Dog leashes are what keep us attached to our furry friends on walks, hikes, and outdoor adventures. Humans have phone, wallet, keys, and dogs have collar, harness, leash.
The best dog leashes need to be comfortable, secure, and durable enough to stand up to your dog’s day-to-day routine. They should also be easy to use, so you’ll be more motivated to take your pup for a walk.
As a dog trainer, I know my way around most of the dog leashes on the market. I’ve tested over 20 leashes in the last two years, and the ones in this story are some of my absolute favorites.
Traits We Want in the Best Dog Leashes
Size: The best dog leashes come in multiple sizes (both thicknesses and lengths) for varying sizes of dogs. Thick leashes often have bigger, stronger clips suitable for large dogs, but may be too heavy for small dogs. Some leashes sit in the middle size-wise and are suitable for most sizes of dogs but may leave very large or very small dogs out.
Durability/quality: A dog leash needs to hold up to being used every day. All of the leashes on this list were tested a minimum of several times per week for several months (with most of them being tested for over a year). We noted which ones held up to all of our tester dogs’ outdoor adventures.
Ease of use: A dog leash should be easy to clip and unclip and should stay securely fastened to a dog once attached. If a leash is adjustable, it shouldn’t be a hassle to change the length or adjust the size (especially for hands-free leashes).
Comfort: The best dog leashes should be comfortable to hold or wear. Soft, pre-broken-in rope leashes are often the most comfortable to hold for long walks while highly adjustable hands-free leashes ensure the fit is comfortable on your body, whether you wear the leash around your waist or across your body.
| Whole Dog Journal Rating | Product and Maker | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Mendota Pet Snap Leash | $21-$23 depending on size | This soft, flexible leash is lightweight, easy to clip on and off of your dog’s collar and comes in a plethora of colors and patterns (and a few different thicknesses and lengths, too). |
 | Non-stop Dogwear Rock Leash | $50 | The Non-stop Dogwear Rock leash is incredibly versatile. It can be worn as a cross-body leash, a waist leash, a handheld leash, and can be used as an outdoor tether. |
| Non-stop Dogwear Bungee Leash | $56-$61 depending on size | If your dog pulls on the leash, you’re best off with a harness that’s safe for pulling and a bungee leash for shock absorption. This Non-stop Dogwear leash is entirely made of bungee material, so it does a good job at absorbing the force of chronic pullers. |
| Nite Ize Rechargeable LED Dog Leash | $31 | For early morning and late night strolls with your best friend, a light-up leash will keep you both visible. This option from Nite Ize is easily rechargeable, features two different light modes, and lasts up to 7.5 hours on one charge. |
| Ruffwear Hitch Hiker | $65 | The Ruffwear Hitch Hiker gives your dog the freedom of a long line without the hassle of managing one. The Ruffwear Hitch Hiker leash features 12 feet of leash length that can be easily adjusted while you’re hiking, camping, or adventuring outdoors. |
Best Dog Leash: Mendota Pet Snap Leash
As a townhome-dweller, I take my dogs out for walks at least four times per day, so I’m always grabbing a leash on our way out. The leash I reach for most often is the Mendota Pet Snap Leash. I’ve had this leash for over two years and it’s still my favorite. I also have dog show friends who have Mendota leashes that are 10+ years old and still in great shape.
The Mendota Pet leashes are braided dog leads that come already broken in. These leashes are wildly flexible, comfortable to hold in your hand, and small enough to bundle up into your pocket or clip around your body if your dog is off leash trained.
Though many love biothane leashes for their anti-tangling properties and easy clean design, I find them quite bulky and heavy in comparison to rope leashes like the Mendota Pet Snap Leash. I find that my leashes don’t get dirty or overly wet (even in rainy or snowy weather), so a rope leash is versatile enough for most pet parents’ uses.
The Snap Leash comes in two different thicknesses (⅜ inch and ½ inch). I have the ⅜ inch and find that they’re wide enough and strong enough for my 45-ish pound dogs. For dogs 50+ pounds, opt for the ½ inch version.
They also come in four- or six-foot lengths and in a plethora of colors and patterns, so you can find one that matches your dog’s current collar or harness.
The clip on this leash is simple, easy to use, and secure. Lobster clips, carabiner clips, and other non-traditional leash clips can sometimes be a hassle, and generally I prefer the traditional snap clip as it stays secure on a leash and is easy to clip/unclip.
Best Hands-Free Dog Leash: Non-stop Dogwear Rock Leash
If you want a dog leash that can do it all, the Non-stop Dogwear Rock Leash acts as a cross-body lead, a waist-worn lead, a handheld lead and can easily be used as a tether for outdoor dining, coffee shops, or camping trips.
