The 9 small coolers we tested

How we selected

We’ve tested large coolers, and plug in thermoelectric coolers, but we wanted to find something smaller with this post. We began our search by considering how and why we would use a small cooler. For example, if we were hiking, we wanted a backpack cooler that could hold enough drinks and food for two-to-four people and wouldn’t burden us down by being too heavy. For a beach day, we wanted a small cooler — soft, collapsible or hard-side — that had room for drinks, food, and dry goods that would last us eight hours and could keep everything cold and fresh under a hot sun.

We looked for coolers that had exterior pockets for carrying other items like wine bottles, cutlery, napkins, plates, etc., pretty much anything you might want for the beach or picnicking. We also wanted the coolers we tested to be made of strong, waterproof materials, sturdy, and comfortable to tote, whether by the handle or a shoulder strap.

Small coolers are available in a range of capacity. Hard-side coolers are measured in quarts, while soft coolers and backpacks are measured in how many cans it can hold. We chose a selection of hard-side, soft collapsible, and backpack coolers that had approximately the same capacity.

How we tested

We packed each cooler with ice and canned and bottled beverages, sealed them, and put them off into a closed room, approximately 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit in temperature. We checked each cooler at two hour intervals and recorded the percentage of ice that had melted. We also checked to see if the coolers had leaked. We resealed each cooler and checked at four hours and again at eight hours to determine if there had been any significant change.

Mostly, the coolers kept the beverages cold, but except for three, the ice had completely melted, and the cans were submerged in a puddle of cold water. Almost all the coolers with zippered enclosures did not prevent the ice from melting, and if the coolers were tipped on their side, water streamed through the zippers.

Important features to consider

During testing, several features stood out that you should look for when buying a small cooler. Small coolers have many advantages over large coolers. First and foremost is portability; a small cooler can literally be taken anywhere and are a favorite for outdoor enthusiasts. A small cooler is also space-saving since it can easily fit in a car trunk with camping or beach equipment. A collapsible soft cooler is also incredibly convenient, because it can be stored under a car seat, under the bed, or in a closet. Finally, a small cooler is versatile since it can be used picnics, beach days, or camping.

Type

Generally there are three types of small coolers: hard-side, soft collapsible, and backpack. They each address a different need.

Hard-side coolers are smaller versions of a large hard-side cooler, like, for example, the ubiquitous Coleman cooler. The small hard-sides are often called “personal” coolers because it allows you to carry several canned or bottled beverages along with sandwiches and fruit. These are most often used as lunchboxes.

Soft, collapsible coolers can also be used as lunchboxes, and they have the additional benefit of folding completely flat for storage and transport. The soft coolers come in various sizes, and most of the ones we tested could hold 20 or 30 cans and also have room for food and dry goods, like paper plates.

Backpack coolers are ideal for beach days or hiking. Backpack coolers often have several exterior pockets, and because of their design, they can expand as your loading it up with beverages and food. Of course, the more you pack the backpack, the heavier it will be and isn’t conducive to long hikes.

Capacity

Most of the small coolers we tested are marketed with photographs of their overflowing with a mountain of ice and an abundance of cans, bottles, and food. Nothing could be further from the truth. The coolers we tested had a capacity of anywhere between nine and 30 cans. It was possible to cram the cooler with cans, but overall the coolers did not meet the stated capacity. If you consider that you would need to add ice or ice packs, the capacity decreases. A few of the coolers do have larger sizes, but in our opinion, they’re no longer as portable and are only practical for tail-gating.

But if you’re looking for toting along a cooler for a beach day or hike, smaller is definitely better since when packed they’ll be easier to carry by yourself. Look for a small cooler that can accommodate both drinks and food, like the uniquely shaped Igloo Playmate, the collapsible TOURIT cooler bag, or the FORICH backpack, both of which have pockets specifically designed for dry goods, including plates, plastic forks/knives, and napkins.

Tight seal

The last thing you want is your food and beverages sloshing around in melted ice. Finding a small cooler with a tight seal can be tricky. Of the hard-side coolers, only the Igloo Playmate prevented ice from melting. Most of the backpack coolers we tested had good insulation, but because they all were zipper-closed, they could not be tightly sealed, resulting in a puddle of water in the bottom of the backpack.

Another caution to be aware of is that backpack coolers must stay upright at all times, because the melted ice streams through the zippers when the backpack is tilted on its side. The soft collapsible coolers were also sealed with zippers, but these had very thick insulation that kept ice from melting and seeping through the zippers.

