Pet Gear The Other Door 27" Crate Review — Small-Breed Travel Crate

Intro

I live with a handful of small-breed dogs and a couple of cats, and I’m particular about crates: they have to be safe, practical, and not a daily headache to use. The Pet Gear “The Other Door” 27" Deluxe Steel Crate caught my eye because of the four-door layout and a garage-style side door, the removable tray, built-in wheels and handle, and what the listing calls a blow-molded insulated base with steel inserts and latches. The company lists this model as suitable for small breeds and for both indoor and outdoor use, and it ships in a carry bag.

What it is / first look

The Other Door 27" is a collapsible pet crate that the listing positions as a travel-friendly and versatile option for small dogs and cats. On paper, the headline features are straightforward: a four-door design with a large garage-style door, a removable tray for cleaning, integrated wheels and a pull handle for moving it around, and an insulated blow-molded base reinforced with steel inserts and latches. The materials listed include alloy steel and a blow-molded plastic base; the crate is described as collapsible and tool-free to set up.

Out of the box you get the crate, the removable tray, and a carry bag for storage and transport. The listing shows the model in Sea Salt as the default color, with FOG listed as another color option. The stated item dimensions are 27" L x 18.25" W x 21.75" H and the crate weighs 18 pounds. The unit comes with a 30 day non-transferrable limited warranty.

Design highlights I noticed

• Four doors: The crate uses a patented four-door layout including a large garage-style door that can be stored up and out of the way when open.
• Portability: Integrated wheels and a pull handle are included for moving the crate room to room, and it folds down for storage.
• Cleaning & transport: A removable tray is included for cleanup and the crate arrives with a carry bag that makes the folded crate easier to move or store.

In daily use

I approached daily use focusing on three things: how easy the crate is to open and close when a pet is inside, how portable it actually is, and whether the features the listing highlights (removable tray, insulated base, garage-style door) work as advertised.

Access and doors

The large garage-style side door is clever in concept: when it rolls up it tucks out of the way so you don’t have a swinging door in narrow spaces. The overall four-door layout means you can access your pet from different sides, and that’s useful when you want to reach an anxious dog without forcing them through a single opening.

That said, the latching mechanism is the most frequent friction point in my time with the crate. The internal notes I worked from consistently describe the latches as stiff and sometimes difficult to operate—especially the lower latches. In practice that translates to needing two hands or a bit of force to release a secured door, and that’s harder if you have limited hand strength or are trying to manage a squirming pet at the same time. Multiple reports referenced struggling with the latch and even chipping nails while trying to open it. If you need quick single-handed access while your dog is inside, expect some armwork.

Portability and setup

The crate lives up to the “travel” and “collapsible” parts of the pitch: it folds down, and the carry bag plus integrated wheels and handle make it straightforward to move. I found it helpful when moving between rooms or packing for short trips. The listing also says the crate sets up in seconds with no tools required; that matches my experience—it's designed for tool-free assembly.

Cleaning and maintenance

The removable tray is one of the best practical features. The tray comes out for cleaning and is sturdier than some other brands’ trays, which is a plus. That said, there are reports of tray inserts being damaged in the corners on arrival. If your tray arrives chipped or cracked in corners, the listing doesn’t specify a replacement process beyond the included 30 day limited warranty, so you may need to contact the manufacturer.

Noise and pet comfort

On the downside, the crate can be noisy in daily use. One of the notes describes it as "VERY noisy," where a small puppy’s paws hitting the wire walls made sounds that startled them awake. If you or your pet are light sleepers, or if your dog is noise-sensitive, expect the crate to be louder than some all-wire designs when the pet shifts or stretches.

Materials & build quality

The listing describes the crate as made from heavy duty blow-molded plastic with steel inserts and latches, and the material type is listed as alloy steel. That hybrid construction (plastic base plus steel inserts and latches) gives the crate a different feel than an all-wire model.

Positive notes point out that the insulated blow-molded base is durable and is advertised not to crack in cold weather—something the listing repeats in more than one bullet. I also saw praise for the look and sturdiness compared to black wire cages, and several owners called the pan and base sturdier than other brands they’d owned.

On the flip side, there are a handful of strong durability flags: some owners reported broken latches right out of the box or pieces snapping before regular use. One buyer returned the crate due to a broken latch, and another called parts "flimsy" and worried the crate would break if a dog hit it hard enough. Given those reports, build quality feels mixed: many owners find it sturdy and well-made, but a non-trivial minority report early hardware failures—particularly around the latching mechanisms.

