Pets · Head-to-head
Ruffwear Grip Trex Dog Boots vs PawZ Rubber Dog Boots
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Dog Boots: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Grip Trex is the only boot here with a real lugged outsole and a closure engineered to cinch the narrow spot above the paw, which is what keeps boots on. PawZ costs a fraction as much, stays on better than anything with a strap, and covers wet and salted sidewalks, but it gives up structure and warmth to do it.
Ruffwear Grip Trex Dog Boots
Buy itA genuine trail shoe for dogs, with a Vibram lugged outsole and the most convincing closure in the category.
- Non-marking Vibram outsole with a lugged tread grips rock, gravel and wet pavement.
- YKK hydrophobic hook-and-loop cinch closure that Ruffwear says keeps its holding power when wet.
- Sized by measured paw width in eight steps from 1.50 to 3.25 inches, so fit is a measurement rather than a guess.
- Sold in sets of two, so a full set of four means buying twice.
- No insulation is listed, so it is a warm-weather and shoulder-season boot rather than a deep winter one.
- The polyester mesh upper is breathable but not waterproof.
PawZ Rubber Dog Boots
Buy itA one-piece natural rubber boot with no strap to loosen, twelve to a pack, and the best value in paw protection.
- Stays on by stretch alone, so there is no closure to work loose mid-walk.
- Waterproof one-piece rubber, which makes it the strongest option against road salt, slush and puddles.
- Twelve boots per pack in seven sizes means built-in spares and you replace one boot at a time.
- No separate outsole, so it does little against sharp gravel or rocky trail.
- No insulation, so it blocks salt and wet rather than cold.
- PawZ recommends removing them after one or two hours rather than leaving them on.
Side by side
| Ruffwear Grip Trex Dog Boots | PawZ Rubber Dog Boots | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Dogs that hike, run or scramble on rough ground, and owners who want boots that survive a season of real use. | City and suburban dogs on salted or wet sidewalks, and anyone who needs to keep a bandaged paw clean and dry. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $ · budget |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Ruffwear Grip Trex Dog Boots - A genuine trail shoe for dogs, with a Vibram lugged outsole and the most convincing closure in the category. Choose the PawZ Rubber Dog Boots instead if city and suburban dogs on salted or wet sidewalks, and anyone who needs to keep a bandaged paw clean and dry.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Dog Boots: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).