Re-designed Ruffwear Flagline Harness Review (2022)

This spring, Ruffwear released an updated Flagline harness. In addition to new colors, there were a few features that were updated on this style. These updates include the following:

“New shell fabric for improved durability and colorfastness; updated, more streamlined handle; updated material for the leash attachment point on the chest.”

The Flagline harness is my favorite hiking harness for both of my dogs, so when Ruffwear released an update, I figured it was the perfect time to replace the dog’s old harnesses with an updated color. And since I have seen a few questions about how the new Flagline is different from the original version, I am writing a quick comparison post, starting with the biggest change: the colors!

If you aren’t familiar with Ruffwear’s Flagline harness, you can find our previous reviews and comparisons by clicking on the links below:

• Ruffwear Flagline Harness Review (and how it compares to the Web Master harness)
• Ruffwear Full-body Harnesses: Fit Comparison for the Switchbak, Flagline, and Web Master
• Ruffwear’s Flagline Harness vs. the Web Master Harness: which should you choose?

New Colors for Ruffwear’s Flagline

The Flagline used to come in 3 colors: Meltwater Teal, Granite Gray, and Red Rock. In our comparison photos in this post, both of my dogs are wearing the Red Rock color of the original Flagline harness.

The new colors for the Flagline are mostly two-toned and are called Lichen Green, Sage Green, Blue Dusk, and Salmon Pink. The following images were taken from Ruffwear’s website and clicking on the photos will take you to Ruffwear’s website. (The image is an affiliate link, so please be aware that I may earn a commission if you purchase a harness after clicking on the image link.)

I purchased the salmon pink color for my pups and that is the color you will see them wearing throughout the images of the updated Flagline in this blog post.

When I first saw the new colors, I wasn’t super excited about them. But the salmon pink is really pretty in person. The light blue straps do show dirt a little more than the dark red of the red rock, but even after a day of swimming and trekking through mud puddles, I was able to clean off the harnesses pretty well.

And I am excited that the updated fabric is supposed to be more colorfast. Glia’s red rock Flagline harness was getting pretty faded after 2.5 years of regular use.

Sizing and Fit

Not much has changed in the sizing and fit of the updated Flagline compared to the original model. The harness still comes in XXS, XS, S, M, and L/XL.

For reference, Glia wears a size S. Saha’s red rock Flagline was an XS, but it was a little too big, so we sized down to an XXS in the updated Flagline version.

In the photo above, you can see the differences in sizing as well as color. If you look closely you can see some of the fading on the size S red rock harness by looking at the color difference where the straps overlap the body of the harness on the back buckle area.

Okay, let’s take a look at how these sizes fit both of my dogs.

For reference, Glia is about 25-27 inches in circumference around her chest (depending on her current weight). She is also very deep-chested, so I always wish that harnesses would have a little more space in the chest piece. Regardless, the size S harness in both versions gives her adequate room behind her armpits to prevent chafing. They are a little too short in the chest panel length to fit as securely as the Web Master or Switchbak though.

For Sasha, the main reason that the XS was a little too large is that it was loose around her neck and chest. You can see a little bit of the gapping around her neck in the red rock harness pictured below. Sizing down to the XXS resolved this issue. The XXS is also a little bit shorter in length. The length of the XS wasn’t a problem for Sasha, but it could be a problem for a male dog. (Sasha’s chest circumference is ~17 inches.)

Updated Handle and Leash Point Attachment

The new handle for the Flagline harness is supposed to be more streamlined. Honestly, I don’t notice a big difference in the functionality of the handle. But here is a comparison shot of the old vs new style.

The leash attachment point on the chest is the other feature that received an upgrade. Interestingly, this leash attachment point is now white on all of the harnesses, so I am curious to see how dirty the white attachment point becomes after a year or 2 of use, but so far, after 2 long and dirty hikes, mine are looking okay.

Is the updated Flagline harness worth purchasing?

If you already have a Flagline harness for your dog, is it worth purchasing a new one? Honestly, while the colorfastness, new handle, and upgraded front leash point attachment are nice, they aren’t big changes. Really, the main reason to consider updating your dog’s Flagline harness is if you like the new colors.

I love that there is finally a pink option and am very happy with this new addition to my dogs’ harness collection. So for me, it was worth it.

If you don’t already have a Flagline harness for your dog, I highly recommend this harness for most dogs. It is a great everyday hiking harness. It is lightweight, while still providing good support if you need to help lift your dog over rocks, provide assistance while they ford a river next to you, or just remind them to stay in heel position while passing other trail users. The versatility of this harness makes it my #1 recommendation as a hiking harness for most dogs. (If your dog is an escape artist, I recommend the Web Master instead.)

Are you ready to purchase a bright new Flagline harness for your dog? The links below are affiliate links and I do earn money from qualifying purchases. But this post isn’t sponsored and the Flagline harness is truly the harness that I use the most frequently for hiking with my dogs. You only have to follow my Instagram account to see how often my dogs wear these harnesses.

You can purchase Ruffwear harnesses at any of the following locations online: