Mr. Peanuts Big Apple Gold Series Expandable model offers a premium design & style combined with upgraded materials all around, with premium brand self locking zippers and a plush removable faux fleece pad with a plywood base insert for additional stability and weight handling.Whats the Difference? I enjoy when buyers ask me this question. Having designed and sold multi thousands of pet carriers and hearing every issue and concern I can answer this here as best I can. I know it is hard when shopping online. All of the pet carriers you see look similar and its hard to compare materials, features and the "look and feel" as one can easily do in person, but here is my summary of what to look for in a pet carrier and what is most important to know or ask, so look for these key features in all brands and compare -

• Zippers - These are one of my pet peeves as the zipper quality can turn a fantastic carrier into a loser very fast. When the zipper breaks at the airport or even in your car your carrier of choice becomes basically worthless. Make sure the brand you are looking at includes hi quality zippers from a reputable zipper brand. My totes are all designed with only premium brand zippers, and I improve and upgrade them often as new and better versions come along including the automatic self locking zippers which cannot be opened from inside that are used on this Gold Series tote. Its much better than the older style clasps which are fragile and unreliable.
• Carrier Structure - Soft Sided Pet Carriers by definition are frameless and are mostly only supported by thin steel wire running along the edges and sides of the tote. Keep in mind when you look over images in a listing on any product those will be taken to show off the product in the best possible way, and are often edited to improve the look of the product image. It is very hard to see differences in materials and structure in a product image, but all of my totes are designed with a very strong waterproof nylon material that is also used in the manufacture of military grade parachutes. The materials used help to avoid the sagging, wrinkled look and give the totes additional structure.
• Pet Safety & Comfort - Lastly, but the most important feature. The pet tote you choose should have locking zippers and a very strong resin mesh. I use a Teslin resin mesh which is the strongest pliable mesh on the market today. They should have a leash tether to insure your pet can be secured while stressed during travels. They should have well designed and secure carrying straps, with a thick metal connector to insure weight handling. They should have a comfortable bedding pad and pockets to store treats, meds and papers. All of Mr. Peanuts tote designs include all of these and more.
• Materials & Packing - The tote you choose should be of natural materials and chemical free. We use absolutely no chemicals of any kind in the production of the totes. We use a Nylon 600D composite with a PVC coating for a more durable and wrinkle free structure. We use a Vegan Leatherette for the handles and hi-lites of the tote. We use a Teslin Mesh, which is the strongest pliable mesh available, and is also often used for outdoor furniture, umbrellas, Sunscreens, Cushions, etc due to its high tensile strength, breathability and durability. Your tote will have been sealed in a polybag, and then cartoned, and then shipped for storage until final shipping. With very little exposure to the outside air it is not uncommon to have an odor from the Leatherette and the Mesh akin to a new car smell, which typically will last a few days while dissipating with exposure to the air.
• Please keep in mind a soft sided tote is not suitable for all pets or for all pet ages. It is imperative to acclimate your pet to a soft sided carrier. We want the pet to consider it a home, not a prison. There is not a soft sided fabric or pliable mesh in existence that can withstand the jaws and claws of a stressed pet, and even our adorable kittens and puppies will have quite sharp teeth and claws. Some pets will indeed be more suited to a hard shell carrier, so please consider your pets adaptability to a soft sided pet carrier.
• The difference ​for all products ​is the seller and how they ​ensure and ​handle your satisfaction with the product. Mr. Peanut’s stands behind every product we sell, and if you’re not happy with it we uphold a no matter what, no questions asked, no holds barred, no ifs, no ands, no buts happiness pledge. If you have a problem, we will solve it. Correct It. Replace it. Whatever it takes. Simple as that.

I am constantly updating and improving all of the various tote series with each successive generation. I am never satisfied, so I am always improving features of each model with each production run. All of my totes are hand sewn to my specifications by contracted factories in various countries. Mr. Peanut’s is a USA based, family run business located in Henderson, Nevada and a proud sponsor of the Pay a Shelter Pet Forward program.

Regards, Michael @ Mr. Peanuts

Many Copy the Design, None Copy the Quality

I always recommend measuring your pet while comfortably laying down, as many pets will tend to curl up a bit. Weight alone is not a good indicator for sizing. Keep in mind airline capable carriers are limited in sizing by under seat constraints, so we want a carrier thats comfortable but that is also under seat compliant. Interior measurements of any model will be a bit less than maximum exterior simply due to fabric and padding thicknesses. Only the smallest of small pets can fully stand with an airline capable model which is designed to accommodate an 8.5” seat height, a crouch is more typical.

Buyers often ask about "TSA", "IATA" and "FAA" rated and the fact is that there are only guidelines for animals carried in the cargo holds of airliners, but these do NOT apply to in passenger cabin pet carriers. Always keep in mind each airline sets their own specific requirements, and they can even vary from their domestic, international and shuttle routes so it is always advised to check with your airline of choice. All airlines have very similar sizing guidelines, and all will require your pet to be comfortable in the carrier, well ventilated and to remain under the seat in front of you during flight. The popularity of soft sided carriers stems from their adjustability to fit under the various seat configurations of modern aircraft.