3.1.2013

I just returned from a round trip from LA to Montana for Christmas, and this Sleepypod Carrier was worth every penny even though it might be the only time my puppy will be small enough to use it for air travel. He was 9 pounds on the way to Montana and 10 pounds on the way back (he turned 3 months old during the trip and is a medium Double Doodle). I let him get used to it for a few days before I traveled and he really liked the snug cozy fit. He can still roll over and even duck his head enough to turn around in it, but with the blanket in there, he gets cozy. (Since it was -10 F in Montana with -35 wind chill, I added a fleece woolie blanket and one of my pajama tops to make him even more comfy and he loved it.)His travel day started at 7 AM in the carrier, and he didn't make even a single peep until 14 hours later when we pulled over for dinner during the 3.5 hour driving portion of the trip to rural Montana. The smells in the restaurant finally made him throw a little barking fit, but that's not the carrier's fault! As soon as he ate dinner, he went right back in and settled down for the last few hours of travel. From start to finish, it was a 17 hour day for him in the carrier with a few little leg stretching breaks at airports along the way. Not a peep! This was the third carrier I tried in 2 weeks (Sherpa and Bergen were the others) and this is the only one that kept him calm and quiet! The other two had too much mesh that he could see through and he would bite and scratch and want out because he could see us too easily. Escape seemed possible with the other two carriers. I'm guessing that he felt that "Resistance is futile" with this more sturdy design with the solid sides.I was so worried that it was going to be too big to fit under the seat of the small jets that fly into Eastern Montana (CRJ 200), but it actually fit better under the seat of the little plane that didn't have a metal divider than it did under the A320 I was on for the Salt Lake City to LA leg at the end. You just need to know or like the person next to you on the tiny plane because they'll make you put the whole thing under the seat during take off and landing, and it takes up most of the space for both people's foot space. And since there are no snaps or straps to keep the two ends up, it'll naturally stretch out to the full 22 inch length in that situation.I was in an aisle seat on the A320 and had to suqish up both sides to get it to fit completely under the divided seat in front of me that had the metal bracket. It actually does fit, but very snugly, and doesn't require squishing down on the top. Only the two sides. Right after takeoff, I turned the carrier so that he could stretch out the full length of the carrier. No problem. It would fit fine under the middle seat, but the aisle is tight and you have to fold up the sides. If you know you are on a bigger plane, you might want to choose the center seat for your puppy's comfort!People assumed that it was just a small duffel bag. Nobody knew I had a dog with me until they saw his head peek out after de-planing. This "duffel bag" design comes in handy when you need to sneak him in to restaurants or stores along the way. Nobody suspected I had a dog with me because he was so cozy and quiet and the solid colored sides (mine is red) help it to pass as a high end gym bag. One store asked me to please check my gym bag at the front counter until I proved that it was a puppy. They were so surprised at how quiet he was that they let me keep shopping with him in my cart.The suitcase handle pass-through was invaluable! In addition to the free hand or shoulder, keeping him on my suitcase throughout our many stops really calmed him to be at eye level while waiting in airports with long mechanical delays waiting for our next tiny plane.This carrier also served as his "time out" crate over the holidays when he got too rambunctious around 45 family members and multiple adult dogs. My family was impressed how he immediately relaxed and laid down and slept when I put him in the carrier during our human meals and when he was too feisty with the many adult dogs who tired of his puppy antics.I highly recommend this carrier. It makes me wish my puppy would never get any bigger so that I could take him on more trips in the future! What a great design! (And I loved the zipper pockets for treats and toys)

25.12.2012

I have a Jack Russell Terrier mix who weighs 14 lbs, is 20" long and 15" tall when standing straight up.I frequently travel with my pup by commuter train and airplane. Previously I had a Sherpa bag which literally fell to pieces. Now mind you, it was well used over a couple of years, so I have no complaints about the craftsmanship. However, it was uncomfortable to carry and airlines often questioned whether my dog would be able to comfortably fly in it. Using it became a nuisance.I purchased the Sleepypod hoping it would resolve some of these issues. Yes, it is an expensive purchase. However, it is really well made and very roomy for my pup. As Sleepypod's website instructed,I bent the ends several times prior to use. They are definitely stiff initially, but with each bend, they become easier to fold in. (Based on other reviews of the product, I would suggest Sleepypod provide such instruction on the insert that comes with the product, not just on their website.)Our first flight was very successful. My pup felt very safe and secure inside her bag. She was able to stretch out comfortably and the airline did not question whether she would fly comfortably in it. I also found it really easy to get her in and out of it, however my dog is well trained to use such a bag so she goes in and out on her own accord.I loved having the ability to slide the carrier over my roller luggage handle. I use to fake such functionality with the Sherpa, but it was always clumsy and I was worried my pup would slide off.It's very easy to carry over your shoulder, although the shoulder pad needs to be worn in so that it will sit more nicely. However, I love the handle on top which lets me carry her in front of me in tight situations, such as when boarding the plane.Once I got her on the plane, I only had to fold in one side as there was room for the other side to stay open. It folded easy enough, but I found it too difficult to move her around once we got in the air, so I left her be. It was a short flight.The zipper pouch is spacious enough for her leash and collapsible water bowl. There seemed to be space left over for more items, if needed.The padded bed is soft to the touch and easy to remove for cleaning.I love that it folds up compactly when not in use. It's super easy to store and get out of the way.I purchased it in Orange Dream - the color is really fun and the canvas material seems easy to clean.The only question I have about the product is that it came with a flat piece of black plastic - I have no idea where this goes or what I'm suppose to do with it.If you frequently travel with your dog as I do, I highly recommend this product. If you travel only once in a while, I would save your money and get a Sherpa bag.

