Full dog hiking kit under £100

Getting a full hiking kit together without breaking the bank is very doable — the essentials are a well-fitting harness, a collapsible water bowl, and depending on where you're hiking, possibly boots, because paw protection on rocky or hot terrain matters more than most people expect. Before I point you toward the best value options, tell me a bit about your dog: what size and build is your rescue, what kind of terrain are you hiking on, and how long are your typical outings?

Good news — at 18kg on woodland and hillside trails, you don't need the premium end of the market and you'll land well under £100. For the harness, I'd go with the Ruffwear Front Range. It's around £45-50 on Amazon UK, fits mixed breeds well because it has dual adjustment points, and the side-release buckles make it easy to get on a dog who might still be a bit wary about gear going over her head. It's also got a back clip and a chest clip, so you get good control on uneven ground without restricting her shoulder movement. For the rest of your budget: a Ruffwear Quencher collapsible bowl is around £12, and a Flexi or basic 5m training lead runs £8-12. That puts you at roughly £70-75 all in, with room to spare.

For UK woodland and hillside — honestly, probably not. Dog paws are tougher than people think on natural terrain, and mud isn't a problem for them at all. Boots become genuinely useful on sharp scree, hot tarmac, or icy surfaces, but on the trails you're describing, most dogs manage fine without them. At 7, her pads will be well conditioned. Save that budget. If you ever notice her lifting a paw, flinching on descents, or the terrain gets rougher, revisit it then — but it's not something you need to buy speculatively right now.

Yes, it's one of the more forgiving harnesses to fit. Measure her chest girth — the widest point behind her front legs — and use Ruffwear's size guide on the product page. At 18kg she'll likely be a Medium, which fits a chest of roughly 69-81cm, but the dual adjustment means you have real room to dial it in. Put it on, check you can fit two fingers under every strap, and make sure it doesn't shift forward when she pulls. Takes five minutes and you'll know immediately if it's right. If it bridges across her shoulders or slides back, you need to go up or down a size.

You're well set. The Front Range will last her years, the Quencher bowl folds flat so it barely takes up space in a pack, and you'll still have change from £100. Enjoy the trails — a 7-year-old rescue on her first proper hiking kit is a good thing.