An active dog breed like the Samoyed needs exercise — even in rainy weather. Luckily for us, we can rely on our Paikka Visibility Raincoat to keep Banshee dry. After two years of daily use, here is my honest review of how well it performs in real-world weather.
Disclaimer: This is a review of a free product. However, I already owned two of Paikka’s marvellous raincoats before I applied to be their brand ambassador, and they were gracious enough to send us some more 🙂 I never have and never will recommend products I don’t personally use or stand behind, so you can be sure that whatever product — whether free or purchased with my own money — definitely withstood the Banshee test.
Testing Popular Gear
Since this blog has been quiet for some time, I thought I would revive it and branch out into a few more topics, such as rating hikes or travel spots for their dog friendliness and reviewing products and gear that I have been using. And what better product to start this series with than my beloved Paikka Visibility Raincoat?
Paikka Features and Sizing
I received my first Paikka Visibility Raincoat in April 2024, which means it has been in use for about two years at the time of writing this review. Banshee had finally grown out of her puppy raincoat, which had turned into the doggy equivalent of a crop top, so with her fully grown, I decided it was time to invest in something more expensive. The selling point for me was the Visibility feature: the Paikka Visibility Raincoats reflect in the dark when hit by light. The solid-colour ones reflect grey, while the patterned ones reflect in rainbow colours that resemble an oil spill in a puddle.
Since Banshee’s back is exactly 60 cm long, I went with a size 60. Paikka sizes go according to back length. I assume it might be a bit trickier if you have a particularly short-backed or narrow dog, but Banshee is well-proportioned, so the 60 came out as a perfect fit. The back can be adjusted and made a little shorter to make space for the tail by using the buttons on the raincoat’s underside. Since Banshee has a rather high tail, we utilised this feature.
The belly straps are also very adjustable and lock over the back with a regular buckle. The long zip opens for the harness D-ring. This is where I feel Paikka still has room for improvement, because I have a safety harness with a D-ring that sits much lower, so we cannot wear the safety harness and raincoat at the same time. For everyday harnesses, however, the zip opening is more than enough.
The leg straps are also adjustable and I was pleased to discover that they are broader than on other raincoats I have seen in the past. That means they do not get caught in the leg floof so easily. The neck can also be adjusted with a drawstring.
Stress-Testing our Raincoat
Out and about in the rain, the Paikka Visibility Raincoat keeps its promise and, above all, keeps my dog completely dry. Banshee does not shy away from a little rain, but she hates getting soaked to the skin (unless at the beach), so it was important to me that the raincoat was actually rainproof. Whereas I have arrived home drenched in so-called waterproof clothing, I have never witnessed the Paikka Visibility Raincoat leak. Banshee has always come home completely dry underneath.
At the same time, it is not too warm or padded for a double-coated breed to wear in summer. The flap design in the front allows for full freedom of movement of the front legs, allowing Banshee to run and jump around in it undisturbed.
As for looks, the Paikka Visibility Raincoat is also perfect. It is available in a broad range of colours and patterns, with new collections coming out each year. The yellow one seems to be the favourite of the public. People never fail to smile at us when they drive by Banshee wearing her cute yellow coat. Her white fur looks good in every colour, however. I particularly love the rainbow reflections of the patterned ones when we walk after dark. I can never stop looking at how pretty it is.
Side note: Our blue dotted raincoat is actually the Paikka Visibility Raincoat 2.0. It is a little lighter than the regular Visibility Raincoat and therefore perfect for summer. It also glows in the dark when “charged” by a light source before heading out. It is a cute little bonus, but in my opinion, not entirely necessary. The reflective effect is more than enough to be seen in the dark.
Paikka Raincoat: The Conclusion
Our Paikka Visibility Raincoat has been a trusted bad-weather companion for the past two years and I would not want to miss it. It is much easier to put a coat on your double-coated breed than to blow-dry them for an hour after coming home drenched.
Banshee has even started to request wearing her raincoat, which speaks to how much she loves it. She is a smart dog and has learned that the coat keeps her dry, so when she notices the rain, she runs to sit in front of the wardrobe where I keep her coats and waits there until I put it on her.
Overall, the Paikka Visibility Raincoat gets a 9.5/10. It is practical, well-fitted, easy to put on and take off, and also stylish. It would get a full 10/10 if it came with a longer zip to accommodate safety harnesses with a lower D-ring.
Our Personal Paikka Discount Code
You can get 15% off your Paikka purchase with the discount code BANSHEE15