Stories

Built Different: The Material Behind the Front Range™ Flex Collection

Go behind the design of the Front Range Flex™ Collection's material. Why we chose it, why we love it, and why your dog will love it too.

Minimize the Mess: Staying Dry During Mud Season

With the early spring thaw comes mud season. Gear up for it, with these accessories and apparel made to minimize the mess.

Gear for Every Moment: Explore Our New Spring/Summer ’26 Collections

Embrace longer days and bold adventures with our three new spring collections. Durable gear designed for trail runs and exploring with your dog. Explore now!

Ridgeline™ Shoes: Designed for Natural Movement

Creating the Ridgeline™ Shoe was a learning endeavor that required us to balance opposing forces without sacrificing ground sensitivity.

How To Camp With Your Dog

There’s camping – and then there’s camping with your dog by your side. Their presence alone elevates every little moment. Their curiosity is contagious, their zeal inspiring. With a bit of preparation and the right gear, you’ll be en route to a good time camping with your dog.

Behind the Design: Ridgeline™ Harness

The Ridgeline™ Harness was made specifically for bold expeditions and off-trail navigation, built to support your dog in the trickiest scenarios.

Introducing the Ridgeline™ Collection

We designed this collection to disappear into the background, allowing your dog to move naturally and achieve new heights — without the distraction of stiff, bulky gear.

Dog-Friendly Races to Check Out in 2026

There’s nothing like getting out and putting down miles with your canine companion. Check out these dog-friendly races coming up in 2026.

Behind the Design of the Mt EverRest™ Dog Bed & Cot Cover

Discover how the Mt. EverRest™ Dog Cot and Cover work together to deliver comfort, protection from the elements, and extra warmth wherever you and your dog roam.

From Sun to Snow: Dog Apparel That Matches the Forecast

In this guide, we’ll walk through top picks from Ruffwear’s lineup keyed to different weather conditions so you can venture out with confidence.

Carrying On: How Tess & Pete Keep the Adventure Going with the Hitch Hiker™ Dog Backpack Carrier

Discover Tess and Pete's one-of-a-kind bond and how they're using the Hitch Hiker™ Dog Backpack Carrier to log more miles together.

High-Visibility Dog Gear for Fall & Winter

From reflective collars, harnesses, and vests to rechargeable safety lights, here’s a list of must-have gear to keep your dog visible in low-light conditions.

5 Things Your Dog Wants To Do With You This Summer

Trying an activity that's new for your pup or new for you is both a rich and deeply rewarding experience. You'll forge a stronger bond and create memories that'll make you smile long after they happen. You'll laugh a lot, splash a lot, and possibly even pick up a new hobby you'll love a lot.      

Beat the Heat With the Swamp Cooler™ Collection

Learn how your dog can stay cool, comfortable, and protected from the summer heat with Ruffwear's Swamp Cooler™ Collection.

Behind the Design of the Hitch Hiker™ Dog Backpack Carrier

Learn how the Hitch Hiker™ delivers comfort, function, and connection for both you and your canine companion.

Ambassador Field Notes: Camping and Hiking on the Isle of Mull

Ruffwear Ambassador Siobhan is passionate about exploring the beautiful country of Scotland. She gives us a day-by-day breakdown of her hiking trip on the Isle of Mull with her two pups, Roshe and Lunar.

SUP Pup 101: How to Paddleboard with Your Dog

How do you and your dog start paddleboarding without any experience? Learn the ropes with top tips from Ruffwear Pack members and a SUP instructor and dog trainer.

The Story Behind the Float Coat™ Life Jacket

Ruffwear products are born out of the drive to provide a solution to a need or problem. The story of the Float Coat™ Life Jacket is no exception. It began after Ruffwear's Founder had a near miss while running the Kern River with his dog. He saw an opportunity to design a life jacket for dogs that is reliable, comfortable, and safe.

Wandering With Willow: 4 Dog-Friendly National Parks to Explore

How To Run With Your Dog

We're here to introduce you to running in a way that keeps it fun for you and your dog. Ready, set... run!

How To Skijore With Your Dog This Winter

Learn the dos and don'ts of Skijoring from Ruffwear's own Kadee and Sturgill, and Kelly and Juniper. It's a fun winter activity for the whole pack where your pup gets to lead the way.

Meet Ruddy: Mt. Bachelor's Playful Avalanche Dog

Bailing Off Our First Thru Hike

Follow along with Julianne and dog Indy,  three year old Pyrenees mix, as they attempt to hike 567 miles on the Colorado Trail (CT). After years of backpacking together and training all winter, Julianne was confident they could walk from Denver to Durango, but Colorado's weather had other plans.

How To Hike With Your Dog

Dogs are happy to tag along on any hike. With a bit of preparation, the right gear, and a bit of that eagerness to explore that comes so naturally to our furry trail buddies, you’ll be en route to a good time hiking together.

