The Best Dog Bike Baskets for Your Small Breed Passenger
Before you hit the road on your bicycle, a great dog bike basket can let you take your furry BFF along for the ride. Bicycling is a great way to exercise with your dog. If they're a larger breed dog, check out our guide to the best bike trailers for dogs instead.
Bike baskets typically attach to the front or the back of a bike and hold a small size pet inside. They typically have some sort of restraint to keep them attached and often have either a cover or at least a sun shade for protection.
Roger Layne lives in downtown Chattanooga and rode thousands of miles with his dog Sparky in his dog bicycle seat. They also went to Florida every week and took the bike. They would ride about 50 to 90 miles during the week.
“I prefer the rear mount. Sparky weighed 14 pounds as he got older,” says Layne. “The front basket on the handlebars did not work for us. It may work for toy size dogs around 6 pounds. It affects how you ride if the dog moves around a little.”
Our overall favorite is the PetSafe Happy Ride Bicycle Basket which attaches to the front of your bike with an included bracket. It converts into a carrier, has a removable sunshade, and has plenty of storage. We also like the rear-mount Snoozer, which has a nice quilted cover and safety features.
Ready to hit the road?
Our Top Picks
Best Overall :
PetSafe Happy Ride Bicycle Basket at Chewy
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Best Rear Mount:
Snoozer Bicycle Seat at Tractor Supply Co.
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Best Combo Carrier :
K&H Pet Products Travel Bike Backpack at Chewy
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Best Wicker:
PetSafe Happy Ride Wicker Bicycle Basket at Amazon
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Best Sizes:
K&H Travel Pet Bike Basket at Amazon
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Best Goggles:
Rex Specs V2 Dog Goggles at Amazon
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In This Article
Our Picks
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust The Spruce Pets?
Best Overall PetSafe Happy Ride Bicycle Basket
Amazon PetSafe Happy Ride Bicycle Basket
Amazon
View On Chewy
View On Amazon
What We Like
Converts into a carrier
Has removable sunshade
Three pockets and a water bottle holder
Not very costly
What We Don't Like
Tether isn't very sturdy
This nylon basket from popular pet brand PetSafe is convenient for outings. It has three pockets and a water bottle holder so you can stash refreshments for you and your pup, as well as necessities like poop bags and a leash. Once you get to your destination, there’s a shoulder strap included that lets you use the basket as a carrier.
Made for pets up to 13 pounds, the basket is a bright silver color. It attaches in front with an included wire bracket and comes with a removable shade to protect your pet on sunny days. The basket can be spot-cleaned with a damp cloth.
Smaller dogs fare better in the PetSafe basket because the sides can be less sturdy with more weight in the center. There’s a tether that’s similar to others in that it’s just OK. You may want to add a light blanket or towel to make the trip more comfortable.
Price at time of publish: $22.58
Dimensions: 16 x 12 x 11 inches | Materials: Nylon | Dog Sizes: Up to 13 pounds | Colors: Silver
Best Rear Mount Snoozer Bicycle Seat
Chewy Snoozer Bicycle Seat
Chewy
View On Tractor Supply Co.
What We Like
Quilted outside with fleece lining
Machine washable
Three-point tether
Reflective orange stripe
Holds up to 24 pounds
What We Don't Like
Bike rack not included
Costs more than most
If you already have a rear bike rack, this Snoozer Bicycle Seat could be a good option to attach to your ride. There are buckles in the front and on the bottom to strap it onto the rack. The outside is a handsome quilted black material with a reflective orange stripe for better visibility on the road. The inside is a soft, removable faux fur lining. Both pieces can be machine washed.
For safety, the seat has a three-point tether that attaches to your pet’s harness or collar. It’s the most expensive seat we suggest. It also holds the biggest pets with a weight limit of up to 24 pounds.
