K9 Sport Sack Sizing and Review

It’s no secret we LOVE our K9 Sport Sacks! One of the common misconception is that carriers are only for elderly or disabled dogs or for places where dogs are only allowed in a carrier but we use them differently! Keep reading to learn why our healthy & somewhat active dogs use a dog carrier.

Why Use a Dog Carrier?

1. Long hikes: Churchill & Windsor aren’t super active corgis but we do start a hike letting them walk and bring the carriers with. Once they are tired or we walk their normal distance we put them in their carriers to either head back or keep hiking.
2. Stair filled hikes or when climbing is required: The carriers let us take them where we otherwise couldn’t or where we’d have to constantly pick them up to hoist them up a rock or steep incline.
3. Hikes with hot pavement/ground conditions: Whether the pavement is too hot or we’ve ventured somewhere unique like the Great Sand Dunes National Park where the sand can be incredibly hot, the carriers save their paws from getting burnt.
4. Hot Hikes: The corgis don’t enjoy being out in the sun much and our carriers have side vents so they stay cool on a walk. We still make sure to find lots of shade and provide water along the way to ensure their noggins aren’t baking in the sun while in their carriers.

K9 Sport Sack Carrier Reviews

We have tried 3 different carrier styles. The Plus 2 (holds up to 40lbs), the Knavigate (holds up to 50lbs.) and the Rover 2 (holds up to 80lbs). The main difference other than the total weight they hold is that the Plus 2 carriers don’t have a waist belt while the Knavigate and Rover do. Do yourself and your shoulders a favor and get one with a waist belt especially if your dog is over 25 pounds! You will not regret it!

In addition, the Knavigate and Rover 2 have a more supportive section both underneath (the part against your back and against the dog’s stomach) and at the bottom (where their butt sits). The Plus 2 is more “backpack” like and even though it isn’t quite as firm on your back, it still does the job. We hiked with our Plus 2s on several trips.

K9 Sport Sack Sizing Reviews

Our measurements:

• Churchill: 29 pounds, 22 in. chest, 16 in. neck, 21 in. length
• Windsor: 25 pounds, 21 in. chest, 15 in. neck, 19 in. length

Our carrier sizes:

• Plus 2:
  • Windsor = Medium
  • Churchill = Large
• Knavigate: Windsor = Medium (but needs a booster block)
  • Churchill = Measurements equal a large but he fits just perfect in the Medium too
• Rover 2: Churchill = Large (but needs a booster block)
  • Note: The smallest the Rover 2 comes is in Large

Overall, the Knavigate and Rover 2 are by far our favorites due to the waist belt. We used the Plus 2 for a while and we could really only do 1 mile with them before the stress on the shoulders became uncomfortable. With the waist belts very rarely do we experience any shoulder pain.

Size wise, even though the measurements between the Plus 2 and Knavigate/Rover are the same, the Knavigate and Rover do seem to run bigger. We need booster blocks in both which we do not need in the Plus 2. Because the Knavigate seems to run larger and Churchill measures to the lowest end of the size Large he actually just fits right into the Medium without a booster block.

You can also see that the Knavigate and Rover 2 have storage pockets underneath and the Plus 2 carriers do not. The Plus 2 carriers actually come with a separate small backpack that you can clip on to the outside / back of the pup. All 4 of the carriers we also come with water bottle holders on the sides.

Sizing Help

K9 Sport Sack has great sizing details on their website along with videos to assist with measurements. When shopping for a carrier, make sure to note the weight each one holds as they are all different.

Familiarizing Your Dog With Carrier

Resources are available on the K9 Sport Sack website with tips and tricks to help your dog become comfortable with the carrier. Luckily for us, the corgis are very mellow and not much phases them so after tossing a few treats into it, they let us put them right in. We still walked them around and provided treats for a bit so they could continue to see it as a good thing.

In Conclusion

Overall, we love these carriers and don’t go hiking without them. We always know that if we want to keep hiking longer or if we come to an area that becomes a heavier climb, we are set. We always let them out of their carriers to “decompress” at the end of a hike to ensure they have a chance to stretch their legs too.

The K9 Sport Sack website has lots of great resources on sizing and using the carriers so head on over there if you need help selecting the carrier right for your dog!

Check out our dog-friendly travel posts for more trip ideas and tips.