The best hands-free dog leashes we tested
Best hands-free dog leash: Non-Stop Dogwear Rock Adjustable Leash
Best budget hands-free dog leash: SparklyPets Hands-Free Dog Leash
Whether you’re training your dog or running with your four-legged friend, the best hands-free dog leashes keep your pet securely attached to you and your hands open. Using a hands-free dog leash introduces you to a world of multitasking while walking your dog. Need to reach into your pocket to grab a treat? Easy. Want to clicker-train while on a hike? No problem.
After testing 11 of the most popular and top-rated leashes on the internet, we found two that stood out, thanks to their simple designs and durable construction.
Versatile and sturdy, the Non-Stop Dogwear Rock leash can be worn across your body, around your waist or used as a handheld leash. It has a climbing-inspired aluminum buckle that makes it easy to adjust, and it’s strong and secure.
The SparklyPets Hands-Free Dog Leash is a solid option, thanks to its sturdy design and low price. We like that the waist belt and leash are separate pieces, meaning that you can use the leash part as a handheld on its own.
Best hands-free dog leash: Non-Stop Dogwear Rock Adjustable Leash
A hands-free dog leash should be easy to put on and adjust, long enough to give your dog some freedom and durable enough to last. The Non-Stop Dogwear Rock Adjustable Leash was the only leash we tested that checked every one of those boxes.
Of all the types of clips on dog leashes, we found the best and easiest type to use is the classic snap hook like the one on the Rock leash. It opens wide enough to clip to various dog collars and harnesses, can be taken on and off quickly and is secure enough for even nervous dog parents. Leashes with lobster clips like on the Ruffwear Roamer or carabiner-style clips like on the Zee.Dog hands-free leash take too long to attach to a dog’s collar or harness — not a great feature for wiggly or exuberant dogs.
We loved that the Rock leash could be comfortably worn around the waist, over the shoulder or used as a long (or short) handheld. It’s super easy to put on: just unclip one side from the metal buckle, wrap it around your waist or over your shoulder, and re-clip.
The Rock leash is one solid piece of rope, so to change it from a handheld leash to a waist leash, you have to slide some of the rope through a buckle to make the handle large enough to wear. This naturally makes the leash’s length shorter when you wear it around your waist and longer when wearing it around your wrist. This one-piece design was shared among a few other leashes we tested, but the Rock leash was one of the only ones that felt reasonable in size. For example, when wearing the Ruffwear Crag and Roamer leashes around my waist, the leash section felt too short. That also means larger folks might not even have enough leash left to comfortably walk their dog.
The rock climbing-inspired clip and adjuster combo is also fun and easy to use — it feels like you’re gearing up to climb whenever you need to loosen or tighten the leash. To adjust, all you need to do is slide the buckle up or down the leash. Even with strong pullers, the leash stayed firmly in place wherever we adjusted the length too. Other leashes (like the Ruffwear Switchbak) tightened when dogs pulled on them during testing.
We gravitated more toward rope leashes during testing, and the Rock leash held up to multiple months of testing (and a durability test) with minimal wear. We noticed one small blemish on the reflective weave in the leash after the durability test, but this leash handled everything we threw at it.
So, if you’re looking for a durable, versatile hands-free leash that’s easy to put on, adjust and clip to your dog’s leash or harness, you can’t go wrong with the Non-Stop Dogwear Rock leash.
Best budget hands-free leash: SparklyPets Hands-Free Dog Leash
The SparklyPets Hands-Free Dog Leash is simple and easy to use and works great for anyone looking for a straightforward hands-free leash for daily walks. We liked that the waist belt and leash are two separate pieces and that the leash section has a handle on it, which allows you to use it as a handheld by itself. It has an easy-to-use snap hook and comes with a built-in traffic handle on the leash section, which is great for pulling your dog close to you in busy areas or for getting your pup to move to the side of a hiking trail to let someone pass.
The belt on this leash is the most size inclusive of the leashes we tested, reaching up to 47 inches in circumference. It’s also easy to adjust, and it’s a huge plus that the length of the leash isn’t determined by the waist size needed for the wearer.
With that said, we wish the leash section was longer. It doesn’t allow much room for your dog to roam when connected to a collar, and it feels too short for larger breeds. When used with a large Alaskan Malamute during testing, the dog was too close to the handler when clipped to a collar, and it felt like we were going to trip over the dog. This leash would be best suited for small, medium and large breeds on a harness.
The bungee on this leash offers a lot of give, which is good for running and moderate pulling but not ideal for super-strong pullers. The overall construction felt durable, although a little bulky. It’s heavy enough that we wouldn’t recommend using this leash on extra-small breeds, though, and some runners who care about weight might not love its extra heft. Another perk? This leash comes in a version for two dogs too.
This was actually the first hands-free leash I bought for my dog when I brought her home in 2020, and aside from the Velcro patch on the handle coming off and some fabric fuzziness on the leash section, it’s still in pretty good condition after four years of on-and-off use.
