Dogs wish to get cozy as a lot as their human companions (some much more so). This DIY makes use of an outdated foam pad and sleeping bag to make a light-weight canine mattress so your pup is as cozy as you in your subsequent backpacking journey. If you don\u2019t have outdated gear mendacity round, search for cheap used gear via REI Co-op Re\/Supply<\/a> or a secondhand retailer, or ask round for reasonable or free used gear.<\/p>\n Use scissors to chop the froth pad to measurement in your pup to lie on. Use a Phillips screwdriver or a sharp pen to make a small gap in every nook of the pad about 1 inch from the sides.<\/p>\n Make certain the sleeping bag is zipped closed. Place the froth pad on high of the bag with one edge aligned with the highest entrance of the bag (the place it reaches your neck), ensuring all 4 corners are on the bag. Using chalk, make a barely curved line on the bag about 4 inches beneath the sting of the pad, ideally just under a baffle. If you\u2019re utilizing a down bag this can assist reduce the variety of feathers misplaced.<\/p>\n Starting from the non-zipper aspect, use scissors to slowly lower alongside the chalk line. It could also be simpler to chop one aspect of the bag first after which match the lower on the opposite aspect. When you attain the zipper, lower straight via.<\/p>\n Turn the sleeping bag inside out. If the bag has artificial insulation like ours, trim the insulation again with scissors so you’ve got room to stitch the sides collectively and pin the material closed.<\/p>\n Using both a stitching machine with a powerful needle or hand stitching utilizing a backstitch<\/a>, sew the uncooked edges collectively to carry within the insulation, leaving a 5\/8-inch seam allowance. Make certain to stitch over the tip of the zipper. Trim additional thread.<\/p>\n With the sleeping bag nonetheless inside out, pin the underside edges of the sleeping bag collectively. Make certain the zipper is on the periphery.<\/p>\n Using a stitching machine with a powerful needle or hand stitching utilizing a backstitch, sew the sides collectively, leaving a 5\/Eighth-inch seam allowance. Make certain to stitch over the tip of the zipper. Backstitch at each ends to safe and trim additional thread.<\/p>\n Turn the bag right-side out. You now have a doggie sleeping bag!<\/p>\n Turn the sleeping bag the wrong way up once more and lay the froth pad on high. Mark the place the holes punched within the pad hit the sleeping bag.<\/p>\n Set the pad apart and unzip the bag. Use the grommet device to put in a grommet at every mark within the backside layer of the sleeping bag solely. (Make certain you\u2019re engaged on a tough floor that received\u2019t dent when putting in grommets.)<\/p>\n Assemble your dowel items and shock wire. We used outdated tent pole items, lower to 1 1\/4 inch and sanded, with the shock wire operating via the middle. You may also use plastic toggles or wood dowels with a gap drilled within the center to loop the wire via.<\/p>\n Slide a small washer onto the free ends of a chunk of shock wire with a toggle, then thread them via a gap within the foam pad with the toggle on the highest aspect of the pad.<\/p>\n Slide a big washer that received\u2019t match via the grommet onto the wire.<\/p>\n Place the sleeping bag on high of the pad and thread the toggles via the grommets, rotating them in order that they lie flat. Gently pull the shock wire down so the sleeping bag and foam pad are comfortable.<\/p>\n Without any stretch within the wire, tie an overhand knot within the free ends of the wire to safe.<\/p>\n Trim the surplus wire and punctiliously use a lighter to soften the unfastened ends to stop fraying.<\/p>\n Hit your favourite dogs-permitted path, arrange camp and get cozy. The pad and bag will be packed individually to suit simply in a backpack, and you should use the froth as a sit pad for your self throughout a hike. Check out our ideas for backpacking with canines<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>for much more methods to benefit from your in a single day journeys.<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s Note: This article was initially revealed on August 3, 2018. <\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/2.jpg?resize=1024%2C707\")
<\/p>\nMaterials:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Tools:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/3.jpg?resize=1024%2C768\")
<\/p>\nDirections:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
1. Cut foam pad to measurement<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/4.jpg?resize=1024%2C768\")
<\/p>\n2. Mark sleeping bag size<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/5.jpg?resize=1024%2C768\")
<\/p>\n3. Cut sleeping bag to measurement<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/6.jpg?resize=1024%2C768\")
<\/p>\n4. Sew uncooked edges collectively<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/7.jpg?resize=1024%2C768\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/8.jpg?resize=1024%2C768\")
<\/p>\n5. Sew sides of sleeping bag collectively<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/9.jpg?resize=1024%2C768\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/10.jpg?resize=1024%2C768\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/11.jpg?resize=1024%2C768\")
<\/p>\n6. Add grommets to sleeping bag<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/12.jpg?resize=1024%2C778\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/13.jpg?resize=1024%2C768\")
<\/p>\n7. Add attachment toggles<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/14.jpg?resize=1024%2C768\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/15.jpg?resize=1024%2C768\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/16.jpg?resize=1024%2C768\")
<\/p>\n8. Attach sleeping bag and foam pad collectively<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/17.jpg?resize=1024%2C768\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/18.jpg?resize=1024%2C768\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/19.jpg?resize=1024%2C768\")
<\/p>\n9. Go tenting!<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/20.jpg?resize=1024%2C768\")
<\/p>\n