Winter is in full swing in the Northern Hemisphere, which means that some outdoor-obsessed pups can’t rely on just their fur coats for warmth anymore. Even the most tenacious adventure canines, like my Black Lab/German Shepherd mix Marla, have their limits when it comes to extreme cold and extended time in the snow. Thankfully, trusted outdoor brands like Ruffwear make durable, functional outdoor gear for dogs out of the same technical fabrics and materials you’ll find in human gear.
Recently, my home state of Colorado experienced a wild polar vortex, dropping nighttime temperatures to -11 degrees Fahrenheit in many cities for four straight days. Apart from the annoying (and hilarious) addition of winter dog boots to our daily walk routine, I also needed to find a super-warm jacket to layer on top of Marla’s double coat. Ladies and gentlemen, the Quinzee Dog Jacket excelled at every turn.
Ruffwear’s Quinzee Dog Jacket offers lightweight, recycled polyester insulation inside a weather-resistant, bluesign-approved polyester shell, ideal for frigid dog walks and hikes. Plus, it packs down into its own pocket, making it easy to bring along for airplane travel or backpacking trips, when space is at a premium.
I had already been testing this coat for a couple of years before the storm hit — mostly on overnight backpacking trips and chilly van camping excursions when nighttime temps dropped below freezing. My friend, Kelly Sosa, is an avid outdoorswoman and founder of The Service Dog Connection, and she recommends tossing a jacket onto your furry friend any time you stop for the night and temperatures dip below 45 degrees, much like you would with a human.
Since those wise words of advice, I’ve taken this jacket on multiday backpacking trips in the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains. I’ve used it on neighborhood dog walks when the outside temperature was -8 degrees Fahrenheit and I’ve schlepped it to Lake Tahoe for a holiday trip with my mom. Thus far, it’s easy enough to pack and put on that I use it whenever I’m in a snowy climate, and it’s comfortable and flexible enough that Marla never complains while it’s on.
What we liked about it
There’s tons to love about the Ruffwear Quinzee Dog Jacket. From its eco-friendly recycled polyester insulation and bluesign-approved polyester shell to its reflective trim and durable buckles, this is a thoughtfully designed, highly functional winter jacket for your fur baby.
Super warm and light
As I mentioned earlier, the Quinzee Jacket is stuffed with 250 grams of recycled polyester insulation, similar to a synthetic down-alternative jacket that you’d see on shelves for humans at your local REI. It’s a high-loft insulation, meaning that, like duck down, it’s super packable and lightweight while still retaining its cozy, insulating properties. With a claimed weight of just 9 ounces, this dog winter coat is one of the warmest on the market for its heft.
In the last major snowstorm I faced in Boulder, Marla was able to visit the dog park and play fetch like a total champion, even while wearing this puffy insulated jacket. Its stretch gusset on the chest and lightweight design allowed for easy movement and didn’t slow down her zoomies at all. Oh, and did I mention that it’s machine-washable? This little fact is a lifesaver when those buzzy zoomies take her straight into a mud puddle (which has happened multiple times).
Ultra packable
The Quinzee Dog Jacket also has a stow-away pouch on its underside, perfect for storing the garment on hiking or camping trips when it’s not in use. This is one of my favorite features of the coat, because I often bring it on cold-weather van camping and backpacking trips in California and Colorado, and its supreme portability means that I can easily stuff it away in a backpack or storage compartment, then pop it out after dark when Marla is most likely to get chilly.
Last year, my partner and I nabbed a coveted permit to go backpacking in the Rocky Mountains, and, with space and weight at a premium, it was extremely convenient that the 9-ounce Quinzee could stuff down into a small package and fit inside Marla’s Palisades Pack with her food and snacks.
Easy to put on
Listen, my dog is a true adventure pup in every sense of the word. She isn’t afraid of thunderstorms, she jumps into every lake and she routinely gets snow zoomies as though she’s never seen the powdery white fluff before. As such, getting her to sit still when I’m putting on her dog snow boots (or any garment she associates with the outdoors, for that matter) can be a tricky process.
Blessedly, the Quinzee Dog Jacket seems tailor-made for folks with this issue. Featuring two side-release buckles with easily adjusted straps — to cinch it tightly around her torso — and a nylon-spandex gusset across the chest that stretches as she moves, this pupper puffy is a breeze to put on and take off.
On top of that, the jacket runs true to size. For reference, Marla is a lean 58 pounds and fits perfectly into a medium. Have a smaller, yet stout dog like a corgi? Measure the dog’s rib circumference (as shown on the website), and select the corresponding recommended size. The best part? The Quinzee is equipped with easy-to-adjust buckles on both sides, just in case she gains or loses a few pounds.
What we didn’t like about it
The short answer? Not much. This jacket has been tried and tested for years now, and, if I’m being honest, Ruffwear has worked out most of the kinks.
No zippered pocket
The only real feature I’d love to see added to the Quinzee Dog Jacket would be a zippered pocket on the back for storing treats or poop bags, for people who don’t want a clunky plastic bag dispenser attached to their leash. For me, this isn’t a deal breaker, but it would also be nice if the coat’s attached stuff pocket had a zipper or snap closure for a more compressed storage profile.
Not a lot of belly coverage
The Quinzee is a great option for those who need or want a super-packable jacket or one that’s incredibly easy to put on your pup. However, a lot of your pup’s belly is exposed with the Quinzee on. In most cases, this jacket still provides enough warmth, but if you’re worried your dog might need some extra coverage, there are tons of other jackets that cover more of your dog’s belly to help keep their core nice and toasty (more on that below).
How it compares
I gotta be real here: Ruffwear is a top-of-the-line brand with products that cost a bit more than others you’ll find on the market today. Of course, there are loads of more affordable, well-rated brands on Amazon, like this waterproof design from Kuoser (from $20). However, many of them lack the stellar sustainability efforts and easy and durable on-off clips that make Ruffwear and the Quinzee so unique and user-friendly.
If you’re simply looking for something stylish to keep your doggo cozy this winter, you could go with another reputable brand and grab a stylish, national park-inspired Pendleton Dog Coat ($49). Wilderdog is a boutique brand that also makes fun, colorful Big Sky Fleece jackets ($42) with a small pocket on the rump to hold snacks or poop bags. Be forewarned: Fleece and fuzzy fabric jackets are magnets for seed pods and errant grass on and off on the trail.
However, if you’re seeking a well-made, durable puffy jacket for your pup this season, you could save a little dough on the slightly less warm but highly durable Loft Dog Jacket by Kurgo ($36). Need the absolute warmest on the market and ready to spend a little more? Check out Ruffwear’s Furness Dog Jacket ($130). We also love Ruffwear’s Powder Hound ($100), a thinner coat with more coverage that’s purpose-built for snow zoomies.
Bottom line
The incredibly packable, machine-washable Quinzee Dog Jacket by Ruffwear is your one-stop shop for a super-warm, lightweight winter coat for your pupper. Not only is it made with environmentally friendly materials but it’s mindfully designed with easy-latch side buckles, a harness-compatible leash portal and an attached stuff pocket for easy storage. TL;DR: This cold-weather dog jacket rules.