PetAmi Deluxe Backpack Dog & Cat Carrier, Heather Navy

Before I start this review, this backpack was the one with the least toxic chemicals & was rated as pretty safe as compared to other brands!!! Make sure you check where these packs are made and do your research!!! Many packs have unhealthy chemicals that may cause health issues in pets!!! This particular backpack was perfect for my 8 lb, 15 yr old Chihuahua who still loves to hike but lacks stamina on a long trek. The information stated the backpack was good up to 15lb, but there is no way unless you want your pet stuffed in the pack like a Sardine in a can!! He barely fits & will sit up, but has not curled up to lay down yet. There is no way he could spread out! He is comfortable with the flap open so he can look out the back and get good air flow (there is also sufficient airflow netting on the sides). Unfortunately, On my first use, I was caught in an unexpected torrential down pour & had to run out of the forest which didn't make for a smooth ride for the dog & he became hysterical once the air vent was zipped up because the rain was extremely heavy coming in through the air vent. However, despite myself, my husband & my dog (had to carry the dog) getting soaked to the skin, the pack held up well and did not fall apart, something I learned the hard way but wouldn't recommend. I wiped it down good and let it dry out & it's just like new. I washed the fleece covering in the bottom of the pack & it didn't fall apart, but there were little annoying threads hanging off the material symbolizing not the best material, so I placed a small hand towel over the bottom of the fleece and pinned it because it's easier to wash the towel than have the fleece material apart. The straps across the chest and waist are great and help to anchor the pack on your back unless you're a small-boned, 4'10" tall and 130 lb woman. I needed extra support at the chest so the pack would lie flush against my back. You can use bungee cords to accomplish this, but I used an extra dog collar to hold the chest straps together more, and it worked great! There is also an attachment inside the bag to hook on to the dog's harness/collar to keep him/her from jumping out of the pack, but it was smaller than I would like because it barely fit the dog harness loops & is not always easy to unhook quickly when the dog is in the pack. Other than the small things I mentioned, the pack works great, folds well for convenience, is well ventilated and keeps our dog with us when we hike so we can all be together despite the pitfalls of aging. :-) After all, isn't companionship the purpose?