Backpacking Dog Beds: The Ultimate Guide

1. Chuckit! Travel Dog Bed

For an affordable yet high-quality dog bed, we can’t recommend this travel dog bed from Chuckit enough. It’s large enough even for larger breeds, is lined with a ripstop nylon material that protects it from your dog’s claws and from the rough ground, and provides just enough warmth for backpacking in summer. The ripstop nylon also helps give the bed considerable water resistance, keeping your dog nice and dry even when the ground is a bit damp.

Constructed like a sleeping bag, the Chuckit travel dog bed has a warmer and cooler side, giving it more flexibility for changes in temperature. The material is machine-washable, and the bed even comes with a handy loop so you can easily hang it out to dry. The cushion doesn’t shift around or change shape even after repeated washings, so you’ll be sure to get a few years of use out of this dog bed.

At around 1.6 lbs., the Chuckit dog bed can’t exactly be considered “ultralight.” The packed size is also larger than what we would prefer, although the nylon stuff sack helps in packing it or carrying it around. Don’t expect it to keep your dog warm in very cold weather, though – you might need something with a thicker cushion for those conditions. Being one of the more affordable options, we think that the Chuckit dog bed is still worth considering. 

2. Ruffwear Highlands Sleeping Bag

There are two things that make this sleeping bag from Ruffwear one of the best-selling and highest-rated dog beds in the market. First, it is one of only a few dog beds that actually works like a sleeping bag – it has a side zipper that allows your dog to go inside the sleeping where it can retain body heat. The polyester fabric of the shell is water-resistant and highly durable, providing both insulation and protection from the environment.

If you need a thicker cushion or more warmth, this sleeping bag comes with an integrated pad sleeve so you can combine it with the Ruffwear Highlands Pad, which is sold separately. Although the additional pad will set you back a few dollars more, we appreciate the modular design that makes this sleeping bag more versatile in a range of weather conditions.

The second most important factor behind the popularity of the Ruffwear Highlands sleeping bag is that it’s one of the lightest dog beds in the market. Granted that the difference isn’t much, every single ounce counts for ultralight backpackers. It also comes with its own stuff sack, making it easier to pack it with the rest of your gear.

One downside of the Ruffwear Highlands sleeping bag is that it doesn’t come in any other size. It might be a tight fit for larger bags, especially if you intend to use it as a sleeping bag rather than a mat.

3. AMOFY Waterproof Pet Mat

The pet mat from AMOFY is one of the most convenient dog beds you can get, if only because of the waterproof surface that makes it so much easier to clean. If the top of the mat gets soiled by urine or food stains, you can just easily wipe it off with a damp cloth or pour some water on it. When your backpacking trip is done, just throw the pet mat on a washing machine. The sewed-in loop is a nice little addition for air-drying the mat.

On the underside of the mat is an anti-slip surface to keep it from moving around. This is great for keeping the pet mat in place, especially if your dog is feeling particularly rowdy. Both sides of the mat are built with durability in mind and should be able to withstand both the scratches from your dog and any sharp rocks in your camping site.

When it’s time to pack up, simply roll up the mat, fold it once, and stuff it into the included drawstring bag. It’s about the size of a sleeping bag when folded up – not exactly small or light, but it shouldn’t weigh you down so much during the hike. This isn’t the type of dog bed we would pack on cold nights, though, so it’s best to use on summer backpacking trips.

4. Kurgo Waterproof Loft Dog Bed

If you can afford the extra weight and space in your pack, then this loft bed from Kurgo is certainly going to keep your dog comfortable during your backpacking trip. The ripstop surface keeps the bed from getting damaged due to scratches, while the signature Rufftext waterproof bottom keeps moisture away from the damp and cold ground. The Polytech fill is very comfortable and cozy and should keep your dog warm even during cold nights.

The Kurgo Loft bed comes in both medium and large sizes, with the large variant adding around 8 inches in both width and length. We also like how the bed has a hidden zipper pocket at the corner – perfect for keeping a toy with your dog, so he has something that smells familiar when he sleeps.

The bed rolls up nicely into a compact bundle that comes with its own toting handle. When the bed gets too soiled, you can clean it up easily in a washing machine.

