Why I Recommend the TrailBreeze™ Pack Pad
One of the questions I'm often asked is why I recommend our TrailBreeze™ Pack Pad over a traditional full-length pack pad.
The answer is simple:
Heat.
Rethinking the Traditional Pack Pad
Years ago, I started noticing pack animals wearing large pads that extended from the base of the neck all the way to the rump. Many of these pads also hung far down the animal's sides, well below where the saddle bars and load were actually supported.
It made me stop and ask a simple question:
"What is all of that extra pad actually protecting?"
In most cases, the answer was very little.
The weight of a properly fitted pack saddle is carried primarily along the ribs. The portions of the pad extending far beyond the saddle bars weren't supporting weight—they were simply covering more of the animal's back and sides.
Unfortunately, covering more of the animal also means trapping more heat.
As anyone who has spent time in the mountains knows, keeping your animal cool is just as important as keeping it comfortable. Just like humans, an over-heated equine experiences increased fatigue.
Traditional Materials vs. Modern Materials
For generations, riding pads and pack pads have been made from thick wool or felt. Those materials have served horsemen and packers well for many years and are still widely used today.
During the development of the TrailBreeze™ Pack Pad and our ComfortStride® Riding Pads, I wanted to understand exactly how different materials performed in real-world conditions.
Through my testing, I found that wool and felt tend to trap both heat and moisture against the animal.
By comparison, the ventilated spacer fabric used in our TrailBreeze™ Pack Pads allows air to circulate while maintaining cushioning under load.
On average, my testing has shown that TrailBreeze™ Pack Pads and ComfortStride® Riding Pads keep an animal approximately 5 to 8 degrees cooler than traditional wool or felt pads, with even greater temperature differences under some conditions.
That reduction in heat may not sound significant, but over the course of a long day on the trail it can make a noticeable difference in your animal's comfort.
Finding the Right Material
I knew the idea would only work if I could find the right material.
That search took nearly two years.
I tested numerous spacer fabrics and mesh materials before finding one that met my standards. Many materials felt comfortable at first but compressed under load, lost their structure over time, or simply didn't provide enough airflow.
Eventually, I found a three-dimensional spacer fabric that maintained its shape while allowing air to circulate through the pad instead of trapping heat against the animal.
That became the foundation of the TrailBreeze™ Pack Pad.
Cushioning Without Trapping Heat
Some products, such as gel pads, can provide additional cushioning, but they also tend to retain heat.
Over time, wool pads can become hard and stiff from the animal's perspiration and weight distribution.
My goal wasn't simply to add padding.
My goal was to create a pad that provided excellent pressure distribution while allowing the animal to stay as cool as possible during long days on the trail.
The TrailBreeze™ design focuses cushioning where it's actually needed instead of covering areas that don't carry weight.
Protecting the Spine
Another advantage of the TrailBreeze™ design is that the pads are attached directly to the bars of the pack saddle.
Because there are two independent pads, nothing lies across the animal's spine.
Many donkeys—and some mules—have prominent spines that can be surprisingly sensitive to pressure. Eliminating material over the spine helps avoid unnecessary contact while improving airflow through the center of the saddle.
Since the pads are secured to the saddle bars, they also stay in place rather than shifting independently beneath the saddle. This design works equally well on horses, mules, and donkeys.
What About Protecting the Animal's Sides?
Another question I hear from customers is:
"Won't the load dig into the animal's sides if the pad doesn't extend farther down?"
The answer is it shouldn't.
If panniers or cargo are rubbing against the animal's ribs, the problem isn't the size of the pad—it's the way the load has been packed or adjusted.
Usually, a simple box hitch can solve this issue because the hitch will lift the panniers off the animal's ribs.
Good packing practices keep the load clear of the animal while allowing the pack saddle to distribute weight where it was designed to—along the ribs.
Whether you're using a TrailBreeze™ pad or a traditional full pad, the goal should always be the same: a properly balanced, well supported and properly packed load that never contacts or digs into the animal's sides.
For that reason, I prefer to place cushioning where it's actually needed rather than covering areas that should never experience pressure in the first place.
Is There Still a Place for a Full Pad?
Absolutely.
Some owners prefer the appearance of a traditional full pad, and there are situations where additional coverage may be desirable. That's one of the reasons we continue to offer both styles.
However, after years of testing, thousands of miles of field use, and feedback from customers across the country, the TrailBreeze™ Pack Pad has become my personal recommendation for most pack animals.
My Recommendation
If your goal is to keep your animal as comfortable as possible during long days on the trail, I recommend the TrailBreeze™ Pack Pad.
By reducing unnecessary material, improving airflow, eliminating spine pressure, and focusing cushioning where it's actually needed, it provides the comfort your animal needs without carrying around unnecessary heat.
Like every product we design at Mountain Ridge Gear, it was created with one goal in mind:
A comfortable animal is a happier, safer, and better-performing partner.