The Non-stop Dogwear Rock Leash owes its versatility to its innovative adjustment system. The handle side of the leash has a snap hook that attaches to an aluminum buckle you can use to adjust the size of the handle, making it big enough to be worn around the waist or across the body. You can also easily attach it to a tree or table leg during camping trips or outdoor dining to keep your pup tethered in one place.
The leash has reflective thread woven into the entire length, so it’s fairly visible in low-light conditions.
The Rock leash is eight feet long in total, so your dog still has plenty of leash length even if you decide to wear it around your waist or across your body. It’s also one of the most durable leashes on this list and has held up well through many hikes and camping trips.
Best Dog Leash for Pulling: Non-stop Dogwear Bungee Leash
While teaching loose-leash walking to dogs who pull is an important skill, leaning into their pulling behavior can also give them an outlet they desire (especially for dogs who were bred to pull, like Huskies, Malamutes, Samoyeds, and other carting breeds).
Gearing up your pull-happy dog with an x-back running harness, a bungee leash, and setting yourself up with a waist belt before taking off for a run is a great way to allow your dog to pull in a controlled setting (read more about how to run with your dog).
Even if you don’t end up doing canicross or running with your dog, a bungee leash can help absorb some of the impact from a pulling dog. I like the Non-stop Dogwear Bungee Leash because the entire thing is made of bungee material, instead of just a small section like most bungee leashes. This allows it to absorb more pulling force than other options on the market and reduces the strain on your arms and shoulders.
Best Light-up Dog Leash: Nite Ize Rechargeable LED Dog Leash
It’s the time of the year when daylight hours are scarce. If you like to walk your pup in the early morning hours before sunrise or after you get home from work when the sun has already set, a light-up dog leash can help keep you both visible (and safe).
The Nite Ize Rechargeable LED Dog Leash is a great option that doesn’t require batteries—simply plug it into a micro-USB cord and a wall outlet to charge up between uses. It lasts between 6.5 hours and 7.5 hours on one charge depending on the color you pick. Green and lime last up to 7.5 hours while other colors have a shorter battery life.
This leash features a padded handle that’s comfortable to hold and has a lot of LED area that makes you and your dog visible to other walkers, dogs, and oncoming traffic, helping to reduce the risk of low-light-related incidents.
Best Dog Leash for Hiking and Camping: Ruffwear Hitch Hiker
For longer hikes and camping trips, I’ve used the Ruffwear Hitch Hiker for many years. It’s a 12-foot-long rope leash that’s easily adjustable to shorter lengths with an attached pouch to store any extra rope.
It’s a great hands-free option that gives your dog more freedom than a traditional four- or six-foot hands-free leash (just be sure to follow the leash length rules of any trail you’re on).
The “HitchLock” on this leash allows you to easily extend the leash or make it shorter while you hike with your dog. If you see wildlife or other people/dogs approaching on a trail, you can quickly release the lock, pull the leash tighter, and lock it again so your dog stays closer to you. You can also just as easily give your pup more leash so they have more room to sniff and romp.
The Hitch Hiker can also be used as a tethering system for camping trips. My only qualm with this leash is that the actual clip on it is a bit small and can be tricky to take off of some collars/harnesses.
I also love a leather leash and use them on my own dogs for our walks. But as a trainer, the Mendota leash is my top recommendation for a comfortable grip at a great value. It has a nice, soft grip, lightweight yet sturdy. The ones at my home are 25 years old and still used regularly.
So happy to see Nonstop Dogwear on the list. Their bungee leash is incredible and works well in the rain as well. I use it primarily with a IQ Dogsport harness or a Nonstop harness for running and hiking with my dog in the lead. The leash is super strong and has solid give without an ‘out of control’ feeling. I would caution anyone using this leash on the road or a sidewalk because if the dog lunges at something (like a squirrel or a passing bicycle) you don’t have as much control as with a non-bungee leash. In a more urban setting this leash is best for a seasoned handler and well trained dog.
I know this is not popular these days, but I have only ever used and continue to use leather leashes with brass clips. They are sturdy, strong, lightweight and last more than a decade. They’re harder to find these days, again, for obvious reasons, but there are still good ones out there (often sold by horse tack equipment retailers). I’ve never liked rope leashes as they burn the hand if the dog takes off. And am not one who needs colors and patterns for dog gear.
All true, except for night walkers. During the day leather is great. At night? i.e. after 11pm we need reflective or lit leashes.