Owner Review by Sheila Morrissey

Ruff Wear K-9 Overcoat II
Owner Review

Name: Sheila Morrissey
Age: 26
Gender: Female
Height: 5’ 8” (1.7 m)
Weight: 155 lb (70 kg)
Email address: geosheila(at)yahoo(dot)com
City, State, Country: Goleta, California, USA
Date: November 8, 2006
Backpacking Background: I started backpacking in 2005. I’m an avid hiker, and since I’m a geologist, I’ve also spent a lot of time hiking around the mountains and deserts of California and Nevada with a pack full of work gear instead of camping gear. So far, most of my backpacking trips have been weekend hikes into the Sierra Nevada with my dog, Patch. In fair weather, my pack is usually around 25 pounds, including consumables. Patch’s pack is typically around 5 pounds. I haven’t yet ventured far from the car for winter camping, but would love to give it a try!

Dog’s Profile:
Name: Patch
Breed: Boxer
Age: 4.5 Years
Gender: Neutered Male
Weight: 60 lb (27 kg)
Collar to Tail Measurement: 21 in (53 cm)
Girth Behind Front Legs: 30.5 in (77.5 cm)
Training: Basic Obedience, Canine Good Citizen
Description: Patch is athletic and enjoys hiking and backpacking. He has a short coat with very thin hair on his belly. He is an indoor dog and is unaccustomed to extreme temperatures.

Product Information
Manufacturer: Ruff Wear
Year: 2004
Manufacturer’s Website: http://www.ruffwear.com
Size: Medium
Coat Length: 21 in (53 cm)
Coat Girth: 27 to 32 in (69 to 81 cm)
Coat Neck Opening: 18 in (46 cm)
Listed Weight: Not Listed
Weight as Delivered: 286 g (0.63 lb)
MSRP: $59.95
Product Description: The Ruff Wear K-9 Overcoat II slides over Patch’s head and rests along the entire length of his back to the base of his tail. The coat rests just below where his collar rests, allowing me to attach a leash to the collar while he’s wearing the coat. The chest panel extending from below the neck opening is pulled snug against his chest and attaches to the upper portion of the coat with two plastic release buckles. Between Patch’s front legs, the material is only 4.5 in (11.5 cm) wide, eliminating chafing by his armpits, which has been a problem with other coats I’ve tried on him. Behind his front legs, the buckles close over the side of the coat and not directly over fur, protecting his fur from getting snagged by the buckles. The buckles are adjustable for girths of 27 to 32 in (69 to 81 cm), and are attached to the lower portion of the coat with elastic, allowing for a perfect snug fit for my hard-to-fit dog. The chest panel extends approximately 8 in (20 cm) along the chest from between Patch’s front legs. This eliminates the possibility of him urinating on the coat while he’s wearing it, but leaves some of his belly exposed to the elements.

A 1680-denier ballistic nylon outer shell provides protection from wind, snow, and light rain. The nylon shell extends around Patch’s neck and along his back, reaching 2 to 6 in (5 to 15 cm) down the sides, with longer nylon shell coverage at the shoulders and rump, and shorter coverage in between. Patch’s nylon shell is bright red, but is also available in blue. A 1.25 x 0.75 in (1.9 x 3.2 cm) piece of thick nylon material is sewn into the middle of the nylon shell, 5 in (13 cm) behind the neck opening. It serves as a “light loop” for attaching a flashing safety light (The Beacon, sold separately). Though unnecessary for my purposes, the “light loop” does not get in the way. Thin reflective strips (approximately 0.125 in, 0.3 cm) delineate the edge of the nylon shell along Patch’s sides and under his neck. The reflective material shines brightly white when a flashlight hits it, which is helpful for keeping an eye on him if he needs to step out from the tent in the night but I’m too cold to go with him (where off-leash pets are allowed). The nylon shell around the neck and along the back is not too stiff to restrict movement, but the 4-ply Taslan panels that make up the outer layer on the sides and chest allow for greater movement. Behind Patch’s front legs, the Taslan side panels extend most of the way down his sides (Patch has about a 1 in (2.5 cm) gap between the upper portion of the coat and the chest panel) and taper to his hips. Beneath the nylon and Taslan shell, the coat is lined with fleece. The thin fleece liner covers the entire underside of the coat and is the same thickness throughout.

