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The undercarriage protector serious upland hunters put on before the first cast
Dogs that work tight cover — thick pheasant grass, honeysuckle, multiflora rose, heavy timber edges — take a beating across the chest, belly, and sides. The cuts and punctures accumulate quietly over a season until they don’t. The Skid Plate is what you put on before that happens. It’s a commercial-grade chest protector, not a vest — there’s no back panel, no insulation, no restriction on the dog’s hindquarters. The open back design lets the dog move and breathe freely while putting two layers of protection exactly where working dogs take punishment.
Construction is two layers of water-resistant 1000-denier Cordura® nylon throughout — the same material used in serious hunting and military gear. It handles brier cuts, stick punctures, fence wire, and abrasion that would open up an unprotected belly or chest in a single afternoon of hard hunting. The blaze orange color keeps the dog visible in cover. The strap system is rugged nylon webbing with quick-release buckles, slide adjusters, and a steel center ring that holds position without binding. It goes on fast and stays put.
Mendota recommends the Skid Plate for post-surgical recovery as well — it’s substantial enough to protect healing incisions in a dog that won’t stay out of the brush.
Fit tip: Measure before ordering. The Narrow and Regular designations refer to chest width at the narrowest point between the front legs — not overall body size. Two dogs at the same weight can require different widths depending on breed and build. Leggier pointing breeds typically run Narrow; deeper-chested retrievers typically run Regular. When in doubt between widths, go Regular. When in doubt between sizes, go up.
Specs & features
| Outer shell | Two layers water-resistant 1000-denier Cordura® nylon |
| Coverage | Chest, stomach, and sides; open back for mobility and airflow |
| Hardware | Nylon webbing straps, quick-release buckles, slide adjusters, steel center ring |
| Color | Blaze orange |
| Sizes | Small, Medium, Large, X-Large — each in Narrow and Regular chest width |
| Made in | USA |
| Warranty | Lifetime guarantee |
Size chart
| Size | Chest Width** | Chest Circumference | Waist Circumference | Weight* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small — Narrow | 2⅓–3½” | 20–28” | 17–25” | 25–45 lbs. |
| Small — Regular | 3½–4½” | 20–28” | 17–25” | 25–45 lbs. |
| Medium — Narrow | 3–4” | 23–31” | 20–28” | 45–65 lbs. |
| Medium — Regular | 4–5” | 23–31” | 20–28” | 45–65 lbs. |
| Large — Narrow | 4–5” | 26–34” | 23–31” | 65–85 lbs. |
| Large — Regular | 5–6” | 26–34” | 23–31” | 65–85 lbs. |
| X-Large — Narrow | 5–6” | 29–37” | 26–34” | 85+ lbs. |
| X-Large — Regular | 6–7” | 29–37” | 26–34” | 85+ lbs. |
** Chest width measured at the narrowest point between the front legs.
* Use weight only when measurements are not available.
