Bring your furry friend with you anywhere thanks to these portable and comfortable backpack carriers.

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Travel + Leisure

If you’re like me and bring your dog with you on adventures, a backpack carrier is the perfect mobile home for your companion. I rescued my chihuahua-doxen mix Poppy when she was already in her golden years, which means she can’t get around as well. I travel with her more than 10 times a year, so I’ve tried a lot of different dog backpack carriers to ensure she never misses out on an adventure.

The Travel + Leisure team (Poppy and I included) tested various dog backpack carriers to see which ones performed best. We paid close attention to traits like quality, size, comfort, and portability while commuting, hiking, or visiting our favorite farmers market with our tail waggers in tow. We also got expert tips and tricks from Dr. Heidi Gordon and Dr. Beverly Blinn Knapp, veterinarians at Burnt Hills Veterinary Hospital. Here are the seven dog backpack carriers that impressed us the most (along with some cute photos of our four-legged testers!)

Top Picks

Best Overall: Ruffwear Hitch Hiker Backpack at REI $100 Jump to Review Best Ventilation: Sherpa Trek Tote 2-in-1 at Walmart Jump to Review Best for Airplanes: Roverlund Ready-for-Adventure at Roverlund.com Jump to Review Most Packable: Pups & Bubs Let’s Adventure Backpack Carrier at Pupsandbubs.com Jump to Review Most Comfortable: Little Chonk Maxine One at Amazon $120 Jump to Review Best for Larger Dogs: K9 Sport Sack Knavigate Dog Carrier at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget: SALE Apollo Walker Pet Carrier Backpack at Amazon $50 $38 Jump to Review

Best Overall

Ruffwear Hitch Hiker Backpack

Credit: Ruffwear $100 at REI View on Chewy View on Ruffwear.com Why We Love It

• Comfortable for both humans and dogs, this thoughtfully designed pack is perfect for any adventure.

What to Consider

• With sizes XXS to small, the carrier is best for smaller dogs.

Out of all the backpack carriers I’ve tried for Poppy, this one was the most comfortable and supportive, thanks to the multitude of adjustable straps and ample padding. With zippers on each side of the pack, the front folds open and flat onto the ground, so Poppy can walk into the compartment and sit before we zip her up. There is a small harness on the top of the pack that ensures she can’t accidentally fall out of the bag during rigorous activities.

Poppy weighs 11 pounds, and I was pleased to find that the pack distributes that weight evenly across my shoulders, back, waist, and chest. The sliding chest strap is always a thoughtful touch since both my fiancé and I were able to slide it up or down to get the perfect fit while carrying the pack. There are multiple useful pockets on the exterior, and I particularly like the small ones on the hip belt for treats or my phone. After using the backpack on a few day trips around New York City in the summer when it was 80-degrees Fahrenheit, I was grateful for the mesh back panel and perforated padding on the straps for breathability.

Ruffwear is based in my hometown (Bend, Oregon), and I always see people using the packs to hike and bike with their small dogs. Poppy didn’t wiggle around when she was in this backpack, which leads me to believe she was as comfortable as I was wearing this pack for long periods. Whether your adventure is small or big, this backpack is up for the adventure.

The Details: 19 x 10 x 4.75 inches (XXS); 19.5 x 10 x 5 inches (XS); 23 x 14 x 5.5 inches (S) | 1 pound 4.8 ounces (XXS); 1 pound 6.4 ounces (XS); 1 pound 11.5 ounces (S) | Polyester | Fits dogs up to 30 pounds

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Best Ventilation

Sherpa Trek Tote 2-in-1

Credit: Chewy View on Walmart View on Sherpapet.com $38 at Chewy Why We Love It

• It’s an enclosed carrier with two large mesh vents on the top and front that can be opened and closed.

What to Consider

• The materials feel slightly flimsy compared to other backpacks we tried.

This enclosed backpack carrier is a great option for those who want to keep their furry friend safely tucked away in the compartment. There are lots of vents on the top and front of the backpack to ensure that your pet gets fresh air throughout your journey. There’s also the option to unzip the mesh vents to let the dog stick their head out if desired. We found that the pack itself feels lightweight, even with a 7-pound chihuahua tucked inside. The backpack straps are adjustable and padded, and it comes with a fold-out quilt for a dog to lie on in or outside of the bag and a tote bag strap to carry the bag on your shoulder if desired. We had some slight trouble setting up the bag (it comes with two poles that need to be placed inside to keep it upright), and found that some of the materials felt a little flimsy. Still, the price seems reasonable for a versatile backpack that can be used on public transportation or airplanes since it’s an enclosed backpack.

