The Covey: GBG's Community
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Prima
Prima's owner, Bailey, wrote a detailed review of the Trekking Pack and Harness. You can read it here on her blog. So many of the dog packs on the market are bulky and allow you to easily overload your dog. The GBG roll top design helps to stop you from putting too much weight in your dog’s pack. It is also easier to make the pack smaller when your dog isn’t carrying as much gear. This pack is MUCH lighter than any other dog pack. It is basically the equivalent of buying a Hyperlight or ULA pack for yourself whereas any other dog pack is more like a Gregory or Osprey pack. Maybe it doesn’t matter on short trips, but this is something that is very important to me on longer (5 days +) trips. These packs hold up. Prima has really given her pack quite the beating this year scraping it on rocks and hiking with the maximum amount of weight. The pack has really held up and I’m sure it will last for some time. Groundbird Gear Roll Top Trekking pack IS more expensive. BUT it is well worth the price. |
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Tango the Elder, Paws On Peaks
Krista hikes in New England with her two dogs and asked me if I could make a special harness for Tango, her Elderly dog. She was worried about how close together his front legs are and how he doesn't like harnesses because they rub him and he has a funny asymmetrical gait. I worked with Krista through her concerns and addressed each one in the design, mainly- making a broad under-chest panel for more comfortable lifting and a narrow Y piece that is extra squishy. Tango applauded our hard work by not showing any signs of cowering when it's time to put the harness on (as he's done in the past with other harnesses)! Read all about it on Krista's blog: https://www.pawsonpeaks.com/2019/12/gear-review-groundbird-gear-harness.html |
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Khaya: Long Trail Section Hiker
This is the first pack Khaya's had that I haven't had to constantly readjust while hiking. There's no chafing and it moves with her really well even when she's a crazy lunatic bounding up and down technical sections. She once got an arm out of another pack and it came over her head and bound her up on a really steep descent, so she has a talent for pushing these things to the limits. But this one has stayed put and close to her body and hasn't limited her mobility at all. Even with a 4 day supply of food, she was moving regularly and confidently. |
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Cadet and Starbuck
I’m a former professional mountain biker and ultra-distance trail runner. A few years ago my dog Starbuck and I completed our first 50km trail run together after she had her first birthday. Starbuck is a four-year-old Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mix, and we’ve been moving in the direction of thru-hiking. Before coming across Marie’s website, I’d purchased at least half-a-dozen mass-produced harnesses and packs. But, I always imagined that Starbuck felt as awkward as Ralphie’s little brother in the movie A Christmas Story when the mother stuffs the little brother into the giant, red snow suit, and he “couldn’t move his arms.” Anyhow, Starbuck is now like the Southwest Airlines commercial: “Ding! She is free to move about the country!” Marie crafted Starbuck’s harness spot-on to her measurements, and I can affix her trekking pack to it in under a minute. The harness is lightweight, versatile, stays centered, and whenever Star and I pass others out on the trail, they invariably remark, “That’s such a cool harness!” Star and I average about 50 miles per week of trail running together, so as of now she’s put at least a few hundred miles on her Groundbird Gear. At this same mileage, Star’s previous mass-produced harnesses were already fraying, tearing, and leaving bald patches under her arms. So, if your dog is your best friend and ultimate trail partner, like mine is, then please give Marie a call; she truly cares about providing the best experience and equipment for you and your dog. |
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Mel "Two Eagles" and Emma
"I have seen other packs on other dogs and to be honest, I wasn't impressed. My hiking buddy had a couple of brand name packs he used on his labs and I noticed they were always shifting around and they would rub on the dogs. When it was time to get Emma her first pack we decided on Groundbird. I will admit I was a bit nervous when I saw I needed to take multiple measurements on Emma, but the instructions on Groundbird's website made it a simple task. The result in providing Groundbird with those measurement was a quality handmade pack that fits Emma perfectly, no shifting or rubbing. Emma and I hike weekends with a few week long treks throughout the year. Her pack has the small pack bags which is plenty to hold her water and weekend food supply. We will definitely be purchasing a larger pack in the future for even longer treks. Emma is now 15 months old, we have years and years of trail life ahead of us, and Groundbird gear will be with us every step of trail." |
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Ivy with James and Dani
"She rocked another 14er today, was comfortable the whole trek. Thanks again!" |
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Melissa and Emma
