Best dog cooling vests

It can be hard to savor summer when your heat-sensitive dog wilts in temperatures a tick above 70 degrees. My adventure pup, Olive, loves the outdoors, but even moderately warm weather can have her cutting walks short and seeking shade. I hate seeing her uncomfortable, so I tapped the expertise of two veterinarians to find out whether a cooling vest might help extend our summer outings while keeping her safer and more comfortable. They explained that the best dog cooling vests can be a helpful tool for dogs prone to overheating, as long as they're used alongside other heat-safety measures.

Based on my experts' guidance, I chose five dog cooling vests to test with Olive in June and July as temperatures began to climb in Western New York, ranging from the mid-70s to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. All of the vests use water and evaporation to help keep dogs cool, which the veterinarians I spoke with say is the safest and easiest type of cooling vest to use. To see how this gear performs on bigger dogs, I also drew on testing from Insider Reviews editor Sarah Saril, who evaluated four vests with her 70-pound German Shepherd.

A quick look at the best dog cooling vests

• Best overall: The Canada Pooch Max Chill Cooling Vest is made from lightweight, flexible fabric that's comfortable for dogs to wear and easy to stash in a travel tote. It provides full torso coverage, is simple to put on and take off for rewetting, and features an easy-to-adjust belly strap for a custom fit.
• Best for large dogs: Of the vests I tested, the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Cooling Vest accommodates the largest of dogs and feels durable enough to withstand their big adventures. While it's slightly bulkier than the other vests, it provides effective cooling with breathable mesh layers, and its light-colored fabric can help reduce heat absorption from the sun.

How we tested dog cooling vests

My dog, Olive, loves being outside, but she's not a fan of the heat. I wanted to find the best dog cooling vests to offer her some relief, so I asked two veterinarians what to look for. Based on their input, I developed a series of tests to evaluate the performance of five cooling vests across several key categories. Fellow Reviews reporter Sarah Saril also tested four of the five vests with her 70-pound German Shepherd, Davey. Saril was unable to test one of our contenders, the Kurgo Core Cooling Vest, because it was out of stock in Davey's size at the time of testing.

Here's a rundown of how we evaluated the cooling vests to land on my top two picks.

Fit and adjustability: A good fit allows dogs to move around comfortably while ensuring the vest maintains contact with the body. I put each vest on Olive to see whether it fit as expected and matched the manufacturer's size chart. I also considered the range of available sizes and how easy each vest was to adjust. While playing outdoors, Saril and I observed whether the vests stayed in place or shifted as our dogs moved.

Comfort: The cooling vests in this guide must be wet with water before use, but a vest that becomes too heavy will be uncomfortable. I weighed each vest before and after soaking, giving preference to lighter options. We also watched how our dogs moved while wearing the vests and noted how comfortable they appeared. After each outing, we checked for signs of chafing or irritation.

Surface temperature change: I used an infrared thermometer to measure how much each vest reduced the surface temperature of Olive's back and chest after she had worn it for five minutes. Of course, this test was imperfect, since it only measured Olive's surface temperature and not her internal core temperature. Nevertheless, it provided valuable information about how well each vest worked on the surface areas it covered.

Ease of rewetting: These cooling vests rely on evaporation to work. This means that as they dry, they become less effective and need to be re-soaked. A vest that is easy to remove quickly and rewet is more practical. We timed how long it took to remove each damp vest, soak it, wring it out, and put it back on our dogs. We also noted vests with tricky designs, concealed buckles, or bulky materials that made the process more difficult.

Durability: Since they're outdoor accessories, cooling vests should withstand contact with brush, rocks, and rugged terrain. Before use, I inspected each vest for manufacturing defects, like weak buckles or loose stitching. Then I dragged a dinner fork across the fabric 30 times, tugged on any straps, and ran zippers back and forth to assess durability.

