I hike alone with my dogs, so being able to carry them out in an emergency is crucial to me. Unfortunately, most dog owners don’t consider the need for an emergency plan until it’s too late, which is why I feel passionate about introducing and comparing the best-known carry-out harnesses/slings.
How should a rescue harness fit a dog?
As far as I’m aware, there aren’t any studies on the ideal weight support for dogs in these carry harnesses, so I asked Dr. Landry’s input on the topic.
I was mainly concerned about the designs where the chest section was sitting low across Mia’s shoulders. This would be a problem with regular harness designs, but Dr. Laundry wasn’t concerned about it since the weight distribution is pretty even across the dog - most of the weight-bearing section being in the middle of the dog’s body anyway. The role of the neck/shoulder section is primarily to stop the dog from sliding out.
Dr. Landry also raised an interesting point regarding the neck section fitting higher on the chest, as we would recommend it in case of a Y-harness. This could cut the circulation on the neck if the dog is unconscious or just hanging their head for any other reason. From this perspective, a lower neck design could be better.
It is always important to check the fit on the dog once they are in the sling and support their head if needed.
Mountain Dogware: Pack-a-Paw Rescue Harness
The Mountain Dogware Pack-a-Paw Rescue Harness is a one-piece sling with four holes for the legs. It comes in two sizes that fit medium to large dogs. The simplified design makes it very packable and lightweight, so you can easily keep it in your backpack. It packs pretty small and weighs only 6.7 oz (medium) & 7.8 oz (large).
Pulling the straps through the metal hardware can get a little confusing if you don’t have the instructions on hand, but besides that, putting it on the dog is pretty simple as long as you put the back legs through the bigger holes. The one-piece design makes using it easier, but the lack of adjustment options around the dog can also potentially cause issues with circulation if it doesn’t fit the dog well.
This one-piece design can also be hard to put on the dog if they are seriously injured or unable to stand up, since you need to pull the legs through the holes. The straps slide freely through the metal hardware when lifting the dog, tightening the sling around the dog’s body.
The Pack-A-Paw harnesses are made in NH, USA, and are patented.
Mountain Dogware
Pack-a-Paw Rescue Harness
User-friendly, adjustable sling system to carry out dogs.
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Fido Pro: The Airlift - K9 Rescue Sling
The Fido Pro Airlift Emergency Dog Rescue Sling is very similar to the Pack-A-Paw design at first sight. The difference is in their unique V-strap system (which provides eight points of contact), in the hardware, and in sizing. The Airlift holds the US Utility Patent Number 10,932,438.
This packable and lightweight carry-out harness comes in a small stuff sack so you can easily keep it in your backpack. It comes in M, L, and XL sizes to fit medium and large dogs. The Airlift XL-2 Package includes accessories to convert the XL-size Airlift into a two-person, assisted carry system for extra-large dogs. One person still needs to be the primary carrier, but the other can support them on steep terrain and take over some load when standing up, which is a unique approach only offered by this brand.
The Airlift is an easy rescue harness to set up since there aren’t many adjustment points all around, and the front/back, inside/outside is marked on the harness itself. On the other hand, this also means that there isn’t much room to customize it, causing the same concerns mentioned above. Mia had a proportionally long body, which made the chest support sit over her shoulders, making me feel that she was not completely stable in this design. We also received their larger size (large) to check if that would fit her better, but that was too large to support her safely.
If you want to read its in-depth review, check it out here!
Fido Pro
Airlift Emergency Dog Rescue Sling
User-friendly sling system to carry out dogs with minimal adjustment around the K9.
Disclaimer: This review contains affiliate links, which support Dog Gear Review if you purchase the product after clicking on it without costing you anything extra. Using affiliate links will never compromise us in writing unbiased, honest reviews!
Ruff Rescue Gear: The Back Country Rescue Harness
Update on 12/2024: Ruff Rescue Gear went off the grid at the beginning of 2024. They stopped shipping out products but were still accepting orders for months, resulting in many upset customers who were left wondering. Their website was officially closed for orders in October, and they announced in December that their founder and owner, Tim Price, had passed away unexpectedly. They are currently closed for orders.
The Ruff Rescue The Back Country Rescue Harness is different from the previous two because it has multiple adjustment points to better fit dogs with different body shapes.