20.5.2015

I recently adopted two adult purebred American Shorthair cats and needed to pick them up in Seattle and travel with them by plane to my home, a nearly 2-hour flight away (thank heavens it was a direct flight!). We purchased two carriers, one in silver and one in the bright yellow/orange color. The cats seemed to like the carriers right away and we had no problem getting the cats into the carriers.The only problem we ran into was when we attempted to fit the carriers under the seats in front of us on the airplane. As per the instructions from Sleepypod and the diagrams on the website and on the fliers included with the carriers, we tried to fold up the ends of the carriers so they would fit under the seats.They were nearly impossible to fold up! The bottom of the carrier was so stiff that we couldn't fold them up. Instead, we had to wedge the carriers in at a slight angle. Thankfully the flight attendants didn't mention anything. (It helped that the cats were pretty much silent for the whole flight).My advice is to thoroughly break in the ends of the carrier before getting to the airport if you plan to fit the carrier under an airplane seat. I've tried to fold up the ends since the flight and they're still pretty impossible. However, that doesn't mean the carriers aren't awesome otherwise.When traveling, I highly recommend putting some absorbent "puppy pads" in the bottom of the carriers (over the top of the existing bottom insert). I also suggest traveling with extra pads in case you need to replace them because of accidents. One of the cats pooped during our traveling. After throwing out the one puppy pad we had (and lamenting the fact that we didn't foresee to pack extra puppy pads), we hoped the cat would do okay with just the regular insert. However she threw up in the carrier at the end of our flight. After deplaning, we cleaned it up as best we could in an airport bathroom. We were fortunate enough to find a family washroom where we could lock the door and let the cat out of the carrier for a few minutes while we wiped everything down and cleaned up as much as we could. After a quick drive home, we removed the bottom insert and unzipped the "furry" cover to wash it. It was easy to remove and run through the washing machine on a gentle wash cycle. After replacing the furry cover and putting the insert back into the carrier, the carrier was like new again.Since arriving at home with the cats, we've traveled with the cats in the carriers one other time since and that was to take them to the vet. No problems with that trip. :) I love that the carriers could be safely buckled into the back seat of my car.If it wasn't for the folding up problems, I would give these carriers 5 stars.

17.5.2015

Just received my new Sleepypod. It came nearly a week earlier than promised and that was cool.I purchased this Sleepypod so I could bring my two Pomeranians (3lb and 7lb) with me while I travel. They both hopped right in, investigated the carrier thoroughly and then settled in for their first "trip" around the house.Zipping up the carrier, discovered that it's ONE zipper that circles from top around both ends and back to top. not sure how well that will work on the airplane, but we'll see in a few months. The top and ends are made of a dark mesh that is pretty dense. Air can pass through, but it's not easy to see into.It carries well, but it is not a lightweight unit,

1.8.2018

I have a small but lanky dog - about 14lbs but with long skinny legs. When he was a puppy we flew in the Sherpa carrier and it was perfect, but now that he's fully grown I was looking for something a bit longer and taller and this does the trick, although there are definitely some things I would change.Pros:- It seems to be one of the tallest and longest carriers you can buy that still fits under the seat. It's nice to be able to show that the ends fold up just in case although I haven't actually needed to do that. My dog can comfortably stretch out or curl up in this.- It feels really sturdy, much more so than the Sherpa. It's a bit heavier as a result but I think it's worth it.

26.9.2014

I like this little carrier. I imagine it would be really useful for someone whose main transportation is bike and/or who flies sometimes. It was really expensive, though, and it is a very tight fit for my 12-lb poodle. I would not get it for a dog any bigger than that, although the literature says it will fit a dog up to 15 lbs, if I am not mistaken. I like that it can be used on an airplane, in the car, and on a bike. I especially like that it has been tested and shown to protect a dog in a car crash while other products on the market such as harnesses, don't protect a dog that is wearing them. It is really, really nice to be able to bike safely with him in it. It sets up easily. It is lightweight.

