Ruffwear Flagline Harness

 Ruffwear Flagline Harness

"The Flagline harness is a fast, light and comfortable dog harness with a handle that keeps dogs in their flow, from scrambling in the backcountry to conquering everyday obstacles. A handle and load-dispersing chest/belly panel make for easy lift and assist in a nimble design good for all day wear. High adjustability and easy on/off make the Flafline secure and accessible, giving dogs a little boost and a lot of freedom when the path ahead is nothing but flat." - Ruffwear

The Ruffwear Flagline is our latest product up for review as part of our Podgy Paws Ambassador role. We've been testing this out over the past few weeks on various adventures and I'm so pleased with it. I was excited to test this out as I'd been eyeing up the Flagline for some time but in the past Noddy has been in between sizes with Ruffwear harnesses and struggled to get a perfect fit. We went to meet Ashley at Podgy Paws for a fitting and went with the XXS which to my surprise fitted brilliantly, either Ruffwear have altered their sizing slightly or Noddy has just grown up in to a more 'normal' size/shape since last time.

Firstly, I think the Flagline looks really smart and we've received quite a few compliments on it already. It's available in three colours currently - Meltwater teal (which I was very tempted by, it's gorgeous), Red Rock which is also very smart and Granite Grey which is what we went for, thinking logically that all of our many different leads will go with it because grey goes with everything! 

Secondly, although it may seem a more substantial harness with the extra belly strap (which is great for 'houdini' dogs as they can't back out of it) the Flagline is extremely easy to get on and off. It has a whopping six points of adjustment for an optimal fit and doesn't require the dog to step in to it or lift legs up which is very handy for dogs with arthritis or mobility issues. The clips are really quick and easy to fasten and all feel sturdy and secure.

Next up, the handle! I love having a handle on a harness but so many don't support the dog and they end up almost sliding out of the harness or are uncomfortable whilst being lifted. Because of the third belly strap and placement of the Flagline's handle, dogs of all sizes can be lifted safely and securely whilst their weight is well supported evenly. The handle for Noddy has been great for lifting him in and out of the van, out of water or helping him whilst swimming and for lifting him over obstacles whilst out walking such as large rocks, fallen trees, walls, stiles etc. The handle would also be great for helping dogs with mobility issues, post-op etc. This is something I'll touch on further at the end, in comparison to the Ruffwear Webmaster. 

Water.. Noddy loves water and can't resist lying down in any river, stream or even puddle he finds. We also get rather a lot of rain living in the Lake District but the Flagline doesn't seem to soak up much water and dries out really quickly. Most times it's dried itself out by the time we get home and if not, we just hang it up to air dry and it doesn't take long at all. We've seen no kind of water staining, it dries good as new.

Additional Features

• Lightweight
• 3 Leash attachment points
• Debris-resistant liner
• Reflective trim for visibility in low light conditions
• Light loop for attaching 'The Beacon'
• 6 Points of adjustment
• Allows balanced and comfortable lifting

Flagline vs Webmaster: so one of the reasons I was excited and intrigued by the new Flagline is because our beloved Mastiff, Mia, wore the Ruffwear Webmaster which is a very similar but older design with the 3 straps and handle. The Webmaster was so great for Mia, it was a strong and secure harness for a large strong dog, it was durable and lasted years (it's still in perfect condition now despite an inner layer of dog hair), it was especially good for supporting her post-op after various orthopaedic surgeries and was also fantastic for her to do treadmill hydrotherapy in. Mia could be a bit dog reactive and the handle was great for some extra control as well as being super secure, I had total peace of mind she couldn't get loose. Again it was great for helping her in and out of the car and supporting her weight evenly when she needed assistance. The Flagline seems a new and improved version of this so I'd be confident to say all of the above attributes could also be said about the Flagline although I've only used it on little Noddy, the same features are still there along with the same quality. The Webmaster however was a bit bulkier and on very small dogs like Noddy it felt a bit overkill to me and just didn't look quite as comfy as the Flagline does. Absolutely brilliant on a larger dog but for Noddy and Tess it felt a bit much. The Flagline is so much more lightweight and the design although almost identical has been altered a little, especially around the strap area, it's less bulky and is comfortable for Noddy as a small dog and he's more than happy to do everything he'd normally do whilst wearing it. This is one of the biggest points for me, the level of security and safety whilst being lightweight, comfy and allowing free, natural movement.

Mantrailing (searching to find missing people) is one of Noddy's regular activities and he's been testing this harness out here too. I find the flagline is a great choice for Mantrailing when fitted correctly (as all harnesses should be) because it's strong, secure, easy to get on and off, it has the handle to help over any obstacles and has multiple leash attachments. The one further down the back of the harness is sometimes my preference when trailing whereas on normal walks I'd use the more central metal attachment. This harness is also great in all weathers which is very much needed in mantrailing as you never know quite where you'll end up, or when.

Overall I can't fault the Flagline at all, any minor reservations I had initially were gone almost immediately after our fitting and first walk. It really is a great improvement and I would 100% recommend to any active adventurer or anyone who needs that extra security and support for whatever reason. Being so well suited to both active dogs and those who need some extra assistance with restricted mobility, this is a harness I believe could be a life long essential for most dogs and if it's anything like our other Ruffwear harnesses (the Front Range and Webmaster) it'll never need replacing. It may seem pricey but it's an investment that will last and is totally worth every penny.

Podgy Paws have a great range of harnesses and stock all the best brands, if you're interested in buying the Flagline you can visit them in store for a free fitting or order via their online shop. The team will always be happy to help you online or over the phone if you're not local and need some extra advice. Also feel free to drop us a message about our personal experiences if you have any further questions, would like us to do any specific testing or would like more photos/videos etc.

Big thanks to Podgy Paws and Ruffwear for providing Noddy with a new wardrobe staple which will join him on many more adventures. 

Podgy Paws Pet Shop

4-6 Tithebarn Street

Keswick

CA12 5ED

T: 017687 73737

E: info@podgypaws.co.uk

W: podgy paws.co.uk