Best Waterfowl Dog Vest (Jan 2023 Update)

Bought an XL for my lab which was the largest size offered. It was well made but too small. Disappointed that Carhart doesn't offer larger sizes.Beeb47

Would give 5 out of 5 stars, but the stitching must all be burned down or will unravel, like most products today, but the sizing is way off. Regular size AKC German Short haired pointer fits the xl at 1 year old. Need xxl for my older gsp still slim.MartyP

Ran this vest through the season and it was great, keep the dog warm and the handle for getting the dog in a boat, blind, or truck was great. Now after running the dog quite a few days of phesant hunting thick cover the velcro to attach the bottom to the top has severed off where the flaps are sewed together. I think I'll be able to sew in some supports to get it back in working order, but it should really have something up there to help.Alex122

This west was great for adjusting and it looks awesome. However my dog vest is very thick, too thick and it’s already falling apart. The chest is flaking off and he has only used it on 2 hunts. We guide crane, duck & geese and for my dog to look up is very difficult. It’s so thick that his neck is all wrinkled up and you can tell it’s difficult for him. It’s a nice vest but it needs to be redesigned.Boss hog outlaw

It’s by far worth spending the $119 as it has several adjustments that make the fit perfect for most any dog. I got tired of wasting money on vests that needed to be trimmed or have my dog grow out of them. No trimming necessary. Side panels lock everything in and add a layer of protection. While not listed as a floatation device, it is neoprene and does have some buoyancy. Well worth the money.Truckee

I never write reviews or anything and this made me so annoyed I had to write a review about this. This is actually my first review on any product. Bought this for my 75lb British lab. #1 it says it will fit and adjust up to a 100lb dog. No way that is true from my experience with it. Unless you want the panels hanging on by a thread being they Velcro together. #2 a total pain putting on, adjusting and changing the camp patterns on the vest. The vest fits so tight and so awkward that it’s a absolute pain putting it together. #3 very thin chest plate cover, almost looks to fit like a bikini or something. #4 also seen a bunch of other reviews about the threads/seams pulling apart and I can complete see that happening. #5 it gets one star and one star only being that the Velcro on the vest is very strong. I didn’t even make one hunt with it, threw it in the trash. Didn’t even want to waste the time or energy selling it or sending it back. Wouldn’t want to make someone else waste money on this. Going to get a tangle-free fest or a much easier vest to put on and something that doesn’t have to be assembled. Long story short they took the easiest task and turned it into a Difficult task. WOULD NOT RECOMMENDDBordelon

Product does not hold up well. Sized appropriately for a lab at roughly 55 pounds. Had a previous vest from other brand that lasted 6 seasons, many times hunting 40+ days a season in Minnesota/Wisconsin ice water. This vest didn’t hold up over 10 hunts.Jacob L.

I felt compelled to keep anyone else from purchasing this flawed product. It seemed like a warm vest for my 4 year old Deutsch Kurzhaar who doesn’t have enough fat to stay warm during frigid duck hunts. Unfortunately the engineering is flawed. The shoulders where the flimsy neoprene attaches to the warmer sides began fraying after 1 hunt. On the 6th hunt, I noticed something floating in the water while loading up robos, etc. It was the vest. Initially, I thought the zipper had merely failed, which it had. In addition, the vest at the shoulder had completely torn away. Do not purchase. Dive Bomb Industries has a much sturdier vest that unfortunately is presently is out of stock. Rig Em Right must know of this design flaw and should either fix the design or cease selling what will not last even a season.BAFrog92

I bought this vest, because of the excellent fit. During the first season of using the vest for waterfowl hunting, the fabric/neoprene started to rip around the upper chest / leg area, after my dog only wore it 3 times. I had my wife sew the neoprene to prevent the vest from completely unraveling. Unfortunately, the vest just ripped in another adjacent spot and the neoprene & fabric completely tore. Very poor construction. I was very happy with the fit, but the vests aren't durable and won't stand up to normal use. My dog only wore the vest 6 times!Miss River Hunter

Looks like a high quality product. Unfortunately my chocolate lad is HUGE and it didn't fit. 2 clicks on my phone and I was printing a return label. Anyone finds this in a 4xl, let me know!Chipster71

Carefully measured my Yellow Lab with size chart and ordered a 2XL. 2XL was way too small so I payed $12 to return for a 3XL. I would recommend ordering at least 1 or 2 sizes larger than you calculate from their size chart.coos-canvasback

Really please with how this fits my 5 month old lab. The only thing is that they run very small size wise. My guy only weighs 36 pounds and the medium fits him perfectly even though he is rated for the small. Decided to go larger with the medium in hopes that he could have some room for growing. I don't think he has any room for growing in the medium like I had hoped but it fits him like a glove and does not restrict his movement. Curious to see how the Velcro holds up.Brownie226

