The Right Travel Crate Depends on the Trip: 8 Picks, Sorted by How You Travel

Gunner G1 Kennel

From a safety standpoint, nothing else is close. The G1 is a 5-star, crash-tested crate certified by the Center for Pet Safety, an independent nonprofit that runs the only widely recognized crash protocol for pet travel gear (a meaningful distinction, since “crash-tested” is otherwise an unregulated marketing claim). Built from double-walled, heavy-duty plastic, it’s the bank vault of dog crates: it has tie-down pins so it actually anchors to your vehicle, a key lock, a recessed floor for accidents, and it even helps regulate temperature.

Pros: CPS-certified crash protection; tie-down pins; two top handles; key lock; recessed floor; nine colors. Cons: Expensive; heavy. The verdict: Owners consistently call the price worth it. “They are a lot of money when you look at typical crates, but for what you get, it’s totally worth it,” one writes. Check the Gunner G1 on Amazon.

“If you take one thing from any crate guide, make it this: in a car, an unsecured crate is barely safer than a loose dog,” says Dr. Priya Nair. “A crash-tested, anchored kennel is the only setup I’d call genuinely protective at highway speed. Everything else is comfort, not crash safety.”

Amazon Basics 2-Door Top-Load Hard-Sided Carrier

If your small dog likes a dark, den-like hideaway and you want a more affordable enclosed option, this top-load hard carrier is a strong value. The top door lets you lower a reluctant dog in rather than coaxing them through a front gate.

Pros: Fully enclosed hard shell; ventilated wire door and plastic panels; tamper-proof dual-squeeze front latch; top hinge door; easy to clean. Cons: Small dogs only; some find the top door flimsy. The verdict: Praised as “extremely easy to get animals into, just lower them in from the top.” See it on Amazon.

EHEYCIGA Collapsible Dog Crate 36”

An Amazon’s Choice soft-sided crate with four locking, roll-up zipper doors, a sturdy-yet-light frame, and a compact build that carries by a top handle or rolls into a backpack. The waterproof fabric means accidents won’t leak through (the mesh windows will, obviously).

Pros: Front, side, and top zip doors; locking zippers; memory-foam pad; built-in safety leash; waterproof. Cons: Not for heavy chewers or sharp-nailed dogs, which can puncture the fabric. The verdict: Reviewers call it sturdy and easy to fold, with a travel bag for storage; one liked it enough to buy a second. Find it on Amazon.

Amazon Basics 2-Door Soft-Sided Folding Crate

For dogs who want airflow and a den feel, this uses solid fabric panels with dark mesh windows, breathable but keeping out the bugs, dirt, and debris that drift into a wire crate. Roll up the front and fold back the top for a dog who likes to come and go.

Pros: Front and top double-zip doors; fabric-and-mesh den feel; lightweight PVC frame; collapsible. Cons: Not for chewers or escape artists. The verdict: Owners say it makes their dogs feel “cozy and safe,” and it collapses easily for storage. See it on Amazon.

MidWest iCrate (single or double door)

The classic black wire crate countless vets and rescues recommend. It’s affordable, sturdy, easy to clean, and folds flat to stow. The double-door version is the one to get for travel, since two doors with double slide-bolt latches let it adapt to whatever room you land in (cabin, tent, hotel corner), and the side door can be left ajar so your dog moves freely between den and room while settling in.

Pros: Well-ventilated wire; double-latch doors; rounded interior corners; leak-proof pan; folds flat. Cons: Some report the exterior edges aren’t perfectly smooth. The verdict: “Thick and durable construction for an economical price,” one reviewer notes, with praise for the secure-but-easy latches. Find the MidWest iCrate on Amazon.

EliteField 3-Door Collapsible Soft-Sided Crate

The pick that earns its spot by replacing a second bag. It’s a lightweight, collapsible soft crate with two genuinely deep built-in pouches (a few inches each, not token zip pockets) that hold food, treats, toys, and gear, plus a fleece bed and a carrying case.

Pros: Top, front, and side zip-mesh doors; zipper locks; well-ventilated; steel-tube frame; fleece bed; carry case; two deep storage pouches. Cons: Not for chewers. The verdict: “Purchased this for holiday traveling for my Golden Retriever so we wouldn’t have to lug a big wire crate. Such a great purchase,” one owner writes. See it on Amazon.