MYOG: Ultralight Modular Dog Bed

The best value products are versatile and durable. With this in mind, I built Seldom an ultralight modular dog bed that aims to excel at home and on weight conscious backcountry trips in colder temperatures. It uses the best outdoor materials available and weighs 4.2 - 16.1 oz., depending on the configuration. Seldom has used it for a 5-day backpacking trip in January and indoors and out everyday for the subsequent six weeks. Here I report on the motivation, design, and performance.

The backcountry configuration: closed cell foam pad with a cuben fiber and Climashield Apex insulated blanket. Utah canyon country, 20 degrees.

The urban configuration: closed cell foam pad and one of two fleece toppers. He was tied to a fence under an awning for 6 hours, temps in the upper 30 degrees. 

Motivation

Last summer Sarah and I learned that, unfortunately, Seldom gets cold when he sleeps outside when it’s in the 50’s and raining. We suspected he would get even colder when sleeping on snow inside a floorless shelter. Sarah has chosen not to buy a traditional dog bed because: (1) around the house, he can lay on other things like rugs; (2) it adds complexity to life—another thing to clean and move with; (3) they’re ugly as hell, often smell bad, and take up valuable space inside a living area; (4) existing options, such as Ruffwear’s backcountry model, (designed to be used inside a tent with a floor) would perform poorly for for ultralight travel in wet conditions, are relatively heavy, and are not aesthetically pleasing for use indoors.

Design

Objectives:

• Lightweight and compact – easy for us and him to carry
• Warm enough for winter while sleeping on snow
• Comfortable for indoor use
• Aesthetically pleasing
• Easy to clean 

The bed has three parts that attach with velcro:

1.  Closed cell foam bottom, 4.9 oz.

I used 1/4” Gossamer Gear Thinlight for the bottom because, unlike Therm-a-Rest closed cell pads, it’s flat (rolls up smaller) and can be purchased in widths greater than 20”, thereby avoiding 

      2.  Insulated blanket, 4.2 oz.

      I chose 3.6 ounce per square yard (osy) Climashield Apex synthetic high-loft insulation because synthetic insulation manages moisture better than goose down, and this model's continuous filaments make it more durable than most (or all) other synthetic insulations. To make it waterproof and easy to clean, I chose 1.0 osy cuben fiber, which is waterproof, light, durable enough for many years of use, and easy to repair. Though we haven’t washed it yet, the blanket should be handle a washing machine and drying on low heat.

     3.  Two fleece toppers, 7 oz. each

      Sarah picked out two fleece patterns for the toppers: moose and bison. (Seldom was born on a bison ranch in South Dakota.) We chose two because we can toss the dirty one in the wash and immediately stick on the other one, enjoying both a new look and the instant gratification of a clean bed.

The aim is to use the pad and blanket in winter and when snow camping (9.1 oz. total), and the blanket alone (4.2 oz.) on cold, snowless trips in spring and fall. At home, he uses the pad and fleece (11.9 oz. total). The blanket compresses to the size of an orange and is easy for Seldom to carry in his pack. The pad, however, is large enough that we need to carry it.

Testing the cut fabrics. Does it fit? Does he like it?

Curled up and cozy on a stormy night in southern Utah. 

Performance Review

Finally, I have something that’s mine. People and all the other dogs I see have so many things. Things, things, things! Except for my leash, which Max made, and my tennis balls, this is my first and only thing. I love it. It’s my space when I wait for them, my space for retreating when the girls are blasting their music and doing girly things, and it’s a lot softer and warmer than the bare wood floor. Max made it for our adventures and it kept me warm in the snowy desert last month. He neglected to consider that I like to get up in the middle of the night, at least once, and can’t tuck myself back under the blanket. I want him to add velcro to all four sides of the pad so the fleece stays attached better. (I use the pad everyday at home; it’s worth the extra 0.5 oz. weight penalty. What a stupidlight choice, Max!) He also only added velcro to two sides of the blanket; I want him to add it to a third so keeps me cozier like their sleeping bags. Finally, the blanket should be a few paws wider for Alaska winters—so it drapes down and closes me in completely. That’s my feedback for him. And I’ve gotta say, I’m a little envious of the dogs that have huge cushy beds at home. WOOF those are nice. But mine was made by hand, by people that love, me for me. Not by people in China, for any old dog, by people who don’t love me. So I'm proud to use it. One last thing: Sarah and I go to coffee shops a lot and I’ve enjoyed sitting outside watching folks from my bed, which she sets in the snow. She attaches it to her pack like others do yoga mats and we bike around town. My bed on her pack :)

Chillin' while we cook dinner.

Future Updates

The design works very well at home and around town. I’m going to follow Seldom’s suggestions (larger blanket, more velcro to secure the pad to the blanket) to make the blanket warmer. This should make it suitable for cold winter use.

I've pondered a groundcloth with a lighter cuben fiber that would attach to the blanket--creating a sleeping bag with an uninsulated bottom. This could go on top of our backpacks and other things that provide insulation from the ground, and would allow us to leave the foam pad at home, which would save ~4 oz. and lots of space. I doubt I'll move forward with this because the larger blanket should cover him well and he can lay on a backpack for insulation from the ground.

Tempted by the lack of midnight maintenance--tucking Seldom back under the blanket if he stands up--I’ve considered making a synthetic insulated jacket, but have decided against it because it wouldn't be as warm for its weight and we wouldn't have the benefit of a dedicated space for him in a shelter. If he comes out of the blanket, and gets cold, he'll let us know and we'll tuck him back under.

Stretching as Sarah finishes a coffee shop work session.