Best Dog Cooling Vests of 2026
Dog cooling gear to keep your pet from getting too hot
For short coated dogs and dark-colored dogs, cooling vests offer much-needed protection from the hot sun. Photo by Jae Thomas
July 22nd, 2026, updated with a new overall winner
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Even though you may feel comfortable hiking in 80+ degree weather, your dog may not agree.
Dogs are much more heat sensitive than humans, and they dissipate heat through panting and through their paws, instead of through sweating like we do. In other words, dogs cool themselves much less efficiently than humans, which means that your dog will likely be hotter than you are in warm weather, and will have a harder time cooling down once they’re already hot.
Protective or cooling dog gear, like dog boots and dog cooling vests, can be incredibly helpful in extending your active season with your dog, so they don’t end up sitting on the couch all summer because it’s too hot.
In the right conditions, a dog cooling vest will keep your furry friend from overheating. You should still take precautions—like getting outside early in the morning or later in the evening and avoiding prolonged activities in high humidity—to ensure your dog is at a comfortable temperature during your outdoor adventures.
Dogs who are predisposed to heat sensitivity (like brachycephalic breeds, old dogs, and young puppies) should also take extra precaution in the heat, even if they’re wearing cooling gear.
Your dog’s coat will also play a role in their heat tolerance. Short-coated and black dogs generally are more sensitive to the heat and direct sunlight than their double-coated counterparts. As the owner of a short-coated, black dog who loves being outside but gets overheated very quickly, cooling vests have been a necessary part of my dog’s gear every summer.
I’m also a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and I take the safety of all dogs (both my personal dogs and my client dogs) very seriously. I put 7 top dog cooling vests to the test to see which ones actually cooled my dogs down in direct sunlight, and which ones are worth a spot on your dog’s summer gear list. My top pick is the Non-stop Dogwear Cooling Vest. Read on to learn more.
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Comparison table
| DOG COOLING VEST | TREELINE AWARD | MSRP* | COOLING METHOD | WEIGHT | SIZES AVAILABLE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-stop Dogwear Cooling Vest | Best Overall Cooling Vest Read why |
$75 | Evaporative cooling | 6.5 oz (M) | XS-XL |
| Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Cooling Dog Vest | Best for Large Dogs Read why |
$75 | Evaporative cooling | 8.75 oz (S) | XS-SL |
| Back on Track Cool on Track Cooling Dog Coat | Best Affordable Cooling Vest Read why |
$33-49 | Evaporative cooling | 7.0 oz (60 cm) | 25-80 cm |
| Non-stop Dogwear Cooling Pull-on Vest | Best Cooling Vest for Running Read why |
$60-65 | Evaporative cooling | 5.6 oz (55 cm) | 27-70 cm |
| Chillbuddy Cooling Jacket | Best Lightweight Cooling Vest Read why |
$58-86 | Evaporative cooling and sun reflection | 3.9 oz (L) | Petite to XXL |
The winners
Best overall dog cooling vest: Non-stop Dogwear Cooling Vest
Cooling method: Evaporative cooling
Weight: 6.5 oz (medium)
Sizes available: XS-XL (5 sizes)
Price: $75
What we liked: Easy to put on and off; impressive cooling capabilities; pattern that disappears when vest is dry; easy to adjust; reflective
What we didn’t like: A little short in the back in comparison to other options
The Non-stop Dogwear Cooling Vest and the Non-stop Dogwear Cooling Pull-On Vest performed the best by far in our lab-style temperature tests, bringing my tester dog’s surface temperature down over 85 degrees from 174 degrees to 89 degrees in three minutes.
Note that the tester dog I used for this guide’s cooling tests is about 90% black, and her surface temperature went up quite a lot after three minutes in direct sunlight on a 90 degree day (black and dark-colored dogs really do get hotter in the sun than lighter dogs). The difference was not as stark when I ran this test using a lighter-colored dog.