The Details: 14.5 x 14 x 9.5 inches | 3.6 pounds | Polyester | Fits dogs up to 16 pounds

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Best for Airplanes

Roverlund Ready-for-Adventure

Credit: Roverlund View on Roverlund.com Why We Love It

• Designed with air travel in mind, we would feel comfortable using this to fly with a 13-pound poodle mix.

What to Consider

• We wish the leash tether on the inside was adjustable.

For those who fly with their furry friends, a carrier specifically designed for airplanes is key. Most airlines have requirements for pets in enclosed carriers, which is why the modular design of this backpack makes it fall within the guidelines. It can be worn as a backpack, but it can also be laid down flat onto the ground to fit under an airplane seat horizontally. There’s ample ventilation around the pack and a padded back panel to benefit both you and your pet (it also has a hidden laptop sleeve in the back!). We used the backpack to carry a 13-pound poodle mix, Rita, who was able to sit and lie comfortably in the backpack when it was in backpack mode or lying horizontally.

The top and side vents open up, so Rita could stick her head out while we wore the backpack. The structured design helped support Rita while resting, but it also made it easy to adjust and distribute the weight of the pack since the dog wasn’t sagging or moving around. Our only note was that the harness tether on the interior of the pack isn’t adjustable, which can make it awkward when Rita moves around to get comfortable.

The Details: 18 x 13 x 9 inches | 4.5 pounds | Water-resistant 1200D polyester | Fits dogs up to 25 pounds

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Most Packable

Pups & Bubs Let’s Adventure Backpack Carrier

Credit: Pups & Bubs View on Pupsandbubs.com Why We Love It

• The carrier folds down nearly flat, making it extra portable or easy to store.

What to Consider

• It can be used as a front carrier or backpack, but I found it more comfortable to wear it in the back.

My dog Poppy is an old gal, which means she can’t get around as easily as she used to. Any time I travel with her, I also pack this Pups & Bubs carrier since it packs down flat and can be a huge help when Poppy is done walking. It has a convertible design, which means I can wear Poppy in the front or the back thanks to the adjustable straps. I found that it’s more comfortable to wear it as a backpack because of the waist belt that helps distribute the weight better than it does in the front. It has a structured bottom, so Poppy can sit in the carrier comfortably, and it has a mesh cinchable top to keep her safely tucked in while we’re out adventuring. I also love the various pockets for storing my phone, wallet, and a water bottle. I opted for the mint green color, but I also think the black and desert tan colors are equally stylish. It’s a useful, stylish, and packable bag that is comfortable for long periods, so I think it makes a great carrier to bring on any adventure.

The Details: 12.6 x 11.6 x 8.5 inches | 1.59 pounds | Water-resistant nylon | Fits dogs up to 13 pounds

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Most Comfortable

Little Chonk Maxine One

Credit: Little Chonk $120 at Amazon View on Littlechonk.com Why We Love It

• We found it comfortable to wear the carrier in the front or back.

What to Consider

• There aren’t any pockets on the outside or inside of the backpack.

Pomeranian-poodle mix, Izzy, spends 24/7 with her owners, who particularly loved that this carrier can be worn comfortably in the front so they could face each other while walking. It’s also comfortable to carry the pack like a traditional backpack with the adjustable, padded shoulder straps and waist belt. Little Chonk designed this backpack to have helpful features with the comfort of the dog and the owner in mind, like the structured design from top to bottom to keep a dog’s back straight (we also love the inclusion of a tail port). It also has a neck collar built into the top of the pack for extra support while your dog is upright. We also used the backpack on a bigger 32-pound Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and found that it worked well with a bigger dog, too, being mindful of the 35-pound weight limit.

The Details: 17 x 12.5 x 4 inches (small); 22.5 x 14.5 x 5 inches (medium) | 1.96 pounds | Ripstop polyester | Fits dogs up to 35 pounds

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Best for Larger Dogs

K9 Sport Sack Knavigate Dog Carrier

Credit: K9 Sport Sack View on Amazon View on K9sportsack.com Why We Love It

• The extra-large size allowed us to carry our 35-pound labradoodle comfortably.

What to Consider

• It took some adjusting and maneuvering to get our dog comfortably situated in the carrier.

