Retrievist / Reviews / Harnesses / Best Step-In Dog Harnesses | 2021 Top-Rated Step-In Harnesses for Dogs
Best Step-In Dog Harnesses | 2021 Top-Rated Step-In Harnesses for Dogs
As the name suggests, a step-in dog harness is one that your dog steps into with both front paws, with the harness fastening at the back. This type of harness is ideal for nervous dogs who object to having harnesses put on over their heads. Some, but not all, step-in harnesses are also designed to be harder to escape from than standard harnesses.
We did extensive research to find the most durable, comfortable, and reliable step-in dog harnesses, examining hundreds of available options. Our favorites are listed below.
Overall Best Step-in Dog Harness
- Lightweight
- Allows a good range of motion
- Affordable
- Durable
- Looks good
This adorable step-in harness stands out from the hundreds, if not thousands, of other available options due to the variety of spring floral patterns it comes in. It's not all style over substance though, as this is a highly durable harness made from tough, high-density polyester webbing.
It's available in three sizes to fit dogs with chest gi...
It's available in three sizes to fit dogs with chest girths between 16.5 and 39 inches, and is adjustable in the neck but not in the chest. It has an average rating of 4.6 on Amazon from thousands of reviewers.
Due to the lightweight design, dogs don't feel restricted or weighed down by this harness.
What Humans Love:This harness stands out thanks to the range of striking floral prints it's available in.
This adorable step-in harness stands out from the hundreds, if not thousands, of other available options due to the vari...
It's available in three sizes to fit dogs with chest girths between 16.5 and 39 inches, and is adjustable in the neck but not in the chest. It has an average rating of 4.6 on Amazon from thousands of reviewers.
Best Budget Step-in Dog Harness
- Soft material
- Breathable
- Reasonable cost
- Well-made
- Great fit
This soft mesh dog harness is comfortable and lightweight. While not the most rugged of options, it's durable enough for the small dogs that it fits (it's only available in x-small and small sizes). The harness is adjustable.
You can choose from 5 colors including blue, lime, and orchid, though not all sizes are available in every color. It ha...
You can choose from 5 colors including blue, lime, and orchid, though not all sizes are available in every color. It has about 500 reviews on Amazon with an average 4.3-out-of-5-star rating.
Made from a soft mesh that's comfortable, breathable, and lightweight.
What Humans Love:This harness looks great and is easy to get on and off.
This soft mesh dog harness is comfortable and lightweight. While not the most rugged of options, it's durable enough for...
You can choose from 5 colors including blue, lime, and orchid, though not all sizes are available in every color. It has about 500 reviews on Amazon with an average 4.3-out-of-5-star rating.
Most Durable Step-in Dog Harness
- Comfortable
- Breathable
- Soft
- Great color choices
- Durable
- Good value
Despite being lightweight and comfy, this step-in harness is extremely durable with its sturdy double-stitched fabric, quality hardware, and security closure using velcro and a buckle. It's available in sizes x-small to x-large (x-large fits a chest that’s 20-23 inches), and you can adjust the size slightly using the velcro at the top of the harness on you...
With 13 color choices available, you can choose anything from basic gray or beige to atomic yellow or Bermuda blue. This harness has an impressive 4.5 average rating from almost 1,500 Amazon reviewers.
Thanks to its soft mesh construction, this harness could hardly be more comfortable.
What Humans Love:The hook and look top closure allows you to adjust the fit slightly, while the sturdy buckle keeps it on securely.
Despite being lightweight and comfy, this step-in harness is extremely durable with its sturdy double-stitched fabric, q...
With 13 color choices available, you can choose anything from basic gray or beige to atomic yellow or Bermuda blue. This harness has an impressive 4.5 average rating from almost 1,500 Amazon reviewers.
Our Other Favorite
- Padded
- Comfortable
- Prevents escape
- Adjustable
- Easy on and off
If you have a little escape artist on your hands, this step-in harness is the perfect choice. It's specially designed so your dog can't wriggle out of it, putting safety first. The main body of the harness is made from neoprene, and the shoulders have compressed-foam padding.
Despite listing sizes from x-small to large, this is a harness for s...
Despite listing sizes from x-small to large, this is a harness for small dogs up to 35 pounds, so even the largest size is fairly small. It has an average rating of 4.3 stars on Amazon from almost 700 reviewers.
- Prevents escape
- Adjustable
- Easy on and off
- Padded
- Comfortable
If you have a little escape artist on your hands, this step-in harness is the perfect choice. It's specially designed so...
Despite listing sizes from x-small to large, this is a harness for small dogs up to 35 pounds, so even the largest size is fairly small. It has an average rating of 4.3 stars on Amazon from almost 700 reviewers.
- Lightweight
- Cool to wear
- Good range of motion
- Affordable and adjustable
- Easy on and off
- Free leash
This basic step-in harness is made from double layers of durable nylon webbing. Although reasonably soft, we wouldn't recommend it for dogs who are easily rubbed or chafed by harnesses. It has a double, anti-twist strap to keep the front stable.
This harness comes in just three sizes (small, medium, and large), but is easy to adjust to get the...
This harness comes in just three sizes (small, medium, and large), but is easy to adjust to get the perfect fit. It's only available in orange, but includes a matching leash. The average 4.3 rating from around 700 reviewers identifies it as a decent option for your dog.
- Affordable and adjustable
- Easy on and off
- Free leash
- Lightweight
- Cool to wear
- Good range of motion
This basic step-in harness is made from double layers of durable nylon webbing. Although reasonably soft, we wouldn't re...
This harness comes in just three sizes (small, medium, and large), but is easy to adjust to get the perfect fit. It's only available in orange, but includes a matching leash. The average 4.3 rating from around 700 reviewers identifies it as a decent option for your dog.
