Dog Backpacking Gear: Dog Sleeping Pad and Ruffwear Approach
How we did this: we read Ruffwear’s own product pages and size charts for its dog pack, dog sleeping pad and dog sleeping bag, checked on 29 Sep 2026, and worked through Ruffwear’s load guideline with those weights. Prices are for new items. We have not field-tested this gear. Ask your vet before loading a dog.
A dog sleeping pad and a dog pack are the two pieces of backpacking gear that decide how far your dog can go. Ruffwear’s Highlands Dog Pad weighs 340 g in medium, and its Approach pack 1.1 lb in medium. Ruffwear says a dog should carry no more than 25% of its body weight, pack included. The table below shows what that leaves.
How much your dog can carry
| Dog | 25% limit | Left after a medium Approach pack (1.1 lb) | Left after pack and Highlands pad + bag (2.35 lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 lb dog | 10 lb | 8.9 lb | 6.6 lb |
| 60 lb dog | 15 lb | 13.9 lb | 11.6 lb |
| 80 lb dog | 20 lb | 18.9 lb | 16.5 lb |
Sources: Ruffwear’s product pages for the Approach pack, Highlands dog pad and Highlands dog sleeping bag, checked 29 Sep 2026.
Our arithmetic from Ruffwear’s 25% guideline and its medium weights. Ruffwear sizes the pack by rib-cage girth, not body weight, so check the chart for your dog. A 40 lb dog carrying its own sleep system has about 6.6 lb left for food and water.
Ruffwear Highlands Dog Pad
- Closed-cell foam plus synthetic insulation
- Waterproof non-slip base, easy to clean
- Fits the Highlands bag’s pad sleeve
- 1 in loft
- Large is 475 g
Ruffwear describes it as a lightweight, accordion-fold backpacking dog bed:
Check price →“The lightweight, closed-cell foam and synthetic down insulate from hard, cold surfaces, and a non-slip waterproof base with a soft microsuede sleeping surface makes it easy to clean.”
Ruffwear, Highlands Dog Pad page
Ruffwear Approach Pack
| Size | Dog girth | Pack weight | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 17–22 in | 0.73 lb (0.33 kg) | 5 L |
| S | 22–27 in | 0.94 lb (0.43 kg) | 10 L |
| M | 27–32 in | 1.1 lb (0.50 kg) | 13 L |
| L/XL | 32–42 in | 1.3 lb (0.59 kg) | 21 L |
- Saddlebags on an integrated harness
- Four sizes by girth
- Ruffwear updated it for breathability from customer feedback
- $99.99 new
- Sized for light overnights, not long trips
Ruffwear calls the Approach “a day hiking and light overnight dog pack,” with radial-cut saddlebags on an integrated harness. It recommends starting a dog new to packs on a light load.
Check price →Ruffwear Highlands Dog Sleeping Bag
- Synthetic insulation
- Pad sleeve for the Highlands pad
- Compression sack included
- 725 g in medium
- $109.99 to $139.99
Ruffwear says the half-length zipper saves weight and bulk while keeping entry easy, and a neck baffle keeps drafts out.
Check price →What to buy first
- A dog sleeping pad: Highlands Pad. Every trip, every season.
- A pack, once your dog is used to a light load: Approach, sized by girth.
- A sleeping bag for cold nights: Highlands Sleeping Bag.
FAQ
What is the best dog sleeping pad for backpacking?
How much can a dog carry in a backpack?
How big is the Ruffwear Approach pack?
Does my dog need a sleeping bag?
How much does the Highlands dog sleep system weigh?
The bottom line
Start with a dog sleeping pad: Ruffwear’s Highlands Pad weighs 340 g in medium. Add the Approach pack and your dog can carry its own sleep system, but keep the total under Ruffwear’s 25% of body weight, pack included.
Related guides
Keep building your system with these closely related guides.
