Mountainsmith K-9 Cube Review

Here at ActiveGearReview we test out backpacks, luggage, expedition bags, and organizational totes to meet any and all of our gear carrying needs. The AGR dogs, Aspen and Suki, are often over looked and have their gear thrown in an extra canvas grocery bag and are forced to eat out of a plastic tote when we are road tripping. Mountainsmith, a Colorado based company, has solved the packing problems we may have, or Aspen and Suki think that we have, with the K-9 Cube. We have tested out the K-9 Cube on weekend camping trips, as well as a 1,000 mile cross country trip for the holidays. The K-9 Cube has a place for everything and ensures that you keep all of your dogs belongings in one place.

The K-9 Cube includes two bowls, one insulated for water, while the other has a cinch closure to store food. When not in use, the bowls flatten easily and fit in the front zippered compartment. These bowls can double as portable water bowl when hiking in areas without water. The tote has two mesh compartments on each side that I have used to stash water bottles to fill the water bowl with while making a quick roadside stop. These mesh compartments would also be great to store a toy that is a little stinky or wet. I did not put our dogs’ toys in this area because they are terriers and would mostly chew through the mesh to get to the toy.

The storage system features a large main compartment that can be subdivided into two equal sized compartments if needed, thanks to a removable divider. If you are heading out for a longer adventure, additional food can be placed in the removable PEVA lined food container, which is about as wide as one side of the divider. You are probably thinking, what is PEVA? PEVA stands for polyethylene vinyl acetate, which is the same material used to make shower curtains and is a waterproof. Therefore, no need to worry about your pups food getting wet or ruined while in transport. Our dogs aren’t huge eaters, so piling the container to the brim, as well as in the bowl, there is enough food for about 5 days. On top of the food bag there is still some room for some toys, etc.

The K-9 Cube measures 15” x 15” x 7.5” and can hold 1600 cubic inches or 26L. When using the divider and carrying 5 days worth of food, there is still ample storage in this tote. I was able to place an extra towel, their winter booties, jackets, leashes, and a few extra bones on one side of the compartment. At the top of the full-zip lid, there is a zippered storage compartment that we used for treats. The outside of the lid features a space to put poo bags in and lets you retrieve them without having to unzip the entire bag. Mountainsmith includes a soft frisbee that is housed on the outside of the bag in a zippered compartment. Having two dogs means that we need two frisbees and fortunately there is room for a second within the zippered compartment. We love the having the ability to hide the toys from our dogs when not in use, as they have a tendency to chew on them.

The entire K-9 Cube is made ripstop polyester and is built to last. Mountainsmith has used various deniers to meet the demands of each area of the bag. The K-9 Cube features a detachable padded shoulder strap and hand loops for easy carrying. We like the attention to detail that Mountainsmith has displayed with the K-9 Cube and like that it can be used alone or in conjunction with our Modular 3 Hauler 3, also by Mountainsmith.

If you are a dog owner and would love to organize your gear as well as your dogs, then the K-9 Cube may be just for you. For more information, please visit Mountainsmith.com