One of our favorite things to do in the world is to hit the trails with our dog Merci. She is four years old and has over 2,000 trail miles under her collar. She has hiked everywhere from the Himalayan mountains in Nepal to the Pacific Crest Trail in California and the busy streets of Oaxaca, Mexico.

When choosing a dog leash for hiking or backpacking some things to consider are your dog’s size, energy level, prey drive, and obedience level. Hiking and backpacking styles vary greatly and will also influence what leash works best for you and your dog.

In this article, we have included as much information as possible to help choose the best leash for you and your furry little friend go explore the trails together.

MATERIALS

Nylon – It is the most common material used for dog leashes. Nylon leashes are affordable and come in varying qualities. They are durable, but they can get dirty quickly and may be harder to clean than other materials.

Leather – It is a classic and stylish choice for a leash. Leather leashes are softer and more comfortable than nylon leashes, and they are durable. However, they are sensitive to water, so they are not suitable for wet conditions.

Biothane – It is a synthetic material that looks and feels like leather. It is waterproof and easy to clean, making it an excellent option for dogs that love water or mud.

Rope – Leashes made from climbing rope are lightweight and durable, and they are often used as slip leads for quick attaching and removal on the trail.

Chain – Chain leashes are useful if your dog chews through leashes, but they can be heavy, which makes them unsuitable for backpacking.

LENGTH/WIDTH

There are many different leash lengths available, ranging from 3 feet to 50 feet. For backpacking, the most common leash lengths are between 6ft to 10ft. Some places like National Parks and State Parks have a maximum leash length allowed – most commonly 6 ft.

If your dog tends to wander, using a long leash could give it the freedom to explore with the safety of being attached to a leash. Long lines are also useful for teaching recall because they allow you to use the leash as a line of communication if your dog gets distracted. Some breeds are extremely prey driven and will chase things. A longer leash allows them a greater degree of freedom.

Shorter leashes are helpful if you are on crowded trails and need to keep your dog close. They are also useful for dogs who pull or can be reactive to other dogs or people. A shorter leash allows for more control over your dog.

Leashes also come in different widths depending on the material it is made from – between ½” to 1”. Generally, a thinner leash is better suited for smaller dogs and a thicker leash for larger dogs. A thinner leash are a good option for backpacking since they are lightweight.

TYPE OF LEASH

Standard Leash

This is the most common type of leash with a handle on one end and a clasp on the other. Standard leashes come in 4ft and 6ft. They can be made from a variety of materials from nylon to leather and come at a wide variety of price points depending on material and quality.

Standard leashes are widely available at pet stores, grocery stores or can be custom made from boutiques. With such a wide variety of styles available, it is easy to find the right fit for any dog.

Adjustable Leash

This type of leash has clasps on both ends and D-rings at various points. This allows you to adjust the leash to different lengths. Where you attach the clasps determines the size of the handle and the length of the leash.

An adjustable leash allows you to loop the leash over your shoulder for hands-free walking, or when not in use. These leashes come in different which make this style of leash particularly useful while hiking.

Bungee Leash

A bungee leash is helpful with absorbing shock from your dog’s sudden movements which is helpful for reducing strain on your arm and shoulder when your dog pulls or tugs. Most bungee leashes come with an adjustable waist belt to allow a hands-free option. It is most commonly used for running but is also great for hiking.

Opt for a bungee leash with a traffic handle. A traffic handle is a secondary handle closer to the dog’s collar, used for situations where you need close control.

Slip Lead

A slip lead has a metal ring at one end and handle at the other. The handle is looped through the ring to make a slip knot. It is a leash and a collar all in one. This makes it particularly convenient for off-leash hiking because of how easy it is to slip on and off. This comes in handy at road crossings, busy sections of the trail, or when passing by other people and dogs.

The slip lead adjusts to the size of any dog’s neck and does not allow them to back out of it. An important thing to note, if your dog tends to pull or lunge unexpectedly, this leash may not be the best option because of the tension it would cause around the neck.

Retractable Leash

A retractable leash is a long leash that is wound inside a plastic casing. When your dog pulls on it, the leash unspools and extends, so the length of the leash is adjustable to your needs. You can also limit the length of the leash using a braking button.

Retractable leashes are popular because they allow dogs to have the freedom to explore but still follow leash laws. A downside to retractable leashes is they do not allow for much control over your dog because you cannot quickly reel them in. When using a retractable leash, it is best in settings where the trail is not crowded or where it could get tangled up in vegetation and trees.  

OUR LEASH RECOMMENDATIONS

Blue 9 Multi-Function Leash

The Blue 9 Multi-Function Leash is a great leash for backpacking. It is a nylon leash with a clasp at each end and multiple D-rings to allow for different leash lengths.

