Star and Titan's Hiking Essentials

Everyday Essentials
These are items we bring with us on all of our hikes, short or long.

1. Earth Rated Poop Bags.  My dogs poop a lot.  I've used a lot of poop bags over the years and these are definitely my favorite.  They're durable and super affordable. They make a vegetable based bag option, which is 100% plastic-free, and they also have lavender scented bags.

2. Night Ize Pack-A-Poo.  I thought this was kind of silly when I first saw it, but now I'm hooked.  Instead of leaving your poop bags on the side of the trail to search for on your way back down, or tying them on your backpack and having them swing around and stink up your trail time, you can place your dog poop into this lined bag, roll it closed, clip it to the outside of your pack, and keep the stink at bay until you reach a trash can.  Genius!

3. First Aid Kit.  Unexpected things can happen anytime you head outdoors with your dog and it's always good to be prepared.  A standard human first aid kit will cover a lot of situations that may occur with your pup.  A couple of items that I always make sure I am carrying are Benadryl (Star and Titan are allergic to some pollens, which make them break out in hives, and bee stings), and a roll of medical tape.

4. Ruffwear Roamer Leash.  Star is not super social, so she stays on a leash during most of our walks.  The Roamer allows me to keep my hands free while we hike, and it also gives Star a bit more freedom to roam and explore even though she is leashed.  The bungee feature of the leash keeps both of us from getting shorted while scrambling around on rocks.


5. Zuke's Mini Naturals.  Treats!  Because all good dogs deserve yummy snacks.  Zuke's are made with natural ingredients and Titan and Star love them.








Short Jaunts
These are items we like to use on shorter walks and quick hikes.

6. Ruffwear Front Range Harness (Star).  I love this harness for Star for hiking, running, and biking together.  It doesn't rub or chafe, it has two quick and easy clip in points, and it keeps Star's leash from getting caught under her paws because it keeps it on the center of her back.  Plus, it comes in awesome colors and I think the dogs look really cute in it.

7. Ruffwear Quick Draw Leash (Titan).  Titan gets to be off leash most of the time, and the Quick Draw is a great tool for parking lots or sections of trail where we need more control of Titan.  The Quick Draw clips to your dogs existing collar and then wraps around and velcros to itself during times when you don't need it.  Just pull the red tab and all of sudden you have yourself a leash.  

Day-Hikes
These items are great to have on longer hikes or during hot days when you want to have more water available.

8. Ruffwear Singletrak Pack.  This streamlined pack is wonderful for times when you just need your dog to carry water and not food.  Because it has such a low profile, it doesn't get as beat up as larger packs when your dog sideswipes trees and rocks.  You can easily fit 1 liter of water as well as a bowl and poop bags.  The handle on top is great for assisting your dog over obstacles as well!

9. Ruffwear Bivy Bowl.  This collapsable bowl is great because it packs down small, but expands to be large enough for you dog to easily drink from it.






Overnights
On longer trips, Star and Titan carry their own food, water, and sleeping gear.

10. Ruffwear Palisades Pack.  This pack has all the bells and whistles.  First, it is made on a harness frame, so you get two products in one.  Just unclip the saddlebags and you have a great durable harness underneath.  There are compression straps on the side of the saddlebags so you can cinch down your dog's load and make it more streamlined.  Despite being a high-volume bag, the Palisades pack is never too bulky so your dog can still maneuver easily.  This pack can easily fit food, water, bowls, treats, and even bedding!  Just make sure your dog is used to carrying a load, or work up it by slowly adding weight.

11. Ruffwear Highlands Bed.  The Highlands bed compresses down nice and small so that it fits into Titan and Star's pack.  It provides insulation and comfort at the end of a long day of hiking.






I'll be the first to admit that I have a little bit of a gear obsession when it comes to outfitting my dogs.  We own tons of dog gear for all types of adventures, and these are just a few of the many products that I love!  There is not much that I enjoy more than getting outside with Titan and Star and having new adventures together.