The Best Sleeping Bags For Dogs 2023
Your furry companion may have descended from wolves but that doesn’t mean your dog wants to sleep on bare ground, especially if it’s cold. You wouldn’t either – rocks hurt! Luckily that doesn’t mean you have to choose between sharing a bed or leaving your pal at home. There are sleeping bags specifically designed to provide your dog with the comfort it deserves.
And since you wouldn’t bring your dog camping with you if you didn’t care about them, here are 7 of the best sleeping bags for dogs.
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Last update on 2023-03-22 at 18:33 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. Ruffwear Highlands Sleeping Bag
The outdoors are beautiful in the winter. Unfortunately the cold can make it difficult to admire. Especially for your little friend.
The Ruffwear sleeping bag can solve that problem. It has lightweight synthetic insulation that keeps your dog warm in the coldest of winter nights. It’s thick, durable and protects your dog from the rocks and twigs you find on uneven ground.
It’s surrounded by a powerful polyester shell that is resistant to both water and rough play. On the off-chance that it does become wet – expect the same shell to quickly dry it out.
The combination of this thick outer shell and inner insulation makes this bed thick and heavy. Although it packs down easily enough to carry it easily in the included stuff sack. The heavy material is probably a little too much to handle for your dog though. If you’re taking this bag with you – expect to carry it yourself.
Still, this doggy sleeping bag is oozing with the quality you would expect from the price.
Pros
- Water-resistant and durable
- Great for cold weather
- Comes with a stuff sack for easy carrying
Cons
- Relatively heavy
2. Hurtta Outback Dreamer
The Outbreak Dreamer by Hurtta has a unique design.
It’s circular with a small pocket on top. Heat reflective foil lining lets it provide suitable warmth without becoming bulky and hard to carry. It’s also made with water-resistant material but also has an extra layer of padding in-between the inner and outer layers.
Despite this, it continues to stay lightweight. This does mean the bed won’t offer as much padding between the hard ground and your furball’s soft body. Still, it does provide some manner of protection at the very least.
Like the Highlands, the Outback also comes with a helpful travel bag to store it in. And that is about where the similarities end, however. Unlike other sleeping bags, the distinct shape of the Outback Dreamer isn’t the only thing that makes it unique.
This bag also lacks a zipper. It instead has a small opening on top that lets your dog go in or out as they please. The small size also ends up making this bag unsuitable for large dogs unfortunately.
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Lets your dog sleep in a natural position
- Decently warm
Cons
- Small-size
- Not suitable for winter
3. Best Friends by Sheri Cozy Cuddler
Sleeping bags designed for dogs are great. They usually provide warmth, comfort and the ability to carry them around easily. The price, however, can sometimes become a little much.
If you’re looking for a bed for your furry friend that you can both use outside and not have to spend an exorbitant amount of money on – you’re in luck. The Cozy Cuddler is not only affordable – it makes for a great outdoor bed for your dog.
The bottom of the bag is thickly padded with durable material that helps to protect both it and your dog from uneven ground. The sides have additional padding to give your dog a makeshift pillow. And the attached blanket lets your dog curl up underneath while being protected from the cold.
The Cozy Cuddler comes with a few cons, however.
It isn’t designed for travel so you can’t just pack it down and stuff it in a travel bag. The open air design also makes it a bad choice for cold weather. Finally, the small size makes it too small for large dogs.
Pros
- Affordable
- Machine-washable
- Thick and plush with padded walls
Cons
- Not designed for travel
- Bulky and hard to carry
- Not suitable for large dogs
4. SPOT Ethical Pets Sleep Zone Cuddle Cave
This sleeping back by Ethical Pets has another really unique design.
It’s shaped like a cone and as the name implies – the Cuddle Cave really is a “cuddle cave”. It’s really small, however, and only really suitable for dogs under 10 pounds. If your little dog is looking for a cave to cuddle in than this bag is perfect for them.
It’s made with thick material with a generous amount of padding. Although you can’t zip your little pal up against the coldest of nights, this sleeping bag is still warm enough to keep your friend insulated against a cold breeze. The thick material it’s made of also helps to protect them from the cold ground.