Backpacking the 40km Scottish Mamores Munro Circuit with Our Two Dogs

As soon as Henry and Wally see us organising and packing their hiking packs, they start getting excited and can’t wait to hit the trail – especially when it's for three days on the Scottish Mamores Munro Circuit.

Running for Change: Creating Safe Outdoor Spaces for All

Running has become a powerful tool for me in the fight for racial equity in the outdoors. It’s a way for me to connect with myself, with nature, and with my community. But, it’s also a way for me to advocate for change.

How to Become an Adventure Dog

Every dog has an inner explorer just waiting to get out there with their human. Preparing to embark on that journey together? We’re here to help.

The Scoop: Tips & Gear Hacks for Getting Outside with Your Dog This Winter

A little bit of motivation (and a few aha! gear recommendations) from the Ruffwear Pack to break free of the winter doldrums.

How To Find Dog-Friendly Trails

Ready to head out on a multi-day excursion with your pup? Discover tips, tricks, and gear for backpacking with a dog.

5 Things I Learned on My First Backpacking Trip with a Puppy

Quincy and her 8-month-old Blue Heeler, Chorizo (trail name, “the Sausage”), recently headed out for their first backpacking trip together. Not everything went as planned, but they learned together and had fun along the way. Read on for Quincy's tips for backpacking with a puppy. 

Waypoints: Tom & Ruby

There's no speedier duo than Tom & Hungarian Vizsla Ruby on the trails – Tom on his mountain bike and Ruby on her four paws. Here, Tom shares their favorite waypoint for biking and running, Wakerley Woods.

Leave No Trace: Dog Edition

Our epic camping and hiking excursions have an impact on the environment and wildlife, but we’ve got you covered. Here are ways to keep the stoke high while minimizing our impact.

How to Backpack With Your Dog

Ready to head out on a multi-day excursion with your pup? Discover tips, tricks, and gear for backpacking with a dog.

4 Things to Consider Before Backcountry Skiing with Your Dog

Riding in the backcountry can be one of the most fun activities you do with your dog. With proper planning and practice, you can share powder turns with your best friend! Here are four things to consider before enjoying the backcountry safely with your tail-wagging sidekick.

5 Tips for Mountain Biking With Your Dog

Ruffwear Ambassador Laura Patton and her dogs Star and Colt are big fans of hiking, biking, and skiing through the endless terrain of their Pacific Northwest home. Here are Laura's top 5 tips for getting started when mountain biking with your dog.

Tips for Running with Dogs in Summer Heat

Ruffwear Ambassador Krissy Moehl is a running coach, author, race director, and public speaker. Her favorite running sidekick is her pup, PD. Seeing the trails through PD's eyes adds a whole new spin on her passion. Here, we checked in with Krissy and PD to learn their tips for running in the summer heat

My Dog is My Sidecar

At a time when my life and my future felt like they had shattered into pieces and I was trying to pick them back up, Bernie was the furry, steadfast presence of love and thrill that allowed me to hold it together and eventually build something even better than I had. Bernie is always by my side. He’s my sidecar.

Let's All Doo Doo Our Part

Six Tips for Crag Dogs (And Their Humans)

Over the past couple of years, Pebble has turned into a great crag dog, happy to be outside, happy to say hi to other climbers and dogs, and happy to lounge in the sun. Over this time, I have learned some things about being a good owner of a crag dog. Here are six of them.

6 Tips for Breaking in Ruffwear Dog Boots

Teaching Tala To Love The Water

Our dog wasn’t exposed to a lot of moving water in her first year and a half of life. As with all new activities, we started slow – throwing her favorite toys for her in calm, shallow water. She loves playing ‘ball,’ so it was good motivation to work her way up to short easy swims.

Riding with Emma

In the gray light of early morning, Kristen pushes her bike out of the garage, steps on, and begins pedaling. Emma (her tail-wagging sidekick) runs alongside as they exit the alleyway onto the road. Then, Kristen says, “Trailer!” and Emma hops in for the ride to work. Read on to learn about Kristen's off-road cargo trailer with suspension that allows her to bring Emma along on her bike rides. 

How to Be a Crag Dog: Climbing with Dogs

I'm Riggins, a Ruffwear office dog, trail runner, skier, and crag dog based in Bend, Oregon. When I'm not hanging out at the Ruffwear office, playing in the snow, or chasing pine cones down the trail, you're likely to find me at Smith Rock State Park. Both of my humans love to climb at Smith, and I love to

Connections Built to Last

Climbing is part of Ruffwear’s heritage. For more than 23 years, many Ruffwear employees have spent their evenings and weekends shedding layers of skin on boulders, rock walls, big walls, and alpine granite. Our office dogs are also our crag dogs.

Preventing Snowballs – The Ruffwear Way

As snow lovers, we often find ourselves running joyfully through endless hills of white powder without a worry in the world…until…it happens. The inevitable cosmic reaction to fluffy snow when it makes contact with fluffy fur – “Snowballs.