GRRgear! Gear Reviews

Posted by: geargals | October 28, 2009

Ruffwear Beacon

Ruffwear is kind enough to invest in Geardog’s safety and sent a care package his way. We were excited to see that the package included a Beacon safety light! The Beacon arrived just in time for us; last year’s strobe light had proven itself unreliable as the darkness descended this year. Since we Alaskans usually end up walking our dogs in darkness most of the winter, we have to find a way to keep track of our canine friends in the dark. The Beacon is a completely insanely bright red light that can clip to a collar or harness so you can track your dog from space. Well, maybe not from that far, but the Beacon is really super bright! We switched it on in daylight when we got it, and even then we were blinded by the brightness. This light is, er, noticeable to say the least. It has three modes – slow blink, seizure-inducing blink, and steady light. I usually use the steady mode, but if you really want to attract attention, the strobe mode will do it. On a collar or harness, the blinking light won’t shine in your dog’s eyes so they’re probably OK with it. Geardog never seems to notice the crazy lights I keep attaching to him, so the Beacon has his seal of approval.

The Beacon helps me keep track of Geardog on leisure walks and on searches and trainings, and helps drivers and other trail users spot him in the darkness. It’s another great tool that provides another layer of safety for dogs, so how can you refuse? Grab a Beacon for your dog today.
It’s a $12 investment that can help keep your dog alive and home where he belongs.

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Posted in Ruffwear, safety

Posted by: geargals | September 26, 2009

Booda Floppy Disc Toy

I can’t believe we haven’t covered the Floppy Disc yet. This toy saved Geardog’s frisbee career. See, even though Geardog is tough and rowdy, he has delicate gums. His plastic discs were wreaking havoc on his teeth and the audience at frisbee events was always a little skeeved by seeing blood smears on the discs during competition. I have to say, so was I.

Geardog and I were also a little annoyed by watching the other dogs kick our butts by using the Floppy Discs, which are made of soft fabric, making them slower in the air and easier for dogs to catch. Never ones to give up a competitive edge, we seized the day and switched to the Floppies. I’d love to say we’re now the national champions at frisbee, but in reality we’ve never actually made it back to a competition. Still, we like to play frisbee for fun, and I never go anywhere without the Floppy Disc just in case Geardog needs a quick workout. He’s yet to hurt his gums on the Floppy and despite its soft construction, he only goes through one disc a year. These things are tough! Which is good, even when you have a toy budget as big as Geardog’s.

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Posted in Booda, toys

Posted by: geargals | December 28, 2008

Planet Dog Cozy Hemp Collar

The Cozy Hemp Collar is my dog’s daily collar because it’s so soft and comfortable. Of course, I like to keep Geardog’s coat perfect and smooth, and I only use collars that don’t rub. The fleecy lining of the Cozy Hemp collar is just the ticket. I was afraid it would get lumpy and gross after a while, but I’ve been using it about a year now and it’s still as soft as ever. It’s got the standard adjustable slider and plastic quick-release, and seems to shed water and dirt to stay reasonably new-looking. I like the earthy colors and the distinctive look. You can order yours (or your dog’s) at
REI.com by clicking here!

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Posted in Planet Dog, collars

Posted by: geargals | December 18, 2008

Ruffwear Bark ‘n Boots Grip Trex

REI.com has your dog covered. Get the Grip Trex booties for $60 by clicking here!

Like many dog owners I’ve known, I’ve been skeptical about the Grip Trex boots. They seem so fancy, so trendy, so upscale. They also seemed gimmicky. Does a dog really need a textured, molded rubber sole, a breathable mesh upper, and a heavy duty closure? Geardog says YES! (Actually, Geardog says “bark! bark! grrrrr.” but that is a play growl and he only does that when he’s happy. And he’s happy with these boots.)

