Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier Review

Amy Tokic
by Amy Tokic
Have dog, will travel in the Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier


You’re a jet setter… or a road tripper… or you just like to explore on foot. The point is, you don’t like to stay in one spot too long. But you don’t want to leave your dog behind. The problem is making sure he is safe and comfortable on your travels. You need a pet carrier that fits into your travel plans – and that’s why we took the Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier out for a spin.

Sherpa’s Original Deluxe Carrier comes with a host of features designed to make travel comfortable for you and your pooch. You can use either the padded hand carry straps or the adjustable, no-slip shoulder strap to carry your furry traveller. Making the journey more enjoyable is a machine washable faux lambskin liner, while mesh panels allow for ventilation and the best view in the house. And it comes with top and side entry for easy access.


Oscar isn’t much of a flyer. Let’s be honest: he’s scared of flies that get into the house, so he’s sure not going to do well on a plane. My main concern when it comes to traveling is in the car or on foot.


Oscar isn’t a big walker either. When I’m trekking around the city with him, I usually have to carry him. He gets scared in big crowds and is underfoot of careless pedestrians. I put Oscar in the Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier to get a feel of how it would handle. What I like most about it was that it felt perfectly balanced. I was carrying it on my shoulder (thanks to the handy shoulder strap) and even with Oscar in it, it felt light and didn’t bounce around. My shoulder didn’t get sore or tired – I usually have to switch every 15 to 20 minutes. With the Original Deluxe, the carrier (and Oscar) stayed on my right shoulder the entire walk.

For road trips, what I liked about the Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier is that it comes with a seatbelt strap that’s built right onto the carrier. No extra straps or harnesses required. I simply slid the seatbelt through the strap and clicked it in safely. Oscar was secure and comfortable in the back seat.


I really enjoyed using the Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier. Oscar likes it too – when we get to our final destination, he uses it as a makeshift dog house once he’s finished being social. This carrier will definitely be coming along on future expeditions.


Even though I didn’t get a chance to test it out on a plane, the small Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier is approved for use on most major airlines (see Sherpa’s Guaranteed On Board program for more details on what sizes are allowed on certain airlines. It’s available in small, medium and large sizes and comes in four different colors. To learn more, visit Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier’s website.


*Note: PetGuide.com was NOT compensated for this review. We received a Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier to review. The opinions expressed in this post are the author’s. We provide unbiased feedback of the products and share products we think our readers would enjoy using and learning more about.

Amy Tokic
Amy Tokic

Amy Tokic, Editor of PetGuide.com, is a passionate animal lover and proud pet parent of Oscar, a Shih Tzu/Chihuahua cross, and Zed, a Japanese Chin. Her love of animals began in kindergarten, when she brought her stuffed dog Snoopy into class with her every day. Now, she writes about her adventures in pet ownership and tirelessly researches products, news and health related issues she can share with other animal enthusiasts. In her free time, Amy loves perusing used book and record stores, obsessing over the latest pet products available and chasing squirrels with wild abandon (a habit attributed to spending too much time with her pooches).

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