With a maximum weight capacity of 50 pounds, this extra-large backpack from K9 Sport is the perfect choice for medium-large dogs. We used it to walk with our 35-pound labradoodle, Austin, who was just the right size for the backpack. At first glance, we were convinced that he wouldn’t fit. After some minor wrangling, we got his body tucked into the main compartment with his front paws through the front arm loops, comfortably resting his head on our shoulders. We thought it was snug enough to keep Austin secure, but still roomy enough that his hind legs didn’t appear smushed.

It was easy to adjust the shoulder, chest, and waist straps to get an optimal fit, and while we could feel the weight of Austin, the backpack helped make it manageable to carry him. The pack itself is lightweight at 3 pounds, and the nylon material feels rugged and long-lasting. We like the pockets for treats or poop bags, and the aluminum frame gives the backpack a structured design when the dog is packed away, but the bag also folds down relatively flat for storage.

The Details: 22 x 11 x 11 inches | 3 pounds | Nylon | Fits dogs up to 50 pounds

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Best Budget

Apollo Walker Pet Carrier Backpack

Credit: Amazon $50 $38 at Amazon Why We Love It

• With a simple yet functional design, it’s a great choice that doesn’t break the bank.

What to Consider

• It’s not roomy enough for dogs to lie down in the carrier.

The Apollo Walker Pet Carrier Backpack is quite a bit cheaper than any of the other bags on this list, and it performed well during our testing. We took it with us to transport Arya, a 13-pound cockapoo, from New York City to the Hamptons on a multi-hour train ride. We love that the top, sides, and front unzip to reveal wide openings so Arya could get into the carrier with ease. There’s ventilation on the front and sides, and we ended up leaving the top open for Arya to stick her head out while out and about (there’s a harness tether to keep her from poking her head out too far). The pack itself weighs 3.55 pounds, which was a little heavier than expected, but the padded shoulder straps and chest buckle helped balance the weight of the backpack when we traveled with the dog in it. Our only note is that the pack seems designed for dogs to sit while traveling, and although Arya could lie down, she was noticeably cramped.

The Details: 16.8 x 16.6 x 11.4 inches | 3.55 pounds | 600D oxford cloth | Fits dogs up to 18 pounds

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Our Testing Process

With the help of our four-legged companions, we selected 10 dog backpack carriers to try out. We tried options for small, medium, and large dogs, and picked different styles of backpacks to see which ones performed best during our travels.

With our initial round of testing completed, we’ll continue to note the durability and functionality of each backpack for the next six months to update this guide with new findings. We’ll also keep our eyes peeled for any new dog backpack carriers to test out.

Travel + Leisure

Tips for Buying a Dog Backpack Carrier

Consider where and when you’ll use it 

As the owner of an older dog, I typically use a dog backpack on short to long excursions, where I know Poppy will get tired and want to rest. For flying or long road trips, I prefer to use a more traditional dog carrier from Dagne Dover and Away. A dog backpack carrier can be used for longer trips, depending on the design and regulations on public transportation. For example, an enclosed backpack can work for flying, but you’ll want to make sure to check the airline’s restrictions on carriers. For activities like hiking or sightseeing, a backpack carrier with an open top works great, but you’ll want to look for ample padding and support if the activity is fairly rigorous.

Make sure your dog fits the dimensions and weight limit

The first thing you should do before buying a pet carrier is to confirm your dog’s weight and measurements. Every backpack carrier should list the weight and size guidelines for the backpack (if there are multiple sizes of backpack, there should be guidelines for each individual size).

“It is important for the dogs to be able to choose positions so they can stay comfortable and avoid pressure sores,” Dr. Gordon said.

“The dog should be able to sit in it and move a little [so] they can be comfortable,” Dr. Blinn-Knapp also adds.

Prioritize safety and ventilation 

For enclosed carriers, be sure to check that there are multiple points of ventilation throughout the backpack. “The carrier should have a lot of mesh in the sides so that they have plenty of ventilation,” Dr. Blinn-Knapp said.

If the backpack has an open top, then that’s less of a worry, but you can also check the specifications to see if there are any design features that help with breathability in the main compartment of the backpack. In addition, look for built-in leash tethers or harnesses to keep your pet secured to the interior of the backpack.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

T+L associate editor Anna Popp has spent the past few years racking up frequent flier miles with her elderly chihuahua-doxen mix, Poppy. While Poppy is still living out her glory days, Anna always travels with a portable carrier to ensure Poppy never gets left behind. She owns four backpack carriers, including the best overall and the most packable ones on the list above.

T+L also chatted with Dr. Heidi Gordon and Dr. Beverly Blinn Knapp, veterinarians at Burnt Hills Veterinary Hospital, to get expert tips and tricks for using a dog backpack carrier.

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