When it comes to adaptable harnesses, the Blue-9 Balance harness is definitely up there.
Harnesses are a really important part of how our dogs live their lives, so it’s important that we get a harness that suits our individual dog, and that it fits appropriately. (A guide for fit can be found here). But some dogs are odd shapes and can struggle to find a harness that fits properly.
What I love about the Blue-9 Balance Harness is just how flexible and adjustable it is. I tested it on Shelby, my deep-chested coonhound, whose proportions can make harness fit genuinely difficult.
My Verdict on the Blue-9 Balance Harness
The short version: the Blue-9 Balance is one of the most adjustable lightweight harnesses I’ve tested. Its six adjustment points make it particularly useful for dogs whose proportions don’t fit neatly into more structured harnesses. I like it, but I don’t love it for every dog: the narrow, unpadded straps can rub if the fit shifts, and Shelby can cough when the front attachment changes where the harness sits on her neck.
| Best for | Hard-to-fit dogs, lightweight everyday wear and dogs needing lots of adjustability |
|---|---|
| Tested on | Shelby, my deep-chested coonhound |
| Adjustment points | 6 |
| Leash attachments | Front and back |
| Over-the-head required? | No |
| Main drawbacks | Minimal padding, possible rubbing, no reflectivity |
| Would I recommend it? | Yes — for the right dog |
If you want to compare it with the other harnesses I’ve personally tested, see my best dog harnesses.
This is not a sponsored post, however, this harness was provided free of charge by Blue-9 in order for me to review!
Introducing The Blue-9 Balance Harness
Pros & Cons
The Blue-9 balance harness is a ‘bare minimum’ harness, but, a bare minimum harness that’s considerately constructed.
It’s structured more in a Collar-style, with a chest strap and running down to a girth. It does have a very spartan design, but that’s not necessarily bad! It means that there are less things that can go wrong – and that? That I love.
Pros
Cons
What I Love About The Blue-9 Balance Harness
Steel Joints & Attachment Points
The straps are the obvious part, right? But what about the other bits? Something that doesn’t get discussed all that often, is the materials used for the bits and pieces that fasten the harness together. One of the things that I love about the Blue-9 Balance is that all of the fasteners are steel – which is just about as tough as it gets.
Which means that if you’re concerned about safety? This one is definitely up there.
Adjustability
Second to the perfect fit, this is probably the easiest and most adjustable harness on the market. It has all the right clips to allow you to not have to make this an overhead harness, you can use it in a longer-body harness, or a slightly shorter one because of the flexibility it offers.
The only big difference between this and Perfect Fit Harness is the change in width in the nylon, and the fleece lining.
Light
The Blue-9 feels exceptionally light on the dog because there’s very little excess material: essentially webbing, hardware and exactly what’s needed to create the harness shape. That makes it a strong contender if you want minimal bulk without giving up adjustability.
I’m actually really impressed by how light this is. It’s slightly spartan design means that every gram or ounce this harness gives, is all functional, it’s all strength-giving, and it’s possibly one of the least imposing harnesses on your dog.
Two Attachment Points
Now, it’s no secret that I love a two-point harness – particularly for training a loose leash – and this is something the blue-9 offers (with very strong attachment points too). Meaning that training will be nice and easy too. I do love a piece of considerate design, especially when it’s simple and strong (I really want to make a joke about Mr. Rebarkable here, but I won’t!)
Freedom of Motion
One of the things that I love about this harness is the lack of restriction it gives. It’d definitely greater than a lot of it’s ‘close’ competitors (such as the front range), you can see from the picture below that it goes quite far down the body, allowing the shoulder a full motion for a stretched out sprint to a casual trot.
What I Don’t Love About The Blue-9 Balance Harness
I’m Not Sure If It Compromises Trachea Protection
This is the biggest fit issue I noticed in testing. Shelby has a sensitive neck, and when I use the front attachment she can cough as the harness shifts under leash pressure. I can’t say that means the design will put pressure on every dog’s trachea, but it does mean I wouldn’t choose this as my first option for a dog with similar neck sensitivity or one who pulls heavily into the front attachment.
No Reflectivity
Whilst there is a hunter-orange colour available, it’s also not got any genuinely high-vis or reflective options – which is sad. Because this is a wonderful option for every day walks, but if you’re intending on walking roadside or at twilight or anything like that, this harness would need to be coupled with a high-vis jacket or similar in order to keep your dog visible in low light conditions – which is kind of sad.
Chafing.
So, chafing happens when a harness rubs on your dogs skin in a way that is going to create a sore. And, whilst the blue-9 is quite elegantly designed, it can twist if the fit is off just a smidge – which can result in the harness rubbing. Because it’s so narrow, and there is no padding or buffer built in for this – it does mean it can create some rather nasty friction sores.
Of course, I would always encourage monitoring and checking and adjusting fit as you go.
Do I Recommend Blue-9 Balance Harness?
Yes — but for the right dog. The Blue-9 Balance Harness is incredibly adjustable, lightweight and functional. Shelby’s deep chest makes her a useful test of harness adjustability, and the Balance can be tuned to her shape much better than many more rigid designs.
The trade-off is that the minimalist construction gives you very little padding or structure. If the fit shifts, those narrow straps can rub, and I don’t love the front attachment for Shelby because of her neck sensitivity. So this isn’t my universal “buy this harness” recommendation — it’s a very good solution when adjustability and low bulk are the priorities.
Not sure it’s the right fit for your dog? See how the Blue-9 compares with the other harnesses I’ve tested, or use my dog harness fitting guide before choosing a size.
Author, Ali Smith
Ali Smith is a professional, qualified, and multi-award winning trainer is the founder of rebarkable. She has always believed animals deserve kindness and champions force free methods. Believing that dog guardians will all choose the kindest options if proper information is provided, she aims to help all dog guardians who need it and make dog training as accessible as possible
Ali lives win Maryland, US with her husband and her three dogs.
Rebarkable Recommends: Dog Harnesses
Best Equipment for Reactive Dogs: Harnesses, Muzzles, Leashes & Safety Gear
0 Comments