The Non-stop Dogwear Cooling Vest is one of the only options on this list that felt genuinely cold on the inside during wear, even when soaked in room temperature water. It features Non-stop’s three-layer “3Chill tec” system, which helps spread water evenly throughout the vest. The interior fabric is stretchy and feels cool to the touch. Non-stop says this vest protects against UV rays, though there’s no official rating for UV protection.
One of the coolest features of this vest is that it features a pattern on the outside that’s only visible when wet. If you can no longer see the pattern, it’s time to re-soak it.
Non-stop Dogwear Cooling Vest
The design of this vest is easy to get on and off, and just requires you to slip it over your dog’s head, then fasten two easily accessible buckles behind their front legs. The design is clearly inspired by human running vests. Though it’s a little bit heavier (due to the buckles) and shorter in the back than the pull-on version (more on that one below), it’s much easier to get on and off and adjust.
It also features large reflective panels on the sides that make your dog more visible in low-light conditions. The pull-on version only has smaller reflective logos.
Because of the higher coverage, the pull-on version of this vest will likely keep your dog cooler for longer, but the easy on/off design, the adjustment points, and the reflectivity won the Non-stop Dogwear Cooling Vest the top spot on our list.
Best dog cooling vest for large dogs: Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Cooling Dog Vest
Cooling method: Evaporative cooling
Weight: 8.75 oz (size S)
Sizes available: XXS-XL (6 sizes)
What we liked: second best cooling performance in testing; easy on and off design; big range of sizes; high coverage; good fit for large, long-bodied dogs
What we didn’t like: A bit bulky and stiff
The Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Cooling Dog Vest performed the second-best in our lab-style temperature test, bringing my tester dog’s surface temperature down over 80 degrees in just three minutes of wear, from 172 degrees to 91.5 degrees. It also sat in the middle of the pack in the drying test, meaning that it holds onto moisture long enough to cool your dog down, but doesn’t take forever to fully dry.
The vest features a tightly woven, UPF 50+ rated outer layer that reflects heat, protects your dog from the sun, and encourages evaporation. The middle layer soaks up water, and the inner mesh layer keeps your dog cool and dry.
Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Cooling Dog Vest
This vest was one of the easiest options to put on, and only requires slipping your dog’s head through, then fastening two side buckles. It has a good amount of coverage, and when sized and fitted to your dog correctly, it covers from the base of your dog’s neck all the way down their back.
This vest has more back coverage than other options on this list, so it’s best suited for larger, longer-bodied dogs. The downside to the extra body length is that it does tend to shift a bit when your dog runs or plays. When wet, this vest also feels a bit heavy, but the weight of the water in it does a good job at keeping the back part of the vest weighted down.
Best affordable dog cooling vest: Back on Track Cool on Track Cooling Dog Coat
Cooling method: Evaporative cooling
Weight: 7.02 oz (size 60cm)
Sizes available: 25cm-80cm
Price: $33-49
What we liked: Velcro design is easy on/off; good cooling performance, lightweight
What we didn’t like: Needed to be wrung out more than other options; took a long time to fully dry; materials aren’t the most durable; stiff when dry; has complicated storage instructions
The Cool on Track Cooling Dog Coat was the second best in our temperature testing, bringing my dog’s surface temperature down by over 70 degrees. This vest is easy to put on and take off, and is good for head-shy dogs, since you don’t have to pull it over their heads (the coat secures around the dog’s chest and around their belly with Velcro straps).
The internal material on this vest feels like a shammy and was way more absorbent than other options we tested. It needed to be squeezed out more than other options on this list before use and it took the longest to dry. High absorbency in a dog cooling vest is a double-edged sword—they’ll last longer, but if the conditions aren’t appropriate, they may not actually cool your dog through evaporation, instead just making them hot and wet.