Ease of cleaning: Outdoor gear is bound to get dirty, and a wet vest, in particular, will pick up dirt and dust. A vest that's hard to clean isn't a practical option. For this test, I smeared dirt onto the vests while they were wet and left them to dry overnight. The next morning, I tried spot cleaning them, noting whether the dirt came off easily. Then, I washed each vest according to the manufacturer's directions, noting the ease or difficulty of the process, whether any stains remained, and how well the material held up after washing.

Best overall

Best for: Most dogs, including small pups and dogs who spend long periods outdoors and need a vest that's easy to put on and quick to re-wet

Skip this if: Your dog is sensitive to straps around their legs

Of the five vests I tested, the Canada Pooch vest provided the most coverage, extending down my dog's back to her tail and covering most of her chest. This coverage is important because of how evaporative cooling vests work. My experts explain that the vests are soaked in water, and as the water evaporates, it pulls heat away from the dog's body. "A good vest should make contact with the dog's core, particularly the chest and abdomen, where heat exchange is most effective," Hunt says. A good fit plays a role here, too, by ensuring the vest is snug enough to maintain contact with the dog's body. The Canada Pooch fit as expected, and the belly strap was easy to adjust around Olive's torso.

The Canada Pooch also features lightweight fabric that doesn't become overly heavy or bulky when wet — an important consideration for all dogs, but especially those who don't like wearing apparel. It's made with a pliable jersey material that drapes over the dog's body and is soft against their skin. The material's flexibility makes it easy to wring out excess water. It also makes it easy to fold and pack away in your beach bag or hiking pack.

This vest is intuitive and easy to put on, a feature my experts say is helpful for longer outings when you'll need to remove and replace it for rewetting. There's only one buckle you'll need to snap, so you can get it back on your dog quickly. Just note that you'll need to slip it over your dog's head, and some dogs find this process uncomfortable or scary.

The Canada Pooch also performed the best in our evaluation for temperature change. While this test was imperfect because it didn't measure our dog's core temperature, it still provided insight into each vest's ability to cool down the surface of their fur. For this test, I used an infrared thermometer to measure Olive's temperature on her back and chest after she had been sitting in the sun for 10 minutes. Then I rechecked her temperature after she had worn a vest for 5 minutes. The Canada Pooch showed the most dramatic change, with the fur on her back dropping about 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

I was pleased to see the vest protects against harmful UV rays with a UPF 50+ rated outer layer. This means it blocks 98% of UV rays, making it a good protective measure for vulnerable pets, including dogs with light skin, hairless dogs, and those with thin coats. The brand informed me that this vest is made with Coolcore Biomimetic Fiber fabric. This material is tightly woven with very small gaps between the threads, which helps prevent UV rays from passing through. Additionally, the vest is primarily made of polyester, which naturally reflects and blocks UV rays.

This vest isn't perfect, though. One potential drawback of the design is the back leg stirrups that keep it in place. While Olive and Davey didn't mind them, some dogs might find these elastic straps uncomfortable. Unfortunately, the vest shifted without them secured around Olive's legs. Even if the vest had stayed in place, there's the issue of two dangling loops that could easily become caught on brush or branches.

Best for large dogs

Best for: Bigger dogs or active dogs who are hard on their gear and need a more durable vest.

Skip this if: Your dog is very petite or rambunctious, as the hidden buckles can make it harder to put on.

The Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Vest stands out with its triple-layered design, which combines a wicking outer layer that reflects heat and an absorbent middle layer that stores water. This makes the Ruffwear a bit bulkier and heavier than the other vests we tested, but the mesh fabric is breathable and maximizes airflow, which Campbell says is necessary for evaporative cooling to work. Tester dog Davey, a 70-pound German Shepherd, was unbothered by the heavier material, but the added heft might be something to consider if your dog is tiny or strongly dislikes wearing gear.

Of the five vests we tested, the Ruffwear accommodates the largest chest girth, so it should fit dogs with a larger chest. It also has multiple points of adjustment. The nylon straps glided smoothly through the buckles, making it easy to get the right fit. The Large size fit Davey well and made contact with her body. For the most part, the vest stayed in place as Davey moved around, but Saril noted that the vest's rigid style made it less flexible when Davey curled up. Nevertheless, the Ruffwear always shifted back into place when Davey returned to a relaxed standing position.

