Ruffwear Palisades Dog Pack: A Modular Carry System for Backcountry Treks
When the trail stretches beyond a day hike, a dog’s food and water need a place to go, too. The Ruffwear Palisades is built around removable saddlebags and a harness designed for longer backcountry outings.
About Ruffwear
Focus: Outdoor gear for dogs, including packs designed for hiking and backcountry trips.
♻️ The Palisades pack shell is listed as bluesign approved and made with 40% recycled content.
The Problem
On extended hikes and multi-day treks, carrying a dog's supplies adds to the human pack load. A dog pack can share some of that gear, but capacity, fit, and the dog's carried weight all need consideration.
The Solution
The Palisades combines removable saddlebags with an adjustable harness, offers size-specific capacity from 5 L to 21 L, and includes features for organizing gear and attaching a leash.
Full Review
The trail narrows, camp is still hours away, and your dog is ready to keep moving. For longer outings, the Ruffwear Palisades Dog Pack is designed to give canine companions a share of the carrying—without making every stop a full pack-off moment. Its removable saddlebags attach to a standalone harness, so you can take them off for a break, a stream crossing, or time around camp while leaving the harness on.
The Palisades is Ruffwear’s highest-volume dog pack, with sizes offering 5 to 21 liters of capacity. Radial-cut, weight-forward saddlebags are designed to keep contents stable, with “flopper stoppers” to help limit shifting. Inside, a mesh pocket and external gear loops provide options for organizing trail necessities. The product description also lists collapsible water bags as included, giving you a way to carry hydration gear for your dog.
Comfort and fit deserve as much attention as capacity. Molded, perforated EVA foam panels line the back and belly, while six adjustment points help tailor the fit. A padded handle can help with controlled lifting, and three leash attachment points offer different connection options. Reflective trim and a loop for Ruffwear’s Beacon light are useful details to note when planning for low-light conditions; the light itself is not listed as included.
Capacity is only part of the packing decision. Ruffwear recommends that a dog carry no more than 25% of its body weight, including the pack and its contents. If your dog is new to wearing a pack, the guidance is to start with a light load and increase it gradually as they adjust. Check the fit and your dog’s comfort as you build toward longer outings rather than treating the maximum volume as a target.
The removable-bag design also makes the Ruffwear Palisades Dog Pack relevant for trips that mix hiking with lighter camp-side excursions. Its listed shell is 150-denier polyester with 40% recycled content and bluesign approval; the pack is made in Vietnam and should be hand-washed with mild detergent, then air-dried.
If you’re comparing dog backpacking packs, start with your dog’s fit, the load you can responsibly assign, and how much capacity your route actually calls for. Check the Palisades pack details for the size chart and current retailer information before buying.
Product Details
Official Name
Ruffwear Palisades™ Pack
Brand
Ruffwear
MSRP
$119.96 listed price at retrieval; MSRP not provided
Where to Find
Backcountry product listing; verify current price and availability with the retailer.
Available Colors
Available Sizes
• XS
• S
• M
• L/XL
Warranty
First Impressions
Unboxing
No firsthand unboxing information was provided. The product description lists a modular harness and removable saddlebags, and says collapsible water bags are included.
Build Quality
No firsthand assessment is available. Listed materials include a 150-denier polyester shell, molded bonded mesh and perforated foam chassis, Hypalon-reinforced saddlebag attachment, and an anodized aluminum V-ring.
Surprises
The harness can be worn without the saddlebags, and its base harness includes low-profile zip pockets for lighter side excursions.
Performance Metrics
Meet the Palisades Dog Pack
Key Features
Best For
- • Multi-day backpacking trips with a dog
- • Longer day hikes
- • Trips where removable saddlebags are useful
The Verdict
Best For
- Multi-day backpacking with a dog
- Longer day hikes where carrying dog supplies is useful
Skip If
Buying Decision Guide
If you plan multi-day treks with your dog...