Emma is a day-hiker to start with hopes of making longer hiking trips in future years with her parents Melissa and Matt. Emma is a rescue from Brooklyn who landed in the Green Mountain State of Vermont at 11 months and adopted at 14 months, because of her size her mom and dad had to lug around a lot of extra food and water for her on hikes. This pack was mentioned to us by Vaida's owner and we were hooked, the idea of Emma carrying her own water was decided! This pack is great! Fits like a glove with its adjustable straps and the ability to take the bags on and off and still have the harness on for safety is amazing and super durable. The work that Marie puts into her packs is amazing. Emma is a bit of a wild stallion on the trails so this pack and its ability to stay on and take her hurdling through the woods is great. These packs are well worth the investment for your outdoor adventuring animal. |
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Byron and Mosi: Appalachian Trail Maine to Georgia thru hike 2016
I found Mosi back in 2012 at the Lusaka Animal Welfare Society while living in Zambia, southern Africa. During the years I lived with him in Zambia and subsequently in Mozambique, Mosi was a house dog while I was an office worker. I think we were both fed up with this sedentary lifestyle, so I promised him I’d thru-hike the Appalachian Trail with him in 2016. And so we did, April 2nd to September 17th NOBO. Friends and family asked me after the trail what was the hardest part of the AT, and, honestly, it was hiking with my best bud, Mosi. We hadn’t gone on many hikes in Africa due to lions, leopards, and nasty snakes that may have cut our hikes short. So it took us a few months of getting used to our new daily rhythm of hiking together and then sleeping in the same tent every night together. He had times where he wouldn’t listen to me and I had times where my temper was short. But we made it, and I give a huge part of Mosi and I’s success to Groundbird Gear. We started the trail with a Ruffwear pack that Mosi had been wearing in Mozambique for daily two hour training walks for a few months. Within one month on the trail, that Ruffwear pack was in utter disrepair (even after re-sewing it a few times). It chaffed on Mosi and distributed the weight too far down Mosi’s back. I could tell he wasn’t too comfortable wearing it after a few hundred miles, as one day he decided to chew it off while I wasn’t looking. That’s when some friends on the trail told me about Groundbird Gear. While taking a zero day in the Smokies, I contacted Marie to custom make a pack for Mosi. She rushed the order for me without additional charge and Mosi had his new pack within four weeks! That new pack stayed comfortably on Mosi over the following 1,800+ miles. The bungee strings on the top of the pack helped hold down Mosi’s raingear and leash. The saddle bags held upwards of 10lbs right next to Mosi’s shoulder blades making my pack a little lighter. Mosi ran through brush, chased chipmunks, got stuck in thick mud, scrambled through rock slides, got drenched in downpours, and hiked 20+ miles regularly without the Groundbird Gear pack ever failing. It was a great design, good fit, and well-made. Thanks Groundbird Gear. |
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Bookie and Star
2015 flip-flop Appalachian Trail thru-hike dog Star (trailname No Shame) completed the A.T. with her human Bookie. Checkout their blog! https://earthtrekblog.wordpress.com/ |
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Walker and Vinny
Walker is a rescue Plott Hound with a huge sense of adventure. Shipped all the way from North Carolina to New York, we found each other at a local pet adopt-a-thon in November of 2012. I like to believe I give this pup the best life ever to make up for the neglect he endured before the rescue stepped in. This pup lives up to his name. He belongs on the trail and lives for it! Nothing gets him more excited then when he sees you loading up his Groundbird Gear Weekend Zipper Pack. Walker has had multiple packs and no other stand up to this one. Groundbird Gear packs are quality built and have that perfect custom fit to ensure the pack does not shift to one side. With a couple of hundred miles already logged, and hopefully a couple of hundred more, life has been an adventure since adoption day. We're off to find some new trails. Happy hiking and get out and see the world with your best friend! Follow Walker and Vinny's adventures: Instagram- @dirty_impreza Facebook- Walkers Build ( https://www.facebook.com/walkersbuild ) Photos by Vincent A Vicidomine |
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Cappie and Sealander
Australian Shepherd Cappie aka "Captain Jack" and human "Sealander" have been section hiking the AT. They hike 13-20 miles a day and Cappie carries about 4 pounds of gear/food. This pic is from their 75 mile section hike from Dick's Creek/Hiawassee, GA to the Nantahala Outdoor Center, NC. |
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REBEKKA and CASSIE
"Cassie and I hiked the 486-mile Colorado Trail from August 12 to September 11, 2015. She wasn’t with me the entire way but did hike over 300 miles. Your Groundbird Gear pack was awesome. Since I carried freeze dried for her the medium size worked well without being too heavy despite her smaller size. She never had any problems with sore spots like she has had with other packs. The pack itself held up well although the harsh Colorado sun did bleach out the colors a bit. But I think she is still quite noticeable which is great given we did go through some areas that were open to bow hunting. I recommended the pack to everyone else on the trail that asked. I will be a Groundbird Gear customer for life because it really is the best product out there. And trust me - I’ve tried other products that slip and slide around and cause hotspots and sores and are still very expensive. I think your packs are worth every penny. I will also add that your customer service is really phenomenal. She has worn it for several other long-weekend trips both before and after doing the CT so her total mileage with this pack is likely between 400 and 500 miles. I have not a single complaint!" |
