There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder — do they really work? In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.
The Product on Trial
RUFFWEAR Haul Bag Dog Travel Bag
The Tester
Brandon Carte, a dog dad and borderline obsessive shopper who compared dozens of pet bags to find the best one
The Brief
Since adopting my rescue pups, I've taken them on a bunch of road trips and quickly realized that plastic shopping bags and canvas totes weren’t going to cut it to hold all of their supplies. The RUFFWEAR Haul Bag has more pockets and compartments than I could possibly need, and offers plenty of space for food, bowls, treats, medication, and more without taking up too much room in the backseat.
Because of the global pandemic, I’ve been going on more frequent road trips. My dogs are extremely well-traveled and absolutely love car rides, so I try to bring them on as many outings as I can.
Whether I’m car-camping, visiting family out of state, or spending a weekend at a hotel, on each separate occasion I’ve been a little flustered by how much stuff a dog needs. Between food, bowls, toys, treats, leashes, toys, and poop bags, it’s a lot — especially if you’re dealing with a sick senior pup who requires multiple medications.
For a while, I was just haphazardly tossing all my pet supplies inside a small grocery bag that I would fill to the brim. I’d use zip-close bags to store dog food, too. But as you know, plastic can rip or get punctured easily ... especially by a hungry dog. (Do you see where this is going?)
After that heyday for my hungry hounds, I decided to hunt for a more durable bag designed explicitly for dogs. After comparing more dog travel bags than I care to admit, I found the perfect one: It’s called the RUFFWEAR Haul Bag.
The frustrating thing about shopping for a doggy go-bag was having to sort through so many pet carriers. Not only that, I’d say 90% of actual dog travel bags look like lunchboxes or soft coolers, while the other 10% are backpacks. I didn’t want either because I didn’t want to have to remove stuff from the bag to access whatever it was that I needed.
The Haul Bag is shaped more like a duffel, and it offers users a generous 37-liter interior. I love that it has an extremely wide zippered main compartment, which is where I keep large items like bowls, harnesses, leashes, water bottles, and a pet food carrier (I highly recommend RUFFWEAR’s Kibble Kaddie, too, which holds a week’s worth of food).
On one side of its interior, there’s a large, deep, zippered pocket. I use that option to store important items like my dog’s shot records and registration. On the other side, you’ll find four mesh pockets that help keep little things organized, so you won’t have to dig around aimlessly searching for them. I use those for medication, antlers, chew toys, and dental bones.
As for the exterior, one side has a zippered pocket that stretches across the length (16 inches) of the bag. I use it to store my dog’s lighted collar and my disinfectant wipe dispenser. The other side has three more mesh pockets that are perfect for keeping poop bags, hand sanitizer, and treats easily accessible.
I like that you can carry the bag on your shoulder with its adjustable and detachable shoulder strap. You can also wear it crossbody-style, or just hold it using its two carrying handles. Another perk is if the bag is not full, you can easily compress its sides inward, so it takes up less room. The Haul Bag offers a generous capacity that’s large enough for two dogs to share, but it doesn’t ever feel too cumbersome or take up too much room in your car.
All in all, the Haul Bag feels incredibly premium. It’s made of denier nylon, which is easy to wipe down and clean. It also has a waterproof TPU finish, and the bag is backed by a money-back guarantee.
The Closing Argument
With its $70 price point, the RUFFWEAR Haul Bag does not run cheap. Trust me, though: It’s well worth it. The Haul Bag is stylish, durable, highly convenient, and serves its purpose very well by keeping all my pup’s items accessible, organized, and at the ready.
It’s perfect for pet owners who take their furry friends on trips like I do, or for folks who are in search of a go-bag to pack for a sitter who watches your pet while you’re away.