Back on Track Cool on Track Cooling Dog Coat
Though this coat works well, the materials are a bit finicky and have some complicated instructions. Because the inner layer gets stiff when it’s completely dry (and can be easily damaged when dry), it’s recommended for users to store it damp in its original zippered plastic bag. The washing instructions say hand wash only, but they also say that if the coat develops mold from being damp, that it can be washed in soap and water.
I’d prefer to let the coat dry completely before storing it and just be careful about not manipulating the fabric while it’s dry instead of having to worry about potential mold issues.
This coat has a variable price based on sizing, but the difference in cost between the smaller and larger sizes was much less than the Canada Pooch Vest. The Cool on Track coat runs $30 for the smallest size and $45 for the largest.
Best dog cooling vest for running: Non-stop Dogwear Cooling Pull-on Vest
Cooling method: Evaporative cooling
Weight: 5.6 oz (size 55)
Sizes available: 14.2 inch chest circumference to 31.5 inches (11 sizes)
Price: $60-65
What we liked: Full chest coverage; stretchy material that conforms to your dog; comfortable for running; 11 different sizes
What we didn’t like: Pull-on design makes it harder to put on and take off than other options
The Non-stop Dogwear Cooling Pull-on Vest uses the same three layer 3Chill tec as the brand’s normal cooling vest, (and performed similarly in our cooling tests) but features a full pull-on body design instead of side clip closures.
This option offers more chest coverage and a little bit more back coverage than the side-clip version, so it’s ideal for dogs who run a lot, who are in extreme temperatures, or who are very sensitive to the heat.
It comes in an impressive 11 different sizes (the most of this list), and is suitable for both large dogs and very small dogs. The stretchy chest panel moves with your dog and isn’t restrictive—another reason it’s great for running.
Non-stop Dogwear Cooling Pull-on Vest
It’s also lightweight and fairly thin, and since it has a more snug fit than some of the other options on this list, it fits under harnesses. If you frequently go hiking or running with your dog in the summer and prefer to use a harness and hands-free leash, this is a good cooling vest to pair it with.
During a test hike, this vest lasted about 4.5 miles or two hours before drying out. It was soaked, then wrung out almost completely, and we tested it in dry weather in the mid-high 80s (about 86 degrees). Our dark-colored tester dog, Miso, is acclimated to this kind of heat, but isn’t normally able to hike for a long time at these temperatures. This vest genuinely kept her core cool, and definitely extended the mileage she was able to hike comfortably. By the end of the hike, she was panting less, her tongue was not hanging out as much as it normally is on walks in similar weather, and she seemed much more comfortable.
The only downside to this vest is that the design requires you to pull it over your dog’s head and lift up each of their front paws to get it on and off. If your dog is flexible and comfortable with being handled, this is no problem, but for sensitive dogs or dogs with mobility concerns, a clip-on option may be a better choice.
Best lightweight dog cooling vest: Chillybuddy Canine Cooling Jacket
Cooling method: Evaporative cooling and sun reflection
Weight: 3.92 oz (size Large 24)
Sizes available: Petite - XXL (8 sizes)
Price: $58-86
What we liked: Very lightweight; dual cooling functions
What we didn’t like: Evaporative cooling doesn’t last as long as other options; sizing runs small
The Chillybuddy is a unique dog cooling vest in that it features two cooling mechanisms: reflective technology and evaporative cooling. Like Aluminets or other reflective shade coverings, the Chillybuddy uses woven synthetic material with an aluminized finish (similar to mylar but more breathable) to reflect light and heat away from the surface (and your dog’s body). The jacket is lined with an open-weave cotton mesh, and is extremely breathable.
Chillybuddy works better as a preventative measure than other options, since it literally moves the heat away from your dog. The breathable material also does a good job of cooling your dog down quickly. However, because the cotton mesh lining isn’t very absorptive, this coat dries out faster than other options. It can, however, be used dry and will still offer some cooling from the reflective exterior, though it works better when both are used together.
This coat can also be used to prevent your dog’s coat from getting sun bleached. It’s extremely lightweight and packable (the lightest on this list) and can easily be stowed in a backpack, car seat back, or taken on the go while traveling.
