Between Estsy, Petco, and the local artisan market, you will find all kinds of collars for your best friend. When it comes to trusting a collar not to break, or a dog to sneak out, as well as being able to grab my dog on the trail, for two generations of dogs now, I have utilized Ray Allen collars and I’ll never use anything else. Should you switch over to a collar that looks a little bit tactical? Let’s bark about it.
Ray Allen Manufacturing has been crafting working dog equipment since 1948, starting as a humble saddle and harness business for the local Mule Division at Camp Carson. When the military’s Sentry Dog program moved to Camp Carson in the late 40s, Ray Allen pivoted to K9 equipment and never looked back. Over 75 years later, they’ve become the gold standard for police, military, and professional trainers who need gear that won’t fail when it matters most.
Their reputation is built on one simple principle: if it’s good enough for a police K9 apprehending a suspect or a military working dog in combat, it’ll handle whatever you throw at it.
For a decade now I’ve been running the Evolution Nylon Collar with Handle on three generations of dogs – from Patton to Phoenix to now Bridger. Bridger is a great working dog, he’s the ultimate catch all – what is called a Working Pit Bull Dog. There isn’t much he can’t do, but he also is a bit of a wild man, so I utilize not only the Evolution, but also the Elusive 2.0 for him.
For Patton and Phoenix, the Evolution was my one-collar solution – something that could handle daily walks, training sessions, and everything in between. But, for Bridger, the wild boy who is constantly needing to work, he needed a lot of professional training – which also required an e-collar.
While the Evolution excels as a training collar, I eventually switched to Ray Allen’s Elusive 2.0 ID Collar for daily wear because I needed something that could seamlessly integrate with his e-collar for hiking, working, and hunting. The Evolution now gets used on off-days when Bridger doesn’t need his electronics – daily walks, casual training treat sessions, or when I want immediate handle control without the bulk of multiple collar systems.
Now, for this review, we are going to talk about the general concept of the collar, which is the same for both types – with the Elusive having the e-collar connection.
Form
Yes, it looks tactical – but that’s ok. I first came across Ray Allen when I was in Law Enforcement and our department canine only had Ray Allen gear. I was so impressed with it because, regardless of what Jack (that was his name) had to do his gear ALWAYS held up and I had spent years with Walmart, Petsmart, and REI gear falling apart. So, it was time to make the switch.
The Evolution Collar looks like it means business – but the business can be hiking, running, sleeping, or just being goofy.
Built with Mil-Spec 1¾” webbing in Black, Coyote, and Ghost Gray, this collar has that unmistakable tactical aesthetic that immediately signals serious equipment that is not going to break.
The integrated handle creates a clean profile without looking bulky or aftermarket, and the VELCRO panel for ID badges gives it that professional working dog appearance. As you can see, for Bridger, on his green version every day gear, it’s a Do Not Pet velcro patch.
On Bridger (on the right), both his green and black versions looks sharp and purposeful.
The Cobra buckle integration is visually appealing and is robust – what you’d expect from equipment for law enforcement K9’s. It’s not trying to be functional, it is functional to the core.
So – what’s the difference? Below is Phoenix on the left a Petsmart collar – on the right, the Evolution. You can see the difference between the two in build and appearance.
Fit
The collar adjusts to fit necks between 16″-25″, which covers Bridger’s 20+” neck perfectly with room for seasonal weight fluctuations. In this photo he has his Dogtra in the collar and as you can tell – there is plenty of space for him to be comfortable.
The 1¾” width distributes pressure much better than the narrow collars I used to run, eliminating hot spots during longer training sessions or when he decides to test his leash manners.
The handle positioning is ergonomically sound – I can grab it naturally without contorting my wrist or interfering with his movement. When he comes to my leg in a heel, it’s right where I need it. If he comes to the middle between my legs, it’s the perfect position to grab.
This became especially valuable during his adolescent phase when impulse control was more suggestion than reality. However, the size range does exclude smaller working breeds and oversized dogs, which limits its versatility compared to adjustable systems.
Now, the question is always – is it comfortable? Well, he falls asleep in it quite regularly – so, he votes yes.
Function
Here’s where the Evolution really shines. The patent-pending design incorporates both the Cobra buckle and D-ring in one piece, making collar changes quick and foolproof – crucial when you’re dealing with an excited dog who knows training is about to start.
On the top of this photo is the Ray Allen collar – on the bottom, the Uncharted Supply Wolfpack (which I love). You can see the difference in construction – and also, how well the handle is positioned.
The handle provides immediate control that’s been invaluable for training situations. When Bridger gets overstimulated or needs a quick correction, I have instant leverage without fumbling for a leash or trying to grab his regular collar. The Velcro panel allows for quick ID changes, though I mainly use it for his name patch rather than switching credentials.
Where this collar can fall short is daily versatility. It’s designed for training and control, not all-day comfort. Just know, this is not a collar for 24 wearing – it’s for getting out there and getting active with your best friend/s.
Field Performance
After a decade of use, including some pretty aggressive training sessions and more outdoor adventures than we can count, the Evolution has held up exceptionally well. I have only retired two collars – one was Patton’s, one was Phoenix, and these went into their memory boxes. Other than that – these simply do not break. The Mil-Spec webbing shows minimal wear, the Cobra buckle still operates smoothly, and the stitching remains tight. It collects hair pretty good in the velcro, but the velcro continues to function.
Ray Allen backs their nylon products with a two-year warranty under normal conditions, which gives you some confidence in their construction quality. However, the warranty specifically excludes dog chewing and activities “outside the scope of designed use,” which could be problematic for destructive dogs.
The collars hves handled everything from basic obedience to hunting to agitation training without showing significant wear. The only minor complaint is that the black webbing shows dog hair more readily than I’d like, but that’s cosmetic rather than functional.
Financial Investment
Buy once – cry once your best friend leaves you and you retire it – you will only buy one of these per dog. At $100+ they are worth every penny. Given their 75+ year reputation in the professional K9 market and the Mil-Spec construction, you’re paying for proven reliability rather than marketing hype. When you go to Petsmart you will see many similar designs, but there is no comparison to the real deal.
For serious training applications or working dogs, the investment makes complete sense. The quality and functionality justify the cost when you need equipment that won’t fail during critical moments. For casual pet owners, the cost-to-benefit ratio is up to you – if you like features, reliability, and professional-grade durability. For small dogs, well, I haven’t tested anything so I can’t give you any feedback. Though, Ray Allen has designed some hilarious models on their IG.
In my case, the Evolution serves a specific role in Bridger’s equipment rotation. It’s my daily-driver collar, my working collar, invaluable assurance and trust when I need immediate control and the assurance that the equipment won’t be the limiting factor.
The Bottom Line: 5F’s all day long.
The Evolution Collar represents exactly what Ray Allen does best – purposeful, professional-grade equipment designed for specific applications. It excels as a training and control tool but isn’t trying to be an all-purpose solution.
When you need reliable, quick-access control tools and comfort, it delivers on every promise.