Top 8 Best Dog Cooling Vest Reviews & Buying Guide 2023

With summer around the corner, it’s time to make plans for all the adventures you’ll have with your dog. However, unlike humans who have an efficient internal thermal cooling system, your four-legged friend’s body may overheat quickly.

So, how to protect your canine buddy from the soaring temperature?

As luck would have it, there are several types of cooling vests for dogs that’ll let your furry friend enjoy outdoor activities without fearing the scorching summer sun.

These vests use water, evaporation technology, dry ice packs, or heat reflection to ensure the safety of your pet. Plus, these vests are usually lightweight. This way, they won’t put a burden on your pet.

But, since they are so convenient, you’ll find numerous brands and shapes of dog cooling vests available in the market. 

Thus, it can be pretty challenging to find a suitable one that’ll meet all your expectations. 

With that in mind, in this post, we’ll take an in-depth look at eight of our favorite dog cooling vests to help you in your search.

Afterward, as a bonus, we’ll share with you a few tips and tricks that’ll let you pick the ideal cooling vest for your dog.

Without further ado, let’s see what makes these vests so extraordinary!

Top 8 Best Dog Cooling Vest Reviews & Buying Guide 2022

1. SGODA Dog Cooling Vest Harness Cooler Jacket

Adjustable & Absorbent!

A layer of cotton along with a strategically placed zipper and velcro makes the SGODA Dog Cooling Vest Harness Cooler Jacket adjustable and highly absorbent.

It features three layers of cooling fabric. These nylon and polyester layers are also pretty sturdy.

Additionally, the middle one is a layer of cotton. Since cotton can absorb almost 25 times its weight in water, this vest boasts incredible absorbency. It even has twice the capacity to absorb liquids than the standard towel!

Moreover, this vest uses an evaporative cooling system. 

So, you’ll need to soak the vest in water and then wring it before it’s ready for use. If the temperature is very high, you may want to use cold water instead as it’ll keep the vest cooler, and it’ll perform better.

Here, the cotton layer keeps the water isolated from your pet’s body, while the mesh helps to spread the icy feel. Therefore, it’ll efficiently cool down a large area of your pup’s body.

There’s also a zinc alloy D-ring on this vest. Once you put this vest on your dog, the D-ring stays on the top side. Thus, you can quickly attach a leash to this ring and go on a walk with your furry friend in public places without worrying about them running into others.

As for the flexibility, it’s available in several chest sizes, from 12-14″ to 32.5-39.5″. In addition, this vest sports an adjustable zipper, so you can rest assured that it’ll fit the majority of dog breeds. 

Furthermore, this harness has a velcro that’ll hold the vest in place, and it’ll also let you adjust the neck size width.

On top of it all, it offers a 3M reflective strap. This strap’s green color is noticeable, so you’ll have no trouble keeping track of your pet. Afterward, the gray color of this jacket functions as a parasol. It reflects the heat from the sun’s rays.

Together, the evaporative cooling and this reflective capability ensure that this vest will keep your canine buddy safe from the summer heat.

Last but not least, this vest is affordable. So it won’t put a strain on your budget!

Verdict

The overall best dog cooling vest.

Stylish & Sturdy!

The FrontPet Dog Cooling Vest looks stylish on almost any pup. After all, it boasts a striking contrast of bright blue and light grey. Plus, this vest is sturdy enough to last for a long time.

FrontPet constructs this vest with pet-friendly nylon. Thus, it’s also free from harmful chemicals. 

Like the previous vest, this one also uses the evaporation cooling principle. You can soak the vest and then wring out the excess water to prepare it for use. 

Wringing out the water may be challenging at first since the vest has several layers. But, if you twist it lengthwise and hold it for 10-15 seconds, it’ll make the process much easier. 

In hotter climates, you may have to soak the vest from time to time.

When you put this jacket on your pup, it’ll take in the outside heat along with the pet’s body heat to turn the water into water vapor. During this transition, it’ll lower the core temperature of the pet’s body. 

Moreover, it only takes a few minutes to dry the vest in the sun after use!

Unfortunately, it doesn’t have any D-rings or leash attachment points you can use. Thus, you may need to rely on an extra harness and leash if you’re going to crowded places.

Still, this vest sports reflective strips and a bright color that makes it highly visible. This way, you won’t have to worry about your energetic canine buddy getting lost in an open area.

Furthermore, there are easily adjustable straps on this one. You can adjust it between 18″ to 23″. As such, your dog will remain comfortable in this vest. But, FrontPet has designed this vest, especially for the medium dog breeds.

Therefore, while it’ll fit some larger breeds, it’s unsuitable for smaller dogs. So, if you’re looking to pick up a cooling jacket for the pug, you may want to consider other more flexible vests.