Chillybuddy Canine Cooling Jacket
The main downsides of this cooling vest is that the sizing seems to run small (definitely size up if your dog is between sizes or if you want extra back length coverage for long dogs), and that the evaporative cooling doesn’t last as long as other options. Since it’s so lightweight and breathable, it’s also not as durable as other options.
Best vest for active and working dogs: Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Harness
Cooling method: Evaporative cooling
Weight: 8.47 oz (size S)
Sizes available: XXS-L/XL (5 sizes)
Price: $85
What we liked: Doesn’t require a separate harness; similar cooling performance as our top pick; new version has an additional leash attachment point
What we didn’t like: Lower coverage than other options; some user reviews mention dogs being in-between sizes
If you have a dog who hikes, camps, or works regularly, the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Dog Cooling Harness is a good option since it doubles as a harness. A big mistake many people make with dog cooling vests is buying one that has a harness hole on it so that their dog can wear a harness underneath the vest.
However, evaporative cooling vests need to be in contact with your dog’s skin in order to work. So, if your pup has a harness on under their cooling vest, a large part of their core won’t be touching the vest, and they’ll essentially have two layers on, potentially making it easier for them to overheat.
Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Dog Cooling Harness
A harness that doubles as a cooling vest is the best way to avoid this problem, especially for dogs who need to wear harnesses (brachy breeds, puppies, service dogs, etc). The design of this harness is similar to Ruffwear’s Webmaster harness, with good front and back coverage, though it covers less of your dog’s back than the other cooling vests on this list.
The handle on this harness is helpful for assisting dogs up rocks or other difficult features on hikes, and the thick D-ring is easy to attach a leash to. This harness is also relatively easy to get on and off, as you just need to slip it over your dog’s head and secure the two buckles.
Though the size medium in this harness worked well for my medium sized 40–45 pound dogs, some user reviews mentioned that their dogs sat right between the medium and large size, with the medium riding into their dog’s armpits, but the large being too big to cool properly. Measure your dog accurately before ordering this harness, and if your pup is between sizes, consider one of the other cooling vest options on this list.
The previous version of this harness only had two leash attachment points. The updated version for Summer 2026 has a third attachment point on the chest for mild pulling control, or for escape artist dogs who need a two-leash system. All other features and retests of cooling capability remained the same between versions.
Other cooling vests we tested
Canada Pooch Cooling 2.0 Dog Vest
Cooling method: Evaporative Cooling
Weight: 7.2 oz (size S)
Sizes available: Back length: 8" to 32" (6 sizes)
Chest girth: 13" to 52"
Price: $40-70
What we liked: Affordable price for smaller dogs; belt design makes it the easiest cooling vest to put on; doesn't get dirty
What we didn't like: Not a good value for bigger dogs
The Canada Pooch Cooling 2.0 vest performed similarly to our budget pick, doing a good job of cooling my tester dogs down in direct sunlight. The material is lightweight and actually feels cool to the touch when wet, and I liked that the gray color didn’t get as dirty as the other lighter colored options on this list.
The belt design made this coat the easiest to put on by far, since you just need to slip the vest over your dog’s head, then fasten one buckle around their waist. This vest also has high coverage (neck to base of tail), didn’t dry out too quickly, and comes in a variety of sizes.
However, the pricing of this vest varies based on size, with the smallest size costing $40 and the largest size costing $70. It underperformed in comparison to our $70 top pick, but would be a good budget option for folks with smaller dogs.
Canada Pooch Cooling 2.0 Dog Vest
The belt design made this coat the easiest to put on by far, since you just need to slip the vest over your dog’s head, then fasten one buckle around their waist. This vest also has high coverage (neck to base of tail), didn’t dry out too quickly, and comes in a variety of sizes.
However, the pricing of this vest varies based on size, with the smallest size costing $40 and the largest size costing $70. It underperformed in comparison to our $70 top pick, but would be a good budget option for folks with smaller dogs.