Excellent vest that fits my dog perfectly. The vest quality is outstanding and the design is excellent. Easy to put on the dog and it will definitely protect the dog from all types of issues.william9522

I have an English setter that would run himself to death if he could so he is very long and .lanky for a 50lb dog. The 3 velcro straps over the back gave the right amount of flexibility to fit him when he sheds weight around the waist during season. He would also get cold easy after slimming down and I haven't caught him shivering yet using the vest on colder, wet days.Eric

Really please with how this fits my 5 month old lab. The only thing is that they run very small size wise. My guy only weighs 36 pounds and the medium fits him perfectly even though he is rated for the small. Decided to go larger with the medium in hopes that he could have some room for growing. I don't think he has any room for growing in the medium like I had hoped but it fits him like a glove and does not restrict his movement. Curious to see how the Velcro holds up.Brownie226

I have an English setter that would run himself to death if he could so he is very long and .lanky for a 50lb dog. The 3 velcro straps over the back gave the right amount of flexibility to fit him when he sheds weight around the waist during season. He would also get cold easy after slimming down and I haven't caught him shivering yet using the vest on colder, wet days.Eric

Product keeps the Dogs warm as well as dry, is easy for dogs to move in, & they can’t tare it up or off each other . Very well made! This product has been tested by Two GSP dogs…it’s toughGSP sisters

This pack has an amazing amount of capacity considering how light it is and I love that the additional zippers and pockets allow you to compress the pockets for a more streamlined fit. Big BUT here though, my dog is a pit-mix and has thinner fur, so the unpadded straps chaffed him so badly that I noticed the issues because there was blood on his chest. It's also really hard to get on and off because one side doesn't have a buckle so you have to stuff your dog's leg through on that side which can be tough if your dog is squirmy like mine is.Katie J

Nu heeft onze hond ook een UD rugzakje! Ook bij maat S zijn de zakken ruim genoeg. Er past aan beide kanten bv een waterflesje van 330ml in en dan heb je nog wat ruimte over voor eten, snackjes, extra lijn oid. Je moet wel zorgen dat het gewicht aan beide kanten gelijk is, maar dat is altijd bij honden rugzakjes. Pasvorm is oké, het is op 4 plekken verstelbaar. Haar eigen tuigje past er gewoon nog onder ook en met rennen blijft het rugzakje heel stabiel op haar rug zitten, nog beter dan bij de mensenrugzakken ;).Merlijn

Flimsy construction, fit didn't match size guide chart… just not at all what the description made it sound like and no where near as rugged as the Drake swim vest my dog out grew. I returned it and ate the extra shipping costs. I've got tons of Drake gear, this was the only dud I've seen. There's better and cheaper priced swim vests out there. Don't settle for junk.chris b.

Well made. Giving 4 stars because I haven’t gotten to have my dog wear it in a hunt so far. I got it after the end of last season.Gary P.

Really like the new vest and the sizing chart allowed me to select the one that really fits my dog well, which has always been somewhat problematic with other brands I've had in the past, and the handles are a great feature. Have only used it a few times this season for early teal and goose, but its holding up well. I gave it 4 stars for now because longevity is still to be determined.Ted K.

After watching video reviews of the top brands, we chose this Ruffwear PFD for our Golden Retriever. We are happy with the purchase, except for one thing that is very important to us. The clip ring on the top of the jacket, under the handle is made of plastic instead of metal. Since we use this on a boat and need to clip her to a lifeline, this flimsy plastic clip ring is totally inadequate. The ring on the photo on the stock photo on the Moosejaw site looks beefier than what we got. See attached pic. We'll replace it with a more substantial stainless hook or clip. Other than that, great jacket. Would have given it 5 stars if it weren't for the thin plastic clip. Concerning Moosejaw, great company as always. They get 5 stars!Scott

We absolutely love this life jacket! We used a cheap one last year while our pup was growing, but now that he's fully grown we wanted something that will last. This jacket is super functional and really easy for our pup to get on and off. It gives him so much confidence swimming and he goes in on his own now and will swim around past where he can stand all by himself, without needing someone in the water. We love this jacket so much. It's really durable, but not too bulky or heavy. The quality is 10/10. The grab handle is a must and it's nice and strong so it can actually be used if needed. We definitely recommend this jacket.Faith D.

