6 Best Harnesses For Huskies In 2023 [Every Type Reviewed]

Picking the correct harness for your husky can be difficult, but it’s important to put in the time to choose a harness that is suited for the breed specifically.

The best harnesses for huskies can vary depending on the type of harness you need. If you’re looking for a daily harness for moderate exercise, durability and comfort are very important to consider, but if you want a harness for travel, then safety comes to the top of the list.

There are some husky-specific things to consider, like their escape artist nature, and we’ll explore all of these and more in this roundup. We’ll also give you several options depending on what you need from a husky harness, so let’s get straight into it.

Quick note – Before purchasing any harness for your husky, always measure their chest first to ensure you’re getting the correct size. In my experience, most huskies fall into one of two categories (usually medium or large), so double-checking before you order is crucial.

Our Top Pick

If you’re in a hurry, you can find our top pick for the best husky harness below:

We chose this Julius-K9 Powerharness because it’s built with working dogs in mind, which means it can easily handle the daily use of a husky, and it has many extra features that are ideal for keeping your husky safe.

What To Look For In A Harness For A Husky (Buying Guide)

Huskies aren’t suited for your generic dog harness because of how much they tend to pull and the daily exercise they need.

They also need a breathable design to prevent overheating, as well as other features.

Strength

A husky harness needs to be strong and made from high-quality materials.

Huskies are natural sled pullers; it’s what they originally did when the Chukchi people of Siberia domesticated them, and it’s what they are still used for today in many places.

They’re capable of pulling around 90 lbs over long distances and 120 lbs over short distances, both much larger than their own body weight.

When you put them on a harness or even a collar, their natural instinct is to pull, so any harness worth its cost needs to be able to withstand these forces easily.

Huskies are also prone to chasing after small animals due to their high prey drive, and they can be challenging to recall as well, so a strong harness is crucial to keep your husky safe.

Comfort

Huskies need to exercise a lot, like at least 2 hours a day.

Since your husky will be getting a lot of use out of their harness, it needs to be comfortable for them to wear and support their chest properly without restricting movement.

We’re looking for comfortable materials, ideally padded, that don’t put any pressure on the joints.

Bulkiness

The last thing we want to do is slow our huskies down with a bulky harness, so we’re looking for lightweight designs that are easy for them to handle.

Thankfully, huskies are used to pulling significant weight, so a harness isn’t much of a problem.

Escape Proof

Another critical thing to look for when choosing a husky harness is how difficult the harness is to escape from.

Huskies are notorious escape artists; if they don’t like their harness, they will try to escape it. This is especially common when you first introduce them to the harness.

An ideal harness should have a secure locking mechanism with little room for rotation or movement from the harness itself once it’s been put on your husky.

The last thing we want is for our husky to get out of their harness while on a walk and put themselves in danger.

Extra Features

The last thing to consider is any extra features that a harness might have that can be useful for daily life. A few of these are listed below:

• Reflective – If you walk your husky at night time, reflective elements can be very helpful to make it easier for people to see your husky.
• Water Resistance isn’t a strict requirement, but I’ve found that harnesses that are water-resistant are much easier to keep clean. It also protects the fur below as well, keeping it cleaner.
• Breathability is super important if you live in a warmer climate. Huskies are surprisingly great at keeping themselves cool, thanks to their undercoat insulating cold air, but it’s a lot harder if their harness doesn’t allow air to flow through it.

So, with all these in mind, let’s take a look at the six best harnesses for your husky.

Top 6 Best Harnesses For Huskies

I’ve tried to include every type of harness possible in this list so you can find one that fits you and your husky’s needs perfectly.

1. Our Top Pick – Julius-K9 Powerharness

I’m a big fan of the Julius-K9 brand, and the IDC Powerharness is our top pick for huskies for a few reasons.

Firstly, it’s completely secure and comfortable for your husky, even during long periods of exercise.

It’s also made from very high-quality materials, which is why you’ll see lots of service dogs opt for this brand.

It’s highly breathable, which is very important for huskies, especially in hot weather, and it has an optional extra you can purchase to turn it into a no-pull leash if your husky has problems pulling while on a leash.

It’s slightly more expensive than most harnesses, but it’s the best all-round pick for any husky.

2. Military Style – Chai’s Choice Rover Scout High-Performance Tactical-Military Backpack Harness

Military-style harnesses can be a little too much for many people, but if you want a harness with more features than I can count, this Chai’s Choice High-Performance harness is a great option.

