Canicross & Skijoring Belts

The ergonomic canicross belt, which directs the pull to the hips, is an important piece of equipment when running, skiing and hiking with your dog. The leg loops keep the belt at the height of the hips, preventing back problems. You can read more about different canicross belts in our belt selection guide .

frequently asked

How do I choose a suitable product?

A Canicross belt is a belt that goes on a person's hip with an attachment for a dog's leash / for a flexible bungee line and which is made both to withstand the pull and to distribute the pressure of the pull evenly on the human pelvic area. The harness is used in sledding sports (canicross and skijoring), but it is also perfect for camping, hiking and everyday jogging with the dog.

All Canicross belts are suitable for different sports, but different belts also have different features, the practicality of which is emphasized in different activities or with different users. When Choosing a Canicross belt, you should therefore take into account the activities that the belt is mainly intended to be used for. In some of the canicross belts, the line is attached and the pull is directed at the level of the person's hips, and in some even lower, at the level of the buttocks. In some harnesses, the attachment point of the line is fixed, and in others, the lock and the line can slide from side to side according to the dog's movements.

However, the idea in all jobs is the same: the Canicross belt should be positioned at the level of the person's hips (not on the upper waist) and the back part should be wide enough to distribute the pressure evenly.

The pull belt, adjusted to the right position for people with hips, directs the pull to the user's hips, not to the back, which is sensitive to jerks.

Why do the canicross belts have leg loops?

Especially with slightly stronger dogs, the importance of the leg loops is emphasized: the loops prevent the belt from slipping up around the waist during exercise. A high waist/back belt combined with jerking and pulling easily leads to back injuries. In some of the belts, the leg loops are removable. Belts without leg loops are suitable for outdoor activities and jogging with non-pulling dogs or very small dogs.

Some Canicross belt choosers are worried about whether the leg loops rub or feel disgusting. However, you get used to the presence of leg loops quickly and if the belt is designed to suit the user and adjusted correctly, the leg loops should not rub.

Where should the dog's leash be attached on hikes? Is a Canicross belt compatible with a backpack?

On hikes, dogs must be kept on a leash most of the time. However, many people want to keep their hands free while hiking, so attaching the leash to the hip is a convenient option. However, you should remember that the hip belts and their buckles are usually not designed to withstand a forward pull. If you don't want to take risks with the backpack hipbelt breaking, a separate Canicross belt is a good option.

Often, traditional canicross belts can get annoyingly stuck in the same place as the lap belt. Many hikers end up with belt models originally designed for canicross, where the belt attachment is lower than traditional canicross belts at the height of the buttocks and the belt attachment is freely sliding from side to side. This way, the belt does not start to turn on the person, even if the dog pulls to the side.

Pictured is Non-stop dogwear CaniX Belt.

Such belt models that are suitable for use at the same time as the belt include:

If you are hiking without a harness and want a simple, more traditional Canicross belt model, see the belt models we recommend for skijoring below.

The best Canicross belt for running with your dog?

In Canicross, it is very essential to have leg loops in the Canicross belt, which keep the belt low enough on the hips. In practice, you can canicross with all models of leg-running Canicross belts, but many runners (and especially those who move with strong dogs) prefer Canicross belts, where the traction comes from lower at the height of the buttocks. The lower-than-normal bungee line attachment point makes running easier compared to the traditional attachment point at the height of the hips. In jobs with a lower pull point, even a strong pull cannot easily flex the lower/middle back. Thanks to the movable bungee line attachment, the belt does not roll over the runner during turns or even if the dog pulls to the side.

Low pull point Canicross belt models especially suitable for canicross are, for example:

Non-stop dogwear Canix Belt behind

I-Dog Canyon running belt: thanks to the movable line attachment point, the belt does not roll over when the dog moves to the side

Looking for a Canicross belt suitable for skijoring and other activities?

You can also ski with the aforementioned belts designed for running with a low pull point. However, if you ski more actively than skate skiing, the pull point lower than the hips may start to bother you, as it inevitably limits the lateral kick movement to some extent. If the main purpose of the belt is skiing, we recommend looking at these models in particular:

Pictured is the Non-stop Loype Belt, which is popular with active skiers and competitors.

Thinking of competing in dog sledding?

According to the rules, in dog sledding competitions, the harness must have an open hook or a panic lock. A suitable lock for many canicross belts can also be easily changed afterwards. Pull straps with race-approved locks ready for skiing are:

A Canicross belt together with a flexi belt?

Some hikers and those skiing with a dog want the freedom of movement brought by a reel harness instead of an elastic sling. The handle of the Flexi-Talutit can be easily attached to these Canicross belt models:

The lock can be easily removed from these belts and the flexi can hang from its handle on the front of the belt so that the handle of the flexi can turn freely according to the dog's movements. The flex can be attached and tightened in the front part high enough that it does not dangle annoyingly at the walker's/skier's feet. In the Canicross belt + Flexi combination, we strongly recommend adding a jolt-absorbing elastic piece between the dog's harness and the flexi. For flexibility, e.g. WAW Basic or WAW Sport .

Choosing the size of the Canicross belt

All the Canicross belts in our selection are very adjustable and they are suitable for users of different sizes. For example, a 90-kilogram man and a 60-kilogram woman can often use the same belt - adjusted to their own size. In addition, some of the belts have different size options. You can find more detailed measurements and measurement instructions on the product pages. When choosing the size, you should also take into account if you plan to wear the belt with thicker clothes in winter as well. In borderline cases, you should usually choose a larger size, as the adjustment allowances in the smaller direction are usually quite sufficient.

If you know you need a good size, you should check out these belt models:

It would be convenient if there was also room for equipment in the draw belt

If you need storage space for the pull belt, you should check out these:

A pull belt and a dog that doesn't pull? Your dog walks nicely next to you and you just want to get the leash out of your hands?

When your dog doesn't pull much, but you would just like to have both hands free for other tasks, a smart choice is a flexible leash that can be attached around the hip. Such belts are, for example Ruffwear Roamer Bungee Leash and Non-Stop dogwear Touring Bungee Adjustabe .

Such a strap is handy for normal walks or runs, but also when cycling with the dog. In this case, you can keep both hands safely on the handlebars. The actual bikejoring (bikejoring), where the dog pulls the cyclist, has its own equipment. You can read more about them from our bikejoring sport page .

We are happy to help you find the right equipment for you and your dog. You are contact if you need help choosing!