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About the coat

We received this coat back in the fall right before a 3-day rain, so we had the perfect opportunity to test it.

The design of the coat is excellent; it has reflective parts on the sides and also a zipper on the back to access the harness if you prefer to use that under the coat. The zippers are not the easiest to use since they are teeny-tiny, but there is an extra coverage above it and even under the zipper to be sure the rain doesn’t go through - unless you use it with a harness than it will go through anyway.

UsefulThingy Coat Review | Dog Gear Review

The fleece internal is nice, soft, and warm, but it’s probably not warm enough for a cold winter because the coat itself isn’t fitting the dog well. This fluffy fleece is also not the best for a rainy and muddy day since it will soak it in sooner or later, and it will not help keep the dog warm. While we like the coat in general, there is some more room for improvement.

The sewings and the small details are not the nicest, but we haven’t found quality-related issues.

UsefulThingy Coat Review | Dog Gear Review

UsefulThingy Coat Review | Dog Gear Review

The coat has a rubber loop at the end, which supposed to hold it in place by fixing it to the dog’s tail. Well… Even if the coat would be long enough to go back there, I am pretty sure Mia would not take a step with that around her tail. Just look at the second photo, and you will see how much the coat is pulled forward when she runs. A problem with this solution that the loop will only be useful on a few dogs whose chest circumference-back lengths ratio is in a limited range since this loop doesn’t give much room for flexibility.

UsefulThingy Coat Review | Dog Gear Review

UsefulThingy Coat Review | Dog Gear Review

It can be a short hair dog problem, but my biggest issue with the coat is the sliding. It slides a lot to the sides when the dog walks. This not only looks weird, but one side of the dog always gets wet, then the coat will slide to the other hand, soaks in the water while the other side gets rained on, etc. Most of the middle part of the back is still covered, but you see on the pictures that it is always on one side.

UsefulThingy Coat Review | Dog Gear Review

UsefulThingy Coat Review | Dog Gear Review

The outside of the coat looks sturdy enough, I think it can handle going through bushes but dirt and thistle can stick to the fleece part on the sides/front easily.

UsefulThingy Coat Review | Dog Gear Review

It also doesn’t work if it’s too windy because the flimsy coat will flip up - like an umbrella (unless you manage to put the rubber thingy around the tail).

UsefulThingy Coat Review | Dog Gear Review

UsefulThingy Coat Review | Dog Gear Review

Review Summary

If you want something for a low price that you will only use sometimes when it’s pouring, but you have to run out with your dog, go for it! It is waterproof, you can easily store it in a small space, and it is easy to put on. If you want something that you can use for long walks, hikes, or as a serious winter coat, keep looking.

It is good for its price, but I feel they tried to fulfill too many requirements. Based on the fleece part, it could be good for a snowy/dry winter walk, but it doesn’t have good enough coverage for that. The top layer is great for rain, but then you will have the mud dripping from the fleece part. This approach is like buying all-season tires for your car - it’s okay but not great in any season.

Looking at their website, I think this coat would work much better on a dog with a more robust build - there is a reason why on the promo pictures they have Golden Retrievers and Boston Terriers.

UsefulThingy Coat Review | Dog Gear Review

UsefulThingy Coat Review | Dog Gear Review

Where to buy

You can find this coat on Amazon.

The sizing is a little tricky; Mia needed XL, so be sure to check the sizing chart. Looking at the pictures, a large one would stay in place better on Mia, but with a raincoat, I wanted to cover as much from her back as possible. Also, the size chart asks for chest girth, but if you look at the pictures, the chest strap is farther back on the dog, so be sure to measure it there.

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!

UsefulThingy Coat Review | Dog Gear Review

Mia’s measurements

Many of you asked Mia’s measurements to better understand the different products’ fit. Your best chance of finding a good 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)

UsefulThingy Coat Review | Dog Gear Review

UsefulThingy Coat Review | Dog Gear Review

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