The Best Way to Keep Your Dog Cool on Summer Hikes? This Harness Has It Built In

The Best Way to Keep Your Dog Cool on Summer Hikes? This Harness Has It Built In

When summer temperatures rise, hiking with your dog can become more stressful than fun. Managing overheating, packing extra water, and even finding shade becomes a top priority. For years, the go-to solution for keeping dogs cool during hot hikes has been to use a cooling vest—but that creates a new challenge: how do you fit that underneath your dog’s harness?

The setup gets bulky, uncomfortable, and frankly, hard to manage. Many dogs need a secure harness for trail control, especially if you're navigating rocky terrain or crowded parks. So layering a vest under a harness? Not ideal.

Ruffwear’s All-in-One Solution

That’s why we’re excited about the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler™ Harness—a true hybrid between a performance dog harness and a legit cooling vest.

This isn't just a breathable mesh harness. The Swamp Cooler uses evaporative cooling technology that actively draws heat away from your dog’s body.

Here’s how it works:

  • The outer layer reflects heat and promotes evaporation.

  • The middle layer absorbs water and stores it.

  • The inner layer keeps your dog’s fur dry while the evaporation does the cooling work.

All you have to do is wet it down, wring it out, and hit the trail. Your dog will thank you.

Not Just Cool—It's Built for the Trail

The Swamp Cooler Harness is built on Ruffwear’s reliable harness platform, so you’re not sacrificing structure or safety for the sake of cooling. Key features include:

  • Padded handle for helping your dog over rocks, into the car, or across creeks.

  • Two leash attachment points: one sturdy aluminum V-ring and one reinforced webbing loop.

  • Six points of adjustment for a snug, stay-put fit.

  • Reflective trim and light loop for low-light visibility.

  • Comfortable padding throughout the chest and belly panels.

This harness doesn’t just make your dog cooler—it makes you more confident on the trail.

What Dog Owners Are Saying

“We bought this harness for our black Lab mix to help with the Texas heat. She stayed comfortable on a long hike. Game changer.” –  customer review

“So much better than trying to layer a cooling vest under a regular harness. It’s all-in-one, easy to use, and our dog looks forward to wearing it.” –  customer review

“High-quality, easy to fit, and keeps my husky cooler on warm days. The handle on top is super handy when hiking steep trails.” –  customer review

One Harness. Total Summer Comfort.

The Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Harness solves a real problem: how to keep your dog cool and secure without adding bulk, layers, or discomfort.

If you’ve ever struggled with layering a harness over a vest, or simply wanted one product that does it all—this is the gear upgrade your dog deserves.

Learn more and shop the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Harness 

Back to blog

Shop Dog Gear

Expert Advice

Product Experience

Tested By Dogs

Shop Dog Gear

Since 2007, we’ve been helping dogs and their people get the most out of every adventure. Our Shop Dog Gear section brings together the products we trust for comfort, safety, and durability—whether you’re out on the trail, exploring the city, or just enjoying everyday life with your pup. Every item we carry has been tested in the real world with our own dogs, so you can shop with confidence knowing it’s gear that truly works. To make it easy, you can search by product category or activity type to quickly find exactly what you need.

Shop Dog Gear

The Dog Outdoors Reviews And Tests Dog Winter Jackets and Cold Weather Gear For Dogs

Since 2007, we’ve been helping dogs and their people get the most out of every adventure. Our Shop Dog Gear section brings together the products we trust for comfort, safety, and durability—whether you’re out on the trail, exploring the city, or just enjoying everyday life with your pup. Every item we carry has been tested in the real world with our own dogs, so you can shop with confidence knowing it’s gear that truly works. To make it easy, you can search by product category or activity type to quickly find exactly what you need.

Expert Advice

Owner Scott Daughtry has been helping dog owners choose gear that actually works in the real world for over 17+ years. In that time we’ve answered thousands of questions, solved fit and comfort challenges, and guided customers toward the best options for their dogs’ needs. Our advice comes from real-life use, deep product knowledge, and constant communication with fellow dog owners - never guesswork.

Check out our Dog Gear Guides Section

Expert Advice

Tested and Reviewed By Real People With Real Dogs. We only carry gear that meets our criteria. Testing dog products in the real world since 2007 and working with tens of thousands of dog owners. Get our expert advice

Owner Scott Daughtry has been helping dog owners choose gear that actually works in the real world for over 17+ years. In that time we’ve answered thousands of questions, solved fit and comfort challenges, and guided customers toward the best options for their dogs’ needs. Our advice comes from real-life use, deep product knowledge, and constant communication with fellow dog owners - never guesswork.

Check out our Dog Gear Guides Section

Product Experience

Every product we carry has been used and tested with our own dogs, often for months, before we offer it for sale. If something doesn’t meet our standards for durability, comfort, and safety, we simply don’t sell it. We’ve also worked directly with manufacturers to improve designs based on what we’ve learned in the field and from our customers’ feedback.

Product Experience

assistance handle dog harness with security strap to prevent backing or slipping out so your dog doesn't escape

Every product we carry has been used and tested with our own dogs, often for months, before we offer it for sale. If something doesn’t meet our standards for durability, comfort, and safety, we simply don’t sell it. We’ve also worked directly with manufacturers to improve designs based on what we’ve learned in the field and from our customers’ feedback.

Tested By Dogs

Our gear isn’t just reviewed in a lab—it’s reviewed by a Lab (and a few other breeds, too :) From muddy trails to hot pavement to weekends at the lake, we’ve seen firsthand how our products perform in real conditions. If it can’t stand up to our dogs’ adventures, you won't find it at The Dog Outdoors.


Tested By Dogs

Our gear isn’t just reviewed in a lab—it’s reviewed by a Lab (and a few other breeds, too :) From muddy trails to hot pavement to weekends at the lake, we’ve seen firsthand how our products perform in real conditions. If it can’t stand up to our dogs’ adventures, you won't find it at The Dog Outdoors.