Sleepypod Air Review, Part 1

In advance of our exciting upcoming move, we've been doing a lot of research into the best carrier for Paddy's maiden cross-country voyage. Knowing that it's a trip she's going to be doing several times a year, we've been in the market for something that has a good reputation, which is why we immediately zeroed in on Sleepypod and their carriers. We recently received a Sleepypod Air and in an effort to help get Paddy acclimated used it to take her for a car ride out to the family farm.

We were concerned at first after seeing photos online that the Air was not going to be spacious enough, but oh how wrong we were… seriously, this thing is like the Rolls Royce of pet carriers. In addition to a really soft, cuddly lining, Paddy has more than enough room to move around, stand up, etc. The mesh covered openings (both ends and up top) also give her unobstructed vision when it comes to what's going on around her.

Here's an idea of Paddy vs. the bag size 

Getting buckled into the backseat of the car (you are going to want to secure the zippered part of the case before hitting the road!)

Pros:

• Lots of space: definitely don't have to worry about Paddy feeling cramped in here. 
• Ventilation: a mesh panel that zips into the bag allows your pet plenty of fresh air.
• Weight: This thing is seriously as light as a feather! 
• Storage: The Sleepypod folds flat which is an apartment dweller's dream! 
• Good for both the plane and the car -- it was super easy to get the carrier strapped in. 
• Instructions: We adore the cute little safety card that was included with the bag that explains just how to safely secure it in a car/on a plane.

Cons: 

• Size: While there probably isn't a thing such as too much space… we wonder if Paddy is going to not feel as secure since she does have so much room. The bag is a little bit on the larger size, so a solo traveler with a rolling suitcase and a handbag may find it a little unwieldy unless they strap it onto the roll on or use the shoulder strap. 
• The way the bag is setup, it's probably not going to be ideal for car trips-- Paddy has to look out to the side instead of facing forward. However it's definitely safer than the other doggy car seat we've been using. 
• The Sleepypod Air's design does not allow you to easily reach into your dog's carrier. The carrier is either zipped closed, or open, there is no in-between. While good because technically your dog should be safely enclosed while in the airport and on the plane, it is going to prevent sneaking the occasional pats. 

The Air is also probably too big to use on the days when I commute to work with Paddy, which is why we also just ordered the Sleepypod Atom off of Amazon to test out as well. We had previously been worried that it was going to be too small, but after using the Air think it might also be a good option for shorter trips. 

The Sleepypod Air is available for purchase directly from Sleepypod's website ($159) or from Amazon.com.

What is your experience with airline friendly carriers? 

Disclaimer: We received a Sleepypod Air from the manufacturer for review purposes. For more information about our review policy, please visit our disclaimer page.