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Introduction
Last month, we went hiking in the middle of July. It was 92 degrees out, right? Max is a black Lab, and he overheats so easily. Halfway through the hike, he stopped, he was panting so hard, he could barely walk. I was so scared, I thought he was going to get heatstroke. I had to pour water on him, and carry him part of the way back, it was terrible.
I tried those cooling bandanas, but they didn’t work, they dried out in 20 minutes. I tried pouring water on him, but that dried out, too, and then he was even hotter. I was so desperate, I needed something to keep him cool, on those hot summer hikes. That’s when I found the Kurgo Core Cooling Vest. It was $59, it said it was an evaporative cooling vest, that would keep him cool for hours. I ordered it immediately, because I was tired of him overheating. After using it for a month, I put together this full Kurgo Core Cooling Vest review to share everything I learned, the good, the bad, and the annoying little things that no one tells you about.
Kurgo Core Cooling Vest: A Kurgo Core Cooling Vest Review of Its Cooling Tech
So, what is this thing, anyway? It’s an evaporative cooling vest, right? The idea is, you wet the vest, wring out the extra water, and then put it on your dog. As the water evaporates, it takes the heat away from your dog, so he stays cool.
It has reflective material, too, right? The light color, and the reflective strips, they deflect the sun’s heat, so it doesn’t get absorbed into your dog’s fur. It has adjustable straps, too, so you can adjust it, to fit your dog, and there’s a zipper opening, at the top, so you can attach your leash, or your harness, right through the vest.
It’s machine washable, too, so you can clean it, after a hike. And Kurgo has a lifetime warranty, right? If it breaks, they’ll replace it, no questions asked. That was nice, I thought, for $59, that’s a good deal.
My Story: Putting the Kurgo Core Cooling Vest to the Test
When the vest arrived, I was so excited. I measured Max’s chest, like the instructions said, and I got the large size, which was supposed to fit him. I opened it up, and it was this blue vest, it looked like a little jacket for dogs. Cute, right?
I soaked it in cold water, for 5 minutes, like the instructions said, and then I wrung out the extra water. I tried to put it on Max. And the neck opening, it was so small! I had to pull it, as hard as I could, to get it over his head. I thought I was going to tear the vest, honestly. It was so tight, I was scared I was going to hurt him.
Once I got it on, I adjusted the straps, around his chest, and it fit, kind of. But the straps were pressing against his armpits, right? He kept lifting his paw, like it was bothering him. I loosened them, as much as I could, but they still rubbed, a little bit.
We went hiking, the next weekend. It was 88 degrees out, and the vest worked! At first, anyway. Max was cool, he wasn’t panting, he was running around, he was fine. I was so happy, this was exactly what I needed!
But then, 2 hours later, the vest dried out. Just, completely dry. And then, it got hot. The vest was absorbing the sun’s heat, and it was making Max hotter, than if he wasn’t wearing it! I had to stop, and find a creek, to rewet the vest. I soaked it again, and then it worked, for another 2 hours.
Also, the vest is so short. It only covers his upper back, right? His lower back, his belly, nothing. His belly was still hot, he was still panting, a little bit, because the vest didn’t cover that part. I thought it was supposed to cover his whole body, but no, it’s just a little jacket, that covers his chest, and his upper back.
And then, after the hike, I tried to wash it. I threw it in the washing machine, like the instructions said, and it was fine, but the velcro, it got full of lint, and it stopped sticking, after a few washes. I had to clean it, with a toothbrush, to get the lint off.
But the best part? For the first 2 hours, it worked perfectly. Max was cool, he didn’t overheat, he had a great time. That was the whole reason I bought it, and that part worked, for a little while.
What I Liked and What I Didn’t Like About the Kurgo Core Cooling Vest
After using this for a month, I’ve gone through all the pros and cons, and I checked out hundreds of other reviews to make sure I wasn’t the only one with these experiences.
What I Liked
- It works, at first: The first 2 hours, it kept Max cool, he didn’t overheat, he was fine. That was great, for a short hike.
- The reflective strips work: When we walk at night, the reflective strips light up, so cars can see us. That’s so safe, I don’t have to worry about getting hit by a car.
