Ruffwear Switchbak Harness Review

Ruffwear is a well-known 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.

Today we are reviewing their Switchbak Dog Harness which is a functional harness with a small backpack addition.

Ruffwear Switchbak

A harness with pockets

Three-strap harness with two zippered pockets and two leash attachment points, designed for everyday adventures.

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About the Ruffwear Switchbak

The Ruffwear Switchbak Dog Harness combines the comfort of a padded everyday harness with the functionality to carry small items. The harness’s five adjustable points ensure a customized fit, while the far back sitting padded belly strap stabilizes the harness when carrying items. A low-profile handle allows for easy lift and assist.

Ruffwear Switchbak Harness Review | Dog Gear Review

It features two low-profile, zippered pockets and two leash attachment points: an aluminum V-ring on the back for standard use and a reinforced webbing loop at the chest for redirecting dogs that tend to pull.

It also has reflective accents for low-light visibility, a light loop for attaching Ruffwear’s Beacon™ light, and durable construction with a bluesign®-approved 300D polyester ripstop shell. The harness materials include closed-cell foam for padding, polyester knit mesh lining, and ITW Nexus Mach 1 buckles. It is hand-washable and air dries easily.

The Switchbak Dog Harness comes in three colors: Granite Gray, Blue Moon, and Red Sumac, and it is available in four sizes to fit a range of dogs. Zulu is wearing the small size in the Blue Moon color.

Ruffwear Switchbak Dog Harness Review

I am used to Ruffwear offering high-quality, well-made products but the details of this harness still impressed me. I love how they used accent colors for the front loop, the logo and the zippers, and the attention to detail that went into this product.

The backpack’s size is clearly on the smaller side, this was not designed to be an overnight backpack where you need the dog to carry more items. I like Ruffwear’s definition: a “harness with pockets” and it is a pretty good product when evaluated as such.

Now let’s talk about the fit as we received so many questions about that. The harness has three buckles and all the straps are adjustable. The length of the part between the front legs is set so you cannot adjust the armpit clearance but the second strap is positioned pretty well to allow for free leg movement without any chafing on the back of the front legs - even for the deep-chested Zulu who is usually hard to fit in this area. I would say that the armpit clearance and the position of the second strap are pretty similar to how Flagline harness fits.

The third (last) strap is positioned pretty far back to prevent a dog from slipping the harness and also to provide stability to the pack. This third strap is positioned and works as the last strap on the Webmaster harness. As Zulu has a very deep chest and a super narrow waist, the position of this last strap is really visible but in reality, it was loosened to not put any pressure on the stomach area.

If you are unsure how a three-strap harness should fit and why having the third strap behind the ribcage is a concern, you can read our Three-Strap Dog Harness Fitting Guide for more information.

This harness doesn’t have a leash attachment point all the way on the back which also help minimizing any pressure falling on the soft tissue of the stomach area when the dog pulls (if the harness is adjusted correctly) unless you lift the dog by the handle.

This last strap is not connected to the middle strap so it will slide back to the narrowest section of the dog by default. It is covered with a heavily padded cover to help distribute any potential pressure and prevent chafing in the tummy area.

Zulu is wearing a small size and the neck section needed to be tightened all the way. For an optimal fit I would have needed just a little more room to tighten it to fully clear the shoulders but it wasn’t restricting the shoulder movement this way either.

The width of the front section is pretty good even on the narrow Zulu. It is narrow enough to prevent chafing on the inside of the front legs and padded/rigid enough to prevent the harness from rotating to the side too much. However, you will notice some minimal rotation especially when placing uneven weights in the backpack so keep that in mind when adding items to the packs.

Functionality Review of the Ruffwear Switchbak Harness

No-pull correction: It has a no-pull attachment that works pretty well. If used with a strong dog who is lunging, be mindful of the potential pressure the last strap puts on the stomach area when the harness is pulled forward and adjust it accordingly.
Running/Biking: This is not a pulling harness and was not designed to handle that over a longer period. However, it can be used if the dog just runs next to you as long as it provides a comfortable armpit clearance and the last strap is loose enough not to pressure when the dog runs.
Hiking: The sturdy material and the design makes the Switchbak great for hikes. In addition, the harness dries fast and doesn’t soak in much water, so it’s a low-maintenance option for muddy hikes. It allows the dog to carry small items in the backpack. Keep in mind that the backpack covers a big porttion of the back which can contriburte to overheating on hot days.
City walk: It can be used for city walks but the excessive back coverage might make it unnecessarily warm for summer walks in the city.
Easy to put on/adjust: It has three buckles on the chest straps, so it needs to go over the dog’s head but no need to lift the legs. All the straps are adjustable (5 adjustment points) which makes it easy to fit most dogs.
Visibility: The reflective trim and the light loop add visibility, and the Red color option pops more than our blue one.

Ruffwear Switchbak Summary

The Switchbak Dog Harness is a versatile and well-designed harness that offers cool features like two zippered pockets, dual leash attachments and the loop to attach a LED light.

Its three-strap design provides a secure fit, with adjustable straps ensuring a comfortable fit on most dogs. The harness’s padded belly strap and front section make the harness comfortable even for long hikes and the low-profile handle allows for easy lift assistance without the risk of getting caught on something in the woods by it.

Although the pockets aren’t large enough for extensive load carrying, the Switchbak is a great “everyday harness with pockets,” making it ideal for short hikes or city walks. Overall, this harness offers high-quality construction and smart details, making it a great choice for both town and trail.

As always, be sure the harness is a good fit for YOUR dog. If you need help deciding, read our article on Y-harness fitting and this other article about three-strap harness fitting rules for more information.