Cooling method: Evaporative Cooling
Weight: 6.4 oz (size S)
Sizes available: XS-XXL (6 sizes)
Price: $24
What we liked: Easy to put on; UPF-rated
What we didn’t like: Inconsistent sizing; too quick drying to be effective
This Frisco cooling vest is easy to put on and is rated UPF 45 to protect your dog from the sun—especially helpful for short-coated dogs. I found the length of this vest to be too short for the recommended size based on breeds, but many user reviews from small dog owners stated that the body length was too long for their dogs. Either way, the sizing was inconsistent, the neoprene-style fabric dried much quicker than other options on this list.
Frisco Summer UPF 45 Cooling Dog Vest
The Frisco vest dried out the fastest during testing.
Cooling method: Evaporative Cooling
Weight: 7 oz (S)
Sizes available: S-XL
Price: $40
This Kurgo cooling vest sat in the middle of the pack in terms of cooling performance, but it was the second quickest to dry out completely. During field testing, it needed to be re-wet more often than other options to keep my tester dogs cool. The fit was adequate and the material is lightweight, but I wouldn’t choose this option over our top pick or budget pick, especially since the retail price of $64 is so close to the retail price of our top pick.
Kurgo Core Cooling Dog Vest
The Kurgo vest offers high coverage, but didn’t perform as well as our top picks.
Cooling method: Evaporative Cooling
Weight: 8.6 oz (S)
Sizes available: XXS-XL (6 sizes)
Price: $50
What we liked: Lightweight and packable; full chest coverage
What we didn’t like: Dried out too quickly to be effective; more difficult to get on than side-clip options
The material of this vest felt very cool to the touch when it was wet, but it performed the worst of the pack in our lab-style cooling tests. The thicker Ruffwear Swamp Cooler is better in most respects, but this Ruffwear zip version is much more lightweight and packable, and has full coverage around the chest area. This version is harder to put on and take off your dog, since you need to lift up their front paws and place them in the leg holes.
Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Zip Cooling Dog Vest
The zip version of the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler vest didn’t perform as well as the original, but it’s much lighter.
What is a dog cooling vest and how does it work?
Utilizing a dog cooling vest while out in direct sunlight, like while paddle boarding or kayaking, will extend your outdoor time.
A dog cooling vest will help most dogs regulate their temperature in hot weather. Most popular dog cooling vests work via evaporative cooling. Evaporative cooling vests need to be wet, and as the water evaporates, surface heat from your dog’s body is pulled away, helping to keep them cool.
This is the same way that humans cool off through sweating—as the sweat evaporates from your skin, it pulls body heat away from the surface of your skin, cooling you down.
Some dog cooling vests that work via evaporative cooling can also help keep your dog cool by providing UPF-rated sun protection.
Evaporative cooling works best in dry climates, since the dry air helps to facilitate water evaporation from the vest. In humid climates, the vest will stay damp, so your dog’s body heat doesn’t leave their body as efficiently.
New to this guide as of summer 2026 is a reflective dog cooling vest. Reflective dog cooling vests are woven and aren’t completely solid—you can see through the material in some cases. Reflective cooling vests work in the same way that Aluminets and other reflective shade tarps do: by reflecting sun and heat away from the material and diffusing sunlight for the user so it doesn’t create light/heat hotspots.
There are some dog cooling vests on the market that work by using ice packs, and some that feature phase change materials (PCM). Phase change materials are substances that can absorb and release heat during their transition between matter states (e.g., solid to liquid). Many of these phase change materials are similar to water or ice packs in that they need to be frozen or cooled to activate, and they eventually stop cooling, like how an ice pack will melt.
However, some phase change materials are lighter than traditional ice packs, take less time to activate in a fridge or freezer, and activate at a lower temperature than ice packs require to be frozen.