- Soft
- Lightweight
- Adjustability
- Stability
- Cost
Made from a blend of cotton and polyester, this harness is soft, yet strong. It can reflect ambient light in low-light conditions for better visibility, and it’s ideal for dogs who don't like to feel weighed down by bulky harnesses.
You can choose from 4 sizes between x-small and large, with each size adjustable using the sliding straps. The...
You can choose from 4 sizes between x-small and large, with each size adjustable using the sliding straps. There's an impressive choice of 13 colors, so you'll be able to find your favorite. Its 4.2 Amazon rating comes from more than 1,300 reviewers.
- Adjustability
- Stability
- Cost
- Soft
- Lightweight
Made from a blend of cotton and polyester, this harness is soft, yet strong. It can reflect ambient light in low-light c...
You can choose from 4 sizes between x-small and large, with each size adjustable using the sliding straps. There's an impressive choice of 13 colors, so you'll be able to find your favorite. Its 4.2 Amazon rating comes from more than 1,300 reviewers.
- Breathable
- Soft
- Comfortable
- Good color choices
- Low cost
- Sturdy
With soft padded mesh over the chest and belly, this is a highly comfortable step-in harness for small and medium dogs. The listed sizes run from x-small to large, but the large size is only suited to dogs up to a maximum of 40 pounds. The webbing on the straps features reflective stitching for better visibility in low light, and the D-rings are stainless st...
There's no shortage of color options, with 13 choices ranging from basics like black and gray to bright fuchsia and turquoise. This harness has earned an average rating of 4.4 on Amazon from more than 1,000 reviewers.
- Good color choices
- Low cost
- Sturdy
- Breathable
- Soft
- Comfortable
With soft padded mesh over the chest and belly, this is a highly comfortable step-in harness for small and medium dogs. ...
There's no shortage of color options, with 13 choices ranging from basics like black and gray to bright fuchsia and turquoise. This harness has earned an average rating of 4.4 on Amazon from more than 1,000 reviewers.
- Breathable
- Lightweight
- Well-made
- Easy to clean
This is another good mesh step-in harness for small dogs, with sizes xx-small to x-large, fitting dogs with chest girths between 12 and 21 inches, or between 3 and 30 pounds. The mesh is soft and breathable, while the reflective stitching improves visibility.
Choose between 11 colors and prints, including pink camouflage and standard camouflag...
Choose between 11 colors and prints, including pink camouflage and standard camouflage. With about 1,000 Amazon reviews, this harness has an average rating of 4.3.
- Well-made
- Easy to clean
- Breathable
- Lightweight
This is another good mesh step-in harness for small dogs, with sizes xx-small to x-large, fitting dogs with chest girths...
Choose between 11 colors and prints, including pink camouflage and standard camouflage. With about 1,000 Amazon reviews, this harness has an average rating of 4.3.
- Comfortable
- Lightweight
- Breathable
- Prevents escape,
- Easy on and off,
- Adjustable
The patented x-frame design of this step-in harness produces a harness that's both comfortable and difficult to escape from. It's made from a soft mesh that's lightweight yet durable with tough nylon straps. There are six colors to choose from: black, blue, green, pink, purple, and red.
Sizes run from small to x-large, but even the biggest si...
Sizes run from small to x-large, but even the biggest size only fits dogs up to roughly 30 pounds. The harness is adjustable at four points to get a good fit. The 4.3 Amazon rating is very respectable.
- Prevents escape,
- Easy on and off,
- Adjustable
- Comfortable
- Lightweight
- Breathable
The patented x-frame design of this step-in harness produces a harness that's both comfortable and difficult to escape f...
Sizes run from small to x-large, but even the biggest size only fits dogs up to roughly 30 pounds. The harness is adjustable at four points to get a good fit. The 4.3 Amazon rating is very respectable.
- Soft
- Comfortable
- Bold prints
- Durable
- Easy closure
If you'd love a step-in harness featuring some unusual prints and patterns, look no further. While you can select from some solid colors, there are also a range of choices from tartan to comic book style prints to pineapple print. Depending on which option you choose, the body may either be made entirely from mesh or have a mesh lining with a solid woven fab...
Sizes run from xx-small to xx-large, but check the size chart before buying because the largest sizes only fit dogs up to around 35 pounds. This harness has a 4.5 rating on Amazon.
- Bold prints
- Durable
- Easy closure
- Soft
- Comfortable
If you'd love a step-in harness featuring some unusual prints and patterns, look no further. While you can select from s...
Sizes run from xx-small to xx-large, but check the size chart before buying because the largest sizes only fit dogs up to around 35 pounds. This harness has a 4.5 rating on Amazon.
What Is a Step-in Dog Harness?
The term “step-in dog harness” refers to any dog harness that goes on from the bottom upward -- in other words feet go in first, and it fastens at your dog's back. There are various styles of step-in harnesses, including webbing strap harnesses and vest-style harnesses. A big advantage to a step-in harness is that any pressure from the leash is spread across your dog’s chest and shoulders, rather than pressing on the neck or trachea as a collar will do.
Put the harness flat on the ground. Have your dog lift one front paw at a time, and place the paw through the corresponding leg hole of the harness. Once both front paws are in, pull the harness all the way up your dog's body and fasten it at your dog's back. Then adjust it so it’s not too tight (you should be able to fit two fingers between the dog’s body and the harness.)
They aren't necessarily better, just different. Some dogs may find step-in harnesses harder to get on (for instance, seniors with stiff joints or super wiggly pooches that won’t stand still), whereas others prefer step-in harnesses to those that go over the head.
Not all step-in harnesses are no-pull harnesses, but yes, you can buy step-in harnesses with no-pull features such as front leash attachment clips.
