Backpacking with a dog is one of the great joys of trail life. But cold nights in the backcountry take the same planning for your dog as they do for you. The Red Paw Packs Ultralight Dog Quilt is the simplest, lightest way to keep your pup warm on the trail: a 4.1 oz synthetic quilt that does the job of a dog sleeping bag at about one-sixth the weight.
4.1 oz · 33.5″ × 27.5″ · fits dogs about 50–120 lb · handmade in St. Petersburg, FL
In stock: Aqua, Marigold, Forest Green, Moroccan Blue · 3–4 week lead time
Shop the Dog Quilt →What Is the Ultralight Dog Quilt?
It’s exactly what it sounds like: a lightweight, packable quilt made for dogs. It’s not a full sleeping bag, and that’s intentional. Dogs move around at night, regulate their temperature differently than we do, and most won’t stay zipped inside a bag anyway. A simple quilt works better.
Specs at a Glance
- Weight: 4.1 oz
- Size: 33.5″ long × 27.5″ wide
- Fits: dogs about 50–120 lb worn poncho-style; any size dog as a blanket in the tent
- Shell: 0.9 oz MEMBRANE 15 ECO ripstop nylon
- Insulation: Climashield Apex 2.5 oz synthetic (a medium-warmth insulation), so it stays warm even when wet
- Attachment: two String Z buckle and shock cord assemblies, plus extra webbing loops
- Colors: Moroccan Blue, Marigold, Aqua, Forest Green, Blaze Orange and Lilac Purple (availability varies)
- Price: $105, handmade to order in St. Petersburg, Florida
Will It Fit My Dog?
The quilt is 33.5″ long and 27.5″ wide. Worn poncho-style, with one strap around the neck and one around the belly, it fits larger dogs, roughly 50 to 120 lb. My golden retriever Lucy weighs 85 lb and it covers her back and sides comfortably.
Got a smaller dog? It still works great as a blanket at camp. Drape it over them in the tent or tuck them in on their sleeping pad, and there’s plenty of quilt to go around.
How to Use It
- Placement: drape the quilt over your dog rather than putting it under them. That’s usually the most effective way to hold in warmth.
- Securing it: one buckle-and-shock-cord assembly goes around the neck and the other around the belly. The quilt stays on while your dog walks around camp and doesn’t slide off when they toss and turn at night.
- Customizing it: extra webbing loops all over the quilt let you rig it how you like. You can even add shock cord to strap it down to a sleeping pad.
- Packing it: the Climashield Apex insulation compresses small, so it takes up very little room in your pack.
Want the quick version? Here’s how to put it on in under a minute:
How Warm Is It? When Does Your Dog Need It?
The quilt uses Climashield Apex 2.5 oz, a medium-warmth synthetic insulation. How warm that feels depends a lot on the dog: breed, coat length and size all matter, so there’s no single temperature rating that fits every dog.
For reference, Lucy has a thick, long coat that keeps her pretty warm on its own. She usually only needs the quilt when temperatures dip below about 50°F, and she’s used it on nights down to 20°F. Short-haired and small dogs will want it sooner and may need more help on the coldest nights.
Because the insulation is synthetic, it keeps insulating when it’s damp. That matters, because dogs come back to the tent wet more often than not.
The quilt is ideal for:
- Backpackers who camp with their dogs in spring, fall, winter, or at high altitude
- Owners of short-haired or small breeds that lose heat faster
- Thru-hikers looking for minimal-weight gear for their trail partner
Dog Quilt vs. Dog Sleeping Bag
The best-known backpacking dog sleeping bag is the Ruffwear Highlands. It’s a good product, but it’s built like a human sleeping bag: a fully enclosed bag with a pad sleeve. Here’s how it compares on paper:
| Red Paw Packs Ultralight Dog Quilt | Ruffwear Highlands Sleeping Bag (Medium) | Ruffwear Highlands Sleeping Bag (Large) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 4.1 oz | 1.6 lb (about 25.6 oz) | 2.2 lb (about 35.2 oz) |
| Size (flat) | 33.5″ × 27.5″ | 33.5″ × 25.2″ | 43.3″ × 28.3″ |
| Shell | 0.9 oz MEMBRANE 15 ECO ripstop nylon | 75D polyester with DWR | 75D polyester with DWR |
| Insulation | Climashield Apex 2.5 oz synthetic | 120 g recycled polyester | 120 g recycled polyester |
| Stays on a moving dog | Yes, neck and belly straps | No, it’s a bag | No, it’s a bag |
| Price | $105 | $109.99 | $109.99 |
The Medium Highlands has almost exactly the same footprint as the Dog Quilt but weighs more than six times as much. A sleeping bag makes sense if you’re car camping or your dog sleeps curled up in one spot all night. If you’re counting ounces, or your dog gets up and wanders the campsite, the quilt is the better tool. It also doubles as a camp jacket, because it stays strapped on.