In addition, it comes in two sizes that fit medium to large dogs. The buckles and extra straps for adjustability add a little weight, but it’s still reasonably packable and only weighs 10 oz (medium) & 12 oz (large). Being able to open buckles (vs. having a one-piece sling with leg holes) can come in handy if you have an injured dog who is in pain / unable to stand, since you don’t have to lift each leg.
Having many adjustment points and buckles allows you to create an ideal fit for carrying your dog. It also enables carrying only one rescue harness for multiple dogs who are similarly sized but wouldn’t fit in the same sling-style carry system. On the other hand, initially setting it up and figuring out the fit and adjustment of all the straps can get confusing.
Ruff Rescue Gear
The Back Country Rescue Harness
Highly adjustable strap system to customize the fit around the dog.
Disclaimer: This review contains affiliate links, which support Dog Gear Review if you purchase the product after clicking on it without costing you anything extra. Using affiliate links will never compromise us in writing unbiased, honest reviews!
Fido Pro: The Panza Harness with Deployable Emergency Dog Rescue Sling
The Fido Pro Panza harness is a unique and innovative design compared to the other three options we already introduced. The Panza harness can be used as a regular, standalone harness that the dog wears - you can even add two Saddle Dry-Bags to its sides.
However, in an emergency, you can easily open the zippered upper and lower pockets to access the carry straps and the sling. This way, if something happens, they can be quickly deployed, and the harness transforms into a carry sling. It only comes in one size, which could fit dogs from 35 to 90 lbs., but it comes in both red and black colors. It has adjustable straps and metal hardware.
The Panza Harness could be a perfect solution for trail runners, cyclists, hikers, or skiers with minimal backpack space to carry dog gear. However, while it has multiple adjustment points, it will not fit all dogs the same way. While this is not a huge issue for emergency carry-out situations, as long as the dog is safely secured and the circulation is not cut off, it can be a problem with a harness worn regularly over a longer period.
The design of the harness part leaves plenty of space behind the front legs, so there is no risk of armpit chafing. However, the broad chest piece (designed for ideal chest support when carrying) might rub the inside of the front legs on narrow dogs, and the harness itself doesn’t stay in place well and rides up on downhill trails. Another issue with the harness fit on Mia-sized dogs is that it could put pressure on the shoulder and stomach if the dog constantly pulls on the leash, and they also might be able to back out of it in leash walking situations.
The design of the Panza harness has a patent pending at the moment. Fido Pro has offices in the US, Canada, Europe, and soon in Asia.
Fido Pro
The Panza Harness
Highly adjustable strap system to customize the fit around the dog.
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Ruffwear BackTrak Dog Evacuation Kit (Added on 03/2023)
The Ruffwear BackTrak Dog Evacuation Kit is a comprehensive emergency carry-out solution. This kit includes a first-aid muzzle and a human vest with an integrated dog-carrying sling. The whole kit is highly adjustable, and the sling portion only supports the middle of the dog while adjustable straps go around the legs.
The sling features color-coded, adjustable straps and can be worn with the dog in the front or back, accommodating dogs up to 103 pounds (46.7 kg). The human vest is adjustable, fitting chest sizes up to 67 inches (170 cm) and waist sizes up to 79 inches (200 cm). The entire kit packs into a mesh pocket on the front of the vest for easy storage and transport.
Due to the extensive strap system and buckles, this kit weighs 15.8-19.4 oz (depending on the size), which makes it one of the heaviest carry-out systems. It comes with a pack, but it is not as packable as the simple sling designs.
Ruffwear
BackTrak Dog Evacuation Kit
Highly adjustable, packable sling system to carry out dogs.
Disclaimer: This review contains affiliate links, which support Dog Gear Review if you purchase the product after clicking on it without costing you anything extra. Using affiliate links will never compromise us in writing unbiased, honest reviews!
Non-Stop Dogwear Dog Rescue Sling (Added on 08/2025)
This Rescue Sling was developed in collaboration with the Norwegian Search and Rescue Dog Association to create a lightweight and compact emergency carry solution. Weighing between 168g and 232g (5.9 - 8.2 oz) depending on size, it is one of the most packable options on the market, making it easy to include in a first aid kit or backpack. Its universal design (no front/back sections) features four leg openings, allowing for quick deployment without concern for orientation.
