As we saw in our article on the best dog backpacks, most dogs love to go with the owners on hiking, backpacking or camping trips. While dog backpacks provide an excellent gear for dogs to carry items such as their food, water, and toys, they are primarily meant for medium to large framed dogs only who are capable of bearing this load for long times.

For small dogs and puppy, dog backpack carriers are the best way to accompany on outdoor trips. The major advantage with such carriers is that it gives the dog parents a perfect hand-free way of carrying the pup with them along with the dog accessories and toys. Some carriers provide an adjustable design which makes them suitable for dogs and cats both.

So, which are the best dog backpack carriers? Read on to find out.

In this article, we will list some of the best dog backpack carriers available online. Our focus would be on both front-facing and back-facing dog carriers. We will also look at the major factors to consider while choosing the best dog backpack carrier for your pets and share our top picks.

Best dog backpack carriers list

Some of the best dog backpack carriers available in the market are listed below:

How to pick from the best dog backpack carriers for hiking and camping?

Picking the best dog backpack carrier can often be a challenging task. It is worthwhile to remember that pet carriers are primarily meant for pets which weigh around 15 pounds and not more than 30 pounds, including cats and dog breeds such as Miniature Pinscher, Chihuahua, Yorkshire terrier, Pomeranian, Mini poodle and Teddy cups.

In addition to this, there are a few factors that you should consider before picking the best dog backpack carrier for your beloved pooch. These major factors are listed below:

Size and weight of the dog

Building material of the dog carrier

Design and weight of the dog carrier

Accessories and miscellaneous considerations

Size and weight of the dog

The size and weight of the dog is probably the most important criteria to consider while picking the best dog backpack carrier. Many dog carrier options listed above come in different sizes to cater to different sizes of pets, however some dog carriers such as ColorPet Front/back Pet Carrier primarily come in a single medium/large size. The most important measurement besides the dog’s weight are the girth of the dog and gap between legs. Refer to the image below to find the correct size of the carrier for your dog (or cat).

Image courtesy:OLizee Pet Products

Building material of the dog carrier

The building material of the dog backpack carrier is extremely important for its durability and usage. Primarily, dog backpack carriers are made up of high-density canvas cotton or high-grade polyester. The cotton dog carriers provide excellent air circulation for your dog but are not waterproof by default. Polyester backpacks such as the K9 Sport Sack V2 Dog Carrier and ColorPet Front/back Pet Carrier are water resistant (though not fully waterproof). In addition, the polyester dog carriers are more scratch proof when compared to cotton carriers.

Check the construction fabric and material of the backpack before zeroing in on the best dog backpack carrier for your pooch.

Design and weight of the dog carrier

Most of the dog carriers follow either a front or a backpack design. Some special dog carriers also have a smart one-sided lay-up design for travel. Depending on the dog/cat breed and how active your dog is you can pick the right design of the dog carrier.

The weight of the dog carrier is also an important consideration. As per the standards, a person should avoid carrying a pet any heavier than 30 pounds, as carrying additional load may make it difficult for the person to carry the pet over longer periods. So lighter the dog carrier, easier it is for the owner to carry it. Lightweight carriers weigh anywhere between 5 to 12 ounces, while heavy duty, more durable dog carriers can weigh around 24 ounces.

In addition, many dog backpack carriers feature adjustable mesh sides for proper ventilation and adjustable straps so that they can be used with different dog sizes and even with cats.

Accessories and miscellaneous considerations

In addition to the major factors discussed above, there are some miscellaneous considerations that can make a specific dog carrier a better choice than others.

Most dog carriers come with useful accessories. Dog carriers such as the K9 Sport Sack V2 Dog CarrierÂ feature mesh side pocket which is handy for storing water, snacks and other necessities. Some front carriers such as provide additional features such as Pettom Front Cat/Dog Backpack and AerWo Dog Cat Pet Carrier provide a clip to connect pet’s collar directly to the carrier in order to prevent the pet from jumping out of the carrier.

The product warranty and after-sales support is another importation additional factor to check out. In this article, we have only listed the products which offer the best warranties and after-sales support, but if you are concerned, we recommend picking the K9 Sport Sack V2 Dog Carrier, which has best-in-class customer support service.

Keep these small considerations also in mind before picking the best option for your needs.

Which are the best dog backpack carriers and what our picks are?