Geardog’s a tough fellow. He trains to rescue people from avalanches, which means he is out traveling in weather that makes other dogs stay at home snuggled in their beds (or their owners’ beds). We have to do our job in some seriously cold and unpleasant conditions, and no one can fault Geardog when his feet get cold. I can’t stand to see him hopping around trying to keep his feet off the snow, so I’ve been trying to find decent booties for a while now. Most booties are basically just little felt bags that go over the dogs’ feet, and they seem to work OK. They do tend to get wet and not stay on too well. So I was really happy to find that the Grip Trex boots really deliver. They are great for traveling over ice and even stayed on in very deep snow (although I didn’t really trust them to stay on and watched every step Geardog took in case one of them came off). I didn’t see any sign of the boots coming off, though I did cinch them up pretty tight just in case. One bootie kept twisting around on Geardog’s foot as we rode on a snowmachine, but we didn’t have that problem when Geardog was operating on his own four legs. And I must tell you, the super cute prance that Geardog does when he’s wearing these booties makes the price tag worth it. He doesn’t prance like he’s uncomfortable, he prances like he’s proud. I tell you, it is adorable.

For really cold weather, I put regular felt booties over Geardog’s feet and then put the Grip Trex boots over those. They do work for keeping warm but this arrangement requires regular monitoring to make sure the boots aren’t too tight for Geardog.

I can see that it’s important to get the sizing just right for these boots. You do not want to lose one of these boots, they’re not cheap – so get the right size. This means you have to have your dog stand on a piece of paper and mark or trace around his foot. (I sure hope you have a cooperative dog.) I guarantee you will be surprised at the size your dog needs. Geardog is 55 lbs and he wears a size small in Grip Trex boots. How dainty of him! Some dogs have hind feet that are smaller than their front feet, and this might be an issue for sizing. I believe, though, that you can buy replacement boots one at a time if you need to, and you could conceivably buy four boots separately if you needed a different size for hind feet and front feet.

Don’t be afraid to cinch these boots down pretty snugly – I think that’s how they are intended to fit and it will help them stay on. Geardog didn’t seem bothered when I strapped them on tightly, but again, your dog can’t talk so, as with any booties, make sure to monitor for discomfort or circulation issues.

So the Grip Trex booties are a success! And Geardog is happy and so am I, because when it comes down to it, what is cuter than a dog in booties?

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Posted in Ruffwear, booties

Posted by: geargals | December 16, 2008

Mountainsmith K9 Cube Gear Hauler

As the editor of both Grrgear and Geargals, I get gear deliveries almost every day. You’d think the Geardog would be used to it, and he is. But somehow he knows when a delivery is for him – and he was REALLY psyched to get the Mountainsmith K9 Cube in the mail. I was psyched, too, because the Geardog goes everywhere with me and I’m always looking for solutions of how to carry his stuff. The K9 cube is a great tool for field days, road trips, or general gear storage for the car. It’s got a separate dog food container that is lined so that the greasy dog food doesn’t get all over the place, a drop-down food tray with portable food and water dishes, two mesh toy holders, a lined towel compartment, and a side sleeve for other toys. Much to the Geardog’s delight, the cube even came with its own matching frisbee toy!

When the dog food container is in the cube, there is still enough room for a few leashes, harnesses, a coat, dog booties, and a few more vital doggie things. I’m pretty sure that the cube is meant to fit into Mountainsmith’s bigger Modular Haulers so that you can add your dog’s gear to the family’s gear and you’ll be on your way. This is a great solution for me because I always have dog gear in the car, and the cube helps to keep it organized while keeping the rest of my car clean and dry. I especially love the mesh pockets for slimy, dirty dog toys. They can dry without getting the rest of my stuff covered in slobber. So this is one piece of gear for dogs that is great for people, too!