For pet parents on a budget, the SparklyPets Hands-Free Dog Leash is a cheap option that’s great for hiking and day-to-day walks. While it has some flaws, like being bulky and slightly short for use with a collar, these aren’t deal breakers if you’re looking for a hands-free leash that’s reliable and cheap.
How we tested
You might think a leash is a leash, but there are tons of factors that can make a hands-free dog leash enjoyable for a human to use or a downright inconvenience. From evaluating leash length and belt size to ranking all the clips from best to worst, these are all the tests we ran on each leash in our testing pool:
Usability
- Ease of use: We considered how easy it was to put on and take off each leash, as well as how difficult each leash was to clip to a collar or a harness. Leashes with easy on/off designs and good-sized clips that were easy to open and close scored higher.
- Sizing and adjustability: We noted how much size variation each leash allowed, as well as when the usable leash length depended on how much you adjusted the wearable section. Some leashes didn’t allow much leash length when adjusted for a larger person to wear.
Performance
- Fabric and hardware durability: We let dogs drag each leash on the sidewalk and also rubbed them on concrete and asphalt to see if the material ripped, pilled or frayed.
- Pulling test: We tested the strength and suitability of dogs who pull by walking large, powerful Alaskan Malamutes on each leash. If it’s strong enough to comfortably walk an actual sled dog, it’s strong enough to recommend. We also pulled our entire body weight against each leash to check the security of the fasteners.
- Collar and harness testing: We tested all the leashes in the pool on multiple types of collars and harnesses and kept rack of when a leash was difficult to clip to a certain collar or harness. We also noted when the clip seemed to weigh the dog down while attached to a collar.
- Multiple dogs: We tested each leash on a variety of dogs, from 5.5-month-old puppies to large adult dogs. We looked to see if any leashes seemed too thin (or thick) for dogs of certain sizes.
Design and build quality
- Fabric and hardware: We examined the fabric and hardware on each leash before and after our durability tests, and tested all the fasteners and adjusters.
- Versatility: Waist leashes are meant to be versatile, so we counted how many uses each one had. The best hands-free leashes can be used as a handheld leash, worn crossbody and around the waist, and can easily be used to hitch your dog to a pole, tree, table leg or chair.
- Weight and size: We weighed each leash and determined how easy or difficult it was to pack and take on the go given its size.
- Comfort: We evaluated how comfortable each leash was to hold, wear around the waist and wear crossbody (if applicable).
- Extras: We gave bonus points to leashes with reflective stitching, a traffic handle, a lifetime warranty and other extras.
Price
- Price: We tested leashes ranging from $20 to $65 to see if the pricier picks are worth the money. We found quality leashes at pretty much every price point. While the $20 to $25 leashes have drawbacks, you can likely get one that will last in this price range. The $40 to $50 leashes tended to include a lot of nice-to-have features that made them fun to use and were typically made of better-quality materials.
Everything you need to know about buying a hands-free dog leash
Before picking up a hands-free dog leash, consider what you’ll use it for. If you’re going to be running while wearing it, opting for one with a bungee is a good idea since bungee leashes absorb some of the shock and have some give during high-impact activities. If you’ll be hiking with it, a long leash length is important so your dog doesn’t accidentally pull you to the ground. For walks around the neighborhood, a simple hands-free leash is fine, but you’ll want one that’s easy to put on and take off so you’re empowered to use it often.
You’ll also want to think about how big your dog is and whether you’ll be attaching the leash to a collar or a harness. Some of the hands-free dog leashes we tested have big, heavy clips on the end that might weigh down a small dog if attached to a collar, for example.
What features should I look for in a hands-free dog leash?
The biggest thing to look for in a hands-free leash is leash length. Some hands-free leashes don’t offer enough leash length, which is a problem for folks with large dogs (you’ll end up tripping over your dog) and for your dog’s walking experience (they’re restricted by a short leash).
A few leashes we tested were one-piece hands-free leashes, meaning that the part worn by the handler and the part that acts as the leash are the same single piece of material. With these types of leashes, the amount of material you need to fit around your waist dictates the length of leash you have left. Folks who need more room around the waist for a comfortable fit may not have enough leash length left to comfortably walk their dog.
What is the best hands-free dog leash for hiking?
Of the leashes we tested, we think the Ruffwear Hitch Hiker and the SparklyPets Hands-Free Dog Leash are the best picks for hiking. The Ruffwear Hitch Hiker extends up to 12 feet in length, making it the longest leash we tested and the best one for hikes where you might be scrambling up rocks and need extra leash length. Plus, if the hike you’re going on requires leashes to be 6 feet or shorter, you can simply retract some of the leash to meet the trail’s requirements.
The SparklyPets leash is shorter than the Hitch Hiker, but the bungee offers good support for dogs who change directions quickly or are moderate pullers. If you need assistance on your hike, the SparklyPets leash also makes it feel like your dog is helping pull you up the mountain.