Padded shoulder straps

If you’re looking for a collapsible soft cooler or a backpack cooler, definitely check out the padding on the shoulder straps. Collapsible coolers can be carried by its handle, but all come with an adjustable shoulder strap. Many soft cooler bags we tested had thin padding, which puts severe strain on the shoulder when you’re carrying a full cooler for any distance. The Coleman soft cooler bag had the best padding of the soft coolers we tested, and the FORICH backpack cooler also had excellent padding with added bonus of a breathable mesh material on the straps and back of the backpack.

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The eight dog shedding brushes we tested

Important features to consider

The two most important factors to consider when buying any type of dog brush is your dog’s hair (or fur if s(he) has a double-coat) and the dog’s size. For example, a dog brush that’s designed for long, fine, or wavy hair — like a golden retriever or collie — wouldn’t be the best choice for a dog with short, curly or wiry hair, like a poodle or a terrier.

Dog brushes are available in various types. Many brushes are intended solely for keeping your dog’s coat clean and shiny by stimulating your dog’s natural oils to rise to the coat’s surface. Shedding brushes are designed to reach down into your dog’s undercoat and lift up loose hair and dirt that gathers on your dog’s skin.

Some deshedding brushes can also be used to detangle matted hair, particularly around the dog’s withers. When shopping for a shedding brush, consider the following features that the best shedding brush should have.

No bristles

Since a brush is basically made up of bristles, it may seem counterintuitive to look for a deshedding brush that doesn’t have bristles. Of the eight brushes we tested, the most effective in removing hair had a stainless steel component. Our top pick, the Hertzko – Slicker Brush, is composed of many rows of stainless-steel pins that reach deep into a dog’s coat and draw up loose hair. Our favorite for long-hair breeds, the FURminator – Grooming Rake, has stainless-steel prongs, and our pick for short-hair breeds, SleekEZ – Shedding Tool, has a stainless-steel serrated blade.

Size

The size of your dog will determine the appropriate shedding brush to buy. We wouldn’t buy the same brush for a Great Dane as we would for a Pomeranian, but many — if not most — deshedding brushes are “one size fits all.” We recommend searching out a shedding brush that’s available in different sizes, like the SleekEZ. FURminator also has various sizes to choose from.

Ergonomic handle

You want to take your time in shedding your beloved canine pal so to avoid painfully pulling and tugging his/her hair and causing your dog distress. Since you’ll be holding the brush for a while, it makes sense that the brush should fit comfortably in your hand. We found the SleekEZ’s curved wood oval the best ergonomically as it’s designed to fit into the palm. The GoPets – Dematting Comb has a unique handle encased in silicone gel, which molded into the hand.

Ease of cleaning

As you’re deshedding your dog, hair will gather in the brush head and should be easy to remove after several strokes of your dog’s coat. The rake-style shedding brush is the easiest to clean because there’s enough space between the rake’s prongs; hair gathers together and comes off in a clump. Generally, slicker brushes are the most difficult to clean because the pins are densely packed. The Hertzko brush, however, has a very handy button that, when pressed, retracts the pins into the brush head, and hair can be peeled off the flat surface.

Durability

You certainly want a dog deshedding brush to hold up for many grooming sessions. Avoid brushes that are made of plastic or rubber, which can bend and get deformed with continued use. In addition, because of their flexibility, the plastic or rubber brushes that we tested removed only a small amount of hair or none at all.

How we tested

We tested all the shedding brushes on two different breeds with different hair types. One dog was a border collie with a varied mix of undercoat, fine hair, wavy hair, and coarse hair. Our other dog was a terrier mix with short wavy hair. Both dogs are accustomed to grooming. Over a two-week period, we brushed each dog for an hour with the same shedding brush and noted how well (or not) it removed loose hair and detangled mats.

The border collie tends to have matted hair on his long, thick withers and around his ears and neck ruff, and so we took special care in these sensitive areas to avoid the brush pulling or tugging. The terrier mix’s coat is more even, but he sheds short hairs constantly, and we focused on his undercoat. With these two very different hair types, we were able to determine which brush was best for long- and short-hair breeds and which brush made the grooming process enjoyable and stress-free.

