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The freedom promised by a hands-free dog leash sounds almost too good to be true: you can grab a phone call, take a swig of water, or pick up dog poop without hassle, plus enjoy your body’s natural movement while running or walking—all with your pup by your side. But how do hands-free dog leashes actually perform in the wild?
To find out, we put five hands-free dog leashes from top pet brands—Pet Safe, Ruffwear, Tuff Mutt, Iron Doggy, Paw Lifestyles, Zee.Dog, and Kurgo—to the ultimate test: walking a 65-pound Staffordshire Terrier named Big Boy.
How Big Boy and his Human Tested the Hands-Free Dog Leashes
Rescued in 2020, Big Boy is still learning how to walk on a leash without dragging his human down the sidewalk. He is equally muscular and stubborn (and also a big softie!), making BB the perfect subject to test how a good hands-free dog leash handles, both from where he stands on four legs and where his human stands on two.
Hands-free dog leashes generally look like a big lasso, with a portion of conventional leash that attaches to your dog’s collar or harness and another portion that fits around the walker’s waist like a belt, thus enabling the “hands-free” experience.
To test these top hands-free dog leashes, Big Boy and his mom performed a series of basic tests over a two-week period in late summer.
First, they practiced gearing up, noting the ease or difficulty of getting ready for a walk. Then the pair walked for prolonged periods around their bustling but peaceful urban neighborhood, encountering pedestrians and other dogs, noting how the leash held up during various real-life scenarios.
Note: Running with Big Boy isn’t an option yet, so we didn’t test that in this review.
We were looking for sturdy leashes made of reinforced materials that were unlikely to break, snap, or fall apart; wouldn’t get too tangled given BB’s habit of aimless wandering; and could withstand his inclination to pull (he’s working on it).
Here’s how the leashes stacked up for both pup and human.
The Best Hands-Free Dog Leashes: Our Dog- and Human-Tested Review of the Top 6 Brands
Our Top Pick: Tuff Mutt Hands-Free Dog Leash
The Tuff Mutt hands-free dog leash was our top pick for the best overall option, and we feel certain it was Big Boy’s favorite, too. Here’s why:
- The 4-foot leash is a great length—it allows Big Boy to stop and sniff (a favorite activity) while keeping him close and in his lane.
- The bungee allows for a little bit of additional movement, keeping both human and dog comfortable, but it’s not overly slack or a tripping hazard.
- The best part is the handle on the leash itself, which is especially helpful in giving Big Boy an extra tug to keep him moving or to pull him a little closer when passing other dogs.
- Unlike the other leash options, the clip attaching the leash to the belt slides back and forth, offering flexibility to the walker.
- Tuff Mutt offers a lifetime guarantee: If you don’t love your leash, you can send it back!
- The leash comes in a variety of colors, all of which contain some reflective fabric to provide safety for nighttime walking.
Sidenotes:
- The belt accommodates waists up to 48 inches.
- Tuff Mutt says dogs over 30 pounds will get the most mileage out of this leash (smaller dogs might not pull enough to need the bungee).
The Best Hands-Free Dog Leashes: Runners Up
Iron Doggy Hands-Free Dog Leash
This hands-free dog leash by Iron Doggy is one of our favorites. It’s both easy to use and highly adaptable, a balance we can appreciate. Like many of our other top picks, the leash features flexible webbing to give dogs like Big Boy the right amount of room to adventure.
Notable features:
- Each leash is adjustable, supporting three different lengths (30″, 46″ and 54″).
- The hook on the belt moves back and forth with your dog to allow better mobility.
- There are two handles for more leverage and control.
Sidenotes:
- The belt accommodates waists up to 48 inches.
- Made in the USA.
Ruffwear Roamer Dog Leash
This leash by Ruffwear leverages sturdy stretch webbing to keep humans and dogs connected while still allowing plenty of flexibility for exploration. We liked the super secure, easy-to-use waist buckle and tough-looking metal talon harness clip. Best of all, it can do double-duty as a conventional hand-held leash.
It’s available in two sizes: a 5.5-foot size that stretches to 7 feet and a 7.3-foot size that stretches to a whopping 11 feet. We tested the longer version, which seems better suited for high-energy sports like running and biking with your dog.
Our best use-case was at a public park where Big Boy wanted to take in the scenery at a cautious distance from other dogs. With the leash still attached at the waist, BB’s mom sat comfortably and kept BB close and connected the whole time.
Notable features:
- The leash is multipurpose and can be used in both hands-free and traditional styles.
- The combination of the bungee and the extra length make it a great option for sports with your pup.
- Ruffwear offers great color options and different sizes.
