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If you have a dog who wears a harness or loves being outside, you’ve most likely heard of Ruffwear. This popular brand is well-known for its high-quality and high-performing dog gear. But with premium products comes a premium price, leaving some pet parents to wonder if Ruffwear harnesses are worth the cost. And if so, which one is the best to buy?
To find these answers, we reviewed three of Ruffwear’s most popular harnesses: the Web Master, the Front Range, and the Hi & Light. Here’s what we sniffed out.
Ruffwear Web Master: Biggest, Sturdiest, Most Supportive
Sizing, materials, and key features
The Ruffwear Web Master is the largest and sturdiest of all three harnesses we tested. Its anatomical design distributes pressure evenly across your pup’s chest and back, protecting their neck and joints. It also has a top handle to “lift and assist” your dog whenever they need an extra boost. Five points of adjustment, a foam chest plate, and a padded belly straps ensure a comfortable and customizable fit. Like the other two options on our list, the Web Master has reflective trimming and two leash attachment points, though these are both on the back for this one.
Rover test pups review
Both our Rover test pups for this harness are leash-reactive and powerful pullers. Radar is a Bully breed in his golden senior years but still has a lot of spice. He’s pretty reactive to anything that moves: cats, dogs, people, paper bags blowing in the wind—you get the picture. Roo, on the other hand, is a young Lab mix that exudes forever puppy energy. She’s also dog-reactive, easily excitable, and has an astronomical prey drive.
For Radar, his human wanted a harness that put less stress on his now-elderly and arthritic joints. She found that since the Web Master attaches the leash to the back, it evenly distributes pressure across Radar’s body when he pulls and offers her more control. She liked that the harness has lots of padding to keep him comfortable and that she can adjust the fit as his weight fluctuates due to old age. The top handle also comes in handy when lifting him into the car, and the reflective properties make them extra-visible so people can see them coming, no matter the time of day.
For Roo, her human was more interested in using this harness for challenging terrain, as they often take the road-less-traveled to avoid dogs on hikes. Roo hates being picked up but didn’t mind being lifted like a briefcase across giant rocks while wearing the Web Master. Her guardian also found the handle helpful when restraining Roo from chasing after critters or steering her off the trail to avoid encounters with the rare passing dog.
Our testers, however, found that the harness is a bit complicated to put on as it combines both a step-in and over-the-head design. It’s also quite stiff until broken in and can be very hot during warmer months, especially for dogs with double coats and long hair.
Final verdict: Great for safety and comfort, but a lot to put on
The Ruffwear Web Master is a well-built harness that helps keep your dog safe when they pull, have big reactions, or hike over rough terrain. It’s also a smart choice for seniors and dogs with arthritis or joint issues. However, it might not be the best fit for pint-sized pups and dogs who run hot. It’s also a bit awkward to put on and take off, which some dogs might find unpleasant.
What we love:
- Sturdiest option out of all three harnesses
- Handle on top for extra control
- Evenly distributes pressure across the chest and back
- Heavily padded to protect joints
- A solid choice for dogs who are reactive, seniors, pullers, or serious hikers
To consider:
- Thick harness is hot in warmer weather
- Stiff and cardboard-like until it softens over time
- A bit awkward to put on and take off
- Might be too bulky for pint-sized pups
Ruffwear Front Range: A Versatile Everyday Winner
Sizing, materials, and key features
With over 15,000 reviews on Amazon, Ruffwear’s Front Range may just be their most popular harness. We’re pretty big fans of it ourselves. It’s a great all-around choice for daily walks, training, hiking, or whatever outdoor adventure you have in store. While it doesn’t offer as much widespread support as the Web Master, the padding across the chest, belly, and back adds plenty of protective layering. It also includes two leash attachments (one on the front and one on the back), adjustment points, an ID pocket for dog tags, and reflective trim.
Rover test pups review
Australian Cattle Dog mix Enzo joined Roo in this Ruffwear review. In fact, the Front Range was the first harness both pups ever had after adoption. While Roo has outgrown her initial puppy-sized harness, she’s been wearing the same Front Range for the past two years since she reached her full adult size. Enzo, however, still has the same Front Range in his rotation six years later—talk about lasting power!
