Customer Reviews

Outward Hound Back Seat Pet Hammock, Black

5 star:		(166)
4 star:		(91)
3 star:		(29)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I bought this having read the other 5-star reviews, including the one that says the hammock has a "chemical or dirt" smell. Well, now that I've got the hammock, it's so incredibly easy to use and setup, I can't believe I was putting down an old blanket before. But the other reviewer was right: That chemical/dirt odor (and seriously, I couldn't have come up with a better description than dirt, myself!) is really strong. It probably will wear off eventually, but leaving it out in the sun, spraying it with Febreeze, and even washing it on the mild cycle with hot water and "fluff" drying it without heat (DO NOT TRY THIS as it tears the nylon backing!!!) have not rid it of the smell. If the smell ever goes away, I'd rate this as a 5, but for now, I'm optimistically giving it a 3. Might not be a bad idea to check the other hammocks available out there and spend a bit more money to see if you can get a non-dirt-smelling seat cover!

I am a Vet Tech, so I am able to take my dog to work with me & I take him almost every day. He is a Golden Retriever, so he sheds A LOT. My GMC Jimmy's back seat is pretty much covered with hair & it kind of smells like dog in there. Well, I recently purchased a new car & definitely do not want the back seat to be trashed like the old one is.

This cover is very easy to install. There are four adjustable straps that fit around the head rests of your seats. They have clips for easy removal & replacement. It fits pretty well in the back seat of my car, which is a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. It took me 10-15 minutes to hook everything up & get the straps adjusted just right. There are velcro slits that allow for access to seat belts. There is also a velcro slit at the edge of the seat which enables you to open it to allow a human passenger to sit in the back without removing the entire cover.

As for cleaning, I just run it through the washing machine, on the gentle cycle, & hang it to dry over my shower curtain. I think the instructions say not to put it in a washing machine but I have not had any problems, so far (after about 5 months of use).

My dog looked at it a little funny when he first saw it but he jumped right in & seems to ride comfortably, if not more so, since he doesn't fall off the seat when I have to hit the breaks.

The down sides:
It doesn't "grab" the dog hair, so the hair is free to just float around in the car.
The part that comes across the back of my front seats & acts as a barrier does not stay taught, so my dog could easily come up front if he wanted to. Fortunately, I have him trained to stay in the back. Also, it's still a good idea to use a seat belt harness with this product.

After getting at new car at Christmas, I just had to find something to keep the backseat decent. My two Briards (80 and 70 lbs.) sit together in the backseat of the Forester (used to be a Golf, this is spacious!).

The hammock hangs easily between the seats from the headrests. It only took a few minutes to put it in. Now the dogs ride comfortably and their muddy paws stay where they belong.

I was concerned when I first saw it that the velcro would rip open from the weight of the dogs, but that has not happened in nearly two months of use.

All in all, this hammock has made it possible for the dogs to have more frequent rides in the car -- isn't that the best news?!

There are similar higher quality products on the market, but you can't get more for less than you get with this product. I have a 70 lb lab and leather seats and haven't had one problem with this hammock. Obviously, protecting your seats is best benefit, but it is also great for preventing your dog from falling behind the seats. My dog loves leaning against the hammock when sleeping on a longer ride. (Although, if your dog like to visit you up front, you might want to find another restraint, it may not hold them back depending on how persistent your dog is).

At first look, it doesn't seem like much but mine hasn't torn and my seats are in perfect condition after 6 months of continual use to and from hiking/swimming trips. Like others have said, I'm not sure how long the velcro (used to remove the "hammock" feature if needed) or the straps will last but I figure it will last long enough vs. the cost. It doesn't have a perfect fit at the upper corners near the head rests, but since the dog doesn't paw there, it doesn't matter to me.

If you care that it "looks nice" as well as be functional, this isn't for you, but if you want a good low cost cover that protects your seats - I highly recommend it.

Another added benefit - It's great for hiding personal belongings behind the driver/passenger seats.