I posted a 3 star review two days ago about the float coat. The lack of a five star review was due to what I assumed was a sizing issue. My dog is a medium, however, the girth straps on the medium float coat were lying directly on my dogs abdomen when clipped, so the sides of the life jacket did not fully meet underneath my dog. The concern with this is that when my dog is swimming, the buoyancy of the jacket would naturally cause the jacket to float towards the surface of the water. In other words, the area of my dog that experiences the closest contact with the lifejacket while swimming, is the area of the life jacket with the least amount of padding (the exposed girth straps). If I have to haul my dog out of the water with the handle, those straps are digging into my dog's abdomen without any padding. Again, I assumed this was maybe a sizing mistake on my part. However, Ruffwear responded to my review and said that the exposed girth straps on my dog's stomach are not a sizing issue and that "the foam padding does not have to touch under their belly". Now that I know this is a design choice rather than a sizing issue, I'm changing my review to 1 star. If a sport-worthy/high activity human PFD's greatest point of contact with the body was two straps, we would never consider that PFD safe enough to put on the market. Ruffwear talks a big game about rigorous testing of all of their products, but I don't see how their product designers can think that this is an acceptable product. My dog's belly was red and chaffing after just one day of use because of the straps, so I am pretty sure that the foam padding does have to touch under their belly. I also want to mention that I'm not an internet-complainer and I don't just troll around all day writing bad reviews. However, I am a huge dog gear junkie and I am frequently buying and trying new dog gear. Ruffwear used to always set the standard for quality and thoughtfulness in their products, but they have been disappointing me a lot in their newer designs. This is just another nail in the coffin for me.Liz

My wife and I love hiking and camping with our Olde English Bulldogge. Because of his breed we always have to be conscious about keeping him cool. This a great product to help with that. We can definitely tell a difference when he?s wearing it. Less panting and more energetic. It does dry out on hot days quickly so having extra water is something that you?ll need to plan for. Overall it?s a great tool to help with keeping your dog cool.Austin H

I got it for my senior dog who is in hospice. She has nasal cancer, kidney disease, and high blood pressure. She loves long trail walks, but the heat is dangerous for her, so we've been walking in early morning combined with trying things like the swamp cooler. It does work well–at the end of the walk the area under the jacket is cool to the touch–but the sizing is strange. It's only adjustable in one spot, so there's no real way to make sure the part that goes over her chest fits closely; it just kind of hangs there and irritates her. The next size down would have been too small. It's a great idea and a great quality jacket, I just wish it were more adjustable.Princess Josephine

Our dog (border collie) was between sizes. The correct size for length gave a girth size just on the borderline between small and medium; a lesser girth size, which would have fitted well, gave a back length about 4" shorter.. We chose the larger size; it does give the body coverage we wanted; the securing straps are pretty much fully tightened to get the girth secure – so not a lot of leeway in terms of sizing. In terms of the product itself, it seems very well designed and manufactured; materials used seem substantial. All buckles and straps are hidden so risk of catching them on anything (like agility equipment) is very low. We used the vest in terms of cooling off after agility; getting into a hot car at the start of a journey and dog walking in temperatures in the high 20's. All have a significant impact on keeping the dog cool or, if hot, cooling him down much faster than otherwise. The best test was yesterday when walking mid afternoon in high temperatures. When the walk and play was over, the dog was panting but only as much as if it had been a spring day. 15 minutes in the cool of the house and he was totally back to normal. In terms of use, we are finding the easy way is to keep an extra water bottle in the car and pore its content onto the vest at the start of the walk. 500ml is adequate; 750ml gives it a good soaking. There's not much squeezing to be done (it held the content well) and the vest seems to work to about an hour. It also seems to dry quite quickly once the walk is over. Yes, it is silver grey and it will pick up/show grit/dirt if the dog lies down on loose ground with the vest on but it either just knocks off or, as has happened once when there were grass stains, a quick wash brought it back to new. I've noticed that some other dog walkers give sideways looks at the dog wondering why he is wearing a coat in such hot weather – they're usually intrigued when they find out for the first time its purposeRobin J.

Beautiful jacket. I Measured my Mastiff and according to the chart it said he would be a size 26. Unfortunately, it was a bit snug and I was unable to zip up both sides. He's a big Boy!! I like the fact that the front arm holes are big enough to not cause and chaffing and zipping the jacket from the top makes it easier to put on for me. Exchanging the jacket for a size 28 was seamless. Incredible customer service and the new jacket came within two days. Thank You so that Canada Pooch!! Oh did I mention my dog loves it. The vest is so well made and super warm for those cold winter days. Also, the nylon helps keep him dry and the snow doesn't stick to the jacket like a wool sweater would. Definitely recommend this vest!!!!Debra R.

I love those vest. It is easy to get on and off, fits my dog ( a Weimaraner) perfectly , keeps her warm and is standing up to almost daily running on city streets and in the woods. It is difficult to find a coat that fits because my dog is tall for her breed but very slim and I sometimes have to buy a greyhound coat to get enough length through the body. This vest fits her perfectly and it is insulated along both the back and stomach, keeping her warm even on long runs. My dog needs a well insulated coat because Weimaraners have so little fur. Also, the coat comes on off so easily and the zippers along each side of the back don’t catch. It also looks great on my dog- she gets tons of compliments wearing it. The only constructive suggestion: extra reflective piping or patches to increase visibility in the dark would be a great add! Thank you Canada Pooch!Jill D.