- The leash opening works: The zipper opening, at the top, it works, I can attach my leash, right through the vest, no problem.
- It’s machine washable: I can throw it in the washing machine, and clean it, after a hike. That’s nice, it gets muddy, and I can just wash it.
- Lifetime warranty: Kurgo has a lifetime warranty, so if it breaks, they’ll replace it. That’s a big relief, if something goes wrong, I can get a new one.
What I Didn’t Like
- It dries out, so fast: After 2 hours, it’s completely dry, and then it gets hot. I have to rewet it, every 2 hours, which is a hassle, if you’re on a long hike.
- The neck opening is too small: I got the large size, which was supposed to fit him, but the neck opening was so small, I had to pull it, to get it over his head. A lot of people have this problem.
- It rubs his armpits: The straps press against his armpits, they rub, and chafe him. He doesn’t like it, he keeps lifting his paw.
- It’s too short: It only covers his upper back, his lower back, his belly, nothing. Those parts still get hot, so it doesn’t cool him, all the way.
- It doesn’t work for thick fur: If your dog has thick fur, the vest doesn’t work, the cooling can’t get through the fur. A lot of people with long haired dogs, said it did nothing.
Is the Kurgo Core Cooling Vest Right for Your Dog?
So, is this thing right for you? Well, that depends. If you have a short haired dog, and you’re going on a short hike, 2 hours, or a walk around the neighborhood? Then yeah, this is perfect. It works, it keeps him cool, for that time.
But if you’re going on a long hike, all day? Then no, because it dries out, every 2 hours, you have to rewet it, which is a hassle, unless you’re near a creek, or a lake.
And if you have a long haired dog, or a thick coated dog? Then no, it doesn’t work, the cooling can’t get through the fur.
Also, if you have a big dog, with a big neck? Then be careful, the neck opening is small, you might have to order a size up, to make it fit.
Common Questions About the Kurgo Core Cooling Vest
I got so many questions from my friends after I posted about this, so I wanted to answer the most common ones here.
How long does this stay cool?
About 2 hours, then it dries out. You have to rewet it, to make it work again.
Does this work for big dogs?
Yeah, but be careful with the sizing. The neck opening is small, so you might have to order a size up, to make it fit.
Can I use this in the desert?
A lot of people use it in the desert, but you have to rewet it, often, because it dries out, really fast, in the dry heat.
Is this machine washable?
Yeah, it is. But the velcro gets full of lint, after a while, so you have to clean it, to make it stick again.
Does this work for long haired dogs?
Not really. The cooling can’t get through the thick fur, so it doesn’t do anything, for them.
My Top Takeaways on the Kurgo Core Cooling Vest
At the end of the day, this thing works, for what it is. It solved my biggest problem—Max overheating, on short hikes, for a little while. That part worked, the first 2 hours, he was cool, he didn’t get heatstroke, he had a great time.
The drying out part, that was annoying, but if we’re near a creek, it’s fine, I just rewet it, and it works again. And the neck opening, once I got it over his head, it was fine, the straps worked, after I adjusted them.
The first day, when I was trying to put it on him, that was a hassle, but after a few times, I figured out how to do it, fast. And the rubbing, once I loosened the straps, it stopped, he didn’t chafe, anymore.
It’s not perfect, but it’s the best cooling vest I’ve tried, for the price. If you’re like me, and you were completely tired of your dog overheating, on short hikes, this is a great way to do it.
Final Thoughts on the Kurgo Core Cooling Vest
All in all, the Kurgo Core Cooling Vest has been a mixed bag. It solved my biggest problem—Max overheating, on short hikes—and it came with a few annoying little problems, but nothing that was a dealbreaker. The drying out, the small neck opening, the rubbing, it’s all a little much for $59, but honestly, it’s still cheaper than the other options.
If you have a short haired dog, and you’re going on short hikes? It’s worth it. But if you have a long haired dog, or you’re going on long hikes? Don’t waste your money.
If you’re interested in trying it out, you can check it out here: Check Price on Amazon
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A Quick Disclaimer
I’m not a vet or professional trainer. This is just my personal experience.