Maelson Soft Kennel Review: A Soft Crate for Car Travel

The MAELSON Soft Kennel has been my Yorkshire Terrier Louie’s in-car travel space because I wanted containment, ventilation, and a crate I could secure without relying on a single short tether attached directly to him.

After using size 52, I see it as a practical everyday soft crate for a small dog that is already comfortable in a kennel. I would not describe it as crash-tested protection, though. For U.S. dog owners, that distinction matters.

Why I Chose a Soft Kennel for the Car

When I first shopped for a dog car seat, many cushioned booster-style seats used one restraint strap inside the bed. I was not comfortable making that my main setup for Louie, so I started looking at crates.

I also preferred a soft-sided kennel over a rigid crate for our daily use. That was a personal choice based on the setup I wanted, not evidence that a soft crate is safer in a collision.

MAELSON’s Soft Kennel has an internal steel frame, reinforced mesh, front, top, and side openings, roll-down blinds, a waterproof base, zipper locks, and built-in vehicle attachment points. Size 52 measures 20 × 13 × 13 inches and is recommended by MAELSON for dogs up to 12.2 inches at the shoulder.

What I Like After Using the MAELSON Soft Kennel

The biggest advantage is how easy it is to live with. Size 52 is light enough for me to lift by the handles, move, shake out, and fold when needed. Louie has enough room to sit, stand, look outside, or lie down.

The mesh panels provide ventilation, while the fabric blinds can reduce visual stimulation when I want him to settle. On faster roads, I keep him fully contained rather than letting him ride with an opening unzipped.

Cleaning is simple, too. The lower area is easy to wipe or rinse, and MAELSON describes the base as waterproof. The removable nylon cover and cushion liner are washable.

The zipper locks became more important than I expected. Louie has figured out how to push at a zipper, so I use the locks instead of assuming a closed zipper will stay closed. MAELSON also includes zipper locks on the front and side doors to help prevent a dog from opening them from inside.

Using It as a Car Travel Crate

Louie tends to settle more easily when he has his own enclosed space. Without it, he can become restless and move around. Inside the Soft Kennel, he often watches through the mesh or lies down.

I secure the kennel so it cannot slide freely in the vehicle. U.S. travel guidance also advises keeping dogs from roaming loose and securing carriers during travel. Cornell recommends using a properly secured restraint or travel crate rather than allowing a dog to move freely through the vehicle.

For longer or crowded outings outside the car, I use a different tool. A stroller gives Louie a contained place to rest without replacing his walks, which I explain in my Royal Tails Florence dog stroller review.

The Important Safety Limitation

The Soft Kennel has in-car attachment features, but I could not verify Center for Pet Safety certification for this model. Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine recommends crash-tested harnesses, restraint systems, or travel crates when possible, while the Center for Pet Safety maintains a current list of products that have passed its certification program. The MAELSON Soft Kennel does not appear on that list.

That means I use the MAELSON Soft Kennel as a secured containment crate, not as a product I would claim provides proven crash protection.

If crash-test certification is your top priority, compare certified carriers or crates first. If your priorities are portability, ventilation, easy cleaning, and a familiar enclosed space for a kennel-trained small dog, this Soft Kennel may fit those needs well.

Who I Think It Fits Best

I would consider it for a small dog that is already comfortable being enclosed, especially if you want one crate that can be folded, carried, cleaned, and used outside the car.

I would skip it for a dog that chews fabric, claws hard at doors, or panics in confinement. MAELSON notes that this remains a fabric kennel and is not intended for a dog that aggressively tries to escape.

For Louie, size 52 has been practical because he can rest, look through the mesh, and stay in one defined travel space. I would buy it for those everyday qualities again, while keeping one distinction clear: secure containment and verified crash protection are not the same thing.

Source:

MAELSON — Soft Kennel
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine — Traveling Safely With Your Dog: Cars, Planes and Pet-Friendly Stays
Center for Pet Safety — CPS Certified Products