Dog cooling vests with phase change materials are less popular than evaporative cooling options, and require more forethought and setup by pet parents before use. For that reason, we stuck to other options that are easier to use and generally more accessible.
What to look for in a dog cooling vest
Cooling technology
Though some dog cooling vests use ice packs or phase change materials as mentioned above, the vast majority of them utilize evaporative cooling technology. This kind of cooling vest needs to be wet in order to work, so you should plan to wet it completely before heading out with your dog in warm temperatures, and have a way to rewet it if needed. Reflective options can be wet, or used dry.
Weight and bulk
A very heavy, bulky cooling vest may just make your dog hotter. If you plan on bringing your dog’s cooling vest with you on hikes or camping trips and only putting it on when your dog needs it, a lightweight, packable option will be more portable.
Fit, adjustability, and coverage area
A dog cooling vest should cover your dog’s core and preferably the majority of their back, both for temperature regulation and for sun protection. It should also be snug—a loose cooling vest that doesn’t touch your dog’s body won’t draw heat from their body’s surface and therefore won’t cool them down. The best cooling vests can be tightened so that they fit your dog snugly.
Breathability and drying time
We calculated how long each vest took to dry in direct sunlight.
There’s a fine line between a cooling vest that dries too slow and one that dries too fast. Drying is how the vest cools your dog down, so a vest that’s not breathable and stays soaked with water won’t actually cool your dog down. However, if it’s too lightweight and dries too fast, you’ll need to rewet it constantly.
Durability and materials
If you’re planning on using a dog cooling vest for hiking, ensure the material is non-snag and tough enough to hold up to dogs who are rough on their gear. Options with open mesh outers will get caught on branches and brush while outdoors, and are better suited for dogs who only need a cooling vest for neighborhood walks and park romps.
Ease of use and re-wetting
Since most of the cooling vests we tested work through evaporative cooling, they’ll need to be rewet when they dry to continue to work. That means that the best cooling vests are fast and easy to take off and put back on.
Leash/harness compatibility
Layering a cooling vest and harness will likely make your dog hotter, so opt for a harness/cooling vest combo.
If your dog typically wears a harness, that’s less surface area on their body that will be touching the cooling vest, which means they won’t cool down as efficiently. You can select a cooling vest with a harness hole, but know that putting both a harness and a cooling vest on your dog at the same time will affect the efficacy of the cooling vest, and may even cause your dog to overheat faster.
If putting a harness on your dog is non-negotiable, opt for a cooling harness style, like the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Dog Harness, or pick one that has a slim design that will fit under your dog’s harness, like the Non-stop Dog Wear Cooling Pull-On Vest.
Similarly, if you’re planning on using a cooling vest for hiking or backpacking and your pup wears a dog hiking pack, the exterior of the cooling vest won’t be exposed to air—also decreasing the efficiency of the cooling vest.
Breed suitability
There are mixed feelings among dog owners regarding using cooling vests for double-coated breeds. Since double coats are insulating, some say that a cooling vest may not help much. The idea here is that the dog’s skin won’t actually touch the cooling vest since it’s well-insulated by both under coat and top coat.
However, in the summer, many double-coated breeds shed their wooly undercoats and all they have left is the top coat. This makes the skin more easily accessible by the cooling vest.
Whether a cooling vest works on your double-coated dog or not will depend on how much undercoat they have.
Some breeds, on the other hand, are hyper-sensitive to the sun. This includes dark-colored dogs (dark colors absorb more heat), dogs with little-to-no undercoat, white dogs (are prone to sunburn), hairless breeds, and brachycephalic dogs. Dog cooling vests are a helpful tool to minimize the sun exposure on your dog’s body, and can be paired with dog sunscreen for maximum UV protection.
When to use a dog cooling vest
If your dog runs off leash without a harness, a cooling vest is a great way to protect them from the sun in warm temperatures.
Cooling vests that utilize evaporative cooling work best in hot, dry weather, since the water in the garment evaporates into the air and pulls body heat away from your dog. If you live in an area with high humidity, evaporative cooling won’t work as well since the air will already be saturated with moisture.