Unfortunately, like the Cozy Cuddler, the Cuddle Cave isn’t really made for long trips by . It can’t be rolled up and despite the small size, it’s still annoying to carry around with you. It’s the perfect size for car travel, however.
Plus it’s machine washable!
Pros
- Interesting “cave” design
- Thick and plush
- Durable
Cons
- Not the best choice for hiking on
- Small size
5. Chuckit! Travel Dog Bed
The Chuckit! Travel Dog Bed is another low-budget option.
It’s made with powerful and durable material. The top half of it is made with polyester microfiber. On the other side, thick ripstop nylon helps to protect it from damage. The combination of the two leads to this sleeping bag being a comfortable fit for any dog.
And I do mean any dog.
Unlike some of the other sleeping bags on this list, the Chuckit! is large enough to accommodate dogs of any size. The design goes on to create a bed that is budget-friendly, easy to carry and a perfect fit for any dog.
It does, however, come with a couple of downsides. Although the design is perfect for travel, it also causes it to be a bad option for winter nights. And although the bottom of the sleeping bag has a little protective padding, it still isn’t enough for long term use.
Despite these problems, this bed is amazing for anyone planning to travel during the summer.
Pros
- Large size is great for a larger dog or multiple small dogs
- Easy to clean and dry
- Made of soft and comfortable material
Cons
- Doesn’t hold heat very well
- Requires a little extra protective padding on the bottom
6. DogHelios Trail-Barker
Both the price and the quality are high in the Trail-Barker. It’s made with durable materials that – combined with the design – create a result that is not only waterproof but also wind resistant.
It has two zips on the side that lets you open the bag up to create a large mat during warmer days. When it’s cold, it’s easy to zip it back up and keep your dog snug and warm inside of it. A crescent extension on one side of it gives your dog a suitable place to rest their head on.
Strong padding on the bottom helps this bed to stay strong during use. Unfortunately, it’s not really a great pick for larger dogs. Zipped up, the small size makes it perfect for small or medium dogs under 60 pounds.
Otherwise expect to only make use of this sleeping bag in the unzipped position.
Pros
- Both water and wind-proof
- Can be zipped up or unzipped into a larger mat
- Made with strong material
Cons
- High price
- Not suitable for large breeds of dogs when zipped up
7. Mac Sports Pet Sleeping Bag
When it comes to ease of use – nothing beats the Mac Sports Pet Sleeping Bag.
It’s easy to roll up and comes with its’ own carry bag. When it gets dirty you can easily throw it in the wash. Finally, the design of this bed makes it easy for your dog to enter and exit at will.
It isn’t as durable as some of the other brands that we’ve mentioned but even still – it’s still strong enough for general use and the occasional trip. It even has a strong nylon exterior that is water-resistant. The amount of padding on the bottom also makes this bed great against uneven ground.
And as you would expect from the price, it comes with a couple of drawbacks.
Despite being easy to roll up, it still ends up being fairly bulky and can be a pain to take during a hiking trip. Despite the large size, it also isn’t recommended for dogs greater than 60 pounds.
If you can live with these cons – the Mac Sports is a wonderful option for anyone looking for an affordable sleeping bag that is both comfortable and warm for their dog.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Comfortable interior with a padded headrest
- Great for large dogs
Cons
- Bulky and hard to transport easily
- Weak material makes it not as durable as other sleeping bags
Top 7 Verdict
There are a lot of different brands and styles of sleeping bags out there. It can be hard to pick just one.
On one hand, you have the Chuckit! that is perfect for larger dogs. On the other – the Cozy Cuddler or Cuddle Cave both give you a lot of great reasons to choose instead. Doubly so if you have a smaller dog.
But if I did have to pick one, the RUFFWEAR Highlands Dog Sleeping Bag is hard to beat. It’s strong, versatile and warm enough to keep your dog warm in the winter. It might be hard to carry around and the price might be a little high – but at the end of the day?
Quality is what matters most and the RUFFWEAR has it in spades.
- MADE FOR ADVENTURE: The Highlands Sleeping Bag is a packable, durable sleeping bag for comfort and insulation on the trail. Don't let the cold keep you and your pup inside!