K9 Sport Sack AIR Dog Carrier, the second-generation version of the best-selling Original Dog Carrier Backpack is undoubtedly the top of the line dog carrier which provides some excellent features.

This dog carrier features a smart backpack design made of waterproof material. It comes in X-Small, Small, Medium, and Large Sizes, with the weight of the carrier varying from 6.4 ounces for x-small to 14.4 ounces for a large carrier, and can support dogs weighing anywhere from 5 pounds to 20 pounds. Some people were even able to fit their 25-pound dog in it.

It has adjustable padded straps, making it easier to adjust the carrier on the shoulder of the pet owner. There have been a lot of upgrades and improvements to the latest version. The AIR model has a much improved easy-pull zipper that does not make the dog uncomfortable. It also has as a safety D-ring for safely hook-up the dog’s collar in the carrier while on the move.

Another major improvement is the addition of side meshes for better air ventilation for the dog. The carrier also features extra padding on the bottom for extra comfort to the pet and the owner. And to add to it, it also contains side pockets for storing some snacks or a pet water bottle.

The manufacturer has even introduced booster blocks for large and small-sized carriers to support your undersized dogs.

The K9 Sports Sack AIR dog carrier comes in 7 vibrant colors, so there are a lot of options to pick. Moreover, the dog carrier is backed by a 30-day quality guarantee.

For all these reasons, K9 Sport Sack AIR Dog Carrier is our Editor’s pick for the best dog backpack carrier. Whether you are looking for a backpack dog carrier for outdoor trips or a stroll around the city, this dog carrier is a perfect choice.

Outward Hound Kyjen PoochPouch Front Carrier is a popular front carrier pack made with Water-resistant high-quality nylon fabric and comes in gray and blue color. Though it is advertised as a front carrier, it can be worn on the back as well by adjusting the straps.

It comes in small and medium sizes with the weight of the carrier varying from 16 ounces for small to 24 ounces for medium. The carrier pack is suitable for dogs weighing from 5 to 15 pounds.

It has a front pocket to store some necessities for the dog. In addition, the dog carrier features padding in straps, back & pouch-bottom making it comfortable for the owner and the dog. It also has adjustable straps & breathable mesh harness for maximum comfort & fit

For all these features and its price, Outward Hound Kyjen PoochPouch Front Carrier For Dogs is our value pick for the best dog backpack carrier. If you are looking for a front-sided pet carrier and do not want to spend a fortune, then thi dog carrier is an excellent option to consider.

ColorPet PetroadFront/back Pet Carrier is uniquely designed to act as a perfect front or backpack dog carrier. Because of its ultralight design and multiple modes, it deserves a reference as the best multi-design dog carrier.

This pet carrier is made of a high-quality polyester blend, so it is waterproof and extremely comfortable for pets. In comes in a single size, equivalent to medium/large carrier and is suitable for pets – dogs and cats weighing 8 to 14 pounds.

It features side meshes which provide great ventilation. In addition, it features adjustable shoulder straps and hook plus loop closures for safety and comfort of the pet.

For all these reasons, ColorPet Petroad Front/back Pet Carrier is our pick for the best multi-design dog carrier.

Helpful Tip:Â When deciding the best dog backpack carrier, keep in the mind what the actual weight of your dog is and how active your dog is in the enclosure. That way you would almost always pick the correct dog carrier.

Final thoughts on best dog backpack carriers

Your pet’s small size or stamina should not stop it from enjoying all the fun of a hiking or backpacking trip. You can use a dog backpack carrier to help your dog accompany you on such a trip. And they work well for urban trips as well. Dog backpack carriers are primarily meant for pets which weigh around 15 pounds and never more than 30 pounds, as carrying additional load may make it difficult for the owner to carry the pet over longer periods. Some of the supported breeds include Shih Tzu, Corgi, Miniature Pinscher, Chihuahua, Yorkshire terrier, Pomeranian, Mini poodle and Teddy cups.

In this post, we looked at some of the best dog backpack carriers available in the market. While the best dog backpack carriers for the dog depend on personal preferences, type of carrier and weather conditions, we looked at some of the major factors to consider while picking the best dog backpack carriers for your dog or as a gift for somebody else. Some of these dog carriers are also suitable to carry cats.

We hope that you found this article useful and it would help you in picking the best dog backpack carrier for your pooch. Do let us know how you found this article and if you would want us to consider anything else. Best wishes for your next backpacking or hiking trip with your beloved pooch!

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Image credits: Amazon.com