Dog cooling vests are best used for medium-long walks, hikes, and runs where your dog may be warm, but not dangerously hot. For very short walks, cooling vests aren’t as effective, as time is needed for water in the vest to evaporate and regulate your dog’s surface body temperature.
Though evaporative cooling vests will cool your dog down in hot weather, never exercise your dog in extreme temperatures that they’re not acclimated to.
A general rule of thumb is that temperatures of 85 degrees or hotter pose a risk for dogs who are not acclimated, and pups who are more heat sensitive shouldn’t be out for prolonged periods of time in temperatures 80 degrees or higher—even if they have a dog cooling vest.
Watch out for signs of overheating like excessive panting, drooling, lethargy, and vomiting, and stop your dog’s exercise immediately if you notice any symptoms of heatstroke.
Care and maintenance
Since the nature of cooling vests is that they get wet, they also can get pretty muddy if your dog lays in dirt while wearing one. Machine washable cooling vests are a must for easy cleaning.
To store your dog cooling vest, wash it and ensure it’s completely dry by laying it flat. If you accidentally put a damp cooling vest away, you may end up with musty smells, mold, or mildew.
FAQ
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Cooling vests must be fitted properly and be touching the skin or close to touching the skin on double coated breeds in order to work properly. Cooling vests work best on double coated breeds in the summer when they’ve shed out their fluffy undercoats.
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You don’t need to use a cooling vest while your dog is actively swimming. Cooling vests become saturated with water and will get noticeably heavier if your dog is wearing one while swimming. Instead, dunk the cooling vest in the water when your dog is done swimming, and put it on them to keep them cool.
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The temperature you should put a cooling vest on your dog varies depending on your dog’s heat acclimation and heat sensitivity. Heat-sensitive and non-acclimated dogs may benefit from a cooling vest in temps over 70 degrees. Dogs who are not heat sensitive and acclimated to warm temperatures may benefit from a cooling vest in temps over 80 degrees.
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Feel your dog’s belly and core under their cooling vest to feel if it’s actually working. Your dog’s coat should feel cool to the touch under their vest if it’s working properly.
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Yes, puppies and senior dogs can wear cooling vests. Puppies and seniors are often more sensitive to heat than adult dogs, so cooling vests can help them regulate their temperature in warm weather. Always supervise your puppy or senior when wearing a dog cooling vest.
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A cooling vest usually stays long for about one to four hours before needing to be re-wet. However, the exact length of time will depend on the temperature, humidity, and sun exposure your dog is in, and the material your dog’s vest is made out of.
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Evaporative dog cooling vests do not work as effectively in highly humid environments. In humid climates, the vest will stay damp, so your dog's body heat doesn't leave their body as efficiently through evaporative cooling. Reflective cooling vests can keep your dog cooler in the sun in humid environments.
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Yes, your dog can wear a cooling vest and a backpack at the same time. It’s recommended to choose a slim-fitting cooling vest to wear under your dog’s backpack. Note that the exterior of your dog’s cooling vest won’t be exposed to air in the areas that the backpack is covering, which will slightly decrease the efficiency of the cooling vest.
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No, always supervise your dog when wearing a cooling vest.
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A dog cooling vest is a wearable cooling tool, often using evaporative cooling to remove heat from the surface of your dog’s body. A dog cooling mat is a stationary pad that may help cool your dog down as they are laying on it, often using pressure-activated cooling gels, phase change materials, or water.
How we researched and tested
Each of the cooling vests in this story was tested on multiple hikes, walks around the neighborhood, with a dog sitting on a paddle board or in a kayak under direct sunlight for multiple hours, and with lab-style tests. Conditions ranged from 70 degrees and partly cloudy to over 90 degrees and sunny, but all vests were tested on the same days in the same conditions to ensure accuracy.
