8 Travel Food Bowls For Dogs To Compare

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A travel food bowl is a light, foldable bowl you pack for car trips, hikes and days out. These eight are bowls owners ask about. The descriptions come from their Amazon listings; we have not tested them. When you shop, check weight, whether it collapses, how likely it is to spill, what it is made of, and how durable it is.

While traveling with your dog, especially for long journeys, the most important thing to pack is his food bowl and water bottle. The travel food bowls for dogs are generally different from their regular feeding bowls.

They are extremely light-weight, easy to carry, do not take up much space, and some bowls have additional features that promote collapsibility and reducing spillage.

Before the list, here are the features to consider. They will help you choose the right bowl for your dog.

Features to consider

There are numerous food bowls available in the market that can be considered fit for use while traveling. But to differentiate between the right and wrong ones, it is essential to consider the following features.

1. Weight

As traveling in itself is heavy work that requires extensive packing, it is essential that your dog’s travel food bowl is lightweight. It would make carrying the bowl easier, without adding additional weight to your luggage.

Certain metal and melamine food bowls are present that are more of a burden and are not fit as travel food bowls for dogs.

2. Collapsible

Many travel food bowls collapse, which makes them far easier to store while traveling.

These bowls do not take up too much space, and when needed, they expand as a food bowl for your dog; thus, doing its job perfectly.

3. Low Spillage

If you are worried about spills then you can consider some food bowls that  come with a rounded or specialized border which reduces spillage. This feature becomes really helpful when you are traveling with your dog in a car or eating outside. It reduces the mess and is super easy to clean.

4. Safe

Safety is always a priority for your dog, and not every bowl is made of food-safe material.

Choose a bowl made of food-safe material and check the listing for BPA-free claims.

5. Durability

If you have a dog who likes to play or chew the bowl then durability of the bowl will also be an important factor to consider while purchasing your travel food bowls for your dogs.

8 travel food bowls to compare

1. COMSUN Dog Bowls

The listing is a 2-pack of collapsible bowls, one for food and one for water.

2. SLSON Bowls for Dogs

The listing is a 2-pack of collapsible bowls for walking, parking and travel, each with a carabiner.

3. Travel Pet Bowl (Pack of 2)

A 2-pack of folding bowls for food and water, for dogs and cats.

4. Kurgo Zippy Bowl

The listing describes a collapsible bowl that zips closed (7 x 3.3 in, about 18 x 8 cm), expands to hold up to 48 fl oz (about 1.4 L), comes with a carabiner, and is PVC, BPA and phthalate free and machine washable.

5. Ruffwear Quencher Collapsible Dog Bowl

The listing describes a water-resistant outer shell with a waterproof liner, a bowl that folds flat into a pocket, and a low, wide base that resists tipping; it comes in several volumes.

6. Extra Large Collapsible Dog Bowls (2-Pack)

The listing describes extra-large collapsible bowls, 9.7 x 7 x 3.7 in expanded (about 25 x 18 x 9 cm), each holding up to 84 fl oz (about 2.5 L) of water or 10.5 cups of food, in soft plastic that is dishwasher safe.

7. Kurgo Collaps-A-Bowl

The listing gives its size as collapsing to about 2 x 15 cm (0.875 x 6 in) and expanding to about 9 x 15 cm (3.5 x 6 in), holding up to 24 fl oz (about 0.7 L).

8. Collapsible Slow-Feeder Travel Bowl With Lid

The listing describes a food-grade silicone clamshell with a 2-cup slow-feeder side with raised ridges meant to slow eating, a lid that doubles as a water dish or lick mat, and suction cups on the base.

It is very essential to know about the various types of bowls that are available in the market.

While some are just regular food bowls that differ only in the material they are made of, some are customized according to the breeds and requirements of your dogs.

Should You Use A Raised Bowl?

A raised (elevated) bowl is not a travel bowl, but many owners wonder about one. The research is a warning for big dogs: a study of 1,637 large and giant-breed dogs, published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association in 2000, found that having a raised feeding bowl was significantly associated with gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV, “bloat”), and attributed approximately 20% of GDV cases in the large breeds and 52% in the giant breeds to it. GDV is a life-threatening emergency. If your dog is a large or deep-chested breed, do not switch to a raised bowl without asking your vet.

There are medical reasons a vet may recommend one. For example, PetMD says that for a dog with megaesophagus your vet may recommend raising food and water bowls so gravity can help with digestion. That is a decision for your vet, who will also tell you how to feed.

We found no reliable source showing that a raised bowl improves posture, bones, arthritis or digestion in healthy dogs, or that it helps flat-faced breeds, so this page does not claim it. If your dog has trouble eating, regurgitates, or has joint pain, see your vet rather than buying a stand.

Final words

Use the considerations above and your dog’s needs to choose a travel food bowl. If you are unsure about raised bowls or feeding, ask your vet.