Gear Review: Kurgo Active Accessories for Four-Legged Trekkers

Snowshoeing with our furry friends can be so much fun! But not if they’re uncomfortable and we don’t have the support they may need. Depending on the breed and size of your dog, you may need some extra accessories for them. The Loft Jacket for dogs, and the Zippy bowl, both made by Kurgo, are options for these accessories.

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Kurgo Loft Jacket for Dogs

The first time I put the Kurgo Loft Jacket on our dog, Jack, the air was pushing its way into the negative digits outside our home in Minturn, Colorado. So on this early morning, I bundled into a down jacket and was happy to be able to put Jack into a cozy Polytech-fill shell of his own.

Fit

The Loft Jacket is simple and easy to put on, a necessary feature amidst the uppity nature of a dog before his walk. The quilted shell is reversible (which I didn’t realize until recently) and made from a rugged, ripstop material, which Kurgo calls Microtomic. It’s lightweight and surrounds a dog’s front legs and chest snuggly, and the shell covers the back but keeps the rear legs free for ease of walking and leg lifting.

You can adjust the jacket from both sides, so it wraps around Jack’s core nicely. He usually shakes once I put it on him, but it stays in place even as his head and tail fur fly up, electric with static. I haven’t washed the jacket yet, but it’s about that time, which is seemingly simple according to the machine washable instructions.

Read More: The Dog Days of Winter: FAQs for Snowshoeing With Dogs

Features

Jack likes to leap before he looks, so the reflective piping keeps him visible in sporadic flashes as I chase after him on the back streets of our area at night. In addition, the waterproof shell effectively slicks off moisture if it’s snowing, so Jack stays dry on the road and the trail.

The two-way zipper along the jacket’s spine is very helpful when using Jack’s leash, as it slips right through the gap and would be perfect for incorporating with a harness (if we ever need to use one).

Also, the jacket looks good. Now, every time we go outside, he has it on. If he somehow makes it out without it, he seems underdressed and probably feels it, too.

Read More: Benefits and Tips for Snowshoeing With Pets

Kurgo Zippy Bowl

We’ve also tried out Kurgo’s Zippy Bowl, a lightweight, stowable water or food bowl. It’s very convenient to carry in a pocket or by its carabiner, so it’s ideal for snowshoeing if you pack the water and food separately.

We took the bowl with us on a trip to Jackson Hole. Once filled, the bowl proved to be a little tippy once Jack was done sipping from it in the car (and I didn’t want to waste the water by dumping it). Also, some spillage happened on occasion in the hotel room. So, we decided it was a bowl meant to be used one drink session at a time rather than leaving it out for Jack’s paws to step on and spill.

But the 48-ounce bowl is waterproof. So it can stand on packed snow nicely. It’s also machine washable and BPA-free.

You can purchase the Kurgo Loft Jacket and the Zippy Bowl on Amazon.

Would you or have you used Kurgo’s Loft Jacket or Zippy Bowl for dogs? What was your experience? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

This article was originally published on Dec 4, 2014, and last updated on Jan 5, 2023. 

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