Sidenotes:
- The belt accommodates waists up to 48 inches.
- The length of the leash we tested was too long for casual walks with Big Boy, and he often tangled himself in it. It’s better suited for more aerobic activity than city walking.
- The bungee is pretty stretchy, so you don’t get a lot of leverage if you have a dog that pulls or is stubborn when you want to keep moving along. It was hard to get Big Boy’s attention just by giving it a little tug.
Kurgo Quantum 6-in-1 Hands Free Dog Leash
For the dog owner who loves multi-purpose products, Kurgo’s Quantum 6-in-1 dog leash might do the trick. Its many configurations include a 3-foot leash, a 6-foot leash, a crossbody leash, a hand-held leash, a two-dog leash, and a tether.
Big Boy and his mom did fine with this leash—but ultimately decided he’s a simple guy without the need for all the extras.
Notable features:
- For those who want to test out a couple hands-free options but still have a traditional leash, this is a good choice.
- The reflective material is a useful safety measure for those who walk and run with their dogs at night.
- Kurgo has a lifetime warranty in case of manufacturing defects.
- The custom steel carabiner is also a bottle opener. So really, it’s a 7-in-1 leash!
Sidenotes:
- Six options is awesome, but we found that we really only needed two and didn’t take the time to adjust the leash back and forth.
- The “courier” crossbody option might not work for all body types, as it makes the leash fairly short and requires the dog to stay relatively close to you.
Paw Lifestyles Retractable Hands-Free Dog Leash
Paw Lifestyles’ Hands-Free Dog Leash attaches comfortably to your waist and can be either 48 or 72 inches long. Outfitted with both dual handles and a bungee, it’s great for dogs who pull and is designed for dogs up to 150 pounds!
Like Tuff Mutt’s version, this leash is comfortable and easy to use.
Notable features:
- The bungee allows for a little bit of additional movement, but it’s not too slack.
- The handle is helpful if you want more leverage. Big Boy definitely needs this while he’s still learning how to walk on a leash.
- Paw Lifestyles offers a lifetime guarantee. If you don’t love your leash, you can send it back.
- This leash is another affordable option for budget-minded pet parents (retails around $22).
- A built-in pouch for a smartphone, poop bag, or treats allows you to bring more with you while still keeping things hands-free.
Sidenotes:
- The belt accommodates waists up to 48 inches.
- Available in black with blue, green, or magenta accents.
Zee.Dog Hands-Free Leash
via zee.dog
Great for the casual walker, this lightweight rope leash can be worn around the waist or shoulder. Of all the leashes we tried, this was by far the least complicated and the most—dare we say—stylish. If your dog is a heavy puller, it might not be what you’re looking for. But for pups who walk easy, it’s one of our favorites.
Notable features:
- The leash is sleek and uncomplicated.
- The E.Zee lock adjustment buckle makes it possible for you to use this as a regular dog leash too.
- This leash is adjustable from 3’ 3/4’’ to 7’ 10’’.
Sidenotes:
- Unlike some other hands-free leashes, this one does not feature a handle for more leverage.
PetSafe Nylon Hands-Free Dog Leash
The least expensive of the bunch, PetSafe’s straightforward hands-free dog leash is a good option for those prioritizing a budget. Our test duo found this leash got the job done but failed to stand out in any significant way. It’s a basic, wallet-friendly hands-free dog leash worth considering if you’re looking for an entry-level style.
Notable features:
- This leash is less than $15.
- It has a Velcro quick-release option, in case you need to separate from your dog quickly.
- Its design keeps things simple, getting the job done without any bells or whistles.
Sidenotes:
- The leash came disassembled and was the least intuitive to learn how to put together and use.
- PetSafe only offers this leash in black.
- There isn’t an additional handle or bungee, which some walkers may want.
Hands-Free Dog Leashes: The Takeaway
Ultimately, finding the right hands-free dog leash for you and your pet will depend on a few different factors. You’ll want to consider:
- Type of activity and length of leash: Longer leashes are great for activities such as running or biking, where your dog will keep a steady pace and slack on the line will be minimal. They’re less suited for casual walking, where the line can easily get bunched up.
- How your dog walks on a leash: If your dog is great on a leash, the length you need will depend on how much room you want to give your pup to roam. If your dog is still learning how to walk on a leash, a shorter leash with a handle is a good idea.
- Additional features and wearing options: If you’re looking for a basic, entry-level model, go with something like the PetSafe. If you’re looking to level up with extra leash handles, additional pouches for treats and poop bags, reflective piping, or something that offers multiple wearing options, try our top pick, the TuffMutt, or runner up, the Kurgo.
Happy adventuring!
