So I've been putting off getting a good harness but getting to the point where we should get one. My dilemma is between the Webmaster or the Palisades Pack, which from my understanding is the Webmaster plus packs, but you can use it as the Webmaster alone, correct? Our uses right now don't really necessitate having the packs since we do short hikes, nothing crazy. And I really shouldn't spend double the amount of the Webmaster, but I also don't want to need the packs down the road and have to get a whole set up again, since it doesn't seem like you can buy the pack attachment without the harness base. Any opinions? Unfortunately I didn't have the extra funds when Backcountry was having their 4h of July sale, its been a tight month. I'm trying to see if I get an REI coupon or another sale on Backcountry.

I got the Approach Pack and I absolutely love it.

Can you detach the packs from the base on the Approach?

i hear good things about the alpine outfitters custom harnesses and they are fair priced too

Nope, you can't. Honestly we see no reason to. They have been a big help for carrying our water, too. I've loved having it.

From ruffwear's site:

Built as a two-part system, the saddlebags detach from the underlying harness for rest stops and creek crossings. Saddlebags are positioned to distribute weight over the shoulders, while the Web Master Harness gives you a secure connection to your sidekick and a handle to assist your dog over obstacles. Each bag has a main compartment, an interior water bottle pouch, an exterior pocket for the compression system, and a top-side stash pocket for pick-up bags and trail treats.

I would say go for the pack, for no other reason that it would be fun to have the dogs carry their own water.

*Edit - that is on the Palisades, not the Approach.

Palisades pack is WORTH IT!!!! love the detachable harness for car rides or walks in the park, and the ease of having the harness on and just having to clip the pack on the back when we get to the trail, its not fun trying to slip packs over heads and hooking everything up with a husky that will not stand still!  since bode is just about full grown i say invest the money now so you don't have to later, after all you may end up in a state that you will need a pack

edit: since you have met S&J, jack has the med and sierra has the small packs in case you were wondering on size. Jack could fit the small as he has room in the MED but i wanted the larger saddle bags for him.

The Palisades by design is versatile, so if there are ever times you would need a harness for control or stability, like swimming, short hikes, close in training/control, then having the harness alone without the packs would be helpful. If you don't need this versatility, then the Approach would be a cheaper, equally useful purchase.

It's really just a matter of your need for versatility. We love using the harness alone, so the Palisades is our best bet.

Thanks guys. I really do want the Palisades, I was just hoping to get some validation on saving money by just getting the Webmaster. I guess I should know better than that on here!

Haha, cheers. Needless to say if you won't need a pack ever than the Palisades is a giant waste of money, but if.......

MGoBlue wrote:

Thanks guys. I really do want the Palisades, I was just hoping to get some validation on saving money by just getting the Webmaster. I guess I should know better than that on here!

i played that game on trying to save by getting other brands and such and you know what, they fell apart or did not work as well, so i have now learned the money spent up front for a great product is so worth it in the end, i have also used that train of thought on my own gear, i now have plenty of extra gear laying around that i can set any one up to go have fun with me!

Thanks for the info on the sizing Jenn. Bode has kind of a narrower chest, but he's tall and long. I'll measure him and see what it says on the chart. You say Jack has room, does that mean room to adjust bigger, or its a little loose on the tightest setting?

It looks like his girth is around 26-27". 27" is the top end for the small, low end for the medium. Go up or down?

on the tightest setting it is loose on Jack in the chest plate area but i can adjust the 2 belly straps with room to go either way.

since he is still a yr his chest area may fill out over the next yr and the small may then be to small, i would do the Med just in case, if you get it from either k9, RW or REI they would exchange it for you if you are not happy with the size.

jbealer wrote:

Palisades pack is WORTH IT!!!! love the detachable harness for car rides or walks in the park, and the ease of having the harness on and just having to clip the pack on the back when we get to the trail, its not fun trying to slip packs over heads and hooking everything up with a husky that will not stand still!  since bode is just about full grown i say invest the money now so you don't have to later, after all you may end up in a state that you will need a pack

edit: since you have met S&J, jack has the med and sierra has the small packs in case you were wondering on size. Jack could fit the small as he has room in the MED but i wanted the larger saddle bags for him.

So do you use the Palisades detachable harness when you take your dogs on everyday walks? In the future I'd love to get a Palisades pack and if the harness could also be used as her everyday harness since it's detachable, that'd be a huge incentive.

i dont use a harness to walk them every day but i do use it for car rides when i attach them to the zip line i have in the back to keep them safe. and i use it if i know we will be in busy areas, but if you do walk with a harness you for-sure use it for that. its worth every penny i think! and backcountryK9.com is having a sale right now to

jbealer wrote:

i dont use a harness to walk them every day but i do use it for car rides when i attach them to the zip line i have in the back to keep them safe. and i use it if i know we will be in busy areas, but if you do walk with a harness you for-sure use it for that.  its worth every penny i think! and backcountryK9.com is having a sale right now to

Great to hear! We recently bought a harness for Kai and it has made a big improvement in her pulling, so i think we'll stick with it. Good to know that it can be used for that as well, it makes the purchase more easily justifiable