10 Best Dog Harnesses for Hiking in 2023

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Are you ready to hit the trail with your four-legged friend?

Seeking a harness that can help secure your dog?

But you don’t know how to choose as there are too many different types of harnesses out there?

We’ve got your back!

Here are the 10 top-rated dog harnesses for hiking you can get today.

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10 Best Dog Hiking Harnesses Reviews

1. Editor’s Choice - Kurgo Journey Adventure Dog Harness

Kurgo Journey Adventure Dog Harness
Photo Credit : Kurgo

The Kurgo Journey Adventure Harness is our top pick because of the impressive features it offers. Kurgo pride themselves as the leader of travel and safety products for dogs. They have been around since 2004, and their product’s quality has always been promising.

If you are an active hiker and look for a harness that has excellent quality, we recommend this to you. It is made of rug fabric with inner breathable mesh to make sure it is durable and comfy at the same time. Featuring the nesting buckle system, built to ensure it is sturdy enough for hiking on rocky terrain.

With the wide V-neck padded chest plate design, it can spread the pressure across your dog’s body when they pull on the leash. If you also love night hiking, no worries, this harness has reflective trim to keep your dog visible at night.

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2. Best Value - Rabbitgoo No-Pull Dog Harness

Rabbitgoo No-Pull Dog Harness
Photo Credit : Rabbitgoo

Rabbitgoo strives to develop and extend its product range to fit all aspects of a pet’s life.

This harness offers 2 sturdy metal leash attachment rings, one on the top to allow for more freedom, and the other on the chest to discourage your dog from pulling. That also means it is ideal for training. Made of Nylon Oxford and padded with soft cushions to ensure your dog’s comfort when going on a hike.

With its 2 fast release buckles design, it is pretty easy to put on and take off. Not to mention, it has 4 fully adjustable straps around the body and neck, allowing you to customize to fit your dog for optimal comfort and to avoid choking. Good value for money, definitely look into this.

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3. Best Overall Performance - Ruffwear Front Range Harness

Ruffwear Front Range Harness
Photo Credit : Ruffwear

You might have heard of Ruffwear, a company that has been in the market for over 20 years and is widely known for its high-quality dog gear.

The Front Range Harness is suitable for extended hikes as it is comfortable, lightweight, and has reflective trim for nighttime visibility. Featuring the foam-padded straps across the chest and belly for equal pressure distribution, hence more comfort, and ultimately ensuring your four-legged friend can go the extra mile.

There is a leash attachment clip on the back, and a reinforced webbing loop on the chest to help against pulling, along with 4 adjustment points to allow for a full range of movement.

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4. Runner-up Overall Performance - Expawlorer Front Range No-Pull Dog Harness

Expawlorer Front Range No-Pull Dog Harness
Photo Credit : Expawlorer

Another best dog hiking harness is the Expawlorer Front Range Harness.

It features the heavy-duty nylon with soft lining for comfort and durability, yet the 3M reflective properties for added visibility in a low-light situation. This harness also has a no-pull design, made to reduce the pressure when your dog pulls, meaning it can prevent any possible neck or spine injuries.

It offers 2 aluminum leash attachment rings, with soft padding in the chest and belly area. Also, there is a top handle that allows you to secure your dog in case of an emergency.

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5. Most Comfortable - Ruffwear Web Master Harness

Ruffwear Web Master Harness
Photo Credit : Ruffwear

Here is another Ruffwear product we recommend. It is one of the most comfortable harnesses on the market, which also means this harness is perfect for long day hikes.

Unlike the Front Range Harness, you notice there is a third strap covering the bottom of your dog’s belly, making it more comfortable and secure. Combined with foam padding and 5 adjustment points to ensure it can fit snugly. There is also a reinforced webbing loop to discourage pulling and a leash clip on the back to allow for freedom of movement.

Additionally, it comes with a top handle that allows you to give your dog a hand when facing challenging terrain or other obstacles. Plus, reflective trim and a light loop to attach beacon light for enhanced visibility.

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6. Most Secure - Icefang Tactical Dog Harness

Icefang Tactical Dog Harness
Photo Credit : Icefang

ICEFANG works with trainers and officers to understand how their products can meet the consumers’ needs, and is known for providing high-quality products for sport and working dogs.

