View Full Version : Kaia
kayak karl
11-20-2011, 02:56
She is full grown and 2 years old. she has a pack, but i only put her treats and bowls in it. what pack would you recommend now?
http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/49741/2718717590104593866S500x500Q85.jpg
old pack
KK&K
kayak karl
11-20-2011, 03:04
http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/46282/2469204570104593866S500x500Q85.jpg
Sailing_Faith
11-20-2011, 04:04
I don't know, she looks pretty wiped out from carrying her current gear list.... might wanna consider ultra light.
Outstanding pictures. Thanks for posting :)
kayak karl
11-20-2011, 04:09
the packs got 1 lb in it. shes sleeping. it got warm that day. i was napping too.
kayak karl
11-20-2011, 14:03
thanks kanga
I only have experience with the Approach pack but I love it - more importantly, Drake likes it too.
It's perfect for day hikes and overnight hikes up to 2-3 days I would think.
you're welcome. my girls have proven that pack bombproof. for kaia's size, you should be able to do 4 days in winter.
the sizing on the website lies though. a medium fits a german shepard...
1. musher's wax to keep her paws tough.
2. small fleece blanket to sleep on.
3. maybe boots if your gonna be in the whites or anywhere else very rocky.
SouthMark
11-21-2011, 21:15
Ditto on the Approach pack.
I don't know, she looks pretty wiped out from carrying her current gear list.... might wanna consider ultra light.
Outstanding pictures. Thanks for posting :)
Wiped out? Which Wiped out? She is just enjoying a power nap. This dog would not have any issue carrying 20 percent of her weight . She is in her prime now.
stonedflea
11-22-2011, 02:43
if i'm not mistaken, it was kanga who convinced me to go with the approach pack for my dog. it fit 5 days' worth of food, swayze's bowl, and my AT guide perfectly. if there were more than 5 days in between resupplies, i carried her extra food.
it's been such a long time ago, i can't remember who originally shed light on this idea for me, but don't go with the palisades pack. it's just bigger so the dog can carry their own water bladder, but dogs don't need to carry their own water. water is heavy and shifts around a lot, which can/will affect your dog's balance. plus, depending on where you're hiking, there will probably be plenty of streams that your dog can drink from anyways.
i would definitely recommend boots in new england, but i WOULD NOT RECOMMEND ruffwear boots. they might work on flat, rocky land, but they did us no good in maine and new hampshire.
what boots would you recomend?
kayak karl
11-22-2011, 20:38
what boots would you recomend?
Princess (pasted at 15) had ones i bought at pet smart. they were fine. just had to check after breaks they were still on.
Sailing_Faith
11-22-2011, 22:04
the packs got 1 lb in it. shes sleeping. it got warm that day. i was napping too.
Wiped out? Which Wiped out? She is just enjoying a power nap. This dog would not have any issue carrying 20 percent of her weight . She is in her prime now.
Just to clarify, I was making a (non-critical) comment.... I am a great fan of dogs (like them more then most people)...
The clue to the non-critical nature of my post was the complement followed by the smiley face.
Great dog, hope you find her the right pack. :)
Dirty Nails
11-23-2011, 00:53
There seems to be a consensus that the Approach pack is a good one, I have one and agree. It is available in blue, which is good to contrast the color of the woods for visibility (I think they should all be red or orange).
I also have a REI Ultra pack which I like:
http://www.rei.com/product/803424/rei-ultra-dog-pack-medium
It has smaller pockets, with built-in compression cords in the small, secondary pockets. The large pockets are expandable with a zipper, and the harness has more strap clips for easier on-off. The strap clips also have a cool locking mechanism to secure the adjustment from slipping. It's about the same weight and price as the Approach. The zippers are water proof, but a little hard to slide. I have to try lubing them with a candle or something.
It sounds like your dog doesn't carry too much. My dog only carries about 4lbs and I like that this pack is a little more streamlined. I've only used it a few times, but so far, seems pretty good.
The REI Classic is another alternative:
http://www.rei.com/product/803436/rei-classic-dog-pack-medium
It's a few oz. lighter and about $20 cheaper, but not expandable, compressible, or waterproof.
Just a couple of options to look at.
Dirty Nails
11-23-2011, 01:36
Here's what it looks like.
My dog looks sick because she had a haircut over the summer. The first pic shows her "in coat" to show what she should look like. I can't stand the way she looks trimmed down, but she suffers terribly from the heat.