UPDATE 11/9/2011
The velcro just tore on my cover about a month ago - so this cover lasted just about 3 years after constant use. I actually think it may have lasted longer if I didn't happen to have bucket seats. If I had a bench seat, my dog probably wouldn't have pulled at the velcro as much when he was walking around.

For the price, this still is an excellent deal in my opinion. I will definitely be buying another one.

Our dog is a large greyhound, and this is what I've found.
Pluses of the hammock
1. adjustable
2. keeps the dog on and in the back seat area
3. protects the seats
4. fairly fast to install

drawbacks
1. material is a bit rough (tarp like), so we cover it with a blanket
2. dog can occasionally unsnap a seat restraint (there are 4 to keep it in place)

First Impression: Well to be honest I don't really like car rides that much... Personally, I think it's because Dad drives too crazy but I wouldn't tell him that. I used to sit in the far back cargo area of the hatchback. But then Mom and Dad had the great idea of driving to Washington State to visit friends and family... So they bought me this hammock so I could be closer to them and lay on the rear seat. I do like it better than the far back, but it has some design flaws. The corners by the headrests tend to fold over, exposing the seat. Dad punched some eyelets in the corers and ran a piece of elastic behind the rear seat to keep them up. Another problem is the edges next to the door get shifted around exposing the seat. Currently dad is just laying a towel under each edge, it helps with the puppy drool too. There are more expensive brands that address all of these problems and more. But for $22 your not going to get better.

Conclusion: Has design flaws, but you get what you pay for. $22 is a great deal to test if you even like laying in a hammock. 3 out of 4 paws because even though the price is right, it could have some minor improvements.

The concept of this is great and the price is right unless you have a dog that weighs more than 70lbs. I have a 100lbs dog and the Outward Hound Hammock lasted a couple of weeks before it shredded apart. It would be a great product if there weren't any seams, but the stitching at the seams just doesn't last. A friend of mine who bought the same product for his 65lbs dog loves the product and it has stood up well.

December 2010:
Update -2 years into ownership and the product is still going strong. Material appears to be holding up well even with my (now 94 pd) GSD's nails stepping all over it almost every day as we go to the dog park. I've hosed the hammock down several times, vacuumed it several times. The material, the seams, the straps -no rips, tears or failures so far. The car seat that the hammock is supposed to protect looks good. Product is doing it's job. I'm still looking for something that will protect the insides of the car doors from the significant amount of drool my "little guy" puts out....


December 2008:
~4 weeks into having received this product. The fabric is tough, and effectively protects against damage from toenails, dog drool, and makes hair cleanup pretty easy (I have a 100pd GSD). Also prevents dog from falling when breaking. The hammock is fairly large, just leaving an inch or so of my Acura TL rear seat uncovered.

The only potential problem I see so far is the straps that wrap around the 4 headrests to hold the hammock in place are thin, and the stitching that holds them doesn't look particularly tough. No problem yet, but with heavier dogs I think this is very likely to be the failure point.

I live in Houston and have two dogs (~50 lbs and ~60 lbs) that LOVE going to the beach. I used to fold my back seats up and give the dogs the run of the back of the car, but that was always such a mess to clean and it left that lovely wet dog smell... This pet hammock is such a great deal. (They sell these at the big name pet stores for 5 to 6 times more...) The hammock is installed in seconds and keeps the dogs in the back seat without falling into the gap between the front and back seats and without being able to get into the front of the car. The other part I really like is that the hammock has velcro parts that allow for the seat belt buckle to still be useable and also for a person to put their legs down where they would normally go while still using the other portion of the seat as a dog area. (Yes, it means that person has to sit on the dog hammock, but it's better than only allowing 2 people in your car with the dogs.) It's also nice that I can use the foot wells for storage, something that is really important for vacations or, in my case, hurricane evacuation. Best part? After a long day at the beach, I just slide the hammock out the door and shake it out on my front lawn. Couldn't be easier! And when I get volunteered to drive to lunch at work, it folds up in seconds and slides into the trunk, leaving a clean seat that no one is afraid to sit on. :)

When people talk about the chemical smell they are not kidding - I opened it up and it smelled like the noxious plastic shower curtains that are proven to be toxic. Returning it immediately.