I don’t learn about you, however I’m routinely probably the most skeptical when corporations self-proclaim their product because the “finest.” The Timberdog Ruffrest is a type of, and being a gear junkie with an adventure-loving canine, I needed to place that declare to the check.
We spend quite a lot of time exterior and continuously take our canine all over the place. I used to be most excited to see if all of the options really functioned — i.e., made life simpler — when touring with our canine.
We hauled the Timberdog Ruffrest on tenting journeys and weekends away for near a yr to check this mattress. The one state of affairs the place we didn’t check it was air journey. By “we” I imply, myself, my associate, and our fluffy 60-pound German Shepherd/Pyrenees combine.
It held up. Each function is considerate and constructed with function (although some might use enhancements). There are a ton of canine beds available on the market and whereas the “journey” section appears to be rising, I’ve but to see something like this one. For those who journey, the Timberdog Ruffrest must be excessive in your consideration record.
In brief: A lot of the journey beds available on the market are a easy pad, gentle and packable. The Timberdog Ruffrest is gentle and packable as effectively, however it’s also absolutely constructed with extra non-bed options than you may think about. (Be aware: The Timberdog is gentle contemplating each operate it serves; however is not at all minimalist or ultralight.) For those who journey or camp along with your canine continuously, you’ll be thanking your self … and so will your pup with this one.
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Supplies
900D nylon, sherpa fleece, YKK zippers, and Duraflex buckles -
Sizes accessible
S, M, L -
Dimensions
24-34″ (medium), 42×30″ (giant) -
Verified weight
11 lbs. (measurement giant) -
Detachable/washable cowl
Sure
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Nicely-designed options -
So many features -
Zipper pockets to cover stuff away when not in use -
Mechanically cleanable exterior -
Works as a sleeping bag -
Hanging organizer -
Significant touches like reflective loops and strap -
The canine beloved it!
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Noisy -
Leash {hardware} is decrease high quality -
Worth -
Sturdiness of froth mattress over time
Timberdog Ruffrest Journey Canine Mattress Overview
Let’s begin with the general building of the mattress. The highest is fleece and has a built-in pillow when the deployable sleeping bag beneath just isn’t in use. The complete building of this mattress is constructed from 900-denier nylon, which has proved to be fairly sturdy on concrete, grass, and the underside of our pup’s steel crate. And sturdy sufficient to resist wear-and-tear testing from our 60-pound canine as effectively.
Constructed like a suitcase, the mattress unzips to show a separate organizer with 4 plastic zipper pockets (two small, two giant) with a Velcro strap to hold the organizer on a tree, hook, or door. The organizer lays flat inside the 2 items of froth to zip itself contained in the mattress for journey.
The one catch? For those who use the mattress throughout journey like we do, it makes the mattress lumpy and meals baggage can open and spill inside their zipper pockets. Otso doesn’t appear to thoughts. I discovered that we frequently simply carried the organizer individually like we’d some other bag, due to how typically we had been utilizing the mattress operate.
Added Extras: Not Only a Mattress
The satan is within the particulars, proper? For this canine mattress, the reply is sure. It’s as much as you whether or not you care about them or not.
Water bottle pocket. The Timberdog Ruffrest has a built-in mesh pocket stashed away in a zipper pocket, that may maintain as much as a 48-ounce Nalgene.
Reflective outer loops. Every nook fringe of the mattress has reflective loops that may be seen at night time at a campsite or used to hold the mattress when not in use, or for after washing it. It is a good function for tenting for certain.
Reflective strap that doubles as a leash. As somebody with a big canine that tends to drag, I might not belief this reflective strap as a leash. In a pinch? Perhaps. For a smaller canine? Certain. However the clip {hardware} that connects it to the mattress (or your canine’s collar) doesn’t appear sturdy in any respect. It’s a terrific idea, however falls quick in my ebook. Even a carabiner would have been somewhat extra trusting than this clip.
