Paths & PawsRuffwear Palisades vs Ruffwear Approach
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Ruffwear Palisades
Ruffwear Approach
The Short Version
- 1Palisades wins for backpacking trips where you want your dog to rest without bulky bags at camp
- 2Approach saves $60 and half a pound, perfect for day hikers who don't need removable bags
- 3Both packs use the same Web Master harness foundation
- 4Palisades includes two water bladders worth about $30
Quick Verdict
The Palisades earns its premium price if you backpack overnight or do multi-day trips. The ability to pop off those saddlebags at camp makes a real difference in your dog's comfort. For day hikes under 10 miles? The Approach handles everything you need at a friendlier price point.
Choose Ruffwear Palisades if:
You backpack overnight and want to remove the empty bags at camp so your dog can rest comfortably.
Choose Ruffwear Approach if:
Day hikes are your thing, and you'd rather pocket the $60 savings for treats.
I tested both packs on the same dog over the same 8 weeks. Same trails, similar loads, alternating which pack came out each weekend. By the end, the decision came down to one question: do you camp overnight with your dog?
If yes, the Palisades. If no, save your money on the Approach.
Specs Comparison
How We Tested This
We didn't just read the spec sheet. Kelly spent hours testing this product in real-world conditions, specifically evaluating:
My Alaskan Malamute Jasper wore each pack on alternating weekends for two months. Forest trails through Chautauqua Park for easy days. Scrambles up Green Mountain for technical testing. Each pack carried 15 pounds of water and gear, roughly 16% of Jasper's body weight.
I checked for hot spots after every hike, watched how the load shifted during movement, and noted any wear on the fabric from brush and rock contact.
Modularity and Features
The Palisades saddlebags unclip from the harness in about five seconds. Reach camp, pop off the bags, and Jasper gets to sprawl on his sleeping pad without awkward bulk underneath him. During a three-day trip through the Indian Peaks, this made a noticeable difference. He slept better without bags, had more freedom to move around camp, and seemed less tired each morning.
The Approach bags are sewn to the harness. Can't remove them. At camp after a long day, Jasper would lie on his side with the empty bags squished awkwardly beneath him. Not a dealbreaker for day hikes where you drive home, but uncomfortable for overnights.
Weight and Trail Handling
The Approach weighs 1.15 pounds versus 1.76 for the Palisades. Half a pound doesn't sound like much, but you notice it on narrow singletrack. The Approach hugs closer to Jasper's body. Less brush catching on bags. Easier navigation through dense sections.
The Palisades bags stick out wider due to the attachment hardware. On a tight section of the Rattlesnake Gulch trail, Jasper caught one bag on a branch hard enough to spin him sideways. Never happened with the more streamlined Approach.
Both Use the Same Base Harness
The Web Master harness underneath both packs is the same. Secure, comfortable, has a lifting handle for boosting dogs over obstacles. Whatever you choose, you're getting Ruffwear's best harness as the foundation.
Value for Money
The Palisades costs $149.95. The Approach runs $89.95. That's a $60 gap. The Palisades does include two 1-liter water bladders that cost about $30 separately, so the real gap is closer to $30 when you factor those in.
Still, if you never backpack overnight, you're paying extra for modularity you won't use. The Approach handles day hikes perfectly. Same Ruffwear durability, same harness quality, same load-carrying stability. Just no bag removal.
Pros & Cons Summary
Ruffwear Palisades
Pros
- Pop off saddlebags at camp for dog comfort
- Two water bladders included (worth ~$30)
- 17.5L capacity handles multi-day gear loads
- Heavier 420D nylon resists trail wear
Cons
- $149.95 is a significant investment
- Wider bags catch on brush more often
- Overkill for casual day hiking
Ruffwear Approach
Pros
- Half a pound lighter on trail
- Slimmer profile for tight singletrack
- $60 less expensive than Palisades
- Same excellent base harness
Cons
- Bags stay attached even when empty
- No water bladders included
- Less capacity for overnight gear
Final Verdict
Ruffwear Palisades takes the win in this comparison.
After two months on the same trails with the same dog, the choice is clearer than expected. Backpackers who camp overnight should pay the premium for the Palisades. That bag removal makes a genuine difference in dog comfort. Day hikers should save $60 on the Approach and put it toward a nice collapsible bowl.