This vest seemed more durable than the Canada Pooch, thanks to its thicker fabric and sturdy stitching. This is a hallmark of the Ruffwear brand, which sends materials for third-party lab testing to assess things like abrasion and tear resistance. The Ruffwear vest sustained no damage during my durability tests and came out of the washing machine perfectly intact.I imagine it would hold up well on treks through dense brush and rugged terrain.

The Ruffwear vest also features concealed side release buckles sandwiched between fabric layers, which help prevent chafing — a problem that Campbell says can be worsened when a dog is wet. Saril didn't have trouble securing these on Davey because she's calm, but for folks with more rambunctious 70-pounders, the hidden buckles could be difficult to reach and adjust.

On the downside, Ruffwear's fabric is rather stiff. This rigidity might make it uncomfortable for some dogs, though it did not inhibit Davey. It also means it takes up more space in a travel pack compared to the more compact Canada Pooch.

One issue I ran into while playing with Olive on a beachy shoreline was that chunks of sand and dirt became lodged in the layers of mesh. I was able to shake most of these out after our excursion, but there were still particles stuck in the fabric that only came out after thorough rinsing.

What else we tested

Kurgo Core Cooling Vest: Similar in design to our picks above, the Kurgo could be a good choice for some dogs, including more active pups. Of the five tested, it was the lightest in weight, even when wet. The polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA) material is flexible, and the slightly narrower chest panel allows for full, unrestricted freedom of movement. There are also fabric loops on both sides of the vest through which you can thread the buckled belly straps. This prevents the belly straps from sliding forward and minimizes the risk of chafing. Finally, the Kurgo was easy to clean, and dirt didn't get trapped in the mesh the way it did with the Ruffwear. Unfortunately, it doesn't offer UPF protection, and it only comes in four sizes, which go in and out of stock.

Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Harness: Since a cooling vest needs to make contact with the body to be effective, it won't work as well when worn over a harness. If you want to use cooling apparel on walks or in scenarios where your dog needs to be leashed, Ruffwear's cooling harness makes the most sense. Though it offers less coverage than the brand's vest, it still covers a fair amount of Olive's torso. It has six points of adjustment, but with four buckles, it can be trickier to take off and put back on.

Hurtta Cooling Wrap: I was the least impressed by this vest. The sizing was off, and the wrap design made it confusing to put on. I found the buckle fiddly, and it offered the least coverage. Saril also noted the soft fabric could bunch up with very active wearers.

What to look for in a dog cooling vest

To find the best dog cooling vest for your pup, Hunt says to prioritize fit and coverage. That means looking for a vest that's adjustable and covers a good portion of the dog's back and chest. Here's what else my experts recommend focusing on.

Cooling mechanism: Most dog cooling vests rely on evaporation, which Hunt says is the most practical for regular use. Some vests use ice or frozen gel inserts, which Campbell advises against because they can become too heavy or too cold against the skin. There are also vests made with phase change materials (PCMs), such as paraffin-based compounds or salt hydrates, which absorb heat from the dog's body as they transition from a solid to a liquid state. PCMs are similar to ice packs and must be frozen, so they require some pre-planning. However, unlike ice, they stay dry and melt at warmer temperatures to provide more comfortable cooling.

Good chest and back coverage: Campbell says cooling vests should cover as much surface area of a dog's body as possible to maximize heat exchange. Look for a vest that covers the dog's back, chest, and abdomen.

Fit and adjustability: Since the vest needs to make contact with the dog's body to work, my experts recommend choosing one that's adjustable. "It should be snug enough to stay in place but not restrict shoulder movement, chest expansion, or breathing," Campbell says. Look for adjustable buckles and measure your dog carefully before ordering.

Comfortable materials: Hunt recommends looking for lightweight, breathable fabrics, like polyester mesh, that retain water without becoming heavy or bulky.