What Owners Say
“It’s light, easy to adjust and it kept my pup nice and warm throughout a night at 32 degrees (0 Celsius) without falling off.”
Federico, verified owner ★★★★★
“I love this blanket, and so does my dog. She is usually damp when we sleep, and in the shoulder season this will be helpful to lock in the heat… I really appreciate that I can clip it to her, or around her dog bed (cut up Zrest) to keep it in place.”
Mimi B., verified owner ★★★★★
“After using all sorts of dog blankets I think we’ve found the one. The ultralight dog quilt is the perfect size and weight and our dog enjoys wearing it knowing that it’s her quilt and it’s going to keep her warm.”
Kevin, verified owner ★★★★★
Tested by Red Paw Herself
Red Paw Packs is named after Lucy, who earned the trail name “Red Paw” on a hike through Providence Canyon, Georgia. Dog gear is close to my heart, and the Dog Quilt shows it. It’s been tested on a lot of nights on the trail with Lucy. It’s one of the few things she’s happy to see me pull out of my pack when we get to camp. She knows it’s going to keep her warm and comfortable after a long day.
Care
When the quilt picks up that funky wet-dog smell (and it will), hand wash it in lukewarm water with a tech or performance wash, drain it, and hang it to dry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my dog need a sleeping bag for backpacking?
On cold nights, most dogs benefit from extra insulation, especially short-haired or small breeds and any dog that’s wet from the trail. It doesn’t have to be a full sleeping bag, though. A lightweight quilt like the 4.1 oz Ultralight Dog Quilt keeps a dog warm for a fraction of the weight, and it stays on even when the dog moves around.
At what temperature does a dog need a blanket when camping?
It varies from dog to dog with breed, coat and size. Lucy, an 85 lb golden retriever with a thick long coat, usually only needs her quilt below about 50°F, and she has used it down to 20°F. Short-haired and small dogs need warmth sooner. Watch for shivering, curling up tightly, or trying to get into your sleeping bag.
What size dog does the Ultralight Dog Quilt fit?
The quilt measures 33.5″ × 27.5″. Worn poncho-style with the neck and belly straps, it fits dogs of about 50 to 120 lb. Used as a blanket in the tent, it works for any size dog.
Does the dog quilt stay warm when wet?
Yes. The insulation is Climashield Apex 2.5 oz, a continuous-filament synthetic that keeps insulating when damp, unlike down. The shell is 0.9 oz MEMBRANE 15 ECO ripstop nylon.
How does the quilt stay on my dog at night?
Two String Z buckle and shock cord assemblies go around the neck and the belly, so it stays on while your dog walks around camp or tosses and turns. Extra webbing loops let you add shock cord to strap it to a sleeping pad instead.
How much does the Ultralight Dog Quilt weigh and cost?
It weighs 4.1 oz and costs $105. It’s handmade to order by Red Paw Packs in St. Petersburg, Florida, in six colors.
How do I wash a dog quilt?
Hand wash it in lukewarm water with a tech or performance wash detergent, drain the water, and hang it to dry.
Keep your trail partner warm for 4.1 oz. Fits dogs about 50–120 lb poncho-style, any dog as a tent blanket.
In stock: Aqua, Marigold, Forest Green, Moroccan Blue · 3–4 week lead time
Get the Ultralight Dog Quilt →Building out your dog’s kit? Pair it with the Ultralight Dog Backpack and the Ultralight Dog Bowl, and check out the complete guide to ultralight dog backpacks.
— Matt Evans, Red Paw Packs
