Why we switched to a waterproof, laser-engraved dog collar for our 900-mile Appalachian Trail thru-hike — and why we'll never go back to cloth.
We hiked 900 miles on the Appalachian Trail with our dog Toby. The collar he wore at mile one looked the same at mile 900. Here’s why we’ll never go back to cloth.
Why Standard Cloth Collars Fail on Trail
Typical store-bought collars get pretty gross after getting wet and drying a few times. They hold moisture, breed bacteria, and develop a smell that no amount of washing fixes. On a day hike, it’s manageable. On a three-month thru-hike where your dog sleeps next to you? Unacceptable.
The only time most cloth collars get washed is during grooming — and on a long-distance hike, that’s not happening regularly.
What We Switched To
When planning our AT thru-hike, we needed a collar that would stay clean, dry instantly, and not stink up our hammock at night. We found laser-engraved waterproof collars from dogIDs.
The soft grip material means even when Toby gets soaked crossing a stream, the collar wipes off in seconds. No absorption, no odor, no waiting for it to dry.
What Makes It Work for Backpacking
Instant drying. Creek crossings, rain, swimming — doesn’t matter. Wipe it off and it’s dry.
Zero odor. Three months on trail and the collar smelled like nothing. That matters when your dog sleeps six inches from your face in a hammock.
Color retention. Toby’s bright teal collar looks like we just bought it, even after hundreds of miles of dirt, mud, and water.
Laser-engraved ID. Up to 4 rows of customizable text — name, phone number, whatever you need. No metal tags to jangle, snag on brush, or fall off on trail.
Trail Performance
This collar lasted our entire Appalachian Trail 900-mile hike without any sign of wear. Other hikers constantly asked about it — the bright color and clean look stood out on a trail where most dogs’ collars were faded and rank by week two.
The engraving stayed fully legible through every condition we encountered: rain, river crossings, mud, snow, and three months of daily wear.
The Verdict
At around $35, a waterproof engraved collar is one of the cheapest and most impactful upgrades you can make for trail hiking with your dog. It eliminates odor, dries instantly, and removes the need for dangling ID tags. We recommend dogIDs specifically for the engraving quality and soft grip material.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why not just use a regular cloth collar for hiking?
- Cloth collars absorb water, hold odor, and take forever to dry. After a few creek crossings they smell terrible and start to deteriorate. A waterproof collar wipes clean in seconds.
- Do you still need metal ID tags with an engraved collar?
- No. Laser-engraved collars fit up to 4 rows of text — name, phone number, and address. No jangling tags to lose on the trail.
- How long does a waterproof collar last on trail?
- Ours lasted our entire 900-mile Appalachian Trail hike and still looks brand new. The color hasn't faded and the engraving is fully legible.
Trail-Tested with Toby
Everything on FidoHikes comes from real experience — 900 miles on the Appalachian Trail with our dog Toby. No sponsored posts, no armchair advice. Just what actually worked (and what didn't) on the trail.
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