The Non-stop Dogwear Fjord and Ruffwear Sun Shower are both genuinely good rain shells. I own and use both. The difference is that I reach for them on different dogs and for different kinds of use.
The Sun Shower is my go-to raincoat for Indie, my German Shepherd. The Fjord has been Lucy’s harder-use raincoat. Both have kept my dogs dry; the Fjord feels tougher and gives me better harness access, while the Sun Shower is lighter and wonderfully simple.
Fjord vs Sun Shower at a Glance
| Feature | Non-stop Fjord | Ruffwear Sun Shower |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Hardy technical use, woodland, harness access | Lightweight everyday rain protection |
| Insulation | None | None |
| Waterproofing in my experience | Excellent, including prolonged rain | Excellent |
| Manufacturer waterproof rating | 15,000 mm | 3,000 mm |
| Movement | Excellent on Lucy | Excellent on Indie and my hounds |
| Harness access | Excellent for my setup | Good via rear leash portal |
| Durability | Excellent in our woodland use | Good in our use |
| My verdict | Best technical/hardy raincoat | Excellent lightweight shell |
The Short Answer
If I want the tougher, more technical raincoat for a hound who is going through woods, I choose the Fjord.
If I want a lightweight shell that is easy, effective and perfect for Indie, I choose the Sun Shower.
Neither is bad. This is a use-case decision more than a winner-loser decision.
Waterproofing
Both have been excellent in real use. The Fjord has handled prolonged rain on Lucy and the Sun Shower has kept Indie dry reliably enough to become my default rain shell for him.
On paper, the current manufacturer specifications are quite different. Non-stop Dogwear lists the Fjord at a 15,000 mm water column with a breathable membrane, while Ruffwear lists the Sun Shower shell at 3,000 mm waterproofing. Those numbers are manufacturer specifications, not my test results, and I would not use them alone to decide which coat to buy.
In actual use, both have done the job.
Durability and Hard Use
This is where I give the Fjord the edge.
Lucy wears ours through woodland and on hikes. It has handled normal coonhound abuse without giving me snagging or durability problems. I am simply more comfortable sending the Fjord through brush.
The Sun Shower has also held up well for us, but its appeal is more about being a very good lightweight shell than feeling like the harder-use option.
Harness Compatibility
I prefer the Fjord here.
I use a harness underneath both coats. The leash access on our Fjord works particularly well with my setup, and this is one of the reasons I rate it so highly for active use.
The Sun Shower also has a leash portal and is designed to work over most harnesses, so this is not a failure on Ruffwear’s part. It is simply one of those small practical details where the Fjord suits me better.
Fit and Movement
Both are excellent.
The Fjord gives Lucy unrestricted movement, including running and woodland use. The Sun Shower has moved beautifully on Indie and on my hounds. I have not had to accept compromised movement for weather protection with either coat.
That matters enormously to me. A raincoat that stays dry but changes how the dog moves is not a good raincoat.
Coverage and Weather Protection
The Sun Shower has a useful oversized storm collar and extended coverage over the hips and thighs. Ruffwear also includes optional leg loops for windy weather.
The Fjord uses adjustable fit points, a large collar, leg straps and drainage under the chest. It feels more overtly technical in design, and that suits the kind of use I give it.
Which One Is Better for a German Shepherd?
For Indie, I prefer the Sun Shower.
He already has a substantial double coat, so what I usually want is simply to keep rain off without adding warmth. The Sun Shower does exactly that, and it is easy enough that I genuinely reach for it.
Which One Is Better for an Active Hound?
For Lucy, I prefer the Fjord.
The combination of durability, movement, visibility and harness access makes it feel better suited to the way my hounds move through woods and rougher ground.
Which One Is Better Value?
This is harder because both are premium raincoats. If value is the deciding factor, I would actually point you toward the SadePomppa before either of these.
Between Fjord and Sun Shower, I would pay for the Fjord if I specifically wanted the hardier technical design and harness setup. I would buy the Sun Shower if I wanted a light, simple, dependable shell and particularly liked the Ruffwear fit.
My Verdict
Fjord wins for hard use. Sun Shower wins for lightweight simplicity.
The Fjord is the one I prefer for Lucy and the woods. The Sun Shower is the one I prefer for Indie and straightforward wet-weather protection. I would happily keep both.
See where they sit against the rest of my tested options in the best dog raincoats guide.
Manufacturer information: Non-stop Dogwear Fjord and Ruffwear Sun Shower.
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