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The 7 mops for laminate floors we tested

Important features to consider

Laminate floors require a different cleaning process than hardwood, vinyl, or tile floors. Laminate flooring is made of wood composite layered with an image of a variety of wood grains and a transparent protective layer. Although laminate is water-resistant, most often it’s not waterproof, meaning that water can seep through and cause the laminate to buckle. The protective layer is very durable and is designed to be easily cleaned without floor cleaners or detergents.

Not all the mops we tested on hardwood floors are suitable for laminate. Laminate floors should only be cleaned with a microfiber mop head and a few spritzes of water. Microfiber absorbs dirt and dust and leaves floors virtually germ-free. There are many mops for laminate floors available, but when buying one, consider the following features.

Mop head size

You’ll want a mop head to be large enough to clean a laminate floor with just a few strokes. But the mop head shouldn’t be too large because it will hinder you in cleaning tight corners, right angles, and along baseboards. Several brands call their product “professional” because the mop head measures 18″ in length, which we found to be too long. Our top pick, O-Cedar ProMist MAX, is 15″ long, and was ideal for maneuverability.

Pole length

The length of the mop’s pole is dependent on your height. To reduce strain on your back from bending over as you mop, it’s recommended that the pole reaches just beneath your chin. Many mops we tested had poles that were 43″ (3’5″) long, which for our tester was too short and resulted in back and shoulder stress. Another top pick, Turbo Mop, has a pole that can be adjusted from 35″ to 60″ and can be used by most people of any height. Microfiber Wholesale is another mop with a pole that can be adjusted 45″ to 70″, the longest of the mops we tested.

Spray angle

Some mops for laminate floors have a built-in spray, water or cleaning solution cannister, and trigger mechanism in the mop’s handle. During testing we found a wide variance in the angle of the sprays. Often, the spray was angled too high so bottoms of kitchen cabinets got soaked. Swiffer mops are well-known, and the Swiffer WetJet we tested had a perfectly angled spray that hit only the floor.

Maneuverability

Since you want mopping to be a less-burdensome chore, choose a mop with a rotating and/or tilting head, which enables you to mop along baseboards at different angles without lifting and turning the mop. Both of our top choices were the easiest to maneuver, with the O-Cedar taking the lead with its mop head that can completely flip over with a flick of the wrist.

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The 9 mops for hardwood floors we tested

Important features to consider

Hardwood floors require frequent maintenance to keep them beautiful. Sweeping and vacuuming help prevent buildup of dirt and grime, but you’ll also need to occasionally clean the floors with a mop. A string mop and a bucket of water is definitely not the way to clean a hardwood floor, since a string mop holds too much water, even when wrung, which can damage the wood and cause it to pucker. Mostly, hardwood floors should be regularly cleaned by just using a damp mop with water and a little bit of cleaning solution.

Hardwood floors are a little more forgiving than laminate floors. This means all the mops we tested on laminate floors will work here, but not the other way around. According to Architectural Digest, floor-cleaning experts agree that the best mop for a hardwood floor is a microfiber mop, which uses a fraction of the liquid than a string mop. As we tested nine mops — almost all microfiber — we determined several features that you should consider when purchasing a mop for hardwood floors.

Mop head size

Unless you’re a clean freak, you might not enjoy mopping floors, so it makes sense to get it done efficiently and quickly. The mop head should be wide enough to allow for cleaning a floor in a few strokes, but on the other hand, it shouldn’t be so wide that you can’t get into corners. Our top picks, the Rubbermaid – Reveal Spray Floor Mop and the O-Cedar – ProMist Max, each measure 15″ wide and allowed for maneuverability along baseboards and right angles.

Maneuverability

To make mopping less of a chore, select a mop that has a swivel or rotating head. Most of the mops we tested had this feature, but depending on the design or the mop’s weight, a few required more strength to push around the floor, like the Bona – Hard Surface Mop. The best maneuverability was with the non-spray mops, like the Turbo Mop. The one drawback to this type of mop, however, is you’ll have to use a spray bottle to dampen the floor as you mop.

Pole length

The length of the mop’s pole proved to be as equally important as the mop-head size. To reduce strain on your arms, shoulders, and back, the mop’s pole should be as high as your chin. The mops we tested ranged from 43″ to 55″ with 50″ being the most comfortable for our tester. Two of the mops we tested — Turbo Mop and Microfiber Wholesale — had retractable poles that could extend to 60″ and 70″, respectively.

