Walking your dog is an essential part of pet ownership – many of us get a dog to encourage a more active lifestyle! Day in and day out, no matter the weather, we need to get outside with our precious pooches. Sometimes juggling a lead, phone, water bottle, or even a pram can make it tricky. The solution? A hands-free dog lead!
Whether you’re a jogger, hiker, or just someone who loves multitasking, a hands-free lead can be a game-changer. I love using a hands-free lead for walking coffee dates with friends in our local park, and for running. I’m about to have a baby too, so using my hands-free lead will be absolutely essential! In this guide, we’ll explore why you need a hands-free dog lead and the top rated options you can purchase quickly and easily from Amazon. We’ll look at the below leads and I’ll let you know my recommendation.
- The best budget hands-free dog lead
- The best hands-Free dog lead for multiple dogs
- The best hands-free dog lead for running
- The best hands-free dog lead for hiking
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What Is a Hands-Free Dog Lead?
A hands-free dog lead is designed to be worn around the waist or across the body, allowing pet owners to maintain control of their dogs without holding onto a traditional lead. These leads often come with adjustable straps, shock-absorbing features, and multiple attachment points to enhance safety and comfort.
I hate to say it, but a hands-free dog lead might not be the best solution for all dog owners. If your dog is a strong puller and doesn’t walk calmly it *might* not be the most enjoyable experience. Unless you are running of course, then its great to have that extra power to pull you along! If you purchase one make sure to spend to some time training your dog somewhere quiet so they can adjust to this new way of walking.
Benefits of Using a Hands-Free Lead
1. Greater Convenience and Comfort
With a hands-free lead, you no longer have to worry about gripping a lead tightly for long periods. This is especially useful for runners and hikers who want to maintain a natural arm movement without restricting their dog’s mobility. It’s also great if you have bags to carry, or a pram to push.
2. Improved Control and Safety
Many hands-free leads are designed with bungee sections that absorb sudden movements, reducing strain on your arms and back. This feature is particularly useful for larger, stronger dogs that tend to pull.
3. Ideal for Active Lifestyles
Whether you love running, hiking, or even just walking while holding your morning coffee, a hands-free dog lead allows you to keep your pet close while freeing up your hands for other tasks.
4. Enhanced Training Opportunities
If you’re training your dog to walk on a loose lead, a hands-free design can encourage better lead manners. Since the lead is attached to your waist, it naturally promotes consistent lead length and discourages pulling. It leaves your hands free to reward your pup with treats when they do great loose lead walking!
Key Features to Look For
1. Adjustable Waist Belt
Look for a lead with an adjustable waistband to ensure a snug and comfortable fit. A well-fitted belt prevents slipping and discomfort during walks or runs.
2. Bungee or Shock Absorption
Leads with bungee sections absorb sudden pulls, making the experience more comfortable for both you and your dog. This is especially beneficial for strong, energetic dogs.
3. Reflective Stitching for Safety
If you often walk your dog in low-light conditions, a lead with reflective stitching ensures you and your pup remain visible to motorists and cyclists.
4. Dual Handles for Extra Control
Some hands-free leads feature extra handles near the attachment point, allowing for quick control when crossing streets or navigating busy areas.
5. Durable and Water-Resistant Materials
Choose a lead made from high-quality materials like nylon or reinforced polyester for long-lasting use. Water-resistant properties help prevent wear and tear from outdoor elements.
The Top Rated Hands-Free Dog Leads
I’ve done the research so you don’t have to – Here are some of the top rated hands-free dog leads on Amazon.
Best Budget Hands-Free Dog Lead
I am a HUGE fan of the Halti Brand, and regularly use their double ended dog lead. I’ve reviewed the Halti No-Pull Harness in the past, and I’m still using it with my dog nearly 3 years in as it works so well to discourage pulling. The Halti range was developed by ‘Company of Animals.’ This is an animal behaviour research company, founded by Dr Roger Mugford. This man is responsible for training the Queen’s famous Corgis! Company of Animals have animal welfare at the heart of their values and have created products to help dog owners deal with common training needs in a humane way.