Humidity conditions during testing ranged from 5%-30%, which was largely why these vests were so effective. High-humidity areas with 50% or more humidity lack the dryness needed for effective evaporative cooling.
I used my two dogs to test this piece—Miso, a black, short-haired Border Collie mix who gets extremely hot in the sun, and Dashi, a Rough Collie whose long coat does a pretty good job of protecting her from the sun and heat.
However, Dashi is currently out of coat, meaning that she’s shed her insulating undercoat for the summer, so I tested these vests on her to see how effective they are for double-coated dogs when they’ve shed.
I tested the ease of use of each vest by putting them on and taking them off my dogs multiple times, rating them from easiest to hardest.
I also utilized two lab-style tests to measure how well each vest cooled my dogs. I sat with a dog out in direct sunlight, measuring their temperature on their back and on their chest after 3 minutes using a temperature gun. Especially with a black dog, even 3 minutes in direct sunlight in 90+ degree temperatures made her fur hotter by about 80 degrees during this test.
After sitting in the sun, I put a soaked and wrung out cooling vest on the dog, and retested their chest and back temperature after 3 minutes. The most effective cooling vests brought Miso’s back temperature down by 70-80 degrees, and her chest temperature down by about 20 degrees.
For example, when in the shade, Miso’s back temperature was about 88 degrees, and her chest temperature was about the same. After three minutes in direct sunlight on a 90-degree day, her back temperature went up to 172 at the hottest, and her chest temperature rose to 113.5 at the hottest. After three minutes with a cooling vest on, her temperature during one test dropped down to 91.5 for both her back and chest. Some of this cooling effect can be attributed to the sun protection the vests provide, in addition to the evaporative cooling happening.
The second lab-style test tested how quickly each vest dried. The drying speed directly correlates to cooling your dog, but there’s a fine balance between too slow and too fast. If the vest dries too slow, there isn’t enough evaporative cooling happening. If the vest dries too fast, you’ll need to constantly rewet it.
I soaked each of the vests in the same temperature water, wrung them out the same amount, and laid them out on the sidewalk in direct sunlight, noting which ones dried the fastest and which ones dried the slowest. This test also gave me valuable information on which vests soaked up more water than others, which would require pet parents to wring them out more before putting them on their dogs.
- Measured back and chest temperatures
- Compared drying speed in direct sun
- Used each vest on hikes and walks
- Tested during paddleboard and kayak trips
- Repeated setup and removal tests
- Surface temperature reduction
- Cooling duration and drying speed
- Ease of putting on and removing
- Coverage, fit, and adjustability
- Mobility and harness compatibility
Why you should trust us / About the author
From sweaty seasons in humid New York City to scalding desert summers, Jae Thomas has lived, hiked, and camped with dogs in all weather. Being an owner of a short-coated black dog (Miso) who gets hot incredibly quickly in direct sunlight meant getting serious about dog cooling gear. Jae and Miso have tested nearly every dog cooling product on the market, and Miso is appreciative of gear that works so she can enjoy the outdoors even when it’s toasty outside.
Jae Thomas is an e-commerce journalist, editor, and dog trainer based in Colorado. She graduated from the New York University journalism program in 2020, and has written and edited commerce content for publications like Mashable, Apartment Therapy, Bon Appetít, Whole Dog Journal, Chewy, CNN Underscored, and more.
Jae is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed, and teaches agility, rally, and other dog sports at Canine Athletics Training Center in Boulder County. Jae uses her background in dog sports and behavior to test outdoor-focused dog gear focused on fit, comfort, safety, and functionality for dogs and their owners.
Jae shares her life with two dogs: mixed breed Miso, and Rough Collie, Dashi. Jae competes in conformation, agility, rally, herding, barn hunt, Fast CAT, and other sports with her dogs and is a pro at traveling, camping, hiking, and adventuring with canine companions in tow.
Connect with Jae on LinkedIn or @jaelah
Find more of Jae Thomas’ reviews and guides here.