The sling can be used to carry a dog in front, on the side, or on the back, with adjustable straps that can be tied to the desired length (no sliders or buckles on the straps or around the dog). Made from durable materials, including Bluesign-approved Duraflex buckles and 3M reflective details, it is a reliable but lightweight and highly packable option.
Available in sizes S to XL, the sling is suitable for dogs ranging from 5 kg to 45 kg (11–99 lbs).
Non-Stop Dog Rescue Sling
Light & packable emergency carry out system
Use the code DogGearReview for a 10% discount on all their products worldwide.
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The Big Dog Emergency Harness Comparison
First of all, we will not pick a winner among these because so much depends on your and your dog’s needs. The safety and fit will also be individual since every dog has a different body shape.
None of these harnesses is terribly difficult to set up, but I highly recommend trying them out at home and getting familiar with their initial setup. I tested some of them on a windy and cold day, and even though I had just read their guide before heading out, some steps were not straightforward, and I did not always get them right on the first try. It’s easy to imagine that figuring out all the straps for the first time in an emergency would be stressful.
The other reason to try them out at home is to get the dog used to hanging from a harness on your back/front. This is not a natural position, and some dogs need more time to get used to it than others. Training them to be calm while being carried can remove unnecessary stress from an emergency. It is also beneficial both for the dog and the humans to refresh these skills once a year and confirm that the gear still fits.
We created a table showing all the details side-by-side to answer the most frequently asked questions and make it easier to compare these rescue systems.
In general, there is a clear trade-off between packability and the ability to adjust the fit. If you have a dog who fits perfectly in a Pack-A-Paw, that might be the perfect solution to keep the weight low. At the same time, its limited adjustability and smaller leg holes make it less probable that it will fit a dog perfectly.
Another thing to consider is that if you have multiple dogs or one that’s hard to fit, you are probably better off with an emergency harness with bigger leg holes and/or highly adjustable straps around the dog.
Packability is important, but the top priority is finding a design that safely fits the dog. No one wants to end up with an emergency harness that will not hold the dog safely or cut off the circulation somewhere. Unfortunately, this is really hard to determine without trying them on your dog.
Many of you asked which one allows both front and back carry. I marked the products in the table as “front carry,” which officially advertises that they can be used both ways. After trying all of them, I think all could be used both ways. As a disclaimer, I have only tried back-carrying because I would have a much harder time having Mia on the front - especially standing up with her that way from level ground. Zulu is significantly lighter and smaller, so I could probably carry her on the front or on the side as well.
You might notice that I adjusted all these harnesses fairly low on my back. If I used an emergency sling in a real situation, I would adjust the straps to keep the dog a little higher up on my back to minimize her bumping around with every step. In general, you want the dog to be stable, but carrying them too high (as you would with a backpack) can prove to be hard and less comfortable. I adjusted the harnesses this way during testing because standing up was much easier for me (the dog can stand on the grand while I put the straps over my shoulders), and I also had an easier time rewarding them at this height, even when they were on my back.
If you need to carry a large dog, I would consider buying or making padding for the shoulder straps a must. If the straps cut into your shoulders, carrying will get painful quickly - especially if you do it over the summer when you are wearing fewer layers. The Mountain Dogwear Pack-a-Paw and the Non-stop Dogwear Rescue Slings are the only ones that do not offer shoulder padding, but in return, they have decently wide straps to distribute the pressure.
The last point I would like to highlight is the importance of having a guide packed with the harness. It seems clear which one is the inside/outside or back/front at home, but it’s easy to get mixed up when trying to put it on the dog a few months later. All harnesses come with instructions on paper or right on the harness/sack. I found that having guides only on paper or on the sack was less practical since it’s hard to hold the dog, the harness, and the paper/bag simultaneously - especially on a windy day - while the notes on the harnesses were very helpful.
The ease of putting on the Ruffwear BackTrak Kit (color-coded straps) and the Non-Stop Dogwear Dog Rescue Sling (universal design with no front and back) made a big difference in this area.
Summary
I hope this article has provided helpful recommendations on what to consider when choosing a harness, as well as highlighted the main differences and similarities among the various options available on the market.
If you’d like to learn more about each of these carry-out systems, please refer to the detailed reviews linked at the end of each section! Additionally, if there are any other emergency rescue harnesses (excluding rappelling harnesses) that we should explore, please let us know!
