Non-stop Dogwear Rush Harness Review

Non-stop Dogwear was founded in Norway in 2009, and today you can find their products in stores across the globe. We love their passion for designing the best-fitting dog harnesses to “release their potential,” as their slogan says. Their focus used to be on pulling harnesses and other types of equipment for skijoring, canicross, etc. but they also have products more suited for everyday dog walks.

Non-stop Dogwear Rush Harness

Lightweight & breathable

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About the Non-stop Dogwear Rush Harness

The Rush harness is a versatile, ergonomically designed harness for dogs engaged in activities with a high pulling point, such as canicross, bikejoring, skijoring, hiking, and daily walks.

It includes features of Non-stop Dogwear’s best-selling Freemotion harness to promote natural movement and breathing, ensuring optimal performance and comfort for every day while being lighter and shorter than the Freemotion harness. It is a great choice for dogs that lean into their harness or pull during walks and activities but are gear-shy or prefer a shorter harness.

Non-stop Dogwear Rush Harness Review | Dog Gear Review

Featuring a classic Y-shaped front, the Rush harness allows free shoulder movement and minimizes breathing constraints. The harness is equipped with Duraflex plastic buckles on the chest straps, enabling easy on-and-off without the need to lift the dog’s legs like in the case of the Freemotion harness.

The Rush harness is made of strong but light materials - including the Hexivent material to enhance breathability and provide padding. The design and soft lining ensure there are no rough edges facing the dog’s skin, reducing the risk of chafing. Available in sizes 1 through 8, the harness accommodates a wide range of breeds and body types, including short-backed dogs, however, its neck straps are not adjustable.

Non-stop Dogwear Rush Harness Review

This harness is designed to fill the gap between the Non-stop Dogwear Line harness and Freemotion harness for those dogs who somewhat pull but not enough to need a Freemotion. The length and armpit clearance provided by the Rush harness is between these other two harnesses.

If you are wondering about the pros and cons of shorter or full-length pulling harnesses - check out our article on different pulling harness styles and their pros and cons. We also have another article comparing Non-Stop Dogwear’s Rush, Line, and Freemotion harnesses and discussing when to use which one.

Zulu is a deep-chested dog with a small neck so the armpit clearance always looks smaller on her than it would be on most dogs. In real life, the Rush harness does provide free leg movement for her since the angle of the straps brings the section where her shoulder could touch the straps farther back, even though the bottom section of the straps makes it seem to sit close to the armpits.

When this harness came out many were concerned about having the plastic buckles right against the dog’s side and were afraid that could cause chafing. As these buckles are placed high enough, they barely touch the sides when there is leash pressure on the harness so I wouldn’t worry about that, however, if your dog has minimal hair and sensitive skin, it is always best to have some material under any hardware.

It is important to understand that the use of light and breathable materials also means that this harness has less stability than more padded harnesses (like the Line or Freemotion). When the dog is off-leash, the top section of the harness tends to bunch up and if forward leash pressure is applied (when the dog is behind you), it will ride up on the dog’s neck. This also makes it harder to see and show the fit without leash pressure.

A few of their previous products also used the HexiVent material (like the Protector Life Jacket or the Rock Harness) and I had a great experience with it, however, the Hexivent layer in the Rush harness feels thinner than it is in the other two products. It is a unique material to provide durability without bulk and heat retention that I really enjoyed using in the past and I am looking forward to using it again!

The Rush harness is a stunning, well-made harness that is still lightweight. Zulu’s size 4 harness weighs 5 oz but all sizes are between 2.5 - 8.8 oz. I enjoy that the harness is quick to put on, and the large rope attachment point is easy to use and replace as needed.

The harness’ design provides a better pressure distribution on Zulu’s chest than the Line harness which can choke her when she pulls into it. At the same time, wearing the Rush is more comfortable for her than the bulky and more rigid Freemotion since she is a gear-shy dog who can shut down from the process of putting that on and just from the Freemotion covering her back.

Functionality Review of the Non-stop Dogwear Rush Harness

No-pull correction: It does not have a no-pull ring.
Running/Biking: Can be used for “medium” pulling. For large dogs or dogs who pull very strongly, a long and more padded harness will be better. This is also great for dogs who sometimes pull into the harness while walking or only pull when starting to run.
Hiking: Super light, breathable, and easy to clean! It doesn’t have a handle and is low profile which helps to prevent the dog from getting caught on something in the woods. If used off-leash, you will notice it riding up on the back, especially in the beginning.
City walks: The leash attachment is farther back on the dog which provides better pressure distribution on the chest but less steering power and control over the dog at busy places. For crowded places, this harness is best for dogs with good leash manners.
Easy to put on/adjust: It only has buckles on the chest strap so they need to go over the head. Easy to adjust and the straps did not loosen over time.
Visibility: It comes in a high-visibility orange color and the logo is made of a reflective material.

Non-stop Dogwear Rush Harness Review Summary

To summarize, the Rush harness is a great quality product and fits very nicely in Non-Stop Dogwear’s product line filling a gap that they did not cover before. It should be a great option for dogs who are between sizes in the Line harness, prefer a lighter harness, or just need something between a short and a long harness.

It is not a rigid or heavily padded harness but a comfortable, light option that I am looking forward to using for on-leash SAR work when Zu is pulling into the harness but I still need to maintain control over her.