Changing the Mattress Right into a Sleeping Bag
Snug, and integrated just for once you want it, the sleeping bag pulls out of its storage pouch and zippers proper onto the highest of the mattress. Timberdog is within the technique of submitting its baggage for official temperature rankings, and I additionally don’t wish to quote how efficient it appeared. Largely, as a result of our 60-pound floofer thrives within the chilly. Some canine would possibly want these function and find it irresistible, and a few would possibly have to get used to it, however ours didn’t.
There have been two cons with this operate. Constructed with the ingenuity to not have a spot within the sleeping bag in order that air might get in, the sleeping bag attaches with a zipper system and buttons in every nook. Nevertheless, I had quite a lot of hassle buttoning the sleeping bag and ultimately gave up completely.
There additionally seems to be a foam insert on the prime of the bag, which had me involved for any pups who’re chewers. It appeared to be coated with the identical outer materials because the bag, and I might see it being destroyed fairly simply with sure pups.
Lastly, the medium and large-size beds even have an added zipper pocket to stash outer compression straps. Mixed with the sleeping bag operate, there are tons of zippers alongside the mattress. Actually, I didn’t use this function a ton as a result of we’d open up the mattress within the backseat for Otso to lie on throughout automobile rides. However for packing away, air journey, and simply saving area on the whole — I can see the straps are helpful.
Machine Washable
The very best information? The mattress itself is machine cleanable. Nicely, for probably the most half. You could take away all the within foam items, however these may be sprayed down and hand-washed themselves. For the outer half (that incorporates the sherpa fleece and reflective items), the instructions say to make use of a top-load washer and by no means to dry it, or it’ll shrink. Timberdog additionally examined and recommends making use of NIKWAX wash or wash-in to assist enhance the waterproof capabilities over time.
I washed ours following the instructions, and it labored completely.
Pay Shut Consideration to Sizing
The Timberdog Ruffrest is available in three completely different sizes and three completely different colours. I used to be assured at 60 kilos, that Otso would want a big mattress, and I ignored the suggestions from the proprietor of Ruffrest to attempt a medium. After seeing how giant it actually was, I agree. A medium would’ve match. With the massive, he has additional room to sprawl, however we undoubtedly might’ve saved some weight, bulk, and area.
For reference, the massive measurement measures roughly 42×30 inches and weighs somewhat below 11 kilos — that’s with out something within the organizer. In accordance with Timberdog, the small weighs 4.5 kilos and the medium weighs 6.6 kilos, which appears way more manageable, additionally given the variety of add-ons in-built.
The Con: The Crinkly Foam Inserts
Our canine additionally was fairly hesitant at first to lie on this mattress, due to the loud crinkle the duvet materials makes. He’s a rescue, so it’s undoubtedly a consideration in case your canine has nervousness or possibly an antagonistic response to noises, like our Otso. For over $200, it’s a bummer that this mattress falls into the “noisy” class.
As for the standard, I used to be stunned once I took the inserts out to scrub the duvet to search out scratch marks in it, shut sufficient to name them holes. I believed the surface was constructed fairly effectively, however the punctures appeared to interrupt by means of. Take into account preserving your canine’s nails trimmed, particularly in the event that they prefer to scratch — or when you plan to place this mattress to arduous use. Proper now it doesn’t have an effect on the froth, however it’s one thing to contemplate for the longevity of the mattress (that is after our yr of testing).
Conclusion
On earlier journeys, my associate and I might haul round Otso’s large lumpy Duluth Buying and selling canine mattress (inconvenient) or carry a Ruffwear pad with us for tenting (not as bed-like). Whereas they labored, nothing felt this sturdy and helpful.
The Timberdog Ruffrest isn’t only a easy duffel. No, that is the equal of modular, packable baggage with inside compartments, practical devices, and flexibility galore. The Ruffrest canine mattress is a giant improve to our busy journey lives, and I feel it’ll proceed to be successful for years to come back for our household.
We’ll simply should dwell with the crinkle noises.