This harness includes 2 alloy metal buckles positioned on your dog’s shoulder and 2 Polyoxymethylene (POM) buckles on the belly that can stand up to strong pulling force. The alloy metal buckles have passed the 1,000 pounds of proof-load test, while the POM buckles can withstand a force of up to 250 pounds. Plus, the Bartack stitching on all stress points to keep your canine from escaping.

It is also comfortable to put on thanks to the soft mesh padding and no-rub design. And with its MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) system, you can let your dog carry extra gear on the trail. The ICEFANG harness is an excellent option if you have a medium to large size powerful escape artist.

Read More: ICEFANG Tactical Dog Harness Review

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7. Most Durable - OneTigris Fire Watcher Dog Harness

OneTigris Fire Watcher Dog Harness
Photo Caption : OneTigris

OneTigris was founded in 2014, specializes in producing high-quality tactical outdoor dog gear. And the Fire Watcher is one of their top-rated products. It has lots of great features like UTX quick-release buckles, UTX leash rings, and reinforced stitching. Not to mention, it is resistant to abrasion, dirt, and water.

On top of that, it features the hoop-and-loop and MOLLE straps for add-ons such as MOLLE pouches and ID panels. Chest and belly straps are adjustable and tested to be able to withstand 330 pounds of pulling strength, which means they are very secure. Also, the D-ring and top handle are tested at 330 pounds and 220 pounds, respectively. In other words, it can keep your dog safe on the trail.

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8. Best for Beginners - Pupteck Dog Harness

Pupteck Dog Harness
Photo Credit : Pupteck

If you have a small to medium size dog and look for a beginner-friendly harness, you might want to consider this step-in harness, designed to be easy to put on. All you need to do is lay it flat on the ground, and put your dog’s front legs through the loop and buckle up. Yes, it is that simple.

The Pupteck Harness is made of high-quality nylon fabric with high-density webbing to ensure it is durable. The straps are adjustable, and with 2 heavy-duty D-rings on top for attaching the leash. It comes in 3 different sizes, small, medium, and large.

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9. Best for Budget - Babyltrl No-Pull Big Dog Harness

Babyltrl No-Pull Big Dog Harness
Photo Credit : Babyltrl

Babyltrl produces a variety of products for different markets. That includes beauty products, gardening, and pet series. Now, you might be curious and question the quality given the company doesn’t focus and specialize in one industry. Surprisingly, this particular harness has been widely accepted and is now one of the most popular dog harnesses on the market.

It features breathable mesh and sponge padding at the chest plate for comfort, and the quick snap buckles, allowing you to put it on your dog with ease. Plus, the locking system incorporated into its buckles to make it more secure when going on a hike.

For safety reasons, they have also added a handle on top to give you better control over your pup. Not to mention, the reflective trim can keep your dog safe at night. It is at a lower price point, so if you are on a budget, make sure to check this out!

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10. Best for Small Dogs - Puppia Dog Harness

Puppia Dog Harness
Photo Credit : Puppia

Puppia has been around for a long time and is known for designing fashionable dog’s clothing. This harness looks super adorable to put on small pooches. If you have a small size dog, definitely give this a try and you will surely love it.

Not only does it look good, but also light and cozy, which is great because you don’t want to put a bulky harness on a small dog. It uses 100% high-quality air mesh polyester for construction to ensure excellent breathability, and comes in lots of different sizes, ranging from XS to XXL. One thing to note, though, is that the neck part is unadjustable, so make sure you measure your dog’s neck and chest girth correctly.

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Things to Consider When Buying the Best Dog Hiking Harness

Hiking harnesses are perhaps the most important gear when it comes to keeping your dog safe on the trail. You might be thinking, why do you need to get a harness when you can pay less for a dog collar?

While you can certainly use a collar, it is not as secure and safe as a harness. Even if your dog can walk well off the leash, a harness is a better option for hiking as it is more comfortable.

A collar can harm your furry friend in many ways. The most common problems are skin irritation and neck injuries, which can happen if the collar is too tight or if your dog pulls too hard on the leash.