Being quite thick, the Kurgo loft bed is far from being ultralight. It’s also one of the more expensive dog beds in this list. Despite these disadvantages, the quality and comfort still make the Kurgo loft bed worth it. We’ve heard of dog owners using this bed for more than 5 years. In that context, then it’s not so expensive at all!

5. Ruffwear Mt. Bachelor Pad

Using a mat like a dog bed is convenient for you since they typically pack smaller and are not as restrictive even for larger dogs. However, you might find that they cut corners in the comfort department. That’s certainly not the case for the unusually named Ruffwear Mt. Bachelor Pad. This pad comes in both medium and large sizes, both with a 1-inch loft. We shall be referring to the medium-sized variant for this review.

The interior cushion of the Mt. Bachelor Pad is made with recycled polyfill that holds its shape even after washing and repeated use. The bottom side is lined with a waterproof polyester material that keeps away the moisture from the cold ground. At the top side is a micro-suede surface that is so comfortable you would wish that your sleeping bag had the same material.

The Mt. Bachelor Pad does not have a stuff sack, opting instead for integrated hook-and-loop straps. Just make sure to tuck away these straps during the night, as you might find them all chewed up in the morning. It’s narrower than most dog beds when rolled up but is also a bit on the longer side, so you’ll have to be smart about how you pack it.

6. Ruffwear Highlands Bed

The Ruffwear Highlands Bed is basically a simpler version of the Ruffwear Highlands Sleeping Bag. It does not have a zippered enclosure and is basically a cushioned mat that is lighter, packs smaller, and is more affordable.

As with the sleeping bag version, the Ruffwear Highlands Bed only comes in one size which may be a tight fit for larger dogs. The 1-inch loft is cushioned by synthetic insulation material. Lining the cushion is a polyester fabric shell that is durable enough to withstand animal scratches and has good moisture-resistance properties.

Just like the sleeping bag version, the Ruffwear Highlands Bed has an integrated sleeve where you can insert the Ruffwear Highlands Pad for added warmth and cushioning. Again, this modular design is something that we really like about the Ruffwear Highlands line, making it one of the more versatile product lines for three or four-season backpacking dog beds.

The polyfill cushion of this bed compresses well, allowing it to have a remarkably small pack size. On its own, the Ruffwear Highlands Bed is one of the easiest dog beds to pack. It also comes with a dedicated stuff pack with a drawstring enclosure and a sewn-in carry handle. Since the bed less weighs than 16 ounces, you can have your dog carry it with little difficulty.

7. Ruffwear Highlands Pad

The Ruffwear Highlands Pad, which we’ve already mentioned as an optional add-on to the Ruffwear Highlands Sleeping Bag or Bed, can also be used alone if you’re camping during warm nights. The pad only comes in one size with a 1-inch loft but should be large enough even for large dogs.

With a cushion of quilted closed-cell foam encased in brushed polyester, the Ruffwear Highlands Pad may be one of the simplest dog beds that you can get. Despite this, it still scores high points on comfort, durability, and moisture-resistance. We don’t advise using it alone on chilly weather, though.

The beauty of using the Ruffwear Highlands Pad all by itself is that it’s incredibly light and compact when it’s all rolled up. The accordion-style folding and integrated strap make packing up this dog bed very quick, which makes it perfect for use as a quick seat during breaks along the trail. However, the accordion design prevents you from rolling up the mat, which could have saved a bit of additional space in your pack.

This mat is very affordable, but only if you use it on its own. On the flip side, the circumstances that will allow you to use this mat on its own are also very limited. It’s still much better as an add-on for the other Ruffwear products rather than as a stand-alone product.

8. Outrav Dog Sleeping Bag

There is nothing quite the warmth of a sleeping bag, and this Dog Sleeping Bag from Outrav is sure to give your pup a good night’s sleep. Made with a lightweight insulation material lined with a waterproof polyester shell, the Outrav Dog Sleeping Bag is perfect for keeping your dog warm even when you camp out during chilly nights.