It can be used as a six-foot leash, looped over your shoulder for a hands-free walk, or quickly shortened, so you have greater control in high-traffic situations. The leash can also be used as a tether wrapped around a tree to hold your dog in place.

I most often use it tethered around my backpack’s hip belt and attached to Merci’s harness so that I can walk hands-free. When she is hiking off-leash, I keep the leash attached to my backpack and store it in my hip belt pocket for quick access.

K9 Tactical Gear Biothane Leash

K9 Tactical Gear is a family-owned business that makes high-quality canine products. The K9 Tactical Biothane Beta leash is entirely customizable in length, width, hardware and comes in a wide variety of colors. The leash has three different widths options (½”, 3/8”, and ¾”).

You also can pick the perfect length for your dog, ranging anywhere from 2 feet to 60 feet. There are also multiple options for hardware; I’d recommend the 1/2” snap for smaller dogs and the 5/8” for larger dogs. For Merci, we use the 1/2″ width with a 1/2″ snap.

The leash is made of biothane, so it lightweight, waterproof, and easy to clean, which makes it an excellent choice for backpacking! This has quickly become one of my favorite leashes.

Wilderdog Climbing Rope Big Carabiner Dog Leash

Wilderdog is well-known brand for adventure dog gear. Their Climbing Rope Leash is made of rock climbing rope (polypropylene + polyester rope) and comes in two lengths, 5ft and 10ft. It also comes in 16 different patterns!

The leash uses a secure locking carabiner to attach your dog’s collar or harness for safety. The leash could also double as a slip lead in a pinch by threading the handle through the carabiner to create a makeshift collar. This is helpful if your dog is hiking off-leash, and you need to restrain it temporarily.

SparklyPets Hands-Free Dog Leash

The SparklyPets Hand-Free Dog Leash is an adjustable waist-belt and a detachable bungee leash. When extended, the bungee leash is 68” long. The belt has two leash attachment points, in the front and on the side, to best position your dog.  The leash also has two handles. One is to utilize the bungee leash as a standard leash when detached from the waist belt. The second handle is a traffic handle to allow for more control or to pull your dog close.

These leashes are great for hiking and backpacking because it allows you to use trekking poles or have your hands free. It is also particularly suitable for trail running because the bungee leash helps with pulling and shock absorption while on the run.

Non-stop Dogwear Bungee Leash

The Non-stop Dogwear Bungee leash has an innovative elastic bungee design – the entire length of the Bungee leash is elastic for ideal shock absorption. This ensures a smooth experience for both your dog and yourself when running, biking or skiing.

It is available in two lengths—2.0 meters and 2.8 meters—absorbs sudden movements, reducing strain and providing gentle, controlled responses to unexpected pulls. It also has a Twistlock carabiner that locks automatically and prevents the leash from coming off by accident. The carabiner sits on a swivel so the leash will not spin up. This is a more expensive leash option, but the quality and design are well worth the price.

TUG 360° Heavy Duty Retractable Dog Leash

The TUG retractable leash comes in three sizes: Small – dogs under 35lbs; Medium – dogs under 55lbs; Large –  dogs under 110lbs. The leash uses a nylon ribbon to help prevent it from getting tangled when retracting.

The leash extends up to 16ft, which allows for freedom of movement for your dog while still adhering to most leash laws. A retractable leash allows the dog the ability to navigate obstacles like creek crossings, rock scrambles, steep climbs, and boulders without pulling.

When backpacking, you can use a carabiner to attach the leash to your backpack for hands-free hiking.

Homemade Paracord Leash

When long-distance backpacking, we carry a homemade paracord leash. The leash is six feet and only weighs 0.7 ounces. It is made out of ultralight paracord and two carabiners. One carabiner attaches to Merci’s harness, and the other connects the leash to my pack at the hip belt. It also has a loop tied in the middle for a traffic handle to allow for more control.

There are many tutorials online for making a homemade paracord leash.

It is important to make sure the weight rating of the carabiners and paracord can withstand your dog’s weight. We recommend paracord from Paracord Planet. It comes in a wide variety of weight ratings to accommodate each dog, multiple colors, and five different lengths.

 We use a locking carabiner from NiteIze that is made from durable stainless steel with a sliding lock on the steel gate. Each carabiner is individually weight rated.  (Size #2 – 10lb | Size #3 – 25lb | Size #4 – 75lb | #6 – 100lb)

Check out our other articles about backpacking with your dog:

Backpacking with Your Dog: Packing List

How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Backpacking

The 5 Best Tents for Backpacking with a Dog

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