I have purchased several C. P. products and this is probably my favorite. It is not only stylish and very warm but also easy to put on and take off due to the dual zippers. The neck toggle can be tightened to help keep the cold air out. I have had trouble with sizing of some other C. P. garments because they're either too short or too big in the chest, but this one fits my long, slender dog very well. The zippered harness slit provides easy access for attaching the leash and is long enough to allow me to use either of two different harnesses that have the rings in different positions.David E.

This coat is really remarkable. I had to get a bigger size to go around my Yorkie/Silkie's tummy so it is a little too long down her back but I have no worries she is going to get out of the harness part of the coat. I just wish it had some material to go down her front paws a bit, but it is warm.Diane G

This coat is really nice. I love that it can be her harness, and eliminates the struggle of finding a good fit that her regular harness fits with. The color is gorgeous on my white pup. Very thankful for BaxterBoo's discounts, because this was pricey, IMO.carol27shore

I have many of these coats. I love them because in the winter I can use them as a layering. I use them when it rains, and when the weathers is a bit chilly for my chihuahuas.anibeseder

My pup swam in this great, looked comfortable. Wish there were more variety in sizes. Small was juuuuust right but medium was too big.Vic

Very buoyant, dries pretty quickly, and not restrictive at all. Our pup walks around like it’s her normal harness, and it keeps her afloat no issue. The neck part is a bit bulky, but her head stays well above water when swimming, so there’s no downside!Sasha

Very well made vest and my dog doesn’t seem to mind wearing it. It’s expensive, but worth it as the handles are sturdy and if I need to pull my 65 lbs dog out of the water, quality is important.undefined

Haven't used it yet but the fit is very good and it's easy to get on the dog. I'm trying to buy another one and they're sold out so must be good.Debby M.

We've had several Service Dog vests over the years and this one seems to stand above the rest as the most well made and best value..mazook4427

Purchased for my pit-bull doesnt secure to dogs body properly! Always slips off or to the side even when locked down tight! Cant be used to walk the dog! Waste of money.rob.nyc

So glad Gooby came out with some new colors in a lightweight jacket. Love the D ring too. Don’t need a harness. Just throw it on and attach a leash! Perfect!!!Korena S

Very cute lightweight puffer jacket for my small dog. This is perfect for Texas winter and is not too bulky. Gooby jackets are cut very narrow so work better on long skinny dogs. My 7 pound Yorkie/Chi mix wears a small and it fits him like a glove. My poodle mix is 13 pounds and is too wide chested to fit into Gooby items. They are well made and I love the built in d rings so you do not need an extra harness. Gooby makes quality products!!Lisa G

I have an older dog that is hard to fit a coat on. Her tummy is now a bit bigger than her chest. I bought and returned a different coat but this one is a keeper! It fits great and the quality is amazing. So very glad I picked this one!!Nancy T

Nicely made, and good looking product. Sizing is a little tough. Based on other reviews and the weight options, I chose a Large. Probably should have stuck with a Medium. My GSP is pretty tall and lean, and weighs in at 65 lbs. The first time out, his underarms were worn pretty raw. The Large is a little long for him, and gave the impression my pup had a wedgie! I've cut out the flaps (per the provided instructions) and will give it another go to see if it provides enough free motion to prevent the under-arm rubbing.Nick540

I thought it was a great fit for our very hard to fit Chesapeake Bay Retriever. On our first hunt at our Hunt club with this vest on Thanksgiving Day, the last strap ripped from the seam. We just went for an hour before brunch. The Hunt club isn’t rough terrain like public lands so we were surprised it ripped so easily at the seam. Ironically, I posted a review yesterday because it looked sturdy and was a good fit.Jcborn

This is a really good chest protector with the added neoprene. My 80+ pound lab fits the large just perfect but my small 40 pound pup is not big enough across the chest for the medium. There is a area that can be trimmed for the leg area without cutting into the threads but I elected to not cut it and wait for his chest to expand a bit. All and all this is a great protector for the price. I ordered one for a lab and liked it so much I bought another for him. However the first one I bought had full Velcro like the picture shows. The 2nd one I got has intermittent pieces which doesn't strap down as well as the full Velco. This was the only reason I did 4 stars instead of 5..Brushwhacker

The product fit well and seemed durable. On our second trip out Abbie our GoldenRetriever disappeared into some heavier brush. She came back about twenty minutes later without the vest. Pretty hard to ask CT for help so I reached out to Browning fro see about a replacement. Flat no. If your dog likes to get free in the woods consider another safety vest with better securing mechanisms.dextercat48