Disclaimer: This review and giveaway is brought to you by Sleepypod.
One of the benefits to having a small dog is the ability to easily travel with them. So when Sleepypod, makers of all the things necessary to travel with your small pet, offered me up the chance to test out their Sleepypod Air Travel Bag and Sidekick Bike Rack I couldn’t wait to get riding!
The Sleepypod Air has all the bells and whistles needed for a comfortable and safe travel experience for your pet. The Air can even be used to safely transport your pet in the car (by attaching the bag with a seatbelt), and is also airline approved. It comes in 5 yummy colors (jet black, dark chocolate, orange dream, glacier silver, and strawberry red), I chose the orange dream color because I thought it might reflect the light/sun more (I thought black might get hot if I was biking in the sun), and plus, who doesn’t love some color!
The Sleepypod Air is also an airline approved bag that can easily adapt to under -seat storage requirements set by different airlines. The Sleepypod Air is a great bag for Dachshunds as it is one of their largest travel bags. The ends of the bag can compress from a length of 22″ to 19″ and all the way down to 16″ so it can easily fit under airline seats when needed. It even folds up completely flat when not in use (so once you reach your destination it won’t take up much room in your own suitcase).
Now I haven’t tested the Air in the actual AIR, but I decided for my first adventure with it I would take it for a spin with the Sidekick bike attachment designed to work with several of Sleepypod’s pet carriers.
Before setting out on my maiden voyage bike ride I had to help Mom and Dad install it. The Sidekick is designed to be a stable base to hold a Sleepypod pet carrier on your bike.
We followed the handy directions on how to install the Sidekick and with a little supervision from yours truly I was soon ready to take it for a spin. It helps to note that it works best on bikes that contain additional eyelets on the front wheels, but have no fear if your bike doesn’t have any (mine didn’t either), Sleepypod sells additional attachments to make it work on ones without them.
Once installed on your bike the Sleepypod Air easily attaches to the rack with a few buckles that are already included with the bag.
Now I’m a bit on the large side when it comes to fitting comfortably into the Air. Weighing 18 pounds I’m a bit over the recommended weight limit for dogs of 15 pounds, but I was still able to lay down in the bag and I could even turn around in it if I really wanted to.
When it came time for my first bike ride Mom and Dad weren’t sure how I would like it. If you know me, then you know I’m not exactly thrilled about being in confined spaces like crates. But for a few weeks leading up to my ride Mom had been hiding treats in the bag around the house to convince me that it wasn’t a scary place to be.
So when I was finally zipped inside and off on my ride I was quite comfortable. The mesh lining on top of the bag is quite see-through and breathable so it helped me feel less confined. I didn’t even mind when mom made a few quick turns with the bike.
Check out the video below of me enjoying my first few rides with the Sleepypod Air and Sidekick.
Since I’m a larger dachshund my weight was a little hard for mom to handle on the front of her bike (making steering a little more difficult), but I told mom she needs to start lifting weights anyway! I’m sure you could probably install the Sidekick on the back of a bike too, making it much easier to ride with a little bit heavier of a dog. I may end up helping mom install mine on the back of our bike – just so she stops complaining that her arms are sore after our bike rides…..what a wimp!
I can’t wait for the many more bike rides that are sure to be in my future with the Sleepypod Air & Sidekick!
And now for the best part…
ONE Lucky WINNER will WIN a Sleepypod Air!
(winner chooses color)
Here’s HOW TO WIN:
For this giveaway I will be using, Rafflecopter. We only use the information you provide to contact the winners and we never share it – so not to worry. Winners will be chosen at random and you will be contacted via e-mail to claim your prize. All the winners will also be announced on this blog post once the giveaway ends on 11/5/13 12AM EST. Open to US Residents Only. Winners must claim their prizes within 48 hours of being notified or prize will be forfeited. Good luck!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Sleepypod, but all opinions are entirely my own.
I was just saying how I needed one of these yesterday! Orange Dream or Glacier Silver look like my style! Too cute! 🙂
love the video! You’re a big boy. I’m sure it would be a little hard to turn the front with you on it. Mom should lift weights more!
Love the orange dream color.
The jet black is my favorite color 🙂
I didn’t realize what a hunk you are Ammo. You look good in the Orange Dream – but I like the Strawberry Red!
love love LOVE the orange one! would match our dachshunds travel house PERFECT! 🙂
I love the Glacier Silver! Since I am getting back into bike riding (just had my tires filled) this would be perfect!
The @Snowieners would love to have a red one.
This is so cool I would love to be able to take my dog to the barn with me!
I love the mango color you have Ammo!!
I love the dark chocolate!
I’ve been wondering about these, as Cooper is 19 lbs. on a good day, and we want to stuff her in to fly home for Christmas, haha! Would love the dark chocolate color!
I’m visualizing the Orange Dream on my turquoise cruiser right now! Oor doxie Elsa loves to go for bike rides, but she recently jumped out of her uncovered basket while we were cruising the ‘hood. YIKES! This would be a fabulos and safe alternative. Thanks for sharing with us!
Jet Black is classic, but if I’d definitely choose Orange Dream for that extra pop of colour when I travel with my dogs!
Wow Ammo! That is a cool ride! That would be so fun to take Lucy along on the bike trail. I was wondering…when you are at the farm do you wear something to protect your tummy from the longer grass & stuff? Lucy loves to run at our dog park and at my parents farm but she gets a rash on her chest from the longer grass. She is a bit smaller than you at 9 lbs.
In the coming weeks I’ll be sharing some new coats of mine from Noodle & Friends. They make jackets for doxies that are great at protecting their bellies! (Make sure you tell them Ammo sent you!)
I am liking the orange one!
I would have red and orange for my two pups! You should have points for Instagram! Love your photos!!
Keats looks stunning in red. Love your posts, Ammo!
I love the glacier silver:)
I like the orange and the silver ones 🙂
My favorite is the Orange Dream. I like that it really stands out 🙂
I love the orange dream!!
How cool!!! What a fun thing to be able to take our doggies on a bike ride with us 🙂
Oops – Strawberry is the color my girls would love to ride in style in 🙂
I think all the colors are cool.. maybe strawberry is my favorite! 🙂
How cool is that! We definitely need one of those – the silver is my favorite!
I love the orange dream!
I would love to have the orange dream – the perfect color for my purple bike, not to mention how great my black and tan Dachshunds would look in it!
I love the Orange Dream!
My fave is the silver or orange one.
I love the orange dream color! <3
This sleepy pod air is so cool ammo. I love the orange dream color. My dachshunds would love it!
I like glacier silver, its so classy looking.
I’ve been looking at these actually! My favorite color is the glacial silver, as it would look good with both of my bikes and wouldn’t be too hot in the sun. 🙂
This is such a cool product, Ammo!
How is the contest over already?
This is an old blog post from several years ago, I was just re-sharing! 🙂
Thanks Ammo. I always love your post and your video was great today. Poor Mom.
So happy to see someone else with an 18lb dachshund! We struggle to find things that fit or work with Franklin, since he is just on the larger/longer size! Definitely going to try the sleepy pod air!