Mountainsmith Pack

martemchik · 02-25-2011, 08:29 PM

I'm looking into getting a backpack for my dog and found this one on amazon and I thought it was fairly priced. I'm looking to run with my pup and have him carry some waterbottles, nothing more. Maybe have it on while walking. One of the reviewers said it doesn't square the weight over the shoulders, but I'm not sure this is such a big deal for 5 mile walks/runs. Please let me know if you have any experience with back packs and what works well. I don't really want to spend $100 if I don't have to.

**Cassidy's Mom** · 02-25-2011, 10:06 PM

I've seen them at REI and they look pretty big, but I don't know how they fit on the dog, I've never seen one in use. You can get a Ruffwear approach for around $60 online (retail is $75), and they're a great pack.

wildo · 02-25-2011, 11:00 PM

I have a MountainSmith pack- like it a lot. If there is one thing- it can tend to move around a bit, however in looking at the pics, I obviously could have tightened it up a bit. Also, please excuse the loose prong collar- these photos were taken 3 years ago before I knew any better. Photos were taken at the Indy Mutt Strut 2008 (walk your dog around the Indy 500 track to raise money for the Indy Humane Society).

It also comes with a collapsable water bowl (very useful!) a closable food bowl (moderately useful) and a blanket (totally useless). Here's the water bowl:

I have no experience with any other pack, but can say this: The pack holds a lot of stuff, and is perfect for festivals or dog shows where you might get a bunch of loot that you don't want to carry around. However, you need to keep the load balanced or it will turn a bit. Again, I might be able to tighten the pack up a bit, but I can't see how that would resolve the turning. If someone can confirm that a Ruffwear pack absolutely doesn't rotate with an unbalanced load- then I would say it's the better buy for sure. However, the MS pack does fit the dog well and has great capacity. I certainly am happy with it...

**Cassidy's Mom** · 02-25-2011, 11:46 PM

Is there any way to adjust that pack so the weight rests on the shoulders rather than the back? That's way too far back.

wildo · 02-25-2011, 11:50 PM

Yeah, I could move it forward. See the strap that goes around her chest? You would just tighten that up.

02-25-2011, 08:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
martemchik Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,048	Mountainsmith Pack I'm looking into getting a backpack for my dog and found this one on amazon and I thought it was fairly priced. I'm looking to run with my pup and have him carry some waterbottles, nothing more. Maybe have it on while walking. One of the reviewers said it doesn't square the weight over the shoulders, but I'm not sure this is such a big deal for 5 mile walks/runs. Please let me know if you have any experience with back packs and what works well. I don't really want to spend $100 if I don't have to.

02-25-2011, 10:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cassidy's Mom No Stinkin' Leashes Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 24,959	I've seen them at REI and they look pretty big, but I don't know how they fit on the dog, I've never seen one in use. You can get a Ruffwear approach for around $60 online (retail is $75), and they're a great pack. __________________ -Debbie- Dena 9/12/04-10/4/08 Forever would have been too short Keefer 8/25/05 Halo 11/9/08 Cassidy 6/8/00-10/4/04

02-25-2011, 11:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
wildo Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,230	I have a MountainSmith pack- like it a lot. If there is one thing- it can tend to move around a bit, however in looking at the pics, I obviously could have tightened it up a bit. Also, please excuse the loose prong collar- these photos were taken 3 years ago before I knew any better. Photos were taken at the Indy Mutt Strut 2008 (walk your dog around the Indy 500 track to raise money for the Indy Humane Society). It also comes with a collapsable water bowl (very useful!) a closable food bowl (moderately useful) and a blanket (totally useless). Here's the water bowl: I have no experience with any other pack, but can say this: The pack holds a lot of stuff, and is perfect for festivals or dog shows where you might get a bunch of loot that you don't want to carry around. However, you need to keep the load balanced or it will turn a bit. Again, I might be able to tighten the pack up a bit, but I can't see how that would resolve the turning. If someone can confirm that a Ruffwear pack absolutely doesn't rotate with an unbalanced load- then I would say it's the better buy for sure. However, the MS pack does fit the dog well and has great capacity. I certainly am happy with it... __________________ Willy Pimg - DOB: 2/06, CL1-R, CL1-S, CL1-F, CGC

02-25-2011, 11:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cassidy's Mom No Stinkin' Leashes Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 24,959	Is there any way to adjust that pack so the weight rests on the shoulders rather than the back? That's way too far back. __________________ -Debbie- Dena 9/12/04-10/4/08 Forever would have been too short Keefer 8/25/05 Halo 11/9/08 Cassidy 6/8/00-10/4/04

02-25-2011, 11:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
wildo Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,230	Yeah, I could move it forward. See the strap that goes around her chest? You would just tighten that up. __________________ Willy Pimg - DOB: 2/06, CL1-R, CL1-S, CL1-F, CGC

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