Price at time of publish: $92.95
Dimensions: 19 x 16 x 10 inches | Materials: Polyester, fleece | Dog Sizes: Up to 24 pounds | Colors: Black
Best Combo Carrier K&H Pet Products Travel Bike Backpack
Amazon K&H Pet Products Travel Bike Backpack
Amazon
View On Chewy
View On Amazon
What We Like
Combo travel backpack and bike carrier
Mesh window for air flow and visibility
Storage pockets
Holds up to 15 pounds
What We Don't Like
Smaller than many
This combination travel pack serves a dual purpose as a bike carrier and travel. Zip up your pet in the gray fabric carrier and then wear the pack over your shoulders or attach it to the included mounting system on the front of your bike. There’s a quick release so it’s easy to remove from your bike when you’re finished with your trek.
The pack has a mesh screen so your pup can get better airflow and watch the world zip by. There’s a tether inside to help keep your pet secure.
The pack has two mesh storage pockets for a water bottle, leash, or other on-the-road necessities. It is a little bigger than some, holding pets that weigh up to 15 pounds. It’s also a little more expensive.
Price at time of publish: $62.99
Dimensions: 9.5 x 14 x 15.75 inches | Materials: Polyester fabric | Dog Sizes: Up to 15 pounds | Colors: Gray
Best Wicker PetSafe Happy Ride Wicker Bicycle Basket
Amazon PetSafe Happy Ride Wicker Bicycle Basket
Amazon
View On Amazon
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What We Like
Fleece lined
Removable sun shade
Attractive woven style
Washable liner
What We Don't Like
Tether strap is not very sturdy
You might feel like you’re channeling the Wicked Witch of the West with this classic woven bike basket. Made of resin wicker, the basket is lined with a soft, washable fleece to make your pup’s ride more comfortable. (Some people suggest adding an extra towel for comfort.)
The basket comes with a removable sun shade to protect your pet on bright, hot days. There’s a tether to help hold your dog in place but, like most, it’s not incredibly sturdy. The basket is designed for pets up to 13 pounds, but some users say it’s definitely for dogs on the tinier end.
Price at time of publish: $34
Dimensions: 16.5 x 10 x 13 inches | Materials: Resin wicker | Dog Sizes: Up to 13 pounds | Colors: Brown
Best Sizes K&H Travel Pet Bike Basket
Amazon K&H Travel Pet Bike Basket
Amazon
View On Amazon
View On PetSmart
What We Like
Available in two sizes
Washable fleece liner
Zipper pocket and mesh pouch for storage
Two tethers for safety
What We Don't Like
On the pricey side
This K&H Travel Bike Basket is made of a polyester fabric and comes in two different sizes. The small one works for dogs up to 10 pounds and the large basket is for dogs up to 20 pounds. The basket has an included mounting system and two tether leashes inside for safety.
The soft fleece liner is removable for washing and there’s a zippered pocket and a mesh pouch for storage. There are domed hoods you can buy separately that have mesh on four sides for air circulation and visibility. It securely attaches in the corner with a Velcro strap.
Price at time of publish: $59
Dimensions: 9 x 12.5 x 8 inches (small), 16 x 10 x 12 (large) | Materials: Polyester fabric | Dog Sizes: Up to 10 pounds (small), up to 20 pounds (large) | Colors: Gray
Best Goggles Rex Specs V2 Dog Goggles
Rex Specs v2
Rex Specs
View On Amazon
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View On Rexspecs.com
What We Like
Protects eyes from road debris and weather
Many sizes and colors
Blocks UVA and UVB rays
Comes with clear and smoke lenses
What We Don't Like
Can take a while for dogs to get used to them
It can be tempting to buy a helmet for your bike-riding pup. “To my knowledge, the efficacy of bike helmets for dogs has not been studied,” says Lindsey Wolko, founder of the Center for Pet Safety, who is concerned about many helmet designs. “Many on the market do not have ventilation, they appear to be more for ‘show.’ Other designs are frightening – they fully enclose the dog's head.” Instead, she suggests a quality pair of goggles to help prevent debris from the road getting kicked into your dog’s eyes.