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Kristyn and Maeby
"I absolutely love Groundbird and it's totally worth the price. It stays put rather than sliding around, and when she runs the saddlebags stay tight to her sides instead of lifting and slamming against her ribcage. We use it every time we hike, and the harness gets even more use on its own when we go running. We've got a weekend zipper pack, but I'm thinking about purchasing roll top saddlebags now that we're getting into backpacking. Absolutely 100% recommend!" |
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Paige and Ruger
"Worth the money every time you put it on your pup. Ruger has a Weekend Pack and a Trekking Roll-top for long trips. She carries all of her gear without any chafing because it fits her body shape. Roomy. Easy to use. Easy to remove from the harness if pup needs to rest. Ruger has rolled, raced, swam..... In her packs and they still look new. Durable." |
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Hannah and Ender with friend Riley
Checkout the full length review by Hannah and Ender on their blog: http://www.hannaheugster.com/blog/2016/2/28/groundbird-gear Follow them on Instagram @hannahandender |
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AMY and NASH
"Nash absolutely loves to hike and I've tried several packs but he loves yours the best. It fits so well and never chafes, super durable too. Nash is a 4.5 year Standard Poodle. Hiking is probably his favorite activity." |
Orion and Cartwheel
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Orion and the Kallin Family
I had the pleasure of meeting the Kallin Family during their 2014 thru-hike. This special family has won the respect and admiration of many Appalachian Trail and hiking enthusiasts. During the summer of 2014, they thru-hiked all 2,185 miles of the A.T. with their young children: RobinHood (9) and Cartwheel (8). Their blog story is such a fun read! Orion wore his GBG Trekking Pack from PA to ME and found it to be lightweight and very comfortable. It takes a special dog to accomplish a thru-hike-- it is certainly not for every dog and the Kallins did a great job of caring for both of their kids and Orion during their long journey. |
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Heather and Moonshine
Groundbird Gear looks forward to following Heather and her bloodhound Moonshine on their 2015 northbound thru-hike of the A.T. follow along: Instagram:@heatherthckr |
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Monica and Roxy
Appalachian Trail 2015 Sobo Thru-hikers! Follow along on their journey! Read their review of the Trekking Pack! (social media addresses provided by Monica) Instagram: @mfryska Twitter: @Roxy_and_me Blog: ATwithRoxyAndMe.blogspot.com |
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Cath and Sojo (aka Salix and Sojo)
When Cath decided to take on in 2015 her final two-thirds of the Appalachian Trail, she began searching rescue shelters for a canine companion. The deal was sealed when at a nearby shelter she found a natural born trekker awaiting her. Cath and her partner have named this pup Sojo, in honor of Sojourner Truth. While training with a mainstream dog pack, Sojo developed chafing sores that led Cath to find Groundbird Gear. The smallest-yet Trekking Pack was created for Sojo, who wears it well! They will be taking off in early April 2015, and are sharing about their journey at the following sites: Their blog: http://cathhopkins.weebly.com/ Their facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SalixAndSojo/timeline |
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Pack on Jack
Jack has his own YouTube channel! Checkout all the fun Jack and his sister Keeper are up to in San Francisco! Their parents run a really neat lifestyle blog: www.wildlandia.com They have written a product review of the Trekking Pack on their blog ^ Jack is the founder of the color scheme called "The Americana" |
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Rachel and Laika
Hey there, Rachel and Laika here! Hiking is our passion….. it's what we live for. Laika isn't your typical husky, you know nonstop energy, crazy antics, wants to only run, run, run. While we still do a lot of trail running, she doesn't like to run long distances. Laika prefers to stop and smell the roses instead of speeding past them. Hiking is the perfect outlet for both of us! We live in Ohio and do a lot of hiking at the Cuyahoga Vally National Park, Hocking Hills, and many local and state parks. What a lot of people seem to forget is you don't have to be in a national park or forest to have an amazing hiking experience. Sometimes your local parks and MetroParks are hidden gems, containing miles and miles of hiking or biking trails that are just as good! My primary advice for hiking with a dog would be to research an area before hiking there. Know the laws: can you even bring a dog, is there a leash law, are there specific hours posted, etc. This way you can avoid disappointment or altercations upon arrival. My other piece of advice is come prepared for anything. You never know what can happen, and you can always leave in your car what you absolutely don't need on the trail: bring extra water, towels, first aid (human and dog), collapsable bowls, waste bags, snacks, treats, a toy, an extra leash, etc. Groundbird makes amazing packs and we have the extra small for shorter day hikes. We can fit a small water bottle, a collapsable bowl, treats, waste bags, a granola bar, and an extra leash. Groundbird has made our hiking experience even more enjoyable and I know we will ordering more packs in the future! Thanks Groundbird :) |