Field Information
Location Tested: Patch has worn the Ruff Wear K-9 Overcoat II on about a dozen car-camping and backpacking trips in the Sierra Nevada since spring of 2004. He has also worn the coat in the snow during numerous day trips to the San Bernardino Mountains.

Description of Locations: The coat was used while playing in the snow, hiking at high elevations, resting around the campfire, and sleeping in a tent at night.

Weather Conditions: Patch has used the coat in both clear and snowy conditions. While resting, the coat keeps Patch from shivering down to a temperature of about 50 F (10 C). Patch has worn the coat for short periods while exercising (e.g. playing in the snow or hiking) at temperatures as low as 15 F (-9 C). The coat is water resistant and could protect from a light rain, but I suspect it would not be helpful in heavy rain. Patch refuses to go outside in the rain, so this is a moot point for us!

Product Testing: I have found that Ruff Wear products (e.g. Bark’n Boots and dog bowls) are always very high quality, with an emphasis on fit and function. Still, I was skeptical in purchasing the Ruff Wear K-9 Overcoat II for my boxer because boxers have very deep chests and are generally difficult to fit into dog coats and packs (Looking for a pack for a boxer? Try the Granite Gear Ruffrider.). Patch had previously used old cotton t-shirts that quickly soaked up moisture, and various ill-fitting, not-very-functional dog coats, so I took his measurements and purchased the Ruff Wear coat online (he’s small for a male boxer and wears a size medium).

I was initially surprised by how thin and lightweight this coat is. However, the water-resistant shell, comfy fleece lining, and snug snap fit in this high-quality product seem to do the trick in keeping my overly-pampered, short-haired, indoor boxer dog warm on our excursions. The adjustable buckles (on overlapping fabric, so they never touch his skin or get caught in his hair) make this coat a perfect fit for him. The coat is lightweight, can be rolled up tightly, and fits into Patch’s own backpack along with 2 half-liter bottles of water, a collapsible dog bowl, poop bags, a first aid kit, and his kibble. The bright red color and lack of a frilly collar keep Patch looking like the tough-looking little wimp that he is, and we get fewer people rolling their eyes at a big dog wearing a coat. The reflective strips work well with the shine of a flashlight. A small “light loop” on the back is meant to hold a flashing light (sold separately). I think that’s unnecessary, but the loop doesn’t get in the way.

Most importantly, Patch stays dry and warm with the Ruff Wear K-9 Overcoat II. The coat is enough to keep Patch warm around the campfire during dry, cool evenings, and is comfortable enough for him to wear all night – which keeps him from trying to steal my sleeping bag. Paired with the Ruff Wear Bark’n Boots, the coat keeps Patch warm enough for an afternoon of hiking and playing in the snow. He may be more pampered than most trail dogs, but he does need an additional blanket thrown over him in the tent when camping in the Sierras in the winter. I have already purchased a heavier coat for him (in addition to the Ruff Wear K-9 Overcoat II) for a week-long snow-camping trip in the Sierra Nevada this winter.

Summary
At $59.95, this coat is an expensive investment for a dog. Still, I highly recommend it for weather-wimp, short-haired trail dogs of any breed, but particularly for the hard-to-fit, deep-chested breeds like boxers. The water-repellent shell, fleece liner, and adjustable snap fit do a great job of keeping the snow out and keeping my dog warm, which keeps me out on the trails longer. However, I would not have purchased this coat if we were planning on doing much hiking in the rain and I have already purchased another heavier coat for longer trips in freezing conditions.

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