In our experience, we’ve found the Front Range to be durable and versatile. It’s held up well to Roo’s reactivity and rambunctiousness, providing enough padding for daily use without being too hot. We also appreciate the flexibility of having a leash attachment point on the back and front, letting you quickly go from loose leash training mode to a long-line decompression walk.
It’s also pretty easy to put on once it’s been properly fitted. The straps and buckles, however, can be a bit difficult to adjust at first, requiring a lot of patience from both you and your pup.
Final verdict: Tough everyday option with maximum versatility
We think the Front Range harness is a fantastic option for everyday use and a good fit for a variety of dogs and outdoor adventures. It’s tough and built to last, even with frequent washing, though some of the lighter colors start to show stains over time at the back clip. Out of all three harnesses, it’s the most versatile to slip into your daily routine.
What we love:
- An all-around great harness for everyday use
- Versatile: can go from neighborhood walks to training and hiking
- Padded chest and back help protect pullers
- Easy to put on once adjustments are made
- Long-lasting and can grow along with your dog
To consider:
- Straps can be hard to pull through buckles
- Lighter colors can stain around the back clip
- Tends to run big, so you might want to size down
- Extreme pullers might need the extra support of a handle
Ruffwear Hi & Light: Highly Adjustable, Quick-Drying Gear
Sizing, materials, and key features
One of Ruffwear’s newer releases, the Hi & Light offers the lightest weight and the most minimalistic design out of all three harnesses on our list. The low-profile construction features a debris-resistant liner that helps keep the harness clean by repelling dirt and grime. It’s also been recently updated to better fit dogs across all sizes. Like the Front Range, the Hi & Light has a leash attachment on the front and back, four points of adjustment, and reflective trim.
Rover test pups review
Roo and her sidekick, Biscuit the Beagle, were the testers for the Hi & Light, which, spoiler alert, exceeded our expectations. At first glance, we weren’t sure if the material would be strong enough to withstand Roo’s antics, but we were pleasantly surprised at how well it handled daily walks and woodsy hikes.
One of the first things we noticed was how well the Hi & Light fit Roo’s frame. Out of all three harnesses, it definitely has the most customizable fit. So much so that Roo’s Hi & Light fit Biscuit perfectly when she needed to wear it for an emergency vet visit—this is especially impressive as Roo and Biscuit have a weight difference of 15 pounds and completely different body types.
We loved the breathability, making it the harness of choice during hotter days. It also dries quickly when wet and is the easiest to clean out of the three.
Final verdict: Lightweight option for unusual shapes and summer adventures
If you have a pup who hasn’t had luck finding the right harness fit, you might want to give the Hi & Light a try. We were floored by how well the same size accommodated two very differently shaped dogs. We also loved the ultra-lightweight material and think it’s a great choice for warm weather and dogs who run hot. The Hi & Light, however, may not be the best option for extra-large dogs or extreme pullers (though Ruffwear’s Flagline harness offers a similar construction with a handle if you want a lightweight feel with a bit more control).
What we loved:
- Lightest harness on our list
- Minimalist design is great for small dogs and pups who don’t like a heavier feel
- Easily adjustable for a custom fit
- Easy to clean and dries quickly
- Ideal for warm weather and dogs who run hot
To consider:
- Not as padded or sturdy as the Front Range or Web Master
- Might not be the best choice for giant dogs and strong pullers
Final Review: Should You Buy a Ruffwear Harness?
If you have a dog who loves being outside, then a Ruffwear harness is a solid investment. Though the three we reviewed had their own set of pros and cons, overall, their value was well worth the price. Each harness offers a range of five sizes (xx-small to large/x-large) and multiple colors. Which one you choose, however, will depend on your specific dog and needs. Happy trails await!
How We Chose
The products featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing and a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms. We prioritized Ruffwear harnesses that were highly rated, durable, and comfortable. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.