Stowe Pinnacle
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Caitlin and Vaida
Vaida is a lab-newfoundland mix and goes everywhere with Caitlin. Check out this cool video of Caitlin and Vaida at work. These two live in the big ol’ playground of mountains in Vermont and they also often hike in NH. They have plans to hike at least 100 miles of the Long Trail in the summer of 2015. Caitlin enjoys buying from made-in-USA cottage gear companies including ULA and Tarptent and was so glad to find Groundbird Gear! |
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Dan Bortz and Pickle, UL Weekend Warriors
Dan Bortz writes a blog called UL Weekend Warrior. He is a Gossamer Gear and TurboPUP (complete meal bars for dogs) Brand Ambassador. Dan is very much a gear head with an emphasis on ultra-light gear. He and Pickle, a six year old Brittany Spaniel, are section hiking the Appalachian Trail. Please read Dan and Pickle's review of the Trekking Pack here: http://ulweekendwarrior.wordpress.com/2014/10/13/dog-gear-groundbird-gear-trekking-pack/ |
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DZ Dog Adventures: Aavery and Dante
Aavery has a great blog about adventures with her dogs Dante and Ziva (DZ). She is an advocate for bully breeds and responsible dog ownership. They live in hiking heaven: the Pacific Northwest. Aavery wrote a detailed review of the Trekking Pack: dzdogadventures.blogspot.com |
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Maggie Mae Grublet
Maggie and her brother Oliver have their own Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/trailgrublet Their momma is a dog trainer and they have the doggie good life! Maggie is her mom's assistant at work! She is a 30 pound grublet-hunk of love and smarts :) Their playground is Vermont! "I purchased a pack for my dog and absolutely love it. It was so worth the money. Fits her perfectly and she is totally comfortable in it. Maggie is a hellion on the trail and races thru the woods after squirrels. The pack holds up to everything she throws at it. We have the Weekend version since she's only a 30 pound dog. Great investment." |
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Austin, Cat and Smoki
Smoki helped Austin to have a successful first backpacking trip! Austin is blind with no limitations! Read more about this story: http://atasteforthewoods.com 
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Chaco, Wakapak and Grayson Phillips
Chaco and Wak are 2008 AT Nobo thru-hikers. Since their hike, they have added Grayson to their family and love to take him on hikes in the White Mountains, easily accessed from their NH home.
This is Chaco's (Jeff Phillips II) review of the Rolltop Pack:
This is Grayson. Grayson is a hiking machine and loves his new Groundbird Gear dog pack. The lightweight design allows Grayson to chase squirrels through the trees. The harness is a perfect fit, allowing him to roll around in the leaves and dirt. The pack comes clean after a nice shake. The roll top pack is perfect to really knock down the bulk of the pack. This was a common issue with previous packs- they had too much bulk. I can even roll up the pack and stuff it in the side pocket of my pack when the bags are empty. The simplicity of the Groundbird is great. The harness slips on and off with ease and dries in a reasonable amount of time. The velcro tabs allow us to remove the pack from Grayson when we take breaks, while still leaving the harness on. The loop handle on the rear of the harness is great in steep rocky sections. The blaze orange keeps our boy safe! This is the best pack we have seen on the market and Grayson is honored to be part of the Groundbird family!
Chaco and Wak are 2008 AT Nobo thru-hikers. Since their hike, they have added Grayson to their family and love to take him on hikes in the White Mountains, easily accessed from their NH home.
This is Chaco's (Jeff Phillips II) review of the Rolltop Pack:
This is Grayson. Grayson is a hiking machine and loves his new Groundbird Gear dog pack. The lightweight design allows Grayson to chase squirrels through the trees. The harness is a perfect fit, allowing him to roll around in the leaves and dirt. The pack comes clean after a nice shake. The roll top pack is perfect to really knock down the bulk of the pack. This was a common issue with previous packs- they had too much bulk. I can even roll up the pack and stuff it in the side pocket of my pack when the bags are empty. The simplicity of the Groundbird is great. The harness slips on and off with ease and dries in a reasonable amount of time. The velcro tabs allow us to remove the pack from Grayson when we take breaks, while still leaving the harness on. The loop handle on the rear of the harness is great in steep rocky sections. The blaze orange keeps our boy safe! This is the best pack we have seen on the market and Grayson is honored to be part of the Groundbird family!