Verdict

An excellent cooling vest for medium to large dog breeds.

Practical & Durable!

ICEFANG blends bartack sewing and heavy-duty metal buckles to offer you a practical and sturdy dog cooling vest. This tactical dog harness is also known as the K9 Working Dog Vest.

It features top-quality construction materials and an X-in box pattern stitching on each joint. Thus, it’ll likely survive most accidental impacts with minimal wear and tear.

However, unlike the previous vests, this one doesn’t support the evaporative cooling system. Instead, it simply protects the dog’s front body from direct sunlight. So, it’s not very suitable for pups that love to run around during the hot days of the summer.

Still, this vest is essential for rescue dogs. After all, most standard cooling vests don’t have the practical load-bearing capacity like the ICEFANG Tactical Dog Harness.

For instance, the two buckles in the front part of the vest can carry a thousand pounds safely. Unfortunately, though, not all rescue dogs will have the strength to support that weight. So, ICEFANG installed these buckles near the shoulder area. 

This way, the buckles are strategically positioned to assist the dog while it carries the load. 

There are also a couple of POM buckles near the belly position of this vest. These can support about 250 lbs. 

It also comes in several sizes that’ll fit the medium-large dog breeds.

In addition, this vest offers multiple ways to control your pet. It has a no-pull front clip, back leash clip, and a sewn-in handle.

The no-pull front clip will allow you to redirect the dog’s forward motion, and if needed, you can take the pup’s front legs off the ground with it. 

On the other hand, the back clip lets you attach a standard dog leash and take your pet to crowded places without worrying about injuring them or the passerby. It’s better to use this method if you’re dog is well-trained.

Furthermore, with the sewn-in handle, you can pick up your furry friend with little to no effort. It comes in handy if you often travel with your canine buddy in your car or truck since you can pick them up and place them in the back quickly.

Plus, this vest has a square panel on the front. Here, you can attach a patch to identify the dog!

The badges sizes are;                                                    Loop is sewn on chest and sizes are;

Verdict

The ideal vest for rescue, army, or working dogs.

Efficient & Formfitting!

RUFFWEAR’s Jet Stream Vest is both efficient and formfitting with its tri-layered construction and spandex back panel. It also has oversized armholes that’ll let your dog run around without much resistance!

It feature’s three layers making it sturdy, yet it’s still lightweight enough not to burden your furry friend. 

The outer layer reflects heat to keep your dog’s core temperature low. This layer also sports wicking capabilities, supporting evaporation.

Afterward, the middle layer contains highly absorbent materials. These materials hold onto water and help your pup stay comfortable through evaporative cooling.

Finally, the mesh lining keeps your dog dry, and it carries the cooling effect to a larger area of the pet’s body.

To use it, you’ll need to soak the vest in water and then wring out any excess liquid. 

Then, putting it on your canine buddy is also pretty straightforward since this vest doesn’t need any buckles. You can use the zipper to close the vest, and it’ll be ready to go.

So, the vest is pretty efficient during those summer days when the temperature is not excessively high. But, if you’re planning to go out during a heatwave, you may need a more heavyweight cooling vest for your dog.

Nevertheless, this vest boasts a colorful spandex back panel, making it easier to spot. This flexible panel, along with the zippers, will ensure that the vest fits snugly onto your dog’s body.

Since the vest is formfitting, it won’t lose much cooling effect and will keep the core of your pet’s body cooler more efficiently.

However, there are no leash attachment points on this vest. Therefore, even if your dog is safe from the heat with this vest, if your furry friend isn’t well-trained, you may want to avoid taking it to places with many people.

Verdict

A fantastic dog cooling vest for going on adventures.

Attractive & Versatile!

The PupPal Pet Cooling Vest sports a streamlined design with excellent colors like blue or pink that’ll suit most dog breeds regardless of their coat and fur.

It features an inner layer and an outer layer. The outer layer reflects heat while the inner layer absorbs water.

So, this vest also uses the evaporative system to keep your dog dry and comfortable during the peak of summer. Usually, PupPal even soaks the vest before delivering. Thus, it’ll be ready for use right out of the package!

This way, even if you can’t visit the windswept dog park, your furry buddy should be able to get enough exercise outside to remain healthy and happy.

Additionally, PupPal offers a sizing chart for this vest that’ll let you get a better idea of which one to pick.

Still, since this vest is a seasonal summer item, most sizes are often out of stock. 

Therefore, you may have to go through some trial and error before you can find the ideal vest size for your four-legged friend.

PupPal offers a straightforward 100% money-back guarantee for this product. So, fortunately, you can get the vest replaced quickly if the sizes are available. Also, it has a single velcro closure, so you’ll have little to no trouble putting this vest on your pup.

