I've hiked more than 500 miles with my dogs, and this is the best gear we take with us on trails

The best harness for your dog is the one that makes walks and other adventures easy while keeping them comfortable, secure, and pain-free. We've narrowed down a crowded field of more than two dozen options to find the six best harnesses for dogs of different sizes, needs, and abilities.

While there are plenty of science-based techniques to teach a dog to walk on a loose leash, sometimes the best solution to a dog that pulls is a no-pull harness that will do the bulk of the work for you. A good no-pull harness can make walks more enjoyable without causing your dog discomfort or pain.

The best dog collars are durable, comfortable for everyday wear, and won't lose their looks over time. We spoke to veterinarians to find out what kinds of collars are best for dogs and tested and researched popular brands.

Bringing a new puppy home is an important moment, so make it memorable and stock up on the right gear before it arrives. From a training collar to a bed and chew toy, here are the best items to buy to welcome your new dog.

A few key supplies will make a world of difference in getting your puppy quickly potty-trained. In this buying guide to puppy potty-training gear, a certified professional dog trainer breaks down the crates, barriers, pet stain removers, indoor toilets, and treats that I've found most successful over the years.

We scoured reviews and compared dozens of products to find the best dog food brands and formulas for all life stages, including food appropriate for the unique needs of different dogs, including puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with food sensitivities. These are the best dog foods you can buy.

Whether you are looking for a bite-sized indulgence or a healthy treat for training your dog, our top picks for dog treats will please your pup. These are the best dog treats you can buy.

Flea preventive and treatment options for dogs are available to manage this common issue. Here are our picks for the best flea treatment for dogs.

Whether your dog has short or long fur, a slender or thick build, a warm, water-resistant dog coat is a winter necessity to keep them comfortable and protected during daily walks and outdoor play. These are the best snow jackets for dogs you can buy.

In addition to keeping your dog warm and dry, raincoats increase your dog's visibility, protect their coat, and give them a boost of security if they're nervous about getting wet. These are the best raincoats for dogs you can buy.

This dry sack is designed with a roll-down top and hex-weave material to keep your dog's food fresh. The sack can hold up to 5 pounds of dog food, and even has a zippered side pocket that can fit smaller items like treats, dog bags, keys, and more.

Protect your dog's paws from rough terrain with these rubber-soled and water-resistant boots. Plus, each bootie comes with reflective strips and LED lights are built into the sole for low-light conditions. For more options, check out our guide to the best dog boots.

This harness holds up no matter how big and dirty the adventure. Soft, padded straps have four points of adjustment, two on the neck strap and two on the chest strap, to help you get a snug fit on a wide range of body types. Two buckles on the chest strap mean that you don't have to lift your dog's legs to get them into the harness.

The harness is fashioned from soft, lightweight polyester and covered with a weatherproof material sturdy enough to keep the harness from soaking through in low to moderate rain. Reflective prints and piping increase safety in low light. A sturdy stainless steel ring connects to the leash, and a handle lets you lend a hand on steep trails without compromising your balance. It comes in five sizes, from a tiny 16 to 18 inches to a hefty 39 to 47 inches.

Read more about the Hurtta Weekend Warrior Harness in our guide to the best dog harnesses.

I live in a rural area, and I rarely have my dogs on a leash. When we hike, all three of us like to be independent, but I want to make sure I don't lose track of them. That's why both my dogs wear the Fi Dog Collar. When I'm home, Fi alerts me via push notifications or text when my dogs leave safe zones I've set, so I know it's time to call them or to go after them.

When hiking with my dogs off-leash, I know exactly where they are, as long as there is a cellular signal. The collar runs on the LTN network, and it's paired to a collar base as well as to my phone. It's the first GPS dog collar that continuously searches for your canine companion without killing the collar's battery or your phone.

If you or your dog are out of range, as soon as you're both back in range, the collar lets you know your pup's location. It won't tell you exactly where the dog went before you were reunited, but it will tell you how many steps total your dog took each day, even when you and/or the dog were offline.

When I'm hiking, I want to carry as little as possible. It makes the journey more pleasant. And this dog bowl is so minimalist, I never think twice about bringing it along. It's about the weight of a quart-sized zip-top bag, and it takes up about the same amount of space — virtually none. It's leak-proof and holds 16 ounces of water, so my dog doesn't have to drink out of my water bottle or hydration hose. I also use it to feed my dogs on the trail. The bowl's collar is narrower than the base to keep it stable with liquids inside, but there's plenty of room for a dog snout to get to the goods.

You've got two choices when it comes to a first-aid kit for hiking: Start with one that's human-specific, and tweak it to include dog-specific gear or visa versa. I like this canine-specific first-aid kit from Orvis, because not only does it come with a 98-page quick reference guide to how to treat almost every dog emergency, it has the tools you need for common mishaps, from cuts to quilling. It's divided into smaller and larger pouches, in case you want to streamline the kit for shorter outings. And there is room to personalize — I add medications for humans in a separate and clearly labeled bag — so that the kit works for the whole team.

The key elements of a great dog backpack are a comfortable and supportive harness, a secure and easy to reach leash clip, and enough capacity for your pup to carry some of their weight in dog food and related items. Mountainsmith's K9 checks all the boxes.

The four-point adjustable chest harness connects to an independently adjustable back harness with nonslip buckles. Breathable mesh panels and perforated EVA add comfort. And when my dog runs across a shallow river, or splashes in puddles, the pack's water-resistant treatment keeps the contents dry. I store poop bags and treats in zippered outer compartments where I can grab them fast. And I've used the back haul handle to help my dog up ladders on Vermont's Mount Mansfield.

My hands stay occupied when I am hiking, checking the map, snapping pics, and doling out snacks to humans and canines alike. Ruffwear's Roamer lets me keep my dog on a leash, but hands-free. The stretchy leash wraps around my waist with an adjustable loop of webbing, and the webbing has enough give that when my dog wants to sniff on the side of the trail, she can do it without jerking me off my feet.

The waist clip is one-handed, so I can take the leash on and off my own body as needed, and a quick grab nonstretchy "traffic handle" loop near the collar attachment point lets me rein in my pup when I want her to say close. A clever accessory loop keeps poop bags, keys, and other essentials at hand.