This lead comes in 4 colour options and 2 size options. There are also matching collars and harnesses available, for your dog to look ultra stylish and put together. It does not have a proper waist belt or any bungee features however, so it might not be the best option for running. The design is more a versatile 2 clip design for you to use in a multitude of scenarios, including clipping it around your body to walk your dog hands free.
At an amazing price under £15, this is a fantastic budget hands-free dog lead. It has 4.6 stars and over 4000 reviews.
DOUBLE CLIP DOG LEAD: The ever popular Halti Double Ended dog lead offers 7 versatile functions, including hands free dog walking or running, easy walking of two dogs and quick tethering.
Best Hands-Free Dog Lead for Multiple Dogs
If you have 2 dogs, you need a hands-free dog lead that works for 2 dogs rather than having 2 leads tied around yourself – that’s a recipe for getting tangled.
The Pet Dreamland Hands Free Leash is made to be strong enough to hand 2 dogs, and be comfortable for everyone. All sections of the lead have bungee cord for shock absorption for a smooth walk. It has a rotating carabiner where the 2 dogs are attached, which can swivel when your dogs swap sides to avoid any tangles. It also has 3 padded handles throughout the lead so you can easily grab control and rein your dogs in should you need to.
This lead has 4.6 stars from over 6,500 ratings worldwide.
One/Two Medium to Large Dogs (up to 150lbs) – Running/Hiking/Dog Training – Heavy Duty Extra Long Bungee Lead
Best Hands-Free Dog Lead For Running
If you’re a runner, you’ll know how important it is to travel light. This lead is perfect for runners as the waist belt contains 2 zip pouches for all your essentials – mainly a phone, your house/car key and some poo bags! This meals you can head off for a run with your dog and your essentials in tow, with nothing weighing down your pockets.
Along with the handy pockets, this lead has a shock absorbing bungee feature. This is especially great when running as dogs tend to pull more on a run than a walk. There are 2 easy access handles on the lead to quickly grab control of your dog should you need, for example for crossing roads. Not only that, it has reflective stitching which is a handy safety feature if you’re running during darker hours.
This lead has 4.5 stars from over 4 and half thousand ratings, and it’s very reasonably priced as well.
- HIGH QUALITY Waist Lead with Canicross Belt by Barkswell. Allows your Hands Freedom while Walking, Running or Jogging with your Dog.
- SHOCK ABSORBING DOG BUNGEE LEAD Stretches from 4 Foot to 5.5 Foot to Allow Your Dog a Little Freedom while Jogging. The Leash can Hold Dogs up to 60 Kg
- DOG WAIST LEAD BELT WITH ZIPPED INTEGRATED POUCH with 2 Compartments. Keeps your Phone and Keys Separate to Prevent Scratching of Phone Screen. Also Handy to Have a spot for Poop Bags if your Pooch Needs a Toilet Stop
Best Hands-Free Dog Lead for Hiking
Ruffwear are a brand well known for their outdoor performance gear for dogs. The price tags are a bit more premium, but the popularity of this brand speaks highly of the quality. This unique wearable hitch hiker dog lead is inspired by climbing gear. It has 12 feet of rope length stowed away into a pocket on the waist band, so you can customise completely how much slack your dog needs depending on the terrain of your hike using the hitch lock.
The lead is does not automatically retract so it isn’t the same a flexi lead, but you can manually allow more length or shorten it to suit your needs. The versatile hitching system is designed so you can wear around your waist or easily & safely hitch your dog to a tree or rock for breaks along your hike. It has 4.3 stars from over 150 reviews.
RUFFWEAR HITCH HIKER LONG DOG LEAD: An adjustable, stowable strap for versatility as a 2-in-1 leash and portable tether hitch. 12 feet of strong, supple, reflective kernmantle rope in a handy carry bag.
Which Hands-Free Dog Lead Should You Buy?
From the options above, I think the best all rounder is the Barkswell Hands-Free Dog Lead. This lead is so reasonably priced, and it has all the fantastic features you could want from a hands-free dog lead: shock absorption, reflective stitching and zip pockets. Although I’ve said its the best for running, it would be great for anyone wanting to walk their dog hands-free!
I hope you’ve been convinced by how great a hands-free dog lead could make your walks, runs & hikes. Give it a try and enjoy the convenience it offers you!