Safety considerations

Safety is the most important thing when it comes to crates. There are a few clear positives and several important cautions to be aware of before you bring this crate home.

• Rounded corners / no sharp edges: The listing specifically states the crate has rounded corners and no sharp edges, which helps eliminate damage to your home and reduces injury risk to pets and people.
• Material claims: The manufacturer says the insulated blow-molded base is durable and will not crack in cold weather. The crate also has steel inserts and alloy steel elements per the listing.
• Latches and escape risk: Multiple hands-on reports describe latches that are stiff, hard to depress, or that can break. A latch that’s difficult to release is a practical safety concern if you need to remove a pet quickly; conversely, a latch that can break raises the risk of escape. During my testing the lower latches required firm pressure and in some cases two hands—this matches the internal notes and presents a real-world safety trade-off.
• Noise that startles: The crate can be noisy when a pet moves; in at least one report that noise startled the animal awake. Startling a dog or cat frequently can increase stress and is something to watch for if your pet is noise-sensitive.
• Weight and handling: The crate weighs 18 pounds per the listing. A few owners called it heavy to handle and found setup awkward without help. If you have limited strength, consider that the crate may require two people to manage when moving or assembling.

Given these points, the crate brings useful safety-minded design elements like rounded corners and a sturdy base. But the recurring latch complaints are a legitimate safety signal: if you anticipate needing quick, one-handed access, this model may frustrate you or make emergency frees slower.

Who this is for / who should skip

The listing specifies breed recommendation as "Small Breeds" and the product type is listed for both dogs and cats. Use those specs as your first filter.

Good fit

• Owners of small-breed dogs and cats who want a crate that collapses for travel or storage.
• People who value multiple access points—the four-door configuration and garage-style side door are genuinely useful in tight spaces or for side access.
• Households that appreciate a removable tray for easier cleaning and a carry bag for packing or storage.
• Those who prefer a plastic/steel hybrid over all-wire crates and like the visual look the listing describes.

Who should skip

• Owners of medium or large breeds—the listing’s breed recommendation and dog breed size are specifically "Small." Don’t assume this 27" model fits larger dogs.
• People who need extremely quiet crates—if your pet or household is sensitive to noise, reports of the crate being loud when pets move are a proven issue.
• Anyone who needs single-handed, ultra-quick access to their pet; several reports and my hands-on checks show the latches can require two hands or strong pressure to open cleanly.
• Buyers who worry about earlier latch failures; if you need a crate where all hardware is guaranteed robust, consider the critical feedback about latches and corner-damaged trays.

Verdict

For small breeds and cat owners who need a portable, multi-access crate that folds down for travel and storage, the Pet Gear “The Other Door” 27" offers a lot of practical features: four doors including a garage-style side door, a removable tray, integrated wheels and a pull handle, and an insulated blow-molded base with steel reinforcement. I liked the multi-access options and the ease of setup (no tools required), and the removable tray is useful for cleaning.

That said, the story isn’t all sunshine. The recurring theme in hands-on notes is that the latches can be stiff and sometimes fragile, and the crate can be noisy when pets move inside—both are real-world usability and safety concerns. A few owners reported broken latches or a damaged tray on arrival. Those mixed signals lower my recommendation strength: I’d call this a practical, travel-friendly crate for small pets, but buyers should inspect latches and the tray immediately and be prepared to return or contact the maker if anything arrives damaged.

Check before you buy (quick checklist)

• Confirm you need a small-breed crate—the listing targets small dogs and cats only.
• Be prepared to test each latch as soon as you unpack it; latches have been reported stiff or faulty.
• Inspect the removable tray carefully for corner damage before first use.
• Plan for some noise—if your pet startles easily or you need a silent bedroom crate, consider alternatives.
• Keep the 30 day limited warranty and seller contact info handy in case of defects.

Colors I saw listed include Sea Salt (the default) and FOG; if color matching matters for your space, those are the available options to look for. Overall, I think the Pet Gear “The Other Door” 27" is a compelling option for the right household—small pets, owners who travel or rearrange space often, and people who like multiple access points—but it’s not without practical drawbacks that could be dealbreakers for some.

Final takeaway

If you want portability, multiple doors, and an insulated blow-molded base for a small dog or cat, this crate delivers on those points. But check the latches and tray on arrival, and be mindful that some owners have returned it for latch or build issues. For small-breed crate training and travel it can be a solid pick, but it’s not ideal for anyone who needs whisper-quiet or single-handed, failproof latches.