Other hands-free leashes we tested
We didn't love the clip on this leash, and it was a bit confusing to adjust at first.
We liked the Atlas Pet Company Lifetime Lite Leash but wish it had the same swivel clip as the APC’s Lifetime Leash, as the clip on the Lite model is harder to get on and off a collar. At first, this leash was a bit confusing to adjust, but we got it after watching the brand’s YouTube video. Overall, this leash is a good length when worn around the waist and over the shoulder for most people, and it’s lightweight enough for most dogs.
The fabric didn’t perform the best in our durability tests, but the Lifetime Lite (and all Atlas Pet Company’s products) are backed by a lifetime warranty. While the $65 price tag is steep in comparison to other products on this list, the promise of a repaired or replaced leash for your lifetime could be worth the price.
This leash is one of the few that actually had enough length when wearing it around your waist, but the clip was a little too small and its durability wasn't the best.
We were quite impressed with the Ruffwear Switchbak leash during testing. The super-lightweight design is great for most dog sizes (even extra-small breeds), and it’s ultra versatile with six different configurations (around the waist, over the shoulder, clipped to the front and back of a harness, clipped to two dogs at the same time, long handheld and short handheld). We liked that it was simple to adjust, and even though the waist size determines how much leash length you get when wearing it, we felt that it still offered enough leash length for most people.
We didn’t love how easily the fabric wore during our durability test, though, and wished that the clip were slightly bigger so it was easier to get on and off more collars. We also noticed that strong pullers may be able to cinch the waist section of this leash tighter on the person wearing it, which isn’t ideal.
This ultra-durable leash felt too short for most people when worn around the waist.
The Ruffwear Crag EX leash had some of the most durable fabric we tested, but the length of this leash when worn felt too short for most people. The waist size you require dictates how much actual leash length you get, and it isn’t long enough for use by bigger people or for folks with larger dogs that need more leash length.
We liked this leash better when used as a handheld, as the padded handle was comfortable to hold and gave a good leash length for most dogs. But the clips on this leash are a bit bulky and might weigh down small dogs if attached to a collar.
This is the shortest leash we tested, so we ran into issues with its length when worn around the waist.
Similar to the Crag EX, we thought the Ruffwear Roamer leash was too short to regularly use as a hands-free leash. The Roamer was a few inches shorter than the Crag when adjusted to the same waist size, making it the shortest hands-free leash we tested. It does, however, have a nice padded handle and is a bungee leash, making it a good option for running or for moderate pullers. During testing, we preferred using it as a handheld leash.
Great for hiking, the biggest downside of this leash is how hard it is to coil the rope back into its bag.
If you’re strictly using your hands-free leash for hiking and long walks, the Hitch Hiker could be a good option. With up to 12 feet of rope and a unique climbing-inspired adjustment system, this leash gives your dog plenty of room to romp while still being securely attached to you.
Our only complaints are that the clip on the end of this leash is slightly too small to use with non-Ruffwear collars, and rolling up the excess leash to stash in the attached fanny pack can sometimes be a hassle. It’s only made for wearing around the waist and can’t be worn crossbody or used as a handheld leash.
This leash's adjustment system was a little confusing and quite bulky. Plus, its clip wasn't as easy to use as others.
The Zee.Dog Hands-Free leash is made of high-quality reflective-woven rope and extends to nearly 8 feet long. The E.zee lock buckle closure/adjustment system was somewhat complicated to figure out at first, and it’s bulky when wearing the leash around your waist. Compared with the other leashes we tested, the metal clip on this leash was difficult to open and didn’t open enough to easily attach to some collars with thicker D-rings. We loved that the rope this leash is made of had some give, though, and it held up in our durability tests.
The stitching on this leash feels sharp and uncomfortable against the skin.
This Kurgo leash had several problems. First, it seems slightly different from the product in its promotional videos. It has a different clip from the leash shown in the video and is also missing the padded section that would have made it more comfortable to wear.
Perhaps the worst thing about this leash, though, is the uncovered stitching on the back of the individual loopholes. The stitching feels like it was done with plastic thread and is sharp to the touch. We scraped ourselves multiple times while testing this leash and feel it would be a safety hazard if you needed to quickly grab this leash in the middle.
This leash is almost as good as the SparklyPets, but you can't use the leash as a handheld by itself. If you are worried about the weight of our budget pick, consider this one.
We would have rated this leash higher if the leash section could be used on its own when not attached to the belt. Unfortunately, the leash section doesn’t have a handle or a D-ring to create a handle. It feels unnecessary for the belt and leash to be two separate sections, and the adjusters on the belt made it difficult to make it smaller and larger.
The classic snap hook was easy to get on and off collars and harnesses, and the belt has two O-rings that can be connected to two separate dogs. While it’s budget-friendly, we think most people will be better off with the SparklyPets Hands-Free Dog Leash than the PetSafe. Though, if your dog is extremely small and light, the PetSafe could be a good choice.