Ruffwear Grip Trex dog boots: a strong choice for hot, rough ground

Research-based review: not tested by Barked. Checked November 10, 2026. No sponsorship, gifted product or affiliate links.

On a summer afternoon, the sidewalk can be too hot to rest your palm on, and your dog still has to walk across it. That's the problem many Grip Trex owners bought these boots to solve. At $49.99 a pair, the Grip Trex is a strong choice for hot pavement, gravel and rocky trails, as long as your dog's paws measure between 1.50 and 3.25 inches. The things to watch are a strap that some owners say lets go in water and slush, and rubbing around the dewclaw.

Quick verdict

• Suits: dogs who walk on hot pavement, gravel, rocky trails or burr-covered ground, with paws 1.50 to 3.25 inches wide.
• Skip if: your dog's paws are narrower than 1.50 inches or wider than 3.25 inches. Think twice if most walks are in water or wet slush. That's where the strap complaints came from, and Ruffwear points those uses to its Summit Trex and Polar Trex.
• Main advantage: rated 4.6 out of 5 from 1,047 reviews on ruffwear.com, with owners praising the protection on hot and rough ground.
• Main catch: the fit has to be right, and Ruffwear won't take back used gear, with no exception for trying boots on. Some owners had boots slip off or rub.
• Price basis: $49.99 per pair at ruffwear.com, so $99.98 for four paws before tax.

How we judged them

We read Ruffwear's product, sizing, care, returns and guarantee pages, plus the 100 most recent owner reviews on ruffwear.com (December 2024 to September 2026, almost all from verified buyers), and the owner stories below are their accounts, not Barked tests.

Keeping them on

The boots usually stay on when the size and strap tension are right. One owner who bikejors with their dog on pavement said they covered 10 km without a single boot falling off. A few others said these stayed on where other boots they'd tried hadn't.

They aren't foolproof. Nine of the 100 reviewers said boots slipped or came off at least some of the time. In one review, a dog took off after some geese and two boots were never seen again. Another owner's boots kept slipping until Ruffwear's customer service pointed out that the straps weren't tight enough. The owner of a 16 lb dog said all four came off within a minute indoors.

Ruffwear advises checking the closure about 15 minutes into a walk and then throughout. The boots come only in pairs, so one lost boot means buying a new pair.

Sizing

Ruffwear sizes the Grip Trex by paw width, from 1.50 inches (38 mm) to 3.25 inches (83 mm). Measure across the widest part of each paw while your dog is standing on it, measure all four paws, and size down if you're between sizes. Front paws are often wider, so you can order front and rear pairs in different sizes.

The owners who ran out of options had paws outside that range. One dog's paw measured about 1.375 inches, and the smallest boots kept slipping off. A toy Australian Shepherd owner found even the smallest size too big. An Irish Wolfhound owner found the largest size too small, even for the rear feet.

Ruffwear accepts returns within 30 days only for gear that is unused, unwashed and in its original packaging, and US return and exchange shipping is free (exclusions apply). The policy makes no exception for trying boots on, so measure carefully before ordering, and if you're unsure about the fit, contact Ruffwear about a return before your dog wears them at all.

Wet weather, snow and salt

Dry, rough ground is where the Grip Trex does best, and dry cold and road salt went well too. Most of the dozen reviewers who used the Grip Trex in winter were happy with it, including a Wisconsin owner who relies on them on the coldest days.

Water, wet snow and slush are where the complaints cluster. Ruffwear says the hook-and-loop closure keeps its hold when wet. Three reviewers disagreed. One owner said the boots kept ending up at the bottom of the pool, and a hiker taped the straps shut on wet trails. In a one-star review from January 2026, an owner who bought them for snow and cold said the hook-and-loop stopped working once it got wet and cold. For rain, slush and snowmelt chemicals, Ruffwear points owners to its Summit Trex. For snowy winter walks, it points to the Polar Trex.

Rubbing and break-in

Most reviewers didn't mention rubbing. A handful did, mostly around the dewclaw, where the strap or the top of the boot pressed on it. Ruffwear's break-in guide suggests flexing the soles by hand first, then trying the boots indoors for a few minutes and checking for rubbing and hot spots. Break-in counts as wear, though, so once you start, the boots can no longer be returned. It also suggests its Bark'n Boot socks, which it says can help protect dewclaws. If your dog has prominent dewclaws, check where the strap sits on the first wear.

Slippery floors

Some owners bought them for older dogs who slip indoors. One owner said their 10-year-old German Shepherd's back paws had started slipping on a smooth stone floor, and that they stopped sliding once she wore the boots. If mobility is your reason for buying boots, check with your vet first.

Durability

We don't know yet for the current version. The long lifespans owners describe come from earlier versions. One service-dog handler said a previous dog's Grip Trex lasted seven years, and another owner replaced a set bought about six years earlier. A January 2026 reviewer said an older pair lasted more than 150 miles, but that after three pairs of the new model, they stopped using them because the strap kept letting go in water and they kept losing boots on the trail.

One dog also bit through a strap. Ruffwear's guarantee covers manufacturing and material defects, but not chewing or normal wear and tear.

Value

For hot or rough ground, the Grip Trex is worth the extra cost over Ruffwear's cheaper boots. Four Grip Trex boots cost $99.98, and four Summit Trex boots cost $59.98. The extra $40 buys a Vibram lug sole and a breathable mesh upper, the features Ruffwear designs for trails and hot or rugged surfaces. The Summit Trex has a weather-resistant ripstop upper and a non-marking rubber sole instead. What the $40 doesn't buy is proof that the current version lasts as long as the older boots owners describe. If your walks are mostly wet, the cheaper Summit Trex is the better fit. The cheapest boot Ruffwear pitches for hot surfaces is the Hi & Light Trail Shoe, on sale at $17.50 a pair (about $35 for four, and the sale price may change), with a lighter sole.

A set of four Bark'n Boot socks adds $19.99. Ruffwear also listed Lichen Green Grip Trex pairs at $25.00, but they showed as out of stock. Used pairs were $37.49 or $42.49 in some sizes, but used gear can't be returned. For care, fasten the straps, then machine-wash in cold water on a gentle cycle with mild detergent and air-dry.

Other Ruffwear boots

Ruffwear makes five boot and shoe styles, all sold in pairs in the same eight paw-width sizes. This table uses Ruffwear's descriptions and prices, not owner reviews.

The decision

Start with a tape measure. Ruffwear makes no boot for paws under 1.50 inches or over 3.25 inches, so measure the front paws with your dog standing, and order the rear pair separately if those paws are smaller. If your walks are mostly wet or slushy, go for the Summit Trex at $29.99 or the Polar Trex at $64.99. If your dog's paws fit the range and your walks are mostly on hot pavement, gravel or rocky trail, buy the Grip Trex.