These Are Paws Down the Best Dog Poop Bags for Hassle-Free Cleanup
We evaluated five poop bags to see which ones turned an unpleasant chore into a breeze
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The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that a dog can produce up to 274 pounds of solid waste per year.
Certainly, dog waste will eventually compost naturally on your lawn, but leaving it on the grass or hard surfaces poses an environmental hazard. When it rains, stormwater collects a variety of surface contaminants, including pet waste, and deposits them directly into your local watershed.
- A Few of the Poop Bags We Tried: Amazon Basics Earth Rated No Rip (Tissue Style)
- How CR Evaluates Poop Bags
Your Guide to the Best Pet Products
The Amazon Basics Dog Poop Leak Proof Bags are a budget-friendly option for pet parents with multiple pets or those in the pet-care business. These no-frills, basic plastic bags are durable and easy to use. Each package includes 20 rolls with 15 bags per roll (300 bags total) and a convenient dispenser with a hook.
I loaded the dispenser in less than a minute, and the bags dispensed and tore without issue. However, when I attempted to attach the dispenser to my dog’s leash, I encountered my only problem with the Amazon Basics bags. The substandard hook doesn’t directly reflect the bag’s performance, which I will explain shortly. The hook on the dispenser is poorly made and supposedly designed to unhook to attach to the D-ring on a leash. I could not get it to unhook, nor could any family member without breaking the hook. The other dispensers in this evaluation came with a metal carabiner to attach to a leash. Eventually, I ended up using one because I knew if I kept trying to open the hook, I would break it.
The bags easily emerged from the dispenser, and the perforated seams tore without issue. The bags stayed intact when draped over my hand and held the dog waste securely without rips or leaks. When I used them with my winter gloves, I found that I could easily tear, open, and tie the bags without worrying about dropping a full bag. The Amazon Basics bags are solid performers that combine essential features with cost-effectiveness. They cost about 3 cents per piece, making them a great deal. I recommend them to budget-aware pet owners looking for a reliable choice to protect their hands during daily walks and outings—but remember to buy a carabiner clip!
The Lucky Dog Poop Bags are ideal for eco-conscious pet owners who also value stylish accessories for their furry friends. I know, does it really matter what a poop bag and its dispenser look like? Although I am not hyper-focused on style, I appreciate a well-made item, and the Lucky Dog bag dispenser offers both style and functionality for such a mundane task. But first, let me discuss the bags!
The Lucky Dog poop bags are made with at least 30 percent GMO-free corn and other natural, non-harmful ingredients, according to the brand. Unlike most poop bag rolls that have a cardboard or plastic inner core—taking up unnecessary space and limiting dispensing—Lucky Dog eliminates this, ensuring hassle-free dispensing. The bags have a slippery feel but are otherwise similar to standard poop bags.
Although the rolls feature perforated ends to aid separation, I found them harder to tear than other rolls in this evaluation, likely due to the plant-based composition. However, I could still successfully tear the bag and open them with ease, even with winter gloves on. They function as well as the Amazon Basics bags, picking up waste, securing it with no leaks, and tying beautifully.
Aside from its eco-friendly composition, the standout feature is the simple, modern-style dispenser. The cotton canvas dispenser features a genuine leather tab on the back to hold your used bags and a metal carabiner ring to easily attach to a leash, belt loop, or anything else. The dispenser also includes an aluminum grommet opening that allows for smooth dispensing and prevents the bag from snagging or unraveling. The Lucky Dog Poop Bags with Dispenser is a functional yet stylish choice for eco-conscious pet owners.
The brand has discontinued this product and replaced it with MyEcoWorld Pet Poop Bags, which we did not evaluate.
See our review of the best pooper scoopers.
Environmentally conscious pet parents don’t have to compromise on quality for sustainability with Earth Rated poop bags. These bags are made from 65 percent certified post-consumer recycled plastic, saving 5 million pounds of landfill-bound plastic each year, according to the brand.