Then Compare the Palisades' size-specific capacity and removable saddlebags with the gear your dog may carry, while observing Ruffwear's recommended weight limit.
If you need less storage, compare the listed capacities with lower-volume options before choosing.
If you are introducing your dog to wearing a pack...
Then The product guidance recommends starting with a light load and increasing it gradually as your dog adjusts.
If you are unsure about fit or an appropriate load, seek suitable guidance before adding weight.
Designed For
Terrain Types
Weather Conditions
Trip Duration
Extended day hikes to multi-day treks
Long-Term Considerations
Durability Expectation
Maintenance Required
Hand-wash with mild detergent and air-dry, according to the care instructions.
Repairability
Resale Value
Companion Products
Dog food for the trip
Food is among the trail necessities identified in the product description and can be organized with the pack's storage features.
Water for your dog
The supplied description lists collapsible water bags with the pack and identifies hydration as part of its intended use.
Leash
The pack has three leash attachment points, including a chest webbing loop described for redirecting dogs that pull.
The Beacon light
The pack has an integrated light loop for attaching The Beacon; the light is not listed as included.
Sustainability
Environmental Impact
The shell is listed as bluesign approved and made with 40% recycled content.
Labor Practices
Certifications
Brand Commitment
Pro Tips
Keep the load within the recommended limit
Count the pack itself as part of the carried weight. Ruffwear recommends a maximum of 25% of the dog's body weight, including pack and contents.
Build up gradually
For a dog new to packs, begin with a light load and increase it gradually as the dog adjusts.
Use the removable-bag design
The saddlebags can be removed for breaks, stream crossings, or time at camp while the harness remains on.
Plan for visibility in low light
The pack has reflective trim and a loop for attaching The Beacon; the product description does not list the light as included.
Real World Review
Conditions:
No field-testing details were provided. Based on the supplied product information, this is a high-volume dog pack with removable saddlebags, multiple fit adjustments, and a standalone harness configuration.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can the Palisades Dog Pack carry?
Capacity varies by size: XS is 5 L, S is 10 L, M is 13 L, and L/XL is 21 L. Ruffwear recommends that a dog carry no more than 25% of its body weight, including the pack and its contents.
Can the saddlebags be removed?
Yes. The saddlebags detach, allowing the standalone harness to be worn without them.
What is the pack made from?
The shell is listed as 150-denier polyester with bluesign approval and 40% recycled content. The harness chassis uses laminated, molded bonded mesh and perforated foam.
How should the pack be cleaned?
The care instructions say to hand-wash with mild detergent and air-dry.
Buying Advice
Fit Tip
Use the six adjustment points to achieve a secure fit, and check the product size guidance against your dog before purchase.
Break-In Tip
Ruffwear recommends starting with a light load if your dog is new to packs, then increasing it gradually as they adjust.
Sizing Notes
Sizes XS, S, M, and L/XL have capacities of 5 L, 10 L, 13 L, and 21 L, respectively. Check the retailer's size guidance for fit.
Value Summary
The listed price at retrieval was $119.96. Current price and availability may differ; compare the modular design and size-specific capacity with your needs.
Complete Your Kit
Dog food
Pack the food your dog needs for the planned outing; the Palisades includes an internal mesh pocket and external gear loops for organization.
Water for your dog
Carry water for your dog. The supplied product description says collapsible water bags are included with the pack.
Leash
Bring a leash to use with one of the pack's three leash attachment points.
The Beacon light
A compatible light can attach at the pack's integrated light loop; the light is not listed as included.
TL;DR
A high-volume dog pack with removable saddlebags, adjustable fit, and size-specific capacity for longer outings.
Deal Breakers
- Capacity and pack weight vary by size.
- Ruffwear recommends that the combined weight of the pack and its contents stay at or below 25% of the dog's body weight.
- Current price and availability should be confirmed with the retailer.
Ideal Buyer
Someone planning longer hikes or multi-day trips with a dog and looking for a modular pack to carry some of the dog's supplies.
