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The soft-sided dog crate is very convenient for pet parents on the go. They are easier to pack and transport and take up less room to store than most traditional metal, plastic and wooden crates. They also provide a good amount of ventilation, making them ideal for car trips, outdoor exploration and camping.
Rated as number one in Amazon’s “Soft dog crate” category, the three-door EliteField is the most popular soft barrel on the market. It’s also one of the most expensive – so is it worth it?
With help from my pet dog, Roo, we tested the EliteField soft dog cage to find out if it lived up to all the hype.
This is the dish… I mean experimental.
EliteField soft case: Size, design and portability
With a 4.5-star rating and nearly 12,000 Amazon reviews, EliteField are an extremely popular choice for soft dog kennels. Some of its key features include:
- Extra space—Available in five different sizes, the EliteField crate is an extra two inches wide and four inches taller than most other similar sized soft cases, making it a great choice for those Dogs of the same size or need a little more heads- room after row.
- Solid design—The collapsible frame is made of sturdy steel tubes, durable 600D polyester, and a washable hexagonal mesh fabric. Traction on the bottom helps keep the foot from slipping, and the zipper adds an extra layer of protection against escape artists—though be aware that Soft crates are better for crate-trained pups.
- More style options—Like other floppy bins, the design is more aesthetically pleasing than conventional metal and plastic bins. EliteField distinguishes itself from 20 different color options on Amazon, giving pet parents more options in style.
- Additional ventilation—Providing ventilation on all four sides, the EliteField features two mesh windows and two zippered mesh doors. There’s also a mesh door at the top of the crate, making it easy to feed and pet or provide extra space when your dog is sitting up — great if you have a taller dog!
- Mobility—Although the EliteField is a bit heavier than other soft cases on the market, reviewers generally agree that it is still relatively easy to assemble, pack, and transport. It also comes with a handle and hand straps on the barrel, as well as a carrying case.
- Added perks—Many soft cases come with the giveaway, and the EliteField is no different, offering a removable and washable bed and a removable accessory bag (with one already attached at the top).
- Satisfaction Guaranteed—EliteField Dog Pants come with a two-year warranty and a 100% money-back guarantee.
Check out the top door while Roo waits for gifts to fall from the sky.
EliteField soft-faced dog cage evaluation results
The extra width and height initially attracted me to the EliteField soft dog crate. My Lab/Terrier rescue mix, Roo, is a long-legged girl, pretty tall for her average frame. Recently, I’ve noticed that she crouched in our metal crate and never really looked quite comfortable.
We’re also moving around the country for a month, and I wanted to find something more portable that I could put in my car and show up on different vacation rentals. My hope is that we can find a crate that she finds more comfortable in and will come to see as her cozy, safe space to help as we move into a new home.
Size
I ended up ordering the 36 L x 24 W x 28 ″ H size, because the Roo is several pounds taller than the size limit of 40 pounds below. We could have downsized, especially with the extra width and height, but overall, I’m happy with the extra space. Now, Roo can comfortably sit in the crate, twisting and spreading out as much as he wants.
Mobility
After nearly two years of fighting the sides of a metal barrel, EliteField feels like an established dream. I just put it in the tube and folded it, and viola, it was ready to go. Even though it’s big and bulky for our size, it’s still much lighter and easier to move around than our wire crates. I can pick it up and move it to another room in one go. It’s a lot easier to pack up in the car and go to different rentals as we move.
Appease
As soon as the crate arrived, we started training again. To my surprise, after a few brief lessons and plenty of delicious food, Roo began to choose to hang out in the crate alone — napping, eating, and hiding from the hated Beagle family.
I think some things in particular make her feel more comfortable with the EliteField soft case than with her old metal barrel. First of all, Roo likes to bang his body against the wall of furniture or prop his head on a support bar. The EliteField’s soft yet sturdy edges and doors let her do both in comfort. Having access to multiple items and the overall open feel of the crate made her feel more confident accessing it.
Roo falls asleep at work — she understands the assignment.
Extra perks
While the bottom pad is a nice touch, it’s not anything to write home about. It is not very soft or well designed. Many reviewers have also noted that it wears out and deforms fairly quickly, especially if you have a more delectable pupa.
However, I did love all the storage space that comes with it, with the storage pocket at the top and the accessory pocket on the side. I’ll be able to keep all of Roo’s food and snacks (maybe even some toys) in my bag when we’re on the go, and it’s great to keep everything in one place.
Our review found the EliteField soft dog crate to be a great choice for both traveling dogs and those who prefer a little more roomy comfort during their day. However, foster parents with puppies on hand or more delectable dogs may want to wait for a fully trained puppy before buying.
We think the crate can be bumped for many pups, especially:
- Dogs that are tall, large, or often find themselves in between traditional kennel sizes
- Cage-trained pups looking for a gentler lair-like experience
- Pet parents who want a multi-purpose crate that can be used as an everyday safe or a travel crate
- Puppies need more visibility or prefer an open structure to their crates
However, the EliteField bin may not work for the following situations:
- The pups were not cage-trained or potty-trained
- Super chewing mouse and teething baby
- Dogs tend to get out of their crates
- Pet parents looking for a more budget-friendly option
How we choose the EliteField soft dog cage
The soft dog crates here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, comprehensive review of customer reviews across multiple retail platforms, and interviews with veterinary experts, including including Rover’s Dog People Panel. We are also guided by our own experience of living and playing with our own much-loved and steadfast pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.
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