The Earth Rated Poop Bags felt considerably thicker than the others I tried in this test. According to their product website, the bags are 15 microns thick (.59 mil). For reference, a single-use grocery shopping bag is around .5 mil, according to the National Resources Council of Maine, so it’s similar in thickness. The bags held up exceptionally well while picking up pet messes on concrete, grass, and gravel. They even withstood pulling and stretching, showing greater resilience compared with all the bags in the test.
These bags were also lavender-scented. Overall, I found the scent neither displeasing nor overwhelming. However, I didn’t think that the scent made a remarkable difference in masking the mess odor. I believe the thickness of the bag was the main reason I didn’t smell anything. Because there is no difference in cost between the scented and unscented versions, the choice is purely a matter of preference.
The bags were easy to dispense and open, with or without gloves. When transporting a filled bag, I had no issues with leaks, rips, or any structural failure. The rolls easily fit into standard pet bag dispensers. This combination of durability and eco-friendliness makes them a top choice for eco-conscious pet owners who need reliable support when picking up pet messes.
Do you ever get frustrated when you pull out a poop bag and end up with two or three? No Rip Poop Bags Tissue Style has reimagined convenience in pet waste management with its innovative, easy-dispense design. These bags are designed like a tissue box, allowing each bag to be pulled out smoothly and easily, ensuring a seamless experience each time you need a new one.
The No Rip bags performed remarkably well in all categories: opening with ease with or without gloves, no ripping during pickup, and no leaking during transportation. The only frustration I experienced was with dispensing. On its own, not in a dispenser, the bag easily comes off the roll. However, when I loaded the No Rip bags into my simple, bone-shaped bag dispenser that I keep on a leash, the first two bags came through the dispenser without issue, but the third bag got stuck behind the gasket, and I had to fish around the opening to feed the end through again. This happened repeatedly. So I decided to try an open dispenser (I used the Lucky Dog dispenser), and the dispensing went much smoother.
I still think the No Rip bags redefine convenience in pet waste management with their innovative, easy-dispense design. However, my frustration is based on the type of dispenser used (get an open-style one). The bags do what they are designed to do. Overall, the bags simplify the process of detaching each bag and significantly reduce the likelihood of accidental rips or tears.
Plastic bags made from cornstarch are becoming increasingly popular as alternatives to single-use plastics. The Wild One Bag Holder and Dispenser features bioplastic bags made from a cornstarch blend that will break down through natural processes within one year, according to the brand.
Similar to the Lucky Dog waste bags, the Wild One bags are buttery soft yet durable. I experienced no issues opening them, whether with or without gloves. The bags held up well during pet cleanup tasks on both pavement and grass, securely containing the contents without leaks or rips. The dispenser has a sleek, minimalist design and seamlessly attaches to any leash without the need for a clip. It also features a simple twist-off cap for quick bag reloads.
Overall, I really like these bags and the dispenser. However, the only con I found is that it is expensive compared with other bags I tested. The holder comes with only 10 bags, and refill rolls are sold on their website for $9.00 per 120 bags, which amounts to approximately $0.07 per bag. While this cost isn’t outrageous given the biodegradable nature of the bags, it’s something to consider. Overall, the Wild One bags and dispenser combine versatility with modern design, making necessary cleanups as smooth as your walk.
How CR Evaluates Poop Bags
I evaluated the waste bags based on their accessibility, usability, and durability. In the accessibility evaluation, I assessed how well the bags dispensed from the holder and how easily they could be detached.
I determined how easy it was to dispense each bag from the holder and how simple it was to tear them off. None of the bags I tested ripped while being dispensed. Next, I evaluated how easy each bag was to open with and without gloves. I used two types of gloves: a knitted wool blend and a smooth poly-blend fabric. All the bags passed the opening test. Finally, I tested durability over a week. I used each bag to pick up dog messes on various outdoor surfaces, mostly pavement and grass. After tying each bag, I carried it for approximately 1/4 mile to assess its leak-proof quality before depositing it into my trash bin.