And when buying a dog hiking harness, there are a few things you need to consider, below are some of them. 

1. Material

Picking the right material is crucial. You would want a harness with strong buckles to prevent your dog from escaping.

Consider the type of terrains and difficulty of the trail that you will be taking. If you go on a challenging trail with lots of obstacles or require scrambling, it may be better off to pick the ones that are durable, with a top handle so that you can give your dog a lift when needed.

And picking a lightweight and breathable harness may be a better option if you love extended hikes. As you can imagine, putting an unbreathable harness on your dog for long day hikes can be very uncomfortable for them. Not only that, but it can also cause skin irritations and overheating, which you don’t want that to happen.

2. Comfort

Regardless of how frequently you hit the trail, the harness has to be comfortable for your four-legged friend to wear.

One of the factors that will determine the comfort is the size, and keep in mind that it may differ from brands to brands. Make sure to check the manufacturer’s sizing chart and measure your dog correctly.

You may also want to consider the ones with adjustable straps. That way, you can customize it to fit your pooch and keep it from sliding around their belly and cause discomfort.

Padding is also vital, particularly in the high-friction areas like the chest and belly, as it can prevent chafing.

3. Freedom of Movement

Obviously, you want your pup to be able to enjoy the hikes too. So, it is crucial to select a harness that won’t restrict their movement too much.

That said, if your four-legged friend often tries to dart off to squirrels and jump on people, it’s probably a good idea to pick the ones that come with a front leash attachment point to discourage them from behaving that way.

4. Safety

You can certainly get your dog to put on a fashionable harness, but let’s not forget the reason to use a harness is to keep your furry friend safe on the trail.

While most harnesses can undoubtedly do that, some offer even more protection, with reflective trim to keep your furkid visible in a low-light situation, and a top handle to secure them in case of an emergency.

No-Pull Harness vs. Tactical Harness

You might have heard of no-pull and tactical harnesses. But do you know what the differences are? For those who don’t, please read on.

No-Pull harness is suitable for both hiking and training. Just like the name implies, it discourages your dog from pulling. You will typically see the leash ring attached under the neck area. While it may look weird, the purpose is to steer your dog back to you when they pull.

A tactical harness, on the other hand, incorporates the MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment) system, an accessories attachment system that allows you to attach extra gear. And you will often see military or police dogs wear them as they are very durable.

So, which one is for you? If you are an avid hiker, tactical harnesses may be a better option as they are more likely to be able to stand up to rough use. Also, they have MOLLE patch panels that give you the ability to carry extra gear. But if your dog loves to lunge at people or other animals, you would probably want to go for a no-pull harness.

A Quick Note on Off-Leash Hiking

While it certainly is fun to hike with your dog off the leash, you have to make sure they can respond to your commands reliably. Otherwise, they might put themselves in a dangerous position.

Just think about things that they will potentially do, chase the wildlife, jump into the river, slip on loose gravel, and fight venomous rattlesnake instead of staying away. Not to mention, some trails are shared by zooming mountain bikers as well.

You see, these are some of the risks you have to take. That’s why it is best to keep them tethered for their safety, plus you can save yourself the stress of having to deal with these potential issues.

On the bright side, off-leash hiking is extremely rewarding for dogs. They are more relaxed, able to walk freely and do whatever they like.

Other Dog Hiking Equipment You Should Consider if Letting Your Pup Off-Leash

If you decide to let your furry friend hike off the leash, you would want to have all the gear that can keep them safe when they choose not to listen to you. Remember, they may not respond to your recall in nature for the simple fact that there are too many rewards. Put yourself in their shoes. It’s like asking you to decide whether you should go back to the people you love or follow your desires and go after things you always wanted.

So, it is vital to take all the necessary precautions to ensure their safety. You probably have heard of people suggesting to attach a collar bell on your dog so that you can listen to sounds and locate them. That definitely works, but we recommend you to put a GPS tracker on your canine instead. It is more reliable than the bell, and most trackers allow you to track up to 3 miles and the high-quality ones up to 10 miles.

But if you are on the fence about off-leash hiking, yet still want your fido to have the luxury of having more room to wander and explore, consider a retractable leash.