Ruffwear Climate Changer Fleece Review

Ruffwear is an outdoor dog gear brand based in Bend, Oregon, founded in 1994. The company is dedicated to creating gear for outdoor adventures and is guided by performance, adventure, and sustainability principles. They are committed to conducting business to maximize the good they can do in the world while being conscious of their impact on the planet.

Climate Changer Fleece

A fleece sweater/baselayer

A colorful option if your dog needs a bit of extra warmth.

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About the Ruffwear Climate Changer Dog Fleece

The Ruffwear Climate Changer Dog Fleece is a technical and breathable solution to keep dogs comfortable in cold conditions. Crafted from 260g of 100% polyester fleece, with 75% of it being recycled material and featuring an anti-pilling finish, this jacket balances warmth and practicality.

Ruffwear Climate Changer Fleece Review | Dog Gear Review

Its sleeves and a YKK Vislon zipper enhance the jacket’s core heat retention, allowing dogs to maintain optimal warmth during morning walks or everyday activities in chilly, dry weather. It also features reflective trim for enhanced visibility in low-light conditions. Additionally, there is a light loop on the back for attaching The Beacon™ or another LED light.

The recycled polyester fleece provides quick-drying capabilities and offers warmth without unnecessary bulk, making it an ideal choice for dogs on the move or as a base layer under a shell that protects from the wind and rain.

It’s a low-maintenance coat with simple washing instructions: cold water, gentle cycle, and mild detergent—followed by hanging to dry.

With a range of four colors and six sizes, the Ruffwear Climate Changer Dog Fleece combines functionality, sustainability, and style to cater to the needs of dogs and owners.

Ruffwear Climate Changer Dog Fleece Review

The Ruffwear Climate Changer Fleece is a great base layer for dogs who get chilly and need a sweater or additional layer under their coat. I love the four fun colors this sweater comes in - and I love the attention to detail that went into matching the zipper color to each coat and using it as an accent color for the edges.

Zulu is a very active dog, but she gets chilly very quickly if we stop or when she needs to wait in the car, so we heavily utilized this sweater early in the season - even just having it on her while driving to keep her warm back in the crate.

This fleece sweater is very light and soft; it still holds up well during our use so far. The fleece resists wrinkles, which gives a sharp look to this coat even when I pull it out from the bottom of the backpack. However, fleece also builds up static electricity easily, so the dog hair tends to stick to it heavily.

We talk about Zulu’s awkward ratios in almost every review, and this will not be different either. Her deep chest puts her into the Small size range while her body is probably between an XS and an S. This resulted in the Climate Changer Fleece being baggy around her body, where her waist is super narrow.

With sweaters like this, the fit is always a hit-or-miss situation, as there is no room for adjustment at all, and the sizing is based on the chest circumference only. It is easy to imagine that dogs with the same girth measurements can have vastly different body ratios, making the sweater fit snugly on some and loose on others.

The Climate Changer is designed to be a “Regular Fit,” which means it is not meant to be a snug, form-fitting coat while still being used under a relaxed-fitting top layer. If you want a similar sweater with a snugger fit, check out their Climate Changer Dog Fleece Pullover, which has an elastic bottom section.

The sweater’s sleeves fit Zulu well, which was my other concern with Zulu’s narrow body. I think they are great to keep the warmth in by fully covering the chest area. However, the fleece material is not elastic, and the front section seems to tighten on Zulu when her two front legs don’t step simultaneously, and she would naturally have a wider stride. It is very hard to tell if it restricts the shoulders, as we are still talking about a soft material that does stretch somewhat.

The question of restriction is probably not a concern for most dogs. However, if you have a sensitive dog with long strides, or a wider dog and the sleeves/chest area seems to be very snug-fitting, it is something to keep an eye on. I would probably not use it while heavily exercising a dog if it looks tight around the shoulders just to ensure their front legs can move freely when suddenly turning or running at full speed. The elastic bottom section and the more open leg holes of their Climate Changer Dog Fleece Pullover is a nice solution if this seems to be a concern on your dog.

Ruffwear Climate Changer Dog Fleece Review Summary

The Ruffwear Climate Changer Fleece is a stunning sweater made with great attention to detail. It has a zipper stopper and extra material under the zipper to keep the fur away. It also features reflective elements, comes in beautiful colors, and is designed to keep the warmth around the chest area with the high collar and the sleeves.

It can be used as a base layer or as a standalone sweater. It is not waterproof but dries very fast and can be machine-washed.

I would be very interested in reviewing their Climate Changer Dog Fleece Pullover in the future and comparing the fit and flexibility of the two. That provides a bit less coverage around the chest, but I think it would excel in most concerns I shared above.

It comes in four colors and six sizes and Zulu is wearing a size Small.