Spray angle

For the mops that have a built-in trigger spray, there was a noticeable variance in the spray angle. Several mops we tested had a spray angled too high so furniture got wet. Our top picks and the Swiffer WetJet had spray angles aimed directly onto the floor, which is where you want your cleaning solution to be.

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The 7 vacuum storage bags we tested

Important features to consider

Vacuum storage bags are a must-have for storing seasonal use items in a small space. Made of durable, lightweight polypropylene plastic, they come in four or five different sizes and can hold sweaters, blankets, comforters, towels, or any bulky fabrics, which are then sealed inside and compressed flat by removing air with a vacuum cleaner hose or a hand pump.

Most brands claim that their bags decrease volume by 80 percent, which then makes the deflated bags easy to store in a closet, attic, garage, or even under the bed. So you could potentially save a lot more space than only separating your clothes out into large storage containers. Vacuum sealer bags are also ideal for protecting woolens from moths and all fabrics from mold and mildew.

Sizes

Almost all storage bags are available in certain sizes: jumbo or extra large (approximately 30″ x 40″), large (24″ x 32″), medium (20″ x 28″), and small (16″ x 24″). They can be purchased one size per package or a combination of sizes per package. A few brands offer a travel size, which are designed to fit carry-on luggage. The travel size, however, is not a vacuum sealer bag; it’s basically a large Ziploc bag that you need to squeeze out the air as you roll the clothes inside into a cylinder.

Zipper lock

Vacuum storage bags have a large zipper lock, exactly like a food storage bag but twice as strong. It’s sealed by running a plastic clip along the length of the zipper lock. The better-constructed bags, like our top picks, Spacesaver, GONGSHI, and Amazon Basics, can be sealed with one or — at the most — two zips without needing to reinforce the seal with your fingers. In these bags’ cases, the zipper locks and clips were sturdily made and sealed tightly. Other bags we tested had flimsy zipper locks, and we needed to run the clip over the zipper four or five times as well as press the seal together with our fingers.

Hand pump

Most of the vacuum storage bags we tested came with a hand pump that you would use when traveling or when a vacuum isn’t at hand. All are made of plastic — a few had a metal plunger rod — and measure approximately 8″ in length and 2″ in diameter. The pump is screwed into the sealer valve (if you were using a vacuum, the hose is placed over the valve), and with a series of rapid pumps, air is removed from the bag. With the jumbo or extra large bags, the hand pumps were pretty useless and tiring to use, since a lot of elbow grease was required. However, overall, with all other bag sizes, the pumps were easier to use and were mostly effective in sealing the bags in a couple of minutes.

Fabric wrinkling

When the bag is vacuum-sealed, the plastic often shrink wraps tightly around the fabrics. When the bag is opened, the fabric is deeply wrinkled in the areas the plastic touched. You will also notice an impression of the valve on the fabric. Pillows and comforters weren’t affected, but all the clothing we sealed were wrinkled by the bags and needed to be steamed or fluffed in a drier.

How we tested

We tested seven vacuum sealer bags in various sizes by stuffing them with pillows, comforters, towels, sweaters, and bulky clothes and then sealing them either with the brand’s included hand pump or with a vacuum cleaner hose. (Generally, the vacuum cleaner was the fastest, easiest, and most efficient way for sealing the bags airtight.) Once sealed, we checked the bags on a daily basis for a week to see if any showed signs of inflation, i.e., the seal hadn’t held, and air had leaked in. During our testing period, characteristics of vacuum bags came to the forefront.

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The 7 cell phone stands we tested

Important features to consider

If you own a cell phone, then a cell phone stand is a must-have accessory. Different sizes and heights of cell phone stands can accommodate a variety of frequent cell phone activities, such as hands-off phone calls, video calls or Zoom conferences, watching movies or television shows, or playing games. You may also want to have a cell phone stand at your desk or workplace for glancing at texts or social media updates without interrupting your workflow.

There are hundreds of cell phone stands listed on Amazon, and before purchasing one, you should take the following features under consideration.

Desk or workspace height

Where you put your cell phone stand is essential for getting the most out of it. If you’re working at a desk all day, then you want a cell phone stand that has enough height so you’re not bending your head down to speak to or look at the caller.

Our top three choices stand at or about 4-inches tall, which we found to be ideal for working at a desk without hunching over. But you may want a cell phone stand that extends taller — like OCYCLONE or Klsnuir — for other locations than a workplace or standing. However, in each case of the taller cell phone stands, we did have issues with their stability and balance, especially when used for larger phones or a tablet.

