I Tested 5 Dog Life Jackets on a Heavy-Shedding Lab: Which One Actually Dries Fast?

If you own a Labrador, you already know the struggle. They see a body of water, they dive in, and then—congratulations—you have a 70-pound wet sponge living in your house. My Lab, Cooper, is basically part-fish. But the nightmare isn’t the swimming; it’s the post-swim soggy mess.

Last summer, we were up at Lake Tahoe, and I realized something disgusting. Most life jackets act like heavy diapers. They soak up gallons of water, trap all that loose Lab fur inside the mesh, and stay damp for three days. By the time we got to the car, the smell was… well, you know the “wet dog” smell. It was brutal.

So, I got fed up. I spent my own money on 5 of the biggest brands to see which one actually dries fast enough to toss back in the trunk without ruining my upholstery.

The Real Problem: It’s Not the Float, It’s the Fabric

Most people obsess over buoyancy. Look, almost any vest will keep your dog afloat. What they don’t tell you is how much water the lining holds. If the lining is thick foam or cheap mesh, it’s going to trap fur and moisture like a trap.

For a heavy shedder like a Lab, you need a material that lets water “bead off” rather than soak in. I timed these vests in the 80°F California sun. Here is what I found.

The Contenders: Which Ones Are Actually Worth Your Cash?

1. Ruffwear Float Coat (The “Expensive for a Reason” One)

I’ll be honest, I didn’t want to like this one because it’s pricey. But man, the quality is just on another level.

 

• The Experience: It doesn’t have that cheap “mesh” inside. It’s a solid, smooth lining.

• The Dry Test: After Cooper did about 20 cannonballs off the dock, I took this off him. The water literally just rolled off the outer shell.

• The Result: Dry in 45 minutes. It was ready to be packed away before we even finished our lunch. No soggy trunk. No smell.

• [Check Price on Amazon – Ruffwear Float Coat] (Buy Link)

 

2. Outward Hound Granby (The Budget Trap)

You’ll see this one everywhere. It’s bright orange, cheap, and has those cute handles.

• The Experience: It works fine for floating, but it’s made of neoprene and thick foam.

• The Dry Test: This thing stayed heavy for hours. Even when the outside felt “dry,” the inside was still damp and held onto about a pound of Cooper’s shed fur.

• The Result: Still damp after 2 hours. It’s fine for a backyard pool, but don’t put it in your car unless you have a plastic bin.

• [View Outward Hound on Amazon] (Buy Link)

3. Kurgo Surf n’ Turf (The “Over-Engineered” One)

This is a life jacket that doubles as a raincoat. Sounds cool, right?

• The Reality: It’s too many layers. Water gets trapped between the flotation layer and the outer shell.

• The Result: A whopping 3+ hours to dry. Unless you want to spend your vacation taking the whole thing apart to air it out, skip it for heavy water use.

• [Check the Kurgo Deal Here] (Buy Link)

The “Handle” Test: Don’t Snap Your Back

If you’re on a boat in the Florida Keys or the Great Lakes, you’re going to have to haul your dog out of the water at some point. I tried lifting Cooper (75 lbs) using the handles on these vests.

• Pro-Tip: Never buy a vest with a single handle for a big dog. The Ruffwear and Ezydog have handles that feel like they’re part of a climbing harness. They don’t strain the dog’s spine, and they won’t snap when you’re pulling a wet, wiggly Lab onto a moving boat.

Comparison Table: The “Quick-Dry” Stats

The “Hidden” Nightmare: Salt Water

If you’re at a beach in San Diego or Miami, listen up. Salt is a magnet for moisture. If you don’t rinse the salt off the vest with a hose immediately, it will never dry. The salt crystals keep the fabric damp forever. I learned this the hard way after my car started smelling like a dead fish. Rinse it every single time.

Common Questions 

Do Labs actually need these? They’re “Water Dogs,” right? Look, Cooper can swim for days. But even a Lab can get a cramp, or worse, “Limber Tail” from cold water. A life jacket isn’t about their ability to swim; it’s about giving them a break so they don’t drown from exhaustion if they chase a duck too far out.

How do I get the “Wet Dog” smell out? The secret is the Dry-Down. I use a high-velocity blower or a massive microfiber towel on the dog, but the vest is usually the culprit. If you pack a damp vest in a hot car, you’re basically making “Wet Dog Soup.” Always hang it outside the car if it’s still damp.

My Verdict: Which one is for you?

If you travel a lot and hate the smell of a soggy car, just bite the bullet and get the Ruffwear Float Coat. It’s a one-time purchase that will last 10 years. It’s the only one that doesn’t hold onto fur and water like a sponge.

If you’re just doing a quick pool dip once a month, the Outward Hound is okay for the price—just be ready to hang it in the garage for a full day before it’s truly dry.