Moreover, this vest has good-sized holes for your dog’s front legs. Thus, your pet will be able to move around freely while wearing it.

In contrast, it doesn’t support leashes. Thus, you may have to keep an eye on your canine buddy if you’re taking them to a crowded place.

Verdict

Another excellent cooling vest for most dog breeds to play outside for a few hours

Reliable & Stylish!

The Hurtta has a 20-year long history of experimenting, exploring, testing, and retesting dog gears until their canine buddies let them know that they have found the ideal combination. As such, the Hurtta’s Cooling Dog Vest is not only reliable; it’s also pretty stylish.

It boasts non-toxic constructions materials, and it’s pretty sturdy.

Moreover, its inner layer is thinner and contains microfibers. These microfibers can absorb the liquid much more efficiently than the standard fibers.

Therefore, this vest will offer a long-lasting cooling effect.

In addition, it has a three-dimensional mesh fabric layer. It’ll direct the airflow and help the moisture in the cooling layer to evaporate. Thus, even if the lining is wet, its moisture-wicking knitting will ensure that your pet feels comfortable.

Also, the vest is large enough to cover almost 30% of the dog’s body. It’ll protect the major blood vessels in the chest area along with the lungs so your pet will be safe under the sun for a long time.

This vest comes with 1-2 points of adjustments, so it’ll fit most pups without much issue.

It also has 3M reflective pipings that make the vest highly visible. As such, with it, you can effortlessly keep track of your furry friend. 

However, you may want to avoid bleaching, tumble dry or dry cleaning when you need to get rid of the dirt on this vest. Using these methods may shorten the lifespan of this gear.

Still, this vest is machine washable, and it’s easy to clean with slightly (40°C) warm water.

HOT TIP: Please read the manufacturer sizing chart before purchasing this jacket.

Verdict

If your dog exercises for an extended period of time, this vest is perfect for him.

Efficient & Eco-friendly!

A near-perfect blend of heat reflective technology and an evaporative cooling system makes the BINGPET Dog Cooling Jacket highly efficient. Also, this vest sports non-toxic construction materials, so it’s eco-friendly and safe for your dog.

BINGPET constructs this jacket with PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) cotton, nylon, and an air mesh panel. Together, they make the vest sturdy yet keep it lightweight. 

Thus, your furry buddy will be able to run around with this jacket on without any encumbrance. Also, PVA is a biocompatible polymer so that it won’t harm the environment or your pet. 

The cotton layer will absorb water and keep your four-legged buddy cool for a decent amount of time.

Furthermore, the mesh panel will ensure that the vest has good airflow for better evaporation cooling.

It also has a brightly colored outer layer that reflects the heat from the sun’s rays. As such, this jacket offers more effective cooling than the standard ones that only rely on evaporative cooling.

Nonetheless, if you’re taking your dog out for long walks under the sweltering summer heat, you may want to bring an extra bottle of water. 

Drizzling this water on the vest from time to time will let your dog enjoy the exercise without quickly suffering from dehydration or exhaustion.

On top of it all, you’ll be able to adjust this jacket pretty easily with its side-release buckles. Also, it has reflective bands that’ll help you keep track of your pet.

Unfortunately, there are no leash attachment points on this vest. But, you can solve this problem if you invest in a lightweight harness.

Verdict

A lightweight, environment-friendly dog cooling vest that’ll let your pet exercise freely.

Strategic design & Harness compatibility!

The RUFFWEAR Swamp Cooler Evaporative Dog Cooling Vest boasts a strategic design that provides excellent coverage to most dog breeds. Plus, it has a leash portal on the back that is highly compatible with dog harnesses!

It features a three-layer construction. The outer layer is graphite gray; thus, it reflects heat while the middle layer absorbs water and keeps it away from your pet’s body.

Afterward, the mesh layer directs airflow and takes heat from your dog’s core to help the middle layer evaporate water.

This way, the vest ensures that your puppy won’t suffer from the summer heat even if there is no shade.

Even if your furry buddy is pretty big, the vest is large enough to cover most of its back from the sunlight. It also provides UPF 50+ (ultraviolet protection factor) protection. In other words, it’ll protect your pet from 98% of the sun’s rays.

Additionally, this one has side-release buckles like the BINGPET Dog Cooling Jacket. With these buckles, you’ll be able to put this vest on your pet with little to no effort. 

Moreover, this vest has a leash portal that is compatible with the front range and webmaster dog harness.

This way, you won’t have to worry about your dog getting lost in a crowd or accidentally getting injured.

Last but not least, this vest has a loop for attaching a beacon light. However, you’ll have to purchase the beacon separately, and the entire package can be pretty expensive.

Verdict

An excellent dog cooling vest for pets that haven’t been fully trained yet.