Hurtta is a Finnish company specializing in functional gear designed for active dogs. Their products are created with safety, durability, and comfort in mind for outdoor activities. Hurtta often incorporates environmentally conscious materials and practices - like in the case of the Life Savior ECO Life Vest that we are reviewing today.
Life Savior ECO
Adjustable & Durable
A lightweight, eco-conscious dog life vest built from recycled materials and tested to human flotation standards.
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!
Why would a dog need a life jacket?
While life jackets can be a lifesaver for many dogs in many situations, not all dogs need one. So how do you know if it would be helpful for yours?
Let’s start by discussing dogs with medical conditions, joint issues, or poor swimming techniques that require a life vest’s extra support. There are also dogs doing hydrotherapy as part of their rehabilitation, where life jackets are regularly used. It’s clear that these dogs can benefit from a life jacket that helps them stay in a proper swimming position and lets them safely enjoy some low-impact exercise.
How about a healthy young dog? They can benefit from a life vest just as much as small kids who can already swim. If you take your dog on a boat or kayak, they can unexpectedly fall into the water, and the cold water can cause shock to their body. Accidents can also happen when dogs jump in the water or play around it, hit their heads, and lose consciousness. It’s also possible for a good swimmer to enjoy their water time too much and not stop when their muscles tire. This can cause muscle cramps that can be fatal if the owner cannot get to the dog in time.
Many people think that life jackets are just fancy gadgets, and our dogs (and wolves) lived happily without them in the past. While this is true, we also have to keep in mind that our dogs’ lives have changed so much. We take them with us on longer trips on the water on a SUP or kayak; we train them in dock diving; we take them to dog beaches where we play fetch with them all day. All these are very different situations from a dog (or wolf) just enjoying some time around the water by themselves. These changes in their lifestyle require new solutions from our side as well to help our dogs safely accompany us on all these adventures.
About the Hurtta Life Savior ECO Life Vest
The Hurtta Life Savior ECO is a lightweight flotation vest that provides buoyancy that meets the same standards as human life jackets and has been tested in accordance with EN ISO 12402-5:2006. The vest uses soft, flexible flotation material that adapts to the dog’s shape, offering support for a range of body types while allowing natural movement. Its three-point chest adjustment system gives approximately 20% flexibility in sizing, and any excess strap material can be tucked securely into the vest to prevent getting caught on something.
As part of Hurtta’s eco-conscious approach, the Life Savior ECO is manufactured from recycled fabrics, and the brand encourages responsible product use by recycling packaging, repairing rather than replacing, and reusing or passing along gently used gear. The vest is also produced under the Bluesign system, reflecting Hurtta’s commitment to sustainable and safe manufacturing practices.
There is a handle on the back alongside a stainless steel O-ring for leash attachment. The vest is secured with quick-snap POM buckles and Velcro straps around the chest (the Velcro is not weight-bearing), making it easy to put on and adjust. For visibility, reflective elements with a luminous intensity of 400–450 cd/m² are integrated into the design.
The materials include a shell and lining made from 100% recycled PES twill mechanical stretch webbing from 100% recycled PES, and buckles made of POM.
Hurtta Life Savior ECO Life Vest Review
The Life Savior ECO is a great option on the market with its outstanding quality and well-designed fit. The buoyancy standard compliance provides confidence in its flotation ability, which is not always guaranteed in dog life jackets. The vest’s less rigid than many alternatives, allowing dogs to move more naturally in the water and on land. The adjustability across three chest points helps it fit a range of body shapes, which can be a challenge with many vests.
When it first came out of the box, the sides stood out a bit, creating a gap as seen below, since it was stored flat, but that quickly went away with some more adjustment and use.
Zulu’s deep chest and narrow waist make her especially hard to fit into life vests since they tend to either sit in her armpits or slide all the way back over her stomach area. The Life Saviour ECO was just rigid enough to prevent the underside from sliding back, while the adjustment points helped to tailor the fit on her. Even though her chest is unproportionally deep, the velcro sections still overlapped on her chest, and the material fully covered her sides under the straps, which helps prevent chafing. The straps are not the easiest to adjust once they get wet, so it is recommended to try to fine-tune the fit before that.
The life vest currently comes in five sizes and three stunning colors. Zu is wearing the size 10-15 kg in the Buckthorn color, which was highly visible in the water.
Hurtta Life Savior ECO Life Vest Review Summary
The Hurtta Life Savior ECO is a reliable, well-built life vest that offers safety, comfort, and sustainability. Its compliance with human flotation standards sets it apart from many dog life jackets, and the adjustable fit makes it suitable for a broad range of breeds and body types. I also appreciated the less rigid side-panels and the focus on minimizing any interference with the dog’s movement.
The Hurtta Life Savior ECO Life Vest is a low-maintenance life vest that dries quickly and can be hand-washed as needed.
Life Savior ECO
Adjustable & Durable
A lightweight, eco-conscious dog life vest built from recycled materials and tested to human flotation standards.
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!
Zulu’s measurements
Many of you asked for the dog’s measurements in reviews to better understand the different products’ fit, so I’m sharing Zulu’s below for reference.
Shoulder height: 19 inches (50 cm)
Weight: 29 pounds (13 kg)
Widest chest circumference: 24 inches (60 cm)
Neck circumference for collars: 13 inches (33 cm)
Back lengths: 17 inches (44 cm)
