Hiking gear for Whippets and Greyhounds in cold weather

Hiking with a Whippet and a Greyhound is a great combination — both breeds have the endurance for trail work, but they share the same vulnerability: almost zero body fat and a single, thin coat, which means cold terrain can genuinely cause them problems before you'd expect it to. The essentials for any hiking dog are a well-fitted harness, a collapsible water bowl, and boots if the ground is rough or hot — but for sighthounds on cold trails, insulation moves right to the top of the list. To point you toward the right kit: what are the typical temperatures you're hiking in, how long are your usual hikes, and are both dogs similar in build or quite different in size?

That's a tough combination — moorland wind at those temperatures will cut straight through both of them, and a retired racer Greyhound often has even less condition than a typical pet Greyhound. At 2 to 3 hours of exposed hiking, this isn't just about comfort; they can genuinely lose body heat faster than they're generating it, especially once they slow down for rest stops. Before I give you my recommendation, one quick question: are either of them used to wearing a coat already, or is this new for both?

Good to know. Retired racers usually adapt to coats quickly once they realise it means warmth — the bigger adjustment is getting the fit right, because a standard dog coat rarely accounts for the Greyhound's deep chest, narrow waist, and long back. For both dogs, I'd recommend the Equafleece Dog Suit. It's a stretch fleece all-in-one that goes over the legs as well as the body, which makes it far more effective than a simple blanket coat on cold moorland — it stays in place during active movement and doesn't flap in the wind. Crucially, Equafleece is cut specifically for sighthound proportions: deep chest, tucked waist, long torso. You'd want a size 50–55cm for your Whippet based on typical measurements at 12kg, and for the Greyhound at 30kg you'd be looking at their large or extra-large — they have a measuring guide on their site but chest girth is the key measurement. The suits are machine washable, which matters when you're hiking moorland regularly.

They're genuinely straightforward once the dogs are used to them — the stretch fabric means you're not wrestling with stiff material, and the leg openings are generous. Most people get the routine down within a couple of outings. One practical tip: put them on before you set off rather than once the dogs are already cold and fidgety. If the Greyhound is new to it, do a couple of short sessions at home first so it's not his first experience of a coat happening at a cold trailhead. You can find Equafleece Dog Suits on Amazon UK — search 'Equafleece Dog Suit' and select the colour and size. They're also sold direct from the Equafleece website if you want to use their size guide.

For moorland the main additions worth thinking about are: a harness rather than a collar for both — sighthounds have necks wider than their heads, so collars can slip, and a harness gives you better control on uneven ground. A Julius-K9 or Ruffwear Front Range works well for both builds. Carry more water than you think you need; moorland often has standing water that looks clean but isn't. And keep an eye on your Greyhound's paws — retired racers sometimes have thinner paw pads than dogs who've been walking on varied terrain their whole lives. If he starts picking his feet up on rocky sections, that's a sign boots might be worth trying. But the coats are the priority for where you're hiking — that's the one thing that will make a real difference to both dogs on those conditions.