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Posted in Mountainsmith, stuff for haulin' stuff

Posted by: geargals | December 3, 2008

Ruffwear Lunker Dog Toy

When conducting our reviews of dog toys, the Geargal and the Geardog spend a lot of time carefully assessing exactly what about the toy makes it a success or a failure. OK, fine – the Geardog either plays madly with the toy or he doesn’t, and the Geargal (that’s me) makes wild guesses as to why he does what he does with each particular item. It’s hard to say, because the Geardog’s taste in toys has evolved over the years from “furry and squeaky” to “flying” and finally to “big chunk of something on a rope.” This is what he’s into nowadays, and the Lunker is just the ticket. The Geardog digs the options he has with the Lunker; he can grab the rope and tug or grab the..the…lunk(?) and tug, or run, or shake, or toss, or whatever. Either way, he’s happy. I appreciate the non-slimy surface of the lunk, which, even when coated with dog slobber, wipes off pretty easily. This means I can carry it home in a pocket without having to scrape the slobber out of said pocket when I get home. That is, if I could fit the Lunker in a pocket – the thing is pretty big. Like the Gourdo, it comes in a big size and a small size. For dogs over 60 pounds, the big size is probably necessary, but more compact dogs would do fine with the small size and it’s easier to carry and stow anyway. However, the big size has a really nice, long rope, which would be a welcome addition to the small size, too. Longer rope = more pulling options, which means varied play which means happy dogs.

So, once again, the “something on a rope” formula is a success. If it can be pulled, tugged on, or ran around with, the Geardog digs it, but he digs the Lunker more than most. He likes the substantial lunk because he can get a good solid grip on it, and I like it because it’s low maintenance and easy to clean. Something for everyone, eh?

$15.00 at REI.com! It’s not too early to shop for your dog’s holiday gift. Click here!

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Posted in Ruffwear, toys

Posted by: geargals | November 28, 2008

Ruffwear Cloud Chaser Jacket

I’m really not a fan of dogs wearing clothes, but I AM quite the gym rat so I think this softshell jacket, with its resemblance to Under Armour gym wear, is really pretty cute. And I do admit that there are times when it’s so cold that even dogs need a little extra help staying warm. The Cloud Chaser is light and streamlined, and fits snugly around the chest and belly to keep intrepid canine explorers warm, dry, and toasty while charting new routes around the planet (or just their own backyards). I especially like how the jacket extends down around the belly without interfering with necessary functions, if you know what I mean. My unscientific guess is that dogs lose more heat from their bellies, since they have less hair there, so I like the design that covers as much of the belly as possible. If you have a lady Geardog, she could have her whole belly covered, but this is a unisex jacket so she’ll have to put up with a bit of a draft. When the day arrives that we’ll need a Grrgeargal web site for all the lady-dog-specific gear out there, we’ll know that dogs finally will have reached their full potential in society.

Shoehorning the Geardog into the jacket was a little difficult until I realized there is a full-length zipper for easy on/off. Poor Geardog. It’s one of the many times I’m sure he wished he could speak English, because I bet he sure thought I was an idiot, and was really sick of getting stuffed into this coat when there was a perfectly good zipper to make it easy. I like (and the Geardog appreciates) the liner on the zipper that keeps it from trapping the Geardog’s coat while operating the zipper. And the zipper doesn’t come loose no matter how much the Geardog exerts himself.

One thing the Geardog still isn’t sure about is the little sleeves. He seems to think they’re a bit restrictive, but once he gets running around, he kind of forgets about it. Still, they are a wee bit long for dogs, since I don’t think their upper front legs really need to stay that warm. I suppose they help retain some of the chest heat, but if your dog is THAT cold, it might be better to stay inside. Geardog appreciates the reflective piping for safety, and the 4-way stretch fabric that lets him romp as he pleases.

Sizing might be an issue, because of the sheer range of dog sizes that exist. 55-lb Geardog seems to fit fine into the Medium, but a little more wiggle room might be warranted. I’d like it to be just a little bit looser to allow for fur fluff and to have a little layer of air to trap Geardog’s body heat. A short-haired dog won’t have the fur fluff issue, but undercoated dogs need to plump up their coats to maximize heat retention. If I ever get my hands on a large size Cloud Chaser, I’ll try it and see what Geardog thinks. In the meantime he’s going to have to maintain his trim figure if he wants to wear the jacket (something I can relate to). He still thinks wearing clothes is kind of weird, but when it’s below zero, he’ll appreciate the Cloud Chaser.

