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.
Furness Dog Jacket
Extended coverage & warm insulation
An adjustable winter coat with elastic sleeves and leg loops for a tailored fit.
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About the Ruffwear Furness Coat
The Furness Dog Jacket is Ruffwear’s warmest winter coat that provides warmth and protection in harsh weather conditions.
Engineered with high-loft synthetic insulation, this jacket offers exceptional warmth so dogs can venture further and longer even on bitterly cold days. It covers the lower neck, back, belly, and hips protecting the sensitive areas against the cold. The lightweight shell fabric boasts a water-repellant finish, to keep dogs dry during adventures.
The weather-guarded, 3/4-length zipper, along with stretchy StormSleeves seal in warmth without restricting movement. The hem cords at the neck and belly ensure a snug fit, while the leg loops keep the end of the coat in place even in strong winds. The leash portal on the back allows for seamless integration with harnesses while the opening is still protected enough not to let much cold air in when not used.
Reflective trim enhances visibility in low-light conditions, prioritizing safety during evening walks or adventures.
Ruffwear Furness Coat Review
The Furness is a super warm winter coat that we got to use on walks in low temps as 5 Fahrenheit (-15 Celsius). Zulu doesn’t have a thick double coat so she gets cold easily especially once we stop moving. The Furness was a great option to keep her warm on these truly frigid days. The stretchy sleeves (4-way stretch 71% polyester/29% spandex) never restricted her movement or chafed her legs while they kept the snow out and prevented the cold wind from going in.
I was worried about the design as other Ruffwear coats we reviewed sat a bit low on her shoulders and I was concerned that the sleeves would make it even harder to have a comfortable fit on Zulu’s deep chest and small neck. However, the two adjustment points and the big stretchy material on the sides made fitting easy and this is so far the best-fitting Ruffwear coat on Zulu.
The material is almost like a puffy coat so it’s very light and fairly packable. While we haven’t had any issues with this, I imagine that the outer shell (50 denier cire polyester) or the elastic side could get snagged on a thorny bush if the dog is running through the undergrowth but again, Zulu did a fair amount of running around and the coat looks new so far.
The leg loops are great for added stability but due to the high coverage on the front, the coat stayed in place pretty well even when used without them. A very cool feature is that you can stow away the leg loops when they are not in use, limiting the chance of them getting caught on something in the woods. I also like that the coat is low-maintenance, it’s pretty easy to get the dog hair off and you can just machine wash it in cold water, on a gentle cycle and it air dries fairly quickly.
Putting this coat on can be a process with a gear-shy dog or one who doesn’t want to stay in place for the process as you need to pull it over the head, then pull the legs through the sleeves, then zip it up. However, the neck opening is big enough and the sleeves are stretchy enough to help this process. The zipper is also big enough so it’s easy to grab and use it.
Ruffwear Furness Coat Review Summary
To summarize, the Ruffwear Furness is a warm winter coat that provides extended coverage around the chest and over the hips to keep the dog warm on very cold days. This is a very well-made, high-quality, super-light coat. It has two cinch points that help fine-tune the fit but the big chest coverage also means that it might not fit all dogs as you cannot adjust it around the chest.
The elastic side section and sleeves really help with fitting different body types and allowing free movement while still providing coverage.
The Ruffwear Furness Coat comes in two colors and six sizes. Zulu is wearing a size Small in Canyonlands Orange.
Furness Dog Jacket
Extended coverage & warm insulation
An adjustable winter coat with elastic sleeves and leg loops for a tailored fit.
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: 14 inches (35 cm)
Back lengths: 18 inches (46 cm)