1. Ruffwear Approach Pack, Medium
Saddlebags sized for a long day or a light overnight, on a padded harness with a handle, in four sizes by chest girth.
The button opens the Medium, for a chest of 27 to 32 inches. Ruffwear makes four sizes, from 17 inches around for a small terrier up to 42 for a big Lab, and the Medium holds 13 liters across both bags and weighs 1.1 pounds empty. That's enough for water, a collapsible bowl and his lunch.
The saddlebags are cut in a curve and sit forward, toward the shoulders, so the load hangs on his sides and stays off his spine. Ruffwear sells it for day hikes and light overnights; for two or three nights, the Palisades does better.
Against the Front Range, the Approach costs less and holds more, size for size. The Front Range wins on a daily walk because of the leash loop on its chest, but on a trail, more room is what you want.
A few owners say it shifts on steep descents, and one noticed it turning on his Lab when the pockets weren't loaded evenly.
Wrap the tape around the deepest part of his chest, just behind the front legs. Ruffwear's chart goes by girth alone, so measure him rather than guess from his weight.
- The saddlebags don't come off, so the whole pack stays on until you unbuckle it.
- Ruffwear lets a dog carry up to 25 percent of his weight. The AKC and a vet quoted by Backpacker put the limit much lower (see the questions below).