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Posted in Ruffwear, jackets

Posted by: geargals | November 26, 2008

Nite Ize Dog Collar

This is one of the rare occasions in which I don’t much care what my dog thinks of this collar. Why? Because it helps keep him safe, so if he doesn’t like it, too bad. But he shows no sign of not liking it, and as a matter of fact it seems like any ol’ collar to him. So no issues there – which is good because this is one piece of gear that my dog doesn’t go out after dark without. The collar has a red LED light throughout its entire length, which really puts out a surprisingly bright, ultra-visible glow that ensures that your dog can be seen after dark. I know all my readers’ dogs are obedient and well-behaved, right? Still, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared for that one, isolated occasion in which your dog might not be listening to you. The Nite Ize collar could potentially save a dog’s life if it ran out into traffic or startled a hunter or any other similar doomsday scenario, which I’m very good at imagining on a daily basis, by the way. Most of the time, though, the Nite Ize is great for just keeping tabs on your dog when it’s dark out. And here in Alaska, it’s dark out a LOT.

I prefer the “steady light” setting but there is also a “blinking” setting, which would be nicer not to have, honestly. I’d prefer to just be able to turn the collar on and off without having to cycle through the “blink” setting. But for sheer visibility, this collar wins the day. I am consistently amazed at how bright and clear the LED is, and how I never lose sight of my dog even when it’s dark out – and peace of mind is always a good thing. The battery on my Nite Ize has lasted for 8 months now, even though I’ve accidentally left the collar on overnight a time or two. This is a good thing because changing the battery is a bit of a hassle – it appears that you have to actually unscrew the power source and open it up to change the battery. Chances are this is a safeguard for keeping the batteries from getting wet, so disregard my griping about what a hassle it is. Having dead batteries every time it snows or rains would be much more of a hassle. My point is that the collar is bright and visible, and the batteries last a long time. It’s a good, simple investment in your dog’s safety. And what is more important than that?

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Posted in Nite Ize, collars, safety

Posted by: geargals | November 26, 2008

Ruffwear Gourdo Dog Toy

Who knows why dogs like what they like? I’m pretty good at deciphering dog language, but all I can get from my Canine American friend when the Gourdo comes out is “GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME!!!!!!” He LOVES the Gourdo. He’s typically been a “squeaky toy” kind of dog so to be honest I didn’t expect him to like the Gourdo. Well, that shows what I know because this thing is a hit. His favorite activity is to run around in giant circles, holding the Gourdo in his mouth and shaking it so that the rope smacks him around the head. When he’s really digging life, he’ll hold on to the rope and let the Gourdo smack him on the head. I don’t know why this is fun, but this is a Gourdo-specific game so this toy must evoke some deep canine instinct that humans (or at least this human) have yet to understand.

Evidently the Gourdo is imbued with some sort of minty flavor (which I can’t tell from my dog’s breath, but still) that dogs love, and maybe chewing on the nubbly texture reminds them of something gross which we’d rather not know about. I mean, let’s be honest with ourselves – if our dogs could eat what they really wanted to eat, we probably wouldn’t be able to tolerate it. Luckily for us, dogs are kind enough to eat dog food and not complain. So we owe them a Gourdo, see?

We’ve been putting the Gourdo through heavy chewing and pulling sessions for months now, and it shows no sign of wear. Let me tell you that my dog really can go nuts pulling on toys so if there is a toy that will break, he will break it. This can’t be plastic – it’s got to be rubberized titanium! For real – my dog has two metal teeth because of a training accident. It’s like Terminator vs. Terminator, except one is a dog and one is a Gourdo.

I should mention that Gourdo sizing can be problematic. It really only comes in two sizes – small and large. The small is really pretty small, which wouldn’t be a big problem if the rope were longer, and the large is rather, well, large. My 50 lb dog likes the large size, but it is rather cumbersome for me to lug around because it doesn’t fit in a pocket too easily. A “medium” size would be welcome, but honestly it doesn’t seem to matter to the dogs; that’s more of an owner issue.

So, resounding endorsement from dogs and when dogs are happy, owners are happy. Ruff!

Join in the fun! From $9.95 at backcountry.com. Click here!

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Posted in Ruffwear, toys