Rex Specs are very popular with sporting and working dogs, as well as outdoorsy pets and those with sensitive eyes. They come in five sizes and all sorts of colors and feature a rubber-like non-slip frame with foam padding for comfort. Each pair comes with clear and smoke lenses that block UVA and UVB rays. The frame is vented for air flow and to drain water. The one-piece design allows for better vision. It does take some dogs a while to get used to wearing goggles so work on the introduction patiently.
Price at time of publish: $85
Materials: TPE (rubber-like material) and polycarbonate | Dog Sizes: Extra-small, small, medium, large, extra-large | Colors: Blue, orange, black, pink, green, teal, and more
Final Verdict
Our favorite is the PetSafe Happy Ride Bicycle Basket which attaches to the front of your bike with an included bracket. It converts into a carrier, has a removable sunshade, and has plenty of storage. We also like the rear-mounted Snoozer Bicycle Seat which has a quilted, machine-washable cover and a reflective stripe for safety.
What to Look for in a Dog Bike Basket
Attachment
Some bike baskets attach to the front of the bike and others sit on a bike rack on the back. Many contain the hardware you’ll need to secure the rack to your bike, while others require that you already have a rack or other equipment in place. Look to see if the attachment has an easy-release function so it’s effortless to use the rack as a carrier when you’re out or just simple to remove it for storage.
Layne started out with a front basket for his dog Sparky but thinks they work better for smaller dogs. “I had trouble maneuvering the bicycle,” Layne says, so he switched to the rear-mount Snoozer. “I liked having Sparky right behind me. As I was coasting down hills, I would reach my hand behind me and pet him.”
Size
Big dogs just don’t get to come for a bike ride in a basket. Check the size limits to make sure your pet is small enough to hop aboard. Most hover at just over 10 pounds, but the Snoozer Bicycle Seat holds pets up to 24 pounds.
Safety Features
Bike baskets typically have a tether that attaches to the dog’s leash or harness to help keep them from falling out. “Dogs can easily jump out of most bike baskets – and that's a safety risk to both you and your pet,” says Lindsey Wolko, founder of the Center for Pet Safety. “Your dog should be connected using a harness to the bike basket, to prevent possible escape. Never connect the tether to your dog's collar.”
Layne says he added an additional strap so that there were tethers to both the front and the back of his dog’s harness. He didn’t feel safe when he initially used just one strap. “It allowed him to slip out sometimes, if I hit a bump or hole in the road,” Layne says. “ He was hanging beside the bicycle. He didn't fall to the ground.” Adding a front strap to his harness alleviated that scary issue and worked really well.
The 6 Best Dog Seat Belts for Your Next Road Trip
Washability
Accidents happen, and so do bugs and rain and dog hair. It’s a big plus to have a lining (and sometimes also a cover) that can be zipped off and machine washed as needed.
FAQ
How do I teach a dog to ride in a basket?
Some dogs can adapt to a basket right away, but others need a little more coaxing. Start by placing the basket on the floor and reward your pup every time they get close. Then place your pup in the basket as you sit on the floor next to it. When that seems comfortable, carry your pup around the house or yard in the basket. Then introduce your pup to your bike. Walk them with you as you walk your bike. When they are fine with the interaction, put the basket on the bike and your dog in the basket. Start by walking the bike and then gradually do slow, short rides on even terrain. Keep treats with you and continue to reward your pet. Increase the time and distance each time.
Are dog bike baskets safe?
“Bike baskets can be safe, but the connection to the bike must be sturdy,” says Wolko. “I've seen several products on the market that secure with straps that may not provide the most stable traveling experience for your pet.”
Wolko said she would use a bike trailer instead of a basket, if possible, and wouldn’t recommend baskets for very long trips. “If you do opt to select a basket, ensure that the connection point is robust and sturdy. The base of the basket should be strong and the manufacturer should provide you with a weight limit for the basket. Do not exceed that weight limit.”
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