- STAY WARM: The lightweight synthetic insulation provides warmth and protection from hard, cold surfaces. The side zipper opens the bag wide for easy entry and zips shut to retain heat.
- THE RIGHT FIT: Laid out flat, the Highlands Bed measures 35 x 26 in with a 1 in loft. Packed in its stuff sack, it measures 12 x 4 in. It weighs 12.7 oz.
- GEAR UP AND GO: The Highlands Bed compresses down and can be stashed away in the included stuff sack. Spend less time packing your gear and more time exploring.
- MADE TO LAST: The durable polyester fabric shell is water-resistant, quick-drying, and cleans with a shake! It's sure to last for many adventures to come.
Last update on 2023-03-22 at 18:33 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Buying Guide
A dog sleeping bag can be a big investment. Especially if you decide to buy one that is reliable – the kind that you can trust to keep your dog warm in.
If you didn’t know any better, you might think about just using a regular dog bed or some old bedsheets. That would be a mistake and not something you should think about doing.
Let me explain.
When you’re out in the woods – and many experienced hikers and campers will agree with this – you don’t have the leeway to carry around large bulky items. In other words, a normal dog bed isn’t an option. Most beds are not designed to be easily transportable. They are difficult to store and take up a lot of room that could be better spent on things that are a lot more vital to carry with you.
Likewise, normal beds (and old bedsheets) also lack enough padding to protect your dog from rocks and twigs on the ground. I’m sure that you can imagine how painful laying down on rocky ground is – now imagine how your dog feels.
A quality dog sleeping bag solves both of these problems. The keyword, of course, is “quality”. There are many different kinds of sleeping bags marketed towards dogs.
And they aren’t all created equal.
Things To Look At When It Comes To Sleeping Bags For Dogs
There are a few things you look at when you’re buying a sleeping bag – for both humans and dogs.
Warmth, durability, and comfort – if the bag doesn’t fulfill these basic needs it isn’t even worth looking at. Even when it does provide them, the difference between one that offers quality and one that doesn’t is worlds apart.
Telling the difference, however, can be difficult.
Let’s go through some of the features you should look at before you pull the trigger.
Warmth
The amount of insulation that a bag provides is important. It doesn’t matter if it’s for winter or summer use either.
In the cold, you need to make sure that the bag you get provides sufficient insulation to keep your dog warm throughout the night. Don’t provide enough of the stuff and you might wake up to a Popsi-dog instead.
If you’re camping during the summer the situation changes. Too much insulation can cause your dog to overheat which is just as bad as letting them freeze.
When it comes to warmth – you need to look at the temperature of your destination and the problems it can create.
Durability
All the insulation in the world doesn’t mean a thing if the sleeping bag rips apart the second you open it.
And when you’re miles away from civilization, the last thing you want is a ripped sleeping bag. That’s why it’s important to make sure that the sleeping bag you buy is made of strong material that can take being rough-handled.
Water-resistance is another quality feature to look out for.
Ease Of Use
Hiking means having to pick and choose what you bring with you.
Large bulky items take up room and are difficult to carry. As I’ve mentioned before, you want to avoid carrying around items like these.
A quality sleeping bag is light. It’s easy to store and usually comes with a carrying case. It’s also easy to set up and simple for your dog to enter. The same when it comes to packing up and heading out.
Being machine-washable is also an extra plus.
Size And Comfort
Let’s say you found the perfect sleeping bag for your dog.
It’s warm, strong and takes up almost no space at all. It’s everything you could have ever wanted in a sleeping bag. But there’s one problem.
Your dog doesn’t fit inside.
You would think otherwise, but misjudging the size you need is a mistake that is more common than you think. The same problem also crops up when it comes to comfort. If the bag is hard to sleep in than your dog isn’t going to want to stay inside of it.
Which ties into the final point.
The Only Vote That Matters
It doesn’t matter how good a sleeping bag is – if your dog hates being inside of one than which bag you choose doesn’t matter. Even the strongest and most comfortable of bags will stand little chance against an assault of tooth and nails.
Until your dog has gotten used to using a sleeping bag – the quality of it matters little. Especially if your dog is a chewer.
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