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Diggs' new inflatable dog crate could use some upgrades

The Enventur is lightweight and great for the car, but not as durable as advertised.
By Jae Thomas  on 
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A rough collie puppy sitting in a gray inflatable crate in a black car
This might not be the best kennel option for young puppies. Credit: Jae Thomas
Diggs Enventur Inflatable Kennel
The Bottom Line
We wanted to love the Diggs Enventur crate, but the woven door and windows aren't as durable as advertised.
Buying Options
Mashable Score 3.3
Wow Factor 5
User Friendliness 4
Performance 2
Bang for the Buck 2
The Good
  • Easy to set up
  • Very lightweight, especially when compared to other car crates
  • Doesn't require a bed inside
  • Inflatable part is very sturdy
  • Can be secured to your vehicle using tie-downs
  • Folds flat for storage
  • Good for travel and camping
  • Easy to clean/hose down
  • Compatible with electric pumps (sold separately)
The Bad
  • Only the small version has been third-party crash tested
  • Not Center for Pet Safety-approved yet
  • Could use an extra handle on top
  • Kind of annoying to lug a pump around when traveling
  • Pump and tie-downs come separately
  • Tie-down straps aren't the best quality
  • Woven material on windows isn't as durable as advertised
  • Gets pretty hot inside the crate, especially when covered

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.

Diggs Enventur folded up next to a black hand pump
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.

Connection points on a car and a crate are connected by a black strap
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.

Door zipped closed on a gray inflatable crate in a car
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.

A hole in the woven window of the Diggs Enventur crate
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.

diggs sizing guide for Enventur dog crate
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.

Black and white dog sitting in a gray inflatable crate
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.

Topics Reviews Pets

How we tested

I tested the Diggs Enventur with my two dogs, Miso and Dashi. Dashi slept in the crate from 10 weeks old to the present (about 5-and-a-half months old). Dashi has also used this as a car travel crate, and has slept in it on camping trips, during dog shows, and in the house. After about three months of testing, Dashi was able to chew through one of the windows after some gear pushing against the window put stress on the woven fabric.

My older dog, Miso has also used this crate for car travel and as a place to rest during dog shows. For reference, Miso is a 45-pound Border Collie mix, and Dashi is a 35-pound Rough Collie puppy. The medium Enventur is a great size for both of them, although it was a bit big for Dashi when she was younger. Note that a snug fit for car kennels is ideal to keep your pup safe.

Some additional factors I tested were:

  • Durability: Diggs has multiple videos using garden tools to try and puncture the Enventur crate. According to Diggs, "Enventur is tested to CPSIA and EN 71-3 standards, ensuring that it is safe from phthalates, heavy metals, and other harmful chemicals and maintains its structure in the unlikely event of a leak or puncture." My puppy, Dashi helped test the durability by scratching, digging, and biting at the inside of the crate (as puppies do). It eventually sustained damage in the form of a hole to one of the windows. This crate is not recommended for puppies or dogs who may try to chew on the woven windows and door.

  • Setup and takedown: I set up and deflated the Enventur at least 30 times while testing it. It took no more than about three to five minutes to assemble each time, and took even less time to deflate it and fold it up.

  • Traveling with the Enventur: I took the Enventur on camping trips, road trips, daily car rides, to agility classes and dog shows, and used it in my home. I evaluated the portability versus a traditional wire crate by comparing the setup time, the ease of use, the weight, and the comfortability for my dogs.

Mashable Image
Jae Thomas
Deputy Shopping Editor

Jae Thomas is a Colorado-based Deputy Shopping Editor for Mashable. They specialize in pet tech, smart fitness gear, finding the perfect gift, and sourcing the top deals on shopping holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Jae has worked at Mashable since 2020, where they've written countless deals roundups and product reviews. Before Jae came to Mashable, they received a B.A. in Journalism and English Literature from New York University and wrote food and lifestyle content for publications like Bon Appétit, Epicurious, The Daily Beast, Apartment Therapy, and Marie Claire.

When they're not testing products or writing about online shopping, you'll find Jae whipping up an elaborate meal, hiking, camping, or training their dogs, Miso and Dashi. Reach out to them on X at @jaetaurina or by email at [email protected].


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