The sleeping bag is huge when opened up. Although it has a zippered enclosure, the sleeping bag might still be a tight fit for bigger dogs when the zipper is fully closed. This sleeping bag is perfect for small to medium-sized dogs who can enjoy the luxury of all the extra space inside the bag. A larger dog may still find the sleeping bag comfortable, depending on how comfortable the dog is with sleeping snugly.

If the sleeping bag gets too soiled, you can just throw it into a washing machine with no worries of the cushion getting deformed. The fabric and cushion materials are quick-drying so that you can have your dog bed ready for use again in no time.

The Outrav Dog Sleeping Bag easily rolls up into a narrow and long bundle which can be stuffed inside a provided waterproof sack. The footprint of the sleeping bag isn’t exactly small even when it’s all rolled up, but being lightweight should offer enough consolation. 

9. K9 Sport Sack Inflatable Dog Bed

There are certainly a lot of merits to using an inflatable dog bed, but there are lots of low-quality options out there. If you use an inflatable mattress yourself, then you probably have a means of inflating it. In this case, getting an inflatable bed for your dog is the more sensible and practical choice.

There are quite a few inflatable dog beds in the market, but one of our favorites is this one from K9 SportSack. Instead of a single-cell inflatable bed that can flatten under enough weight, this inflatable bed has deep welds that allow it to retain the thickness of the loft.

While an inflatable bed doesn’t provide as much warmth as a foam or polyfill cushion, it’s a more reliable solution to keeping your dog elevated from the cold ground. There’s also the matter of having to pack an inflating tool. However, having to pack a separate accessory can be offset by the fact that this inflatable bed weighs less than half a pound and is about the size of a large water bottle when deflated and rolled up.

K9 SportSack also did not cut any corners on the quality of this inflatable pad’s material. Made of heavy-duty Klymit material, this inflatable bed will not be damaged by your dog’s claws or teeth and is completely waterproof. It’s also very easy to clean with some soap and water.

10. Lightspeed Outdoors Self-Inflating Dog Bed

Like the previous entry, this dog bed from the Lightspeed Outdoors brand is also inflatable. The difference is that it’s self-inflating, so you’ll no longer need to pack a separate inflation accessory. It’s also an absolutely luxurious bed for your dog with its fleece-lined top surface. The bottom surface of the bed has a waterproof and durable polyester material that protects the bed both from moisture intake and from physical damage due to sharp terrain.

All these nice features come at a price, though – both literally and figuratively. The self-inflating dog bed isn’t exactly cheap, but more importantly, it’s one of the heaviest dog beds you can take on your backpacking trip. The foam mattress is quite thick even when it’s deflated, so the bed is designed only to be rolled and not folded. This makes the packed inflatable bed quite long – practically impossible to fit inside your pack.

Although our assessment of this dog bed seems quite harsh, it’s still one of the most comfortable beds that you can give your dog during your backpacking trip. The self-inflating design makes set up very easy, although you might still need to manually blow some more air into the mattress to adjust its stiffness. All in all, it’s just a tradeoff between the comfort of your dog or yourself, which should be an easy call to make for most people.

11. DogHelios Multi-Surface Travel Dog Bed

This dog sleeping bag for DogHelios is simply adorable. It’s basically a smaller version of the traditional human sleeping bag that you probably use. It works the same way – it has a zipper closure that can fully open to double its size or closed for a more warm and cozy sleeping space. If you have multiple of these, you can connect their zippers to create an extra-large sleeping mat for your dog.

The insulation material of the DogHelios dog sleeping bag is quite thin. Although they don’t specify a temperature rating for the sleeping bag, we wouldn’t use it for anything below 40 degrees. It’s also not available in any other size, so you might need to look elsewhere if you have a bigger dog.

The DogHelios sleeping bag has a quilted inner lining made of polyester-cotton that is lined with a polyurethane-coated nylon fabric. This combination of synthetic materials helps keep this sleeping bag durable and waterproof despite being lightweight. The downside is that the cushion material isn’t very compressible, so you might have to carry the rolled-up sleeping bag stashed outside your pack.

