Travel & Adventure

Boat days, beach runs, road trips, gear for dogs who come along.

Travel & Adventure products

Bring the dog. That's basically our whole philosophy, and this is the category where we prove it. Best Friend Supply is Florida-born, which means boat ramps, hot pavement, salt spray, and sandy back seats aren't edge cases to us, they're Tuesday. Everything here is built for the dog who's invited: life jackets sized girth-first, traction for slick decks, seat covers that keep the car yours, and cooling gear for the walks that happen anyway.

Start with the First Mate Life Jacket, it's the one piece of gear every boat dog should wear, and the sizing chart on its page walks you through the girth-first method in about thirty seconds. If your dog is between sizes, go up a size. From there, build the trip: deck traction, a day-trip kit that lives by the door, and a cooling vest for the brutal months.

One honest note: none of this gear replaces watching your dog. A life jacket buys time and a handle; shade and fresh water do the rest. We'll always tell you what gear does and what it doesn't.

From the guides

All guides

Travel & Adventure questions

What size life jacket does my dog need?

Measure girth first, the widest part of the chest, just behind the front legs. Match that number to the size chart on the product page and use weight only as a tiebreaker. If your dog lands between sizes, go up a size; comfort beats snug every time.

Do small dogs really need life jackets on a boat?

Yes. Small dogs tire fast in open water, they're hard to spot from a moving boat, and current does not care how good a swimmer your dog is on a calm day. A jacket adds flotation, high-visibility color, and a grab handle so you can lift your dog back aboard in one motion.

Do cooling vests work in humid climates like Florida?

Honestly: evaporative cooling works hardest in dry air, and thick humidity slows it down. A soaked vest still helps, it starts your dog cooler and shades the back, but in heavy humidity it's a supplement, not a fix. Walk early, find shade, carry water.

Is a seat cover a safety restraint?

No. A seat cover keeps sand, hair, and water off your seats, it does not restrain your dog in a stop or a crash. Pair it with a proper car restraint or travel crate, and run the seat belts through the cover's openings.

How do I care for gear after a salt water day?

Rinse everything in fresh water the same day, buckles, straps, foam, and fabric, then let it air dry out of direct sun. Salt left to dry is what stiffens straps and corrodes hardware. Each product page lists its own care line.