Hurtta Outback Dreamer - A Smarter Dog Sleeping Bag

DISCLAIMER: I received these Outback Dreamer sleeping bags free of charge from Hurtta North America in exchange for my honest review. The following review is based solely on my honest opinions and experiences with this product.

Creature Comforts at Camp

We started bringing sleeping bags for our dogs on camping trips a few years ago. Our dogs are not dainty, high-maintenance dogs by any means, but they deserve a comfortable place to rest after a long day on the trail. Before getting sleeping bags, we brought dog beds or blankets for them to lie on. The beds weren’t exactly meant to be used outside and got really gross and the blankets didn’t provide much separation from the cold ground at night.

We’ve tried a few different brands of sleeping bags over the years and there was always one thing sorely lacking… Portability. Until now!

Hurtta Outback Dreamer – Comfort & Warmth Without the Bulk

FUNCTION (5/5)

The Outback Dreamer from Hurtta is an amazing sleeping bag! During the day, it provides a comfortable spot for the dogs to relax around camp between hikes. After the sun goes down, it functions as a perfect cocoon to keep them warm on a chilly night. Hurtta has created a better, smarter sleeping bag! The heat reflective interior layer uses your dog’s own body heat to keep the bag insulated and warm, without it being big and bulky. Plus, the outer layer of the bag is moisture resistant, so you don’t have to worry about throwing it on the ground for your dog to lie on in the mornings, dew and all. It’s an all-around great sleeping bag. 5 stars all the way!

Hurtta Outback Dreamer Review

DESIGN (4.5/5)

The Outback Dreamer is made with the same attention to detail and craftsmanship that we’ve come to expect from Hurtta products. It’s made with Hurtta’s patented Houndtex® material, which is both weather resistant and breathable, “designed for especially demanding conditions and heavy wear.” The outer Houndtex® shell of the Outback Dreamer keeps out moisture and wind. It’s also easy to wipe down, not prone to getting dirty, and doesn’t pill like some other bags we’ve tried. The inner foil lining reflects your dog’s body heat, providing plenty of warmth, and in between is a thin layer of wadding for comfort and insulation. Because of the heat-reflecting inside layer, the wadding doesn’t need to be bulky and heavy like most of the Outback Dreamer’s competitors.

Hurtta Outback Dreamer Review

This enabled Hurtta to make a lighter, warmer, PORTABLE sleeping bag for dogs that crushes the competition.

The Outback Dreamer may not be the shape that you’ve come to expect when you think “dog sleeping bag” but that’s what makes it genius! Unlike other bags that are more oval shaped and elongated, the Outback Dreamer is circular to mimic a dog’s natural sleeping position. This is the first sleeping bag that Boomer (our hound) really likes and I attribute that to her ability to assume her patented “coonhound curl” position in it at night.

Hurtta Outback Dreamer Dimensions – Source: www.hurtta.com

The Outback Dreamer packs up relatively small and is SO much easier to justify bringing backpacking than any other bag we’ve used to date. I do wish that the large was just a tad bit smaller when rolled up to make it easier to pack, but this can be fixed by using a compression sack. I’d love to see the pouch that it comes in replaced with something a bit smaller, possibly even a custom compression sack to make it even more portable than it already is. This is the only thing that I would change about the Outback Dreamer and the reason I gave it a 4.5 instead of 5 star design rating. The sleeping bag itself is a home run, I just wish that a little more thought went into the pouch that it came in.

At this time, the Outback Dreamer only comes in one color, but boy are we in love with it. They call it orange, but it’s more of a sunny yellow and it’s such a fun, happy color. The underside of the bag is black, which is great because it doesn’t show dirt easily.

Hurtta Outback Dreamer

QUALITY (5/5)

The rugged Houndtex® material that I mentioned earlier really is built tough. Hurtta products aren’t cheap pieces of dog gear that you’ll find in your big box pet stores. They aren’t marketed towards your average casual dog owner. They’re made for people who adventure with their dogs. People who bring their canine companions with them to climb mountains and backpack and hike during snowstorms. In short, this stuff is made to be abused. Like the rest of the Hurtta line, the Outback Dreamer is built to last. That’s why it’s so easy to justify the higher price point. Unlike the lower price point options on the market, you won’t need to replace this bag next season, or next year. It’ll be with you for years to come.

Would we recommend this to a friend?

The answer to this question is an emphatic yes! We absolutely love the Outback Dreamer and would recommend it to anyone who likes to adventure with their dog(s). Not only is it great for overnight use, but it also doubles as a dog mat. The Outback Dreamer is a perfect spot for your pooch to hang out at picnics, barbecues, even on long hikes. You do not have to be an avid camper to benefit from this stellar sleeping bag.