About OneTigris
OneTigris is a tactical-style outdoor gear store selling all kinds of products, from airsoft gear to affordable military-style dog harnesses.
About the Metall K9 Harness
OneTigris’s newest harness has a Y-front and a longer, snug-fitting body. It has five metal buckles, three leash attachment points, and two handles on the back.
It has a large velcro panel that offers plenty of place for patches or MOLLE modular attachments.
There are three stainless steel D-rings on this harness: two on the back and one on the front, making it very versatile.
The five metal buckles look sleek and are strength tested at 397lb/180kg for size M and 485lb/220kg for size L/XL.
I really like that this harness moved away from the sponge-style mesh material for the inner lining. OneTigris replaced it with a smooth, durable nylon material that’s a lot easier to keep clean and doesn’t soak in much water and dirt. The harness is still lightly padded, and it holds its shape well.
Metall K9 Harness Review
The Metall K9 harness has extensive coverage around the chest but is designed to leave the shoulder area free. It doesn’t leave a huge armpit clearance but should be comfortable for most dogs. Mia was on the upper end of the size range, which is probably why it sits closer to her armpits than on many other dogs, and it’s also behind the harness not wrapping completely around her chest like on other dogs.
All straps are highly adjustable except the chest panel between the front legs. It is made of the same material as the back to protect the dog’s underside - instead of using a strap only that would allow adjustment.
This harness provides plenty of space for patches; you can even add a smaller text to the neck strap.
Many of the OneTigris harnesses we tested before were designed for wider dogs and sat too low on Mia’s shoulder and/or were too wide between her front legs since she is a narrow and long dog. This harness fit her perfectly all around!
The back features two handles that are easy and comfortable to hold while helping your dog up somewhere. The big under-chest coverage also helps distribute the weight when you lift the dog, but it is not meant to be used as a carry harness. The only con is that the handle farther back could get stuck on something if the dog runs through dense woods.
Having a buckle on the neck strap makes it a lot easier to put the harness on a big-headed dog or on one who is wearing a bulky GPS collar.
The only downside of the neck buckle is that it makes the harness’ weight distribution asymmetrical, so it constantly rotates to the left (towards the side that has the buckle) when the dog is off-leash.
Another thing to keep in mind with this harness is that the ample coverage - especially in black - warms up over the summer and can cause the dog to overheat. I appreciate this design because it protects Mia’s chest while running through the woods, but I wouldn’t use it on warmer days.
Another issue we run into is that the chest straps loosened up when Mia ran off-leash when I had them set, as shown in the photo below. After moving up the slider right under the buckle and rolling up and securing the excess straps, it didn’t have room to loosen up, and the issue was resolved.
Functionality Review of the Metall K9 Harness
• No-pull correction: It has a no-pull front ring, which works reasonably well.
• Running/Biking: You can use it to see how your dog likes these sports, but it was not made for pulling sports. Be sure to attach the leash to the back ring at the end of the harness and check if the harness chafes your dog’s armpits when the front legs move all the way back. The neck-straps are not padded, so you will eventually need to switch to a harness specifically designed for pulling. Also, keep in mind that dogs overheat easier when wearing a harness covering this much of their chest even on a mild day.
• Hiking: We used it a lot on hikes, and having the two handles was an excellent help on steep sections! It doesn’t really soak in water (however, it is not waterproof) and leaves the shoulders free, which is ideal for hiking.
• City walks: Works well; the ring closer to the neck gives you good steering power, which comes in handy in busy environments, while the leash attachment at the end of the harness provides excellent weight distribution on the front. You can switch between the three leash attachment points in different situations.
• Easy to put on/adjust: all the straps have plenty of room for adjustment. It will take some time to fit all those straps initially, and you might have to re-adjust it after the first few walks. All straps have buckles, so it’s easy to put on the dog.
• Visibility: This harness currently only comes in black and coyote brown; it doesn’t have reflective parts either, but you can put reflective or fluorescent patches on it.
Review Summary
The Metall K9 harness is an excellent addition to OneTigris’ product line. It is a well-made and versatile harness that fixes all our fit-related issues with some of their previous products.
I like that three D-rings allow switching between them in different situations to better differentiate structured walks from sniffing free time. The handles are easy to grab, the harness is easy to keep clean, and the material is durable, so it offers everything that you could want from a sturdy tactical harness.
As always, be sure the harness is a good fit for YOUR dog. If you need help deciding, read our article on harness fitting.
Where to buy
You can buy the Metall K9 Harness on their website, and on Amazon.
You can find sizing information, videos, and detailed descriptions of each product on their page. The Metall K9 harness comes in three sizes: M, L and XL. Mia had a medium, although she might have fit in the large as well.
Disclaimer: this review contains an Amazon affiliate link, which supports Dog Gear Review if you purchase the product after clicking on it without costing you anything extra. Using affiliate links will never compromise us writing unbiased, honest reviews!
Mia’s measurements
Many of you asked Mia’s measurements to better understand the different products’ fit. Your best chance of finding an excellent fitting gear is always to measure (and remeasure) your dog. Even we grab the measuring tape before getting a new product - even though we tested a lot of them and have a good feeling of her size by now.
I share her measurements below, but don’t go ahead and order the same size just because your dog is similar to Mia ;)
• Shoulder height: 19.5 inches (50 cm)
• Weight: 37-44 pounds (17-20 kg)
• Widest chest circumference (where the most harness would have the chest strap): 25-26 inches (63-65 cm)
• Neck circumference for collars: 15-16 inches (38-40 cm)
• Back lengths: 22 inches (56 cm)