It’s incredibly durable and made from the highest quality materials. It has plenty of storage, ideal if you like hiking with your husky, and it’s built with comfort in mind.

There is no chance of your husky breaking out of it either, which means it’s super safe, even for the most stubborn huskies.

3. To Address Pulling – 2 Hounds No Pull Dog Harness & Leash

If you want a harness designed specifically to stop your husky pulling, this 2 Hounds Design harness is what you’re looking for.

It comes with a harness and a leash, and the leash connects at two points to complete the no-pull system. It won’t hurt your husky, but it gently increases the pressure on their chest if they pull.

It’s available in several color options and has a pretty basic design, so I’d recommend it for training and using a more comfortable harness once they’ve learned to stop pulling all the time.

4. Value Pick – PetSafe Easy Walk Dog Harness

Our value pick is also a non-pull type harness, which, as explained before, can be ideal for huskies who have a problem with excessive pulling while in their harness.

This harness is very affordable and has a super simple design; it was also created by a veterinary behaviorist and is designed for huskies who like to pull when walking.

It’s very breathable due to its simple design, but your husky can escape if you let the harness slack or choose a size that is slightly too large, so make sure you measure your pup up before you order.

5. For Traveling – Kurgo Tru-Fit Dog Harness

If you want a harness for traveling with your husky, this Kurgo Tru-Fit dog harness is great.

It also comes with a seatbelt and loop for easy attachment and is crash-tested. I wouldn’t recommend it over some of the other options for daily wear, but it’s an ideal choice if you travel with your husky by car frequently.

It should also be paired with a dog crate suited for car travel as well to keep your husky as safe as possible.

6. Best For Running – Best Pet Supplies Voyager Dog Harness

If you haven’t tried running with your husky before, I highly recommend it.

Huskies love to run by nature, and it’s an excellent way to get some more intense exercise into their daily routine. In terms of harnesses for running, this harness by Best Pet Supplies is ideal.

It’s super lightweight and breathable, with a basic design that is perfect for giving your husky lots of freedom while running and keeping them cool.

It’s pretty cheap but not as durable as some other harnesses on the list, especially if your husky decides to chew into it. It does run small, so I recommend ordering at least one size up after measuring for the best fit.

Combine this with a hands-free collar, and you’ll have hours of fun running with your husky.

Benefits Of Using A Harness For A Husky

Let’s take a look at some of the husky-specific benefits of using a harness.

Natural

I’ve touched on this before, but huskies are naturally prone to pulling, thanks to their background as sled dogs.

Harnesses are much more natural for them to wear because of this, and it’s also better for them to pull in a harness rather than a collar due to where the force is exerted.

Safety & Comfort

Harnesses should be 100% secure and prevent your husky from escaping. This will keep them out of harm’s way if they decide to chase after a small animal thanks to their high prey drive, and it will give you peace of mind.

Harnesses (especially padded harnesses) are also more comfortable as they support the chest and shoulders rather than putting strain on the neck.

Should You Choose A Harness Over A Collar?

For most of your husky’s daily exercise, they should be wearing a harness.

Harnesses are more comfortable for your husky as they dissipate the pressure over the chest and shoulders rather than the neck as a collar does. If your husky is prone to pulling, a harness will be much better for them as it allows for more control than a regular collar.

Collars are still perfectly fine to use if your husky doesn’t pull excessively, and certain types are actually beneficial to address pulling behavior. Just remember that most huskies are incredibly difficult to train, which can make it very hard to teach them to stop pulling, even more so as it is an instinct for them to do.

You can read more about the collar vs harness debate for huskies in our dedicated article here.

How To Tell If A Harness Fits Your Husky

We obviously want a harness to be secure but not tight, as this can cause friction around the joints and be uncomfortable for your husky.

The easiest way to check the size is to see if you can put two fingers underneath the harness once it has been placed on your husky. If you can, then the harness fits well.

Remember always to measure your husky before purchasing a harness, as they usually fall between the medium and large categories.

In Summary

Hopefully, you know exactly what to look for in your next harness for your husky.

I highly recommend harnesses to any husky owner for daily exercise. They are much more comfortable than collars and have many more features due to their size.

If your husky pulls a lot when exercising, consider a no-pull leash to implement alongside a training regiment to stop them from pulling as much. Remember that some pulling is natural; you can even let them pull you during exercise to tire them out (this works great on a bike).