RUFF WEAR BARK'N BOOTS GRIP TREX

Initial Report April 24, 2008

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TESTER INFORMATION		PRODUCT INFORMATION Manufacturer: Ruff Wear, Inc Year of Manufacture: 2008 Manufacturer URL: http://www.ruffwear.com/ Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price: $59.95 US Colour: Red Currant (also available in Obsidian Black) Size: Large (Also available in XXS, XS, S, M, XL, XL, and XXL)) Listed Weight: N/A Actual Weight: 57 g (2 oz) for one boot Sizing Chart: Size Paw Width XXS 51 mm (2 in) XS 57 mm (2.25 in) S 64 mm (2.5 in) M 70 mm (2.75 in) L 76 mm (3 in) XL 83 mm (3.25 in) XXL 95 mm (3.75 in) Warranty: Guaranteed to be free of defects in materials and workmanship. An authorized dealer or the manufacturer will either repair or replace the product at their discretion.
Name	Jo Ann Moffi
Age	34
Gender	Female
Height	168 cm (5ft 6 in)
Weight	84 kg (185 lbs)
Email Address	jomoffi AT gmail DOT com
City, State, Country	Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
BACKPACKING BACKGROUND
I was introduced to backpacking about 16 years ago when I met my husband. We have been backpacking, canoe camping, car camping, hiking, and participating in all sorts of outdoor activities together ever since. We live in a border town (US & Canada), so we spend lots of time in both countries for our outdoor excursions. When making a decision on gear, I like to go lightweight and practical. I pack as light as possible without denying myself little luxuries.

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Canine Tester Name: Morgan Moffi Age: 11 Breed: Golden Retriever Height: 58 cm (23 in) Weight: 25 kg (55 lbs) Length: 58 cm (23 in) Girth: 76 cm (30 in) Foot Size: 76 mm (3 in) long, 57 mm (2.25 in) wide

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INITIAL REPORT
April 24, 2008

Received April 19, 2008

The Ruff Wear Bark'n Boots Grip Trex is a dog boot designed after human foot wear with Vibram sole. 

There are many features of the boots; here are a few specifically mentioned by the manufacturer:

Built on an anatomical mold like a human shoe - For consistent sizing and fit.
Air mesh upper - This allows for breathability and drainage.
Expansion gusset - This makes the boot easier to get on and allows more flexibility in the way the boot fits around the dog's leg.
Reflective trim - For visibility.
Sure Cinch closure - A strap and lash tab to make sure the boot stays on the dog's foot.
Seamless Construction - To reduce friction on the dog's foot and leg.
Grip Cuff - A rubbery coating around the top edge of the boot that helps to grip the dog's fur.
Vibram sole and Omnidirectional X lug - For traction.
Non-marking sole - for use indoors and outdoors.
Extradurable - For a long lasting dog boot.


The boots are described as 'all-condition, all-terrain, all-season'. They fit over the dogs paw up the leg to the carpal pad which is the last pad found part way up a dog's leg on the front legs, an evolutionary remnant equivalent to the human thumb. They bend about 1/3 of the way up the boot, right about at the point where the 'Ruff Wear' logo is on all four boots.

Initial Impressions

My first thought after taking the boots out of the box was 'wow, these are stiff!'. I wasn't sure how Morgan was going to take to the boots as her usual footwear is a lot more flexible. In the past, her boots have usually been made out of a fleece material with a thicker rubberized fabric sewn to the bottom.

The bottoms of the boots have lots of grip. Normally I have avoided putting the boots on until we were at the trail head and ready to head out as Morgan's current boots could be quite slippery on tile or other smooth surfaces. Morgan tried the boots on in the house and she didn't have any problems using them on the linoleum in our kitchen. The Sure Cinch closure is easy to use, although all the hook and loop fasteners attach counter clockwise. This means there is no difference to the boots in terms of right and left side of the dog. Other boots we have used have two boots that do up counter clockwise for the left side of the dog and clockwise for the right side of the dog. I believe this is to prevent the hook and loop fasteners from catching on the inside of the opposite leg. It will be interesting to see if this is an issue with these boots.

Over the next four months, Morgan will be using the Ruff Wear Bark'n Boots Grip Trex for any day hikes or backpacking trips she accompanies us on. I look forward to reporting on the results she experiences while backpacking this season!

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This concludes my Initial Report. Please check back in approximately two months for the addition of the Field Report. Thank you to BackpackGearTest and to Ruff Wear, Inc. for the opportunity to test the Ruff Wear Bark'n Boots Grip Trex.