Reflective or light-colored outer fabric: Reflective accents make your dog more visible. Campbell says reflective or light-colored material can also reduce radiant heat from the sun.

Sun protection (UPF): Sun-protective clothing offers an added layer of protection for vulnerable dogs, including light-skinned, thin-coated, and hairless dogs. Typically, this type of apparel is made with tightly woven fibers that physically block harmful UV rays. Additionally, these garments often incorporate brightly colored dyes to reflect UV rays. Look for vests with a UPF 50+ rating, which blocks 98% of UV rays.

Dog cooling vest FAQs

What is the best way to keep a dog cool in the summer?

Keeping a dog cool in summer involves multiple tools and strategies. Along with a cooling vest, my experts recommend keeping outings shorter, avoiding peak temperatures,, limiting exercise in the heat, and offering water and shade. You can also offer your dog relief with a cooling mat or a shallow wading pool. Finally, Campbell says it's important to know your dog's individual risk factors for overheating, such as age (i.e., older dogs and puppies) or anatomy (i.e., flat-faced breeds or overweight dogs).

Do vets recommend cooling vests for dogs?

Yes, Campbell recommends them for certain dogs and certain situations. "A cooling vest can be useful for a healthy dog on a warm-weather walk, during a short outdoor outing, while waiting in shade at an event, or for dogs who tend to warm up quickly," he says. My experts also say cooling vests can be a helpful tool for dogs at higher risk of overheating, such as brachycephalic breeds, senior dogs, overweight dogs, dark-coated dogs, highly active working or sporting dogs, or dogs who are acclimating to warmer weather.

While cooling vests can provide an added layer of protection during outdoor activity, Hunt and Campbell say they are not a substitute for common sense heat management. Pet parents should limit outdoor time during the hottest parts of the day and make sure their dog always has access to water and shade.

What are the disadvantages of a cooling vest?

The main disadvantage of a cooling vest is that it can create a false sense of security. "A cooling vest can make pet parents think, 'My dog is protected, so we can stay out longer.' That is when we get into trouble," Campbell says. As he puts it: Cooling vests can be helpful, but they are not magic armor against heatstroke.

Evaporative cooling vests are also less effective in humid weather. "In high humidity, the air is already saturated with moisture, so evaporation slows down, making the vest less effective," Hunt says.

My experts say other disadvantages include:

• Evaporative vests need to be re-wetted to remain effective, which can be inconvenient or impossible
• Potential for rubbing or skin irritation if the fit is off
• Added weight when wet
• Some dogs dislike wearing gear such as cooling vests and coats

How hot is too hot for a dog to be outside or exercise?

Hunt follows the heat-plus-humidity rule. To figure out if it's too hot for your dog, he says to add the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit to the humidity percentage, then follow these guidelines:

• Under 130: This is generally safe for normal exercise and walks. Check the pavement heat with your hand and offer plenty of water.
• 130 to 149 (Caution Zone): Lower exercise intensity, shorten walk times, and take frequent water breaks in the shade. Watch your dog for heavy panting or other signs of overheating like drooling, red gums, or lethargy.
• 150 and Above (Danger Zone): Cancel heavy outdoor exercise, including running and long walks. Limit outdoor activity to quick bathroom breaks only.

Keep in mind, heat tolerance will vary based on a dog's breed and other risk factors. Hunt advises lowering your safety threshold by 10 to 20 points with senior dogs, puppies, overweight dogs, brachycephalic breeds, thick-coated or double-coated breeds, and dogs with health issues.

What are the signs of overheating in dogs?

Campbell says to watch for excessive panting, slower movement, seeking shade, bright red or pale gums, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, wobbliness, or collapse. "Be careful of a dog who stops panting, no longer wants to drink water, or suddenly stops playing," he says, as these can be signs of early heat distress. Heatstroke is a medical emergency that requires veterinary intervention. If you notice these signs, begin immediate cooling with cool (but not ice-cold) water and blast your car's air conditioning on your way to the veterinarian.

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