Diggs' new inflatable dog crate could use some upgrades

I'm serious about keeping my two dogs restrained in the car. Not only can loose pets in a car distract drivers, they can also become dangerous projectiles if not restrained properly. Keeping your pup secured with a seatbelt or a car crate is the best way to keep them (and yourself) safe while driving.

Most crash-tested car crates are big, bulky, and heavy, and some dogs can't relax while secured with a seatbelt harness. There's definitely a hole in the market for a lightweight car crate that's also safe, comfortable, and durable. I was excited to hear that Diggs was on its way to meeting that need with the new Enventur inflatable travel kennel, but there are a handful of flaws with the product that didn't go unnoticed in my testing.

Is the Diggs Enventur crash-tested?

I tested the medium kennel ($475) with my two dogs, and while this size hasn't been crash-test certified yet, Diggs states that the small kennel ($425) had passed third-party bench seat crash safety tests, and that ongoing testing is underway for the medium size.

A TikTok video on the brand's page also mentioned that the small Enventur was on its way to getting Center For Pet Safety certified. Diggs has another CPS-certified product for small dogs — the Diggs Passenger Carrier — so the brand has gone through this certification process before. Once the Enventur is CPS-certified, we'd be willing to revisit its score, since the safety certification (and the peace of mind) will make it a little more worth the price.

The Enventur has some great features for traveling

Where other dog travel crates tend to be bulky and heavy, the Enventur is actually portable. I've taken the Enventur on multiple road trips, and it works well as a crate that transitions from the car to a hotel room, Airbnb, or campsite with ease. This is mostly because of how lightweight it is and the fact that it's easy to fold up. I loved not smashing my fingers in metal bars like I do (every time) trying to set up a wire crate.

It's not tiny when it folds down, but can easily be thrown in the backseat or trunk of a car. Credit: Jae Thomas / Mashable

While the medium size hasn't been crash-tested yet, the Enventur still features tie-down loops and can be secured to the connection points in the cargo space of a car, though these don't feel the most secure. Even though the tie-down straps aren't the best, this is definitely a safer option than just putting a loose kennel in the car. The crate also has a slanted back that is designed to fit better in a car's cargo space than traditional rectangle kennels, though I still couldn't fit the kennel in my Ford Bronco Sport without putting the seats down or turning the kennel sideways.

The tie down straps aren't the best quality, but they keep the crate pretty secure. Credit: Jae Thomas / Mashable

The Enventur is super easy to clean. On one occasion, my puppy threw up in the kennel while I was driving, and when we got home, I was able to just hose the kennel down, wipe it out, and let it dry. Because it's inflatable and pretty comfortable for pups on its own, it also doesn't require a bed.

What we didn't like about the Enventur

I don't love that the tie-down straps and the pump for the Enventur are sold separately. Considering the already high price of the kennel (it starts at $425) and that it's marketed as a car crate, I'd love to see these accessories included. The tie-down straps add an extra $45, and purchasing the kennel with the pump adds an extra $75. You can absolutely find a cheaper pump with the correct kind of connection points — any paddle board or inflatable kayak pump will work as long as it features a halkey-roberts valve attachment. The tie-down straps could also be more durable — the closure doesn't work as well as more durable crate tie-down straps I've tried, like the Gunner Kennel straps.

In a bigger car, you could likely fit the medium Enenvur in the cargo space without putting the seats down. Credit: Jae Thomas / Mashable

Another issue with the manual pump was how much effort it took to get the PSI up to the recommended level. Diggs recommends five to 10 PSI for the Enventur, so I recommend using an electric pump to inflate it if you don't want to put in some work to inflate it. A small electric pump would also likely be easier to travel with than the manual pump, which was a bit annoying to carry around.

In three months of testing, I didn't experience issues with the zipper door, but I read some user reviews that mentioned high-anxiety dogs and strong chewers busting through the door. In the last two weeks of testing, I took the Enventur on a road trip to use for my 6-month-old collie puppy, Dashi. I'd been using this crate for her for months prior, but on this trip, she was unfortunately able to tear a hole in one of the windows. I can no longer use this crate for her, which is a bummer because of all its other great features.

The Enventur held up until the last night of a two-week cross-country road trip. Credit: Jae Thomas / Mashable

I noticed the day before my puppy ripped the hole that some of my gear in the trunk was pushing against the window, creating some stress in the woven window, Once that stress loosened up the weave, my puppy was able to chew right through it. I can no longer keep her in this crate since she'll continue to rip the window. She's not a very strong chewer and is only about 35 pounds and 6 months old, so the durability of the windows is definitely much less than Diggs advertises.

I likely would never have had this issue if I only tested the Enventur with my older dog, Miso, who isn't a chewer. As with any pet product, know your dog and do what's safest for them. Nearly no kennels are escape-proof (and the Enventur doesn't claim to be), so owners of pups who like to chew should select a car kennel with that in mind.

Once the medium and large sizes of the Enventur are crash-tested, we'll likely re-test and update this story. Until then, the small crate is a safe car option for dogs under 30 pounds who are unlikely to chew on the woven pieces of the crate. We'll be checking in with Diggs about the crash testing process and will update this story if they receive crash testing certification.

The small size is crash tested, but the others haven't been yet. Credit: Screenshot: Diggs

Is the Diggs Enventur inflatable kennel worth it?

Depsite some major qualms I had with the Enventur, it saved my ass on multiple occasions. Going on camping trips with a puppy is no small feat, and it was great to have a lightweight, portable kennel to keep Dashi in while I cooked or did camp chores so she wouldn't get into anything she shouldn't. Until Dashi was able to rip a hole in the crate, I was prepared to recommend the Enventur to most dog owners. At this time, I can only recommend it to dog owners who know their dog won't attempt to chew or scratch through the woven windows or doors.

My 45-pound dog, Miso, fits well in the medium crate. Credit: Jae Thomas / Mashable

Aside from the window durability issues, there are still plenty of positives about this crate. It's easier to set up than a wire crate, and it's light enough that I can carry it and the pump and tow along anything else I need in a wagon without having to make multiple trips to the car. It's less bulky than some other car crates I've tested too, and once it receives crash-testing certification, it will be more worth the price for non-chewing dogs and their families.

Opens in a new window Credit: Diggs Diggs Enventur Travel Kennel $425 at Diggs Buy It