Howl House is a newly founded, small company dedicated to crafting high-quality, durable dog gear inspired by outdoor adventures. Their products are designed with practicality and longevity in mind, using robust materials to ensure they withstand the elements and rough use.
The Camper Collar
Low-maintenance and cool
The Camper Dog Collar is waterproof and antibacterial but its coolest feature is the magnetic Fidlock buckle that snaps in place easily but holds strongly
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!
About the Howl House Camper Collar
The Camper Collar is one of Howl House’s first dog products - the other one is their matching leash.
This collar features a 25mm Fidlock V-Buckle, which utilizes a magnetic fastener rated with a static breaking load of 70kg, surpassing the strength of many side-release plastic buckles. You can find our video on Instagram showing how this feature works.
The collar is constructed from custom 25mm PVC-coated webbing, providing a tensile strength of around 250kg. This PVC coating not only enhances durability but also makes the collar waterproof and antibacterial, ensuring it remains clean and hygienic even during extended outdoor activities.
Available in three sizes (S, M, L) and three colors (Black, Orange, and Peach), the Camper Collar is a sleek, low-maintenance option. The orange remains visible even in dense fur, thanks to the bright color. The consistent 25mm (1") width across all sizes provides a sturdy yet minimalistic look.
Designed for easy cleaning, the PVC-coated webbing is both waterproof and antibacterial, making this collar an ideal choice for dog owners who enjoy outdoor activities with their pets.
Howl House Camper Collar Review
The Camper Collar is the perfect adventure gear: it is water and stink-proof and after a quick rinse, it looks new even when returning from a muddy hike. It is also sturdy enough to handle going through dense woods or scratching without any damage.
While using this collar we received many questions on the magnetic Fidlock buckle both online and in person. Understandably, you wanted to know if it is secure enough to use the collar as the main leash attachment point.
Firstly, this same buckle is also used on human equipment like bike helmets where safety is key and is heavily tested. The buckle is not held together by the magnet, it merely aligns the two sides, which then snap securely into place.
Although it is highly secure and unlikely to open due to leash tension, it is not impossible, especially for larger dogs. With that, I also want to note that traditional plastic buckles can also break, so if you have a large dog who lunges/pulls, it is recommended to only use a metal buckle that fastens like a traditional belt.
Another way the magnetic Fidlock buckle can open is if a dog rolls on the ground or rubs against furniture at just the right angle. To minimize this risk, you can remove the pull tab, making it significantly harder to apply the necessary pressure to open it accidentally. Even without the pull tab, you will be able to open the buckle, but it is less comfortable.
Removing the pull tab also prevents other dogs from grabbing it during play and accidentally opening the collar.
Just by playing around with this buckle and using it for a few months, I find it very unlikely to accidentally open, however, the chance of that is not zero. If you’re handling an aggressive or easily startled dog prone to darting off, it’s better to stick with the traditional metal buckle. However, I never had an issue with the Fidlock buckle so far while walking Zulu.
Review Summary
The Howl House Camper Collar is a minimalistic, low-profile collar that is packed with cool features. I love the use of the innovative magnetic Fidlock buckle that makes putting it on and removing it a breeze. While the magnetic buckle opening is very unlikely, always use it with caution for very large dogs, or for dogs who are flight risks.
The collar itself is sturdy, well-made, and durable - everything that we can ask for in practical adventure gear.
The Camper Collar
Low-maintenance and cool
The Camper Dog Collar is waterproof and antibacterial but its coolest feature is the magnetic Fidlock buckle that snaps in place easily but holds strongly
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!
