rub marks or effect his freedom of movement. I love this pack and so does my dog I recommend this to anyone who hikes frequently with their K9 companion or is looking for a way to burn their excess energy a little faster.

As soon as my little buddy radar sees her pack come out she knows what's up and gets so excited. She knows it means we're going hiking or camping or something fun and healthy. I looked at alot of dog packs but this one is by far the most stable and made out of bomber materials just like people packs. Radar loves it, so will your little hiking buddy. Dogs bless America!!!