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The freedom promised by a hands-free dog leash sounds almost too good to be true, offering the ability to grab a phone call, take a swig of water, or pick up dog poop without hassle, as well as allowing for 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, Paw Lifestyles, 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 late February, Big Boy is still learning how to walk on a leash without dragging his human down the sidewalk. He is equally muscular and stubborn (sidenote: he’s 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 paws, and where his human stands on two!
Hands-free dog leashes generally look like a big lasso, with a portion of varying length that’s a conventional leash that attaches to your dog’s collar or harness, and another portion that fits around the walker’s waist like a belt, or as a crossbody loop, 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 stood up during these various real-life scenarios.
Note: Running with Big Boy is not an option, so testing that particular aspect of these kind of leashes did not happen in our review.
The leashes tested were selected based on the overall reputation of the brand, and the quality of the leash itself. 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 5 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 allowed 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 was 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, allowing an additional ease of movement for 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 additional safety for nighttime walking.
Sidenotes:
- The belt accommodates waists up to 48 inches.
- Tuff Mutt recommends this leash for dogs weighing more than 30 pounds to feel the full benefit, as smaller dogs might not pull enough to need the bungee.
The Best Hands-Free Dog Leashes: The Runner Ups
Ruffwear Roamer Dog Leash
This leash by Ruffwear leverages sturdy stretch webbing for the bungee to keep humans and dogs connected, while still allowing plenty of flexibility for exploration. Aside from feeling super-secure with an easy-to-use waist buckle and a tough-looking metal talon harness clip, the leash can be converted to be used as a conventional hand-held leash.
This leash actually comes in two sizes, a 5.5 foot size that stretches to 7 feet, and a 7.3 foot size stretching to a whopping 11 feet. We tested the longer version, which in fairness to its generous length, would be better suited for high energy sports such as running, biking, or skiing with your dog.
Our best use case was at a public park where Big Boy wanted to take in the scene and check things out, but at a distance from other dogs. With the leash still attached at the waist, BB’s mom sat comfortably, while keeping BB close and connected the whole time.
Notable features and aspects:
- The leash is multipurpose and can be used in both a hands-free and hand-held capacity.
- The combination of the bungee and super long length make it a great option for wanting to be connected but with more flexibility.
- Ruffwear offers great color options and different sizes to make it more customizable for your dog.
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.
- 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, 6-foot leash, crossbody leash, hand-held leash, two dog leash, and a tether.
Big Boy and his mom did fine with this leash, but ultimately he is a simple guy without the need for all the extras.
Notable features and aspects:
- For those who want to test out a couple hands-free options plus still have a normal leash, this is a good option.
- The reflective material is a useful, additional 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 or are stubborn on walks and is designed for dogs up to 150 pounds!
Similarly to Tuff Mutt’s version, this leash is comfortable and easy to use.
Notable features and aspects:
- The bungee allows for a little bit of additional movement, keeping us both comfortable, but it’s not too slack.
- The handle is helpful if you want more leverage with your dog. 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 smartphone, poop bag, or treat pouch 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.
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 particularly significant way. It’s a basic, wallet-friendly hands-free dog leash worth considering if you’re on a budget and looking for an entry-level style.
Notable features and aspects:
- This leash is less than $20.
- It has a velcro quick-release option, in case you need to separate from your dog quickly.
- It’s has a fairly understated design, without any bells or whistles, which is nice if you like a simple style.
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, the hands-free dog leash that’s right for you and your pet will be dependent on a few different factors. You’ll want to consider:
- Type of activity and length of leash: Longer length 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 leash: If your dog is great on leash, the length you need will depend on how much room you want to give your dog to roam. If your dog is still learning how to walk on 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, such as our top pick, the TuffMutt, or runner up, the Kurgo.
As for where your adventures take you, we hope it’s an exciting journey leading to a lifetime of cherished memories with your pet!