4.8.2013

I bought this carrier as a last minute attempt to make my cat more comfortable on an upcoming plane ride. We were scheduled to fly JetBlue, which has notoriously small restrictions with regard to carrier size. My cat is about 13 pounds, but he's long rather than fat. This means that he was unable to lie down and turn around comfortably and in the only other standard carrier cleared to fly with JetBlue - the small Sherpa. We tried to make it work but he was clearly unhappy even for short stretches. The entire travel time for our trip would mean around six hours in the carrier, and I knew the Sherpa carrier would result in yelling at best and mid-flight escapes at worst. (Yes,

15.12.2012

i have received my sleepypod in the mail for my 11 lbs dachshund that is 7months old and blind and deaf. he has had a very traumatic experience with being shoved into a carrier way to small and now hates to be crated . i plan to fly with him and needed the biggest carrier possible with him being a long standard size dachshund thats almost 2ft long and is claustrophobic. as soon as i saw this and read the reviews i couldnt wait to receive my sleepypod. as soon as it arrived i zipped it all together and tried folding up the sides. this took a little effort but i did figure it out. when i introduced my dog i left the mesh open and set it on the ground to my surprise he walked right in and laid down starting to pull and lick at the bedding.

17.5.2018

Fit under the seat in a 737-700/800/MAX8 plane (see photos). Our female Italian Greyhound puppy is 4 months old and 70% of her full size (6.5lbs now) and she had no problem in this carrier, happily stretched out to snooze on her side. I bought this bag for its top quality construction ... (think TUMI brand luggage!) and didn’t think about this extra benefit until I travelled with it: I booked our hotel forgetting to check their pet policy. Thankfully our girl was always quiet and the black mesh kept anyone from knowing we had a dog. Worked nice in the truck too because the supportive floor bottom was nicer for her to rest on than our laps and shaded her from harsh sunlight coming through the windows.

26.4.2016

At first I was very skeptical of the idea of spending nearly 200 USD (that's how much it cost us all in including express shipping to Asia as all suppliers in Singapore/Malaysia just happened to be out of stock), especially when we already had a spacious travel bag that our cat is used to and is comfortable with. Well, traveling for over 30 hours in cars, plans, and airport layovers across huge time zone changes was definitely a step change for our cat and the sleepy pod did an excellent job to help him cope. It's very well designed, my favorite feature is the back zippers that allow the bag to be fixed to your suitcase handle - we had 3 suitcases each so this came very handy.

13.10.2017

I just moved from the USA to Germany and flew with my cat in cabin in this carrier. I couldn’t be happier with this thing- I tried several carriers and this one was the best by far.Good:• the dark inside and optional blackout cover kept my cat calm in the airport. This was a huge plus because she’s a very anxious traveler.• the size was big enough that my cat wasn’t too cramped, but small enough to fit under the seat.• the pocket for securing the carrier on top of luggage was super useful• the zip pocket on the side was a perfect place to store some treats and some Feliway• the carrier has a thick, sturdy handle that aids in distributing weight evenly. In other words,

12.8.2017

I can't say enough good things about this carrier. I just returned from a 17 hour airline adventure with my 5 month old kitten, and all I can say is this was so worth the price splurge! The carrier may look sleek but the pockets held 2 ziploc pint bags of litter, one large adult incontinence pad liner, 1 pint bag of kitten food, 2 packets of Fortiflora, a mini bag of dehydrated chicken and a cat toy. The inside tether allowed me to open the carrier to comfort my kitten on our long flight as she wore a harness. It was long enough to let her turn around and come partially out when allowed. Most importantly, this carrier easily fit under the seat in front of me, thanks to the ease of the foldable sides.

13.5.2016

Giving this product 5 stars as it is the best I've seen so far. I am a "dogaholic", so I want only the best for my fur babies - we go together everywhere, hence, I am very critical when it comes down to practicalities.First, the good parts (and there are many!):- it is roomy, so my 2 "teacup" pooches (each 1.5kg) easily fit in and are very comfortable inside and able to stretch and turn as well as lie down side by side - but it isn't huge, so that being 5'3", it doesn't look grotesque when I carry it- it has very good ventilation - none of the other bags I have (about 6!) provide that- it has a nice cushion at the bottom- it is (almost) non-see-through from the outside,

19.12.2016

My chihuahua is 3 years old and I take him on an 10 hour plane round trip to Europe twice a year. Since this is my first dog, I have very little experience on how to handle pet travel. I bought a cheap carrier when my dog was still a puppy and have been using it ever since. However, every time I put my dog in the carrier he whined like crazy and scratched the inside looking for an escape route. It was a nightmare for me and everyone in the airport/plane. Not to mention that the carrier was tall and gave me zero leg room in my economy seat. That's why this year I decided to get a new carrier in the hopes that it would improve my dog's travel experience. Our trip is 3 days away but I'm confident that it will go smoothly!

1.3.2015

I love Sleepypods. I've been using them for years. Bought this one for my new cat. Everyone at the vet office always asks about it -- and wants a demonstration. These are the most clever design. Particularly good for in-cabin air travel. I've taken my (old) cat on the plane with me several times and the case fits under the seat AND has special zips and clips to allow it to be buckled in safely (works for the car, too). It has zip compartments that allow it to be placed securely over a suitcase handle, too. I've even lashed it to the back of my moped using the clips and strap. My cats seem comfy enough in their respective Sleepypods (not that either one enjoys going in any bag....). And,

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