Angle adjustment

An increased range of angles gives you the option to simply swivel the phone holder in all directions without moving the stand. This is especially useful when on a phone conference or videoing for making adjustments in changes of lighting, background, or number of people.

Materials

During our tests, we discovered that cell phone stands that were metal or a composite of metal and hard plastic were better at supporting a large phone or tablet. Plastic stands — especially those that extend — didn’t have a strong base, and so when the phone was set into the holder, those stands were top-heavy and prone to tipping over.

Stability

The last thing you’ll want is your phone or tablet crashing to the floor, so look for a cell phone stand that’s designed to stay in place. Almost all the cell phone stands we tested had silicone or rubber pads on their bases for preventing slippage. Most times, though, the pads were small dots or ovals and didn’t do much to stop the stand from sliding. The stand’s physical design will certainly affect its stability. The APPS2Car stand is a low, flat tripod, and although it’s not a beauty, it was the most stable of the cell phone stands we tested.

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The 7 keyboard wrist rests we tested

Important features to consider

If you’re working all day at a keyboard or gaming all night, you need a keyboard wrist rest that is comfortable and provides firm support to keep your wrists, hands, and posture straight. The following are a few key factors you should consider before purchasing a keyboard wrist rest.

Cushion material

Our two top picks have a 100% rubber base — which we found was best for non-slippage — and gel memory foam, which is memory foam that’s been infused with gel microbeads. Memory foam is notorious for getting hot and retaining heat, but the gel infusion works to keep the memory foam cool. Gel also makes memory foam breathable so your wrists will be less prone to sweating when you’re typing or gaming for hours at a time.

Cushion height

This factor is totally subjective, depending on your height, your chair’s height, and the height of your keyboard on a desk or workspace. You’ll want a wrist rest that has enough cushion to keep your wrists and palms slightly elevated, but not too much that your fingers will strain to reach the keyboard. Gaming keyboards tend to be higher, so look for a wrist rest that’s made specifically for gaming.

Length

We tested the wrist rests on a 14-inch laptop and a 17-inch wireless keyboard, and those we tested had a 14-inch or slightly longer length. Wrist rests come in a variety of sizes, so you’ll want one that fits your keyboard’s length. Also make sure that the cushion runs the entire length of the wrist rest and doesn’t taper off as a couple of those we tested did.

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The nine pet hair removers we tested

Important features to consider

During our testing we discovered that even our top picks don’t remove all pet hair, but they do come close. Some performed better than others, but to finish the job, it’s best to use a pet hair vacuum. Many pets shed hair everyday, and vacuuming can be a chore on a daily basis, so the pet hair removers we tested are great for quick picker-uppers. Based on our tests, we recommend considering the following features before purchasing a pet hair remover.

Compartment to capture hair

Most pet hair removers are scrapers, meaning you scrape the hair into a ball and then pick it up manually for disposal. Inevitably, some stray hairs and lint remain behind, so you need to re-scrape the surface to gather up those small hairs. (Or, of course, you could vacuum them up.) Our top pick, the DELOMO roller, picks up pet hair and deposits it into an internal compartment that can be emptied into the trash.

Ergonomic design

Since pet hair removers by nature are manual, look for one that has been designed to fit comfortably in your hand. The Lilly Brush Pro Detailer has a wide silicone blade that’s curved to fit in your palm, and it also has a strap for inserting fingers as you’re scraping up hair.

Wide blade

Since you’ll want to pick up as much hair as you can without re-doing it several times, look for a remover that has a wide flexible blade — usually made of silicone or rubber. A wider blade lets you cover a wider area, which means you’ll get the job done faster. We also found a wider blade was more efficient in scraping up hair from carpets and area rugs.

Sticky roller or not?

Sticky rollers do a great job of collecting surface hair, but they’re bad at picking up embedded hair. Also, you’ll go through the sticky sheets fast, so they’re not cost efficient since you’ll need to buy refill rolls many times.

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The seven no-pull dog harnesses we tested

How we tested

Obviously, to test no-pull dog harnesses, we needed test subjects. We tested the harnesses on two high-energy dogs—a 19-month border collie and a five-year-old terrier mix—both averaging 35-38 pounds in weight and considered medium in size. Although our dogs have been trained on harnesses since they were puppies, left to their own devices, they still tend to pull in any direction, making walks without harnesses a challenge.