12. Hurtta Outback Dreamer

The first thing we noticed about the Hurtta Outback Dreamer is how striking its color and shape is. Aside from the bright yellow exterior, the circular sleeping bag certainly makes this dog bed visually distinct, regardless of how practical it is. The shape is great for curling up but doesn’t provide enough space for your dog to stretch around inside.

What makes the Hurtta Outback Dreamer quite unique as far as dog sleeping bags go is that it’s lined internally with a reflective foil surface. Theoretically, this should be very good in retaining your dog’s body heat, keeping him warm even in the coldest nights.

Something the designers of this sleeping bag might have overlooked is to provide a thicker cushion material that could reduce heat loss to the cold ground. If you’re going to use this sleeping bag in very cold weather, you might need to have an additional pad underneath it.

Aside from the lack of a thick cushion, the rest of the sleeping bag seems excellently made. The Houndtex textile lining is waterproof, breathable, durable, and machine-washable. 

13. PETMAKER Roll-up Portable Travel Dog Bed

Travel mats aren’t typically the warmest or most comfortable beds for your dog, but this one from PETMAKER defies these expectations. PETMAKER goes all-in on the materials that go into this travel dog bed: a memory foam cushion, a faux fur top lining, and a base made of waterproof canvas. If this dog bed were any bigger, we would be tempted to take it for ourselves!

As is the case for dog beds that focus on comfort, the PETMAKER makes some compromises on convenience. As you would expect, memory foam doesn’t compress very well. Thus, the rolled-up PETMAKER Travel Dog Bed is both thick and long – certainly not made for the ultralight backpacker. It’s also one of the heavier dog beds in this list.

The second source of inconvenience is the fact that the PETMAKER Travel Dog Bed isn’t machine-washable, lest you ruin the faux fur lining and deform the memory foam. Instead, you’ll need to follow a very specific set of instructions for washing this dog bed. It can only be hand-washed with cold water and soap, cannot be wrung, and must be air-dried.

It’s quite a lot of trouble to go through, but it’s all of the sake of your dog’s comfort.

14. Noblecamper 2-in-1 Dog Bed and Sleeping Bag

This 2-in-1 dog bed is easily one of the most innovatively designed dog beds we’ve seen. This product can be converted from a circular dog bed with floppy sides or a full-on sleeping bag with a zippered closure. Because of its unique construction, tucking in your dog when the bed is in sleeping bag mode is extremely easy.

Despite all the assembly options that the Noblecamper dog bed offers, it remains one of the lightest and most compact entries in this list. This can be attributed to the use of premium materials – polyfill insulation lined with durable Taslan nylon. These materials make this dog bed uniquely comfortable, breathable, fast-drying, durable, and lightweight.

With all these great characteristics, why then is the Noblecamper 2-in-1 dog bed ranked so low? There’s the fact that it only comes in one size. It’s a circular bed with a 22-inch diameter which is decidedly only large enough for small to medium-sized dogs. There’s also the price tag of this dog bed which is easily higher than any of the other entries in this list.

Overall, the Noblecamper 2-in-1 dog bed might be a pretty sizable investment and can only comfortably fit smaller dogs, but it’s pretty much unequaled in terms of build quality.

15. Cheerhunting Outdoor Portable Dog Bed

Rounding up this list is this simple mat-style dog bed from Cheerhunting that is affordable, and yet just as reliable as many of the more expensive alternatives. With a length of 43 inches, the Cheerhunting Portable Dog Bed can fit larger breeds and is luxurious for smaller dogs.

The polyester stuffing can withstand repeated use and can be machine-washed without deforming. If the dog bed is only somewhat soiled, you also have the option of wiping the waterproof lining with a damp cloth or spraying the dirt off with a hose. The bed is quick-drying and even has a sewn-in cloth loop so you can hang and air-dry it wherever you may find yourself.

The cushion of this dog bed isn’t very thick, so you might have to supplement it with a pad if you plan to use it for backpacking in cold weather.

Packing up the dog bed is just a matter of rolling it up, folding it once, and stuffing it into the provided carrying sack with a drawstring enclosure. The packed bundle isn’t exactly light but is small enough to stuff into the rest of your gear with minimal problems.