Ruffwear, Swamp Cooler Zip Dog Vest, Evaporative Cooling for Hot Weather, Salmon Pink, Small

Why it's worth it

The Swamp Cooler Zip is a snug three-layer vest with a zipper down the back and oversized armholes. Soak it, wring it, zip it, and the wet middle layer sits right against your dog's body instead of flapping loose while they run.

The fit is what makes this one work. A lot of cooling vests sag once they're wet, and a sagging vest loses contact with the skin — which is where the heat exchange actually happens. The Swamp Cooler Zip is cut form-fitting and closes with a zipper, so the damp layer stays pressed against your dog's back and sides. Owners who've taken it into desert heat report it holds a noticeably cool feel through long stretches outdoors.

Ruffwear builds it in three layers, and each one has a job. The outer layer reflects heat and lets water evaporate off the surface. The middle layer is the sponge — it's the reason the vest stays damp instead of drying out in twenty minutes. The inner mesh keeps your dog from feeling like they're wearing a wet towel. Ruffwear says the system can hold a dog 17°F below ambient in ideal conditions, which means dry air and some airflow.

From our review of 8 dog cooling vests, by James Bennett, Associate Editor

What we like

• +The fit is what makes this one work
• +Ruffwear builds it in three layers, and each one has a job
• +The back panel is rated UPF 50+, and that matters more than it sounds
• +Wirecutter names the Swamp Cooler line its top pick for most dogs, citing durability across seasons and vet input in its review…

What to know

• –Your dog will be wet, and so will anything they lean against
• –Ruffwear sizing runs specific, and the zip design has less give than a strap-and-buckle vest
• –In humid air this vest does much less