The harnesses we chose to test had been recommended by several dog training publications and were also the highest-rated harnesses on Amazon. The first test was whether the brand’s recommended harness size was sufficient and adjustable to fit both dogs. Although the dogs were approximately the same weight, the border collie was taller and had more girth than the terrier mix, so we had to adjust the harnesses twice, once for each dog.

The most important test was walking the dogs and gauging how effectively each harness prevented the dogs from pulling. Only two of the seven harnesses worked—Auroth Tactical and PetSafe Easy Walk. The others either did nothing to stop the dogs from pulling or required a good amount of strength to keep the dogs under control.

Important features to consider

Testing the no-pull dog harnesses revealed necessary features you should consider before buying one.

Correct size

Most dog harnesses come in four sizes: small, medium, large, and extra-large. A few harnesses have additional sizes like extra-small and extra-extra-large. Before buying one, it’s important to use a tape measure and measure the circumference of your pooch’s chest; this is the only way to determine the correct size since most harnesses list chest size in inches. For example, the medium Auroth Tactical lists chest size as 22-33 inches.

Accessible adjustable straps

Even if you have the correct chest size for your dog, no dog harnesses are likely to fit out of the box. Be prepared to spend about 30 minutes adjusting the several straps that go under your dog’s belly and behind their legs to ensure the harness lies flat against the chest and back. This adjustment only needs to be made once if you spend the time to ensure the harness fits properly.

One of the odd design choices certain brands make is hiding the harness buckles beneath fabric or inside pockets. Perhaps hidden (or partially hidden) buckles are aesthetically pleasing, but adjusting the straps becomes a frustrating challenge since you can’t easily push the material through the buckle. We recommend forgoing aesthetics and buying a harness with exposed buckles.

Chest clip vs back clip

Many dog harnesses have clips or loops for attaching a leash to the dog’s chest or back. In some instances, a back clip can be useless in stopping your dog from pulling and may actually have the opposite effect called the dog opposition reflex, meaning your dog will pull to escape or fight back.

For a puller, consider choosing a harness with a chest clip. When a leash clips at the front of the chest, it works as a barrier that the dog can’t get past and slows them down.

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The 9 back seat covers for dogs we tested

Important features to consider

Types of back seat covers for dogs

There are two types of back seat covers for dogs: bench and hammock. The bench cover attaches to the back seat’s head rests with two adjustable straps, and the cover is secured by two plastic or rubber anchors that are inserted between the back of the back seat and the cushion. The bench cover has a large front flap that folds down over the seat and a flap on each side that folds down between the seat and the car door. Sometimes — but not often — the bench cover will have a elastic straps to hold the front and side flaps in place.

The second, more popular type is the hammock. It’s the same as the bench, but it has adjustable straps for the driver and passenger head rests as well. This option is preferred because it protects the dog(s) from falling between the seats if the driver needs to brake the car abruptly. A few brands include additional straps for the side panels to attach to hand rails, which lift the panels up to protect car door interior leather. This “sling” essentially seals up your dog in a rectangle box, which made our test dogs anxious.

Materials

Almost all back seat covers for dogs are made of 600D Oxford fabric, a heavy-duty polyester that is waterproof, durable, and tear-resistant. The underside of the cover is usually a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) webbing, which adds additional waterproofing and a non-slip grip. For manufacturers that claim they have your dog’s comfort in mind, it’s surprising that many of the back seat covers we tested had no padding. Plush Pets was by far the most padded with two layers between the top and bottom sides.

Another important element you should look for is metal or nylon buckles and clips. Many are made with a low-grade plastic that can easily break, especially when exposed to excessive heat and sunlight over time.

Headrest straps are almost always made from polyester, and as evidenced by many photographs posted by Amazon reviewers, the straps eventually rot and disintegrate after long exposure to UV rays. At least one manufacturer — 4KNines — acknowledged this problem and coated its headrest straps with a special laminate that protects damage from UV rays.

Size

Most back seat covers for dogs come in at least two sizes, and occasionally, three, like Plush Paws. But generally you’ll see “regular” or “standard”, which measure 54″ by 58″, and can accommodate a sedan or SUV. (Plush Paws does offer a small size — 50″ by 60″ — for smaller cars. The other size you’ll find is “extra-large” 63″ by 65″ for trucks or larger SUVs. All the covers we tested were the regular size (54″ by 58″) and, for one exception, they all fit snugly with sufficient coverage of the back seat of a Toyota RAV4.

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