FurHaven's soft-sided pop-up playpen trades metal rigidity for portability, folding down small enough to travel with while still offering a roomy 51 by 44 inch space, though its 4.0 star average signals a more mixed experience than the metal alternatives in this roundup.
Owners who want a lightweight, quick pop-up pen for travel, camping, or indoor use with a smaller or calmer dog or cat.
Skip if
Your dog is a determined chewer, digger, or jumper, since soft mesh sides won't hold up to serious pressure the way metal panels do.
Breed size All
Priced 63% below the category median ($69.99 across 101 tracked models)
Our scorecard
4.0/5overall
Owner rating4.0/5
4.0 average across 21,500 owner ratings
Popularity4.7/5
21,500 owner reviews, more than most models here
The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other dog and cat food, health, gear and grooming we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.
Overview
['This FurHaven playpen is a pop-up style enclosure built from polyester fabric with mesh windows on the sides, so pets can see out while still being contained. At 51 inches long, 44 inches wide, and 29.5 inches tall, it gives an extra large footprint without the bulk of a metal pen.', 'The zippered door makes it easy to let a pet in and out without unclipping latches, and because it requires no assembly, it pops open and folds flat again in seconds, which is a real advantage for travel or backyard use.', "At $26.12, it's one of the more affordable options in this category, and FurHaven backs it with a 60 day worry-free warranty plus a 90 day limited manufacturer warranty. With 21,500 reviews, it has a large track record, though the 4.0 star average is lower than some of the metal competitors here."]
Pros
No assembly required, pops open in seconds
Zippered door for easy access
Mesh windows let pets see their surroundings
Lightweight and packable for travel or camping
Backed by a 60 day worry-free plus 90 day manufacturer warranty
Cons
4.0 star average is lower than the metal playpen alternatives in this list
Soft mesh sides won't contain a determined chewer or digger
Fabric construction means less structural rigidity than metal or plastic pens
Specifications
Breed size
All
Performance notes
The pop-up design relies on flexible support rods sewn into the fabric rather than rigid metal panels, which is what lets it fold flat and set up instantly, but it also means durability depends on the fabric and mesh holding up over time rather than resisting force the way metal does.
What buyers say
With 21,500 reviews averaging 4.0 stars, this pen has a long track record, though that's the lowest rating among the metal playpens in this roundup, most likely reflecting the tradeoff between portability and durability that comes with soft-sided construction.
No, it's a pop-up design that opens and folds flat without tools or assembly, which is part of why it's popular for travel.
Can pets see outside the pen?
Yes, the sides include mesh windows so pets can see their surroundings while still being contained.
How does the size compare to metal playpens in this category?
At 51 by 44 inches and 29.5 inches tall, it's roomier than the smaller 24 inch panel pens, though it trades the rigidity of metal for a lighter, more packable fabric build.
We use necessary cookies to keep the site working. With your permission, we also use functional, analytics, and marketing cookies. Read our Cookie Policy.
