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Travel Gear

Maxx's Pack

Travel Gear We'd Pack Again

Named for Maxx, the boxer who rode shotgun on every adventure for ten years. He taught us what actually matters on the road.

After years of road trips with dogs, you learn fast what's worth the trunk space and what's dead weight. Every item below earned its spot the hard way: on highways, hiking trails, and in hotel rooms at midnight.

Car Safety

1

Kurgo Tru-Fit Enhanced Strength crash-tested car harness (Large)

A crash-test certified harness with a padded chest plate that spreads crash forces across the chest instead of the neck. Five adjustment points and steel buckles for a secure fit, and it doubles as a walking harness so you're not swapping gear at every rest stop. Worth every penny for the peace of mind.

Maxx's Take

Took Maxx about two minutes to figure out he could not lean into the front console anymore. After an hour on I-40 he slept the whole way, and we never felt safer with him back there.

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2

Hammock-style backseat cover

Keeps the seats clean, gives your dog a stable platform, and blocks the footwell so nobody slides off the seat in a sudden stop. Look for one with seat anchors and a non-slip backing. The cheap ones migrate.

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Food & Water On the Go

3

Collapsible silicone bowls (set of 2)

They flatten to nothing in a daypack and pop open for water and dinner. Get two; one always seems to be drying. BPA-free silicone, dishwasher safe.

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4

Portable water bottle with attached bowl

Squeeze to fill the flip-down bowl, release to drain the excess back. No more pouring half a bottle onto the pavement at a rest stop. The 20oz size is the sweet spot for medium and large dogs.

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Comfort

5

Ruffwear Highlands Pad: portable travel bed

A familiar-smelling bed turns any hotel room or campsite into home base. This one rolls up tight, wipes clean, and has enough insulation for cool ground. Dogs that sleep well travel well.

Maxx's Take

First hotel night, Maxx circled the hardwood for twenty minutes until we rolled this out. He dropped onto it like he was back in our living room.

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Calming

6

ThunderEase calming pheromone collar for dogs (Large)

Releases a synthetic version of the pheromone nursing dogs produce. No drugs, no drowsiness. It just takes the edge off for anxious travelers. Put it on a day or two before the trip so it's working at full strength when you leave.

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7

Calming chews for travel days

For dogs that pant, pace, or whine in the car. Look for chews with L-theanine or chamomile from a brand that lists actual ingredients (not 'proprietary blend'). Test them at home first. Never experiment with something new on travel day.

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Cleanup & Safety

8

Dexas MudBuster paw washer

Add a little water, dip each paw, twist, done. Keeps trail mud out of the rental car and the hotel bedspread. The large size fits boxer-sized paws comfortably. Genuinely one of those 'why didn't I buy this years ago' items.

Maxx's Take

Boxer paws collect an unbelievable amount of trail muck. Thirty seconds with this in the parking lot saved our back seat more times than we can count.

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9

Clip-on LED collar light

For those 6am and 10pm potty walks in unfamiliar places. A small rechargeable light clipped to the collar makes your dog visible to cars and easy to spot off-leash. USB rechargeable beats coin batteries.

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10

Pet first-aid kit

Gauze, antiseptic wipes, tweezers for ticks, a tick key, Benadryl (check dosing with your vet before the trip), and your vet's number written on the case. Hopefully you never open it. Pack it anyway.

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Prices and availability change. We do our best to keep picks current. Bought something from the pack? We'd love to hear how it held up on your trip: support@roamwithmaxx.com