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If you’re looking for a soft-sided pet carrier, then you’ll probably see a Sturdibag product in your search results.
Sturdibag is a US company specializing in flexible-height carriers that compress when pushed under an airline seat.
Of course, these carriers aren’t just for traveling by plane (some are too big, anyway), but their durable and distinctive design makes them popular with cat and dog owners.
We especially like how high they sit up under the shoulder so they’re easier to carry than traditional hard or soft cat carriers with a handle or shoulder strap (although, the Sturdibag has these, too).
We wanted to see if they really are worth buying, and which Sturdibag pet carrier is most suitable for you.
We’ve also included a few additional soft carriers made by other brands at the end of this post if you’re not convinced that they’re for you.
For Sturdiproducts in the UK (and elsewhere), follow the product links and you’ll be diverted to a local store in your country.
In a hurry? Here’s the bestselling Sturdibag pet carrier below so you can get started now and jump straight to the retailer.
If you’d like to find out more information first, then keep reading and we’ll list all the products as well as including a short buyer’s guide.
If you make a purchase from one of our links, we may make a small commission 🙂
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What is a Sturdibag Pet Carrier?
Sturdibags are made by a company called Sturdiproducts.
Founded in Washington in 1993, they’re well known for their distinctive and durable design.
They manufacture several soft-sided cat carriers with a flexible height feature — the carrier uses tension rods that reduce down when pushed under an airline seat.
It means the design makes full advantage of airline carry-on baggage dimensions as they pop back up when released.
What are the different sizes for the Sturdibag carriers?
- Small: 10 x 10 x 18 inches and 2.5 pounds
- Large: 12 x 12 x 18 inches and 2.6 pounds
- Large with divider: 12 x 12 x 18 inches and 3 pounds
- Extra-Large with divider: 20 x 12 x 16 inches and 3.6 pounds
There’s no Sturdibag medium
Can I take a Sturdibag on a plane?
Many owners put their pets into a Sturdibag carrier when traveling by plane and it seems that the small and large sizes are used most often in-cabin, but we’d always advise that you double-check with your airline before booking a ticket.
Airlines have different sizing requirements and as the Sturdibag comes in different sizes it may not be compliant with whoever you’re traveling with.
It’s easy to find out what the airline’s maximum dimensions are and then you can compare these with the carrier.
It’s important to remember that whilst the carrier is designed to compress under the seat, the extra-large carrier is unlikely to be accepted on planes.
Before buying, too, we always encourage people to read the Sturdibag reviews written by verified customers. This gives you an idea of other people’s experiences and that will help you make a judgement on whether to buy or not more than just reading a product description alone.
Which Sturdiproduct should I buy?
The easiest way to choose is to measure the size of your cat and then buy the corresponding size. You may, of course, also need to factor in the sizing requirements of an airline.
The great thing about these carriers is that they’re pretty versatile: buy one for a veterinarian visit and then use it later for a trip to a cattery or a long-distance car trip.
If you have two cats you could buy the double-carrier, but we’d definitely recommend you measure the cats before purchasing because it may not be suitable for two of every breed. If you like things to look stylish, then you’ll be pleased to know that the carriers come in a range of colors.
Can you wash a Sturdibag?
What are the different Sturdibag products?
You can wash them either by hand or in a machine.
If you’re machine washing, you’ll need to remove some of the parts including the zippers and the support rods and pads (among others).
For handwashing, remove the baseboard, pad and baseboard. Otherwise, you can always remove hair with a vacuum attachment and warm soapy water before letting it air dry.
I can’t find a Sturdibag medium
Unfortunately, they don’t manufacture a Sturdibag Medium.
We’ll add some links at the bottom of the post of similar carriers that do a medium size.
It might be worth double-checking the sizes of each carrier because your cat might still be suited for the small or large.
We’re going to explain the features, benefits, pros and cons of the pet carriers below.
You’ll find two buttons to click and that’s because we want you to find the best buy. Each will open in a new window so you can see who is selling it cheapest or which has the better shipping option and decide for yourself where you spend your money or where you go to read the reviews and additional product information.
Whilst it may seem like each product has a different set of specifications, the only real difference between them is the size as they all share many of the same features.
Sturdibag pet carrier: product information and links
SturdiBag Large Flexible Height Pet Carrier
- Dimensions: 2.00 x 12.00 x 18.00 inches
- Weighs 2.6 pounds empty
This is a solid bag designed for “larger dogs and cats” but as always, check the sizing against your pets measurements.
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- Padded shoulder strap
- Fleecy mat included
- Mesh netting
- Secure zippers
- Safety leash included
- Lightweight
- Covered sides are good for cats who suffer from motion sickness or who become anxious when over-stimulated
- Cat is secured to the carrier
Pros:
- Easy and comfortable to carry,
- Comes in a range of colors,
- Good for traveling by plane
- Cats prefer smaller spaces and this is a cozy carrier.
Cons:
- No top-opening access
Check Price on Amazon
Check Price on Chewy
You can also buy the large carrier with a divider that turns it into a double cat carrier.
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SturdiBag Extra Large Flexible Height Pet Carrier Divided for 2 Pets
- Dimensions: 18 x 16 x 12 inches
- Holds up to 50 pounds
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- Inside can be divided into 2-sections
- Padded shoulder strap Carry handle
- Suitable for larger cats
- Potential as a double cat carrier
- Lightweight to carry
Pros
- Can hold 2 cats (size allowing)
- Easy to carry with the option of a handle or shoulder strap
- Comes in different colors
- Fleece pad inside for comfort.
Cons
- Assembling the bag can be difficult
Sturdi Products Bag Pet Carrier – Small
- Small Sturdibag dimensions: 10 x 10 x 18 inches
- Weighs 2.5 pounds empty.
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- Interior fleece pad included
- Carries up to 30 pounds
- Roll-up front door, top-window and side-windows
- Lightweight
- Choice of shoulder-strap or carry handle, secure zippers
- Good ventilation
- It’s also a car seat
Pros
- Mesh panels can be covered over
- Comes in a range of colors
- Side storage pockets
- Machine-washable fleece pad
Cons
- Can be tricky to put together depending on how proficient you are at self-assembly
Check Price on Amazon
Check Price on Chewy
We hope you’ve found our Sturdibag pet carrier review useful.
It’s certainly a popular product and could make a superb addition to your traveling kit but we also encourage people to do the best research they can to find the best carrier for them and their cat, so we’ll add a few similar products below that you might find more suitable to your needs.
Sleepypod Air in-Cabin Pet Carrier
The Sleepypod range is super stylish.
You might also want to check out their carriers that double as pet beds as they’re made from luggage-grade material, have been crash-tested and compliment your baggage, too.
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Pet Magasin Airline Approved Carrier
This is definitely a budget-friendly option but it has over 5,000 positive reviews on Amazon.
We love how it folds flat for storage so it won’t take up much space.
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Petisfam Pet Carrier for Medium Cats
This is for medium-sized cats and is a great little fabric carrier for traveling. It has anti-escape zippers so it’s ideal if your cat is a little Houdini.
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One for Pets Portable 2-in-1 pet kennel
Whilst this isn’t suitable for traveling by plane, it is very useful if you’re looking for a double cat carrier for car journeys.
We love how versatile this product is: the insides can be zipped or unzipped to create either two separate cat carriers or one large one.
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We hope you found some useful information and buying tips for Sturdibag pet and carriers or that you at least can rule them out as a possibility for you and your pet. If you’re looking to buy Sturdibag replacement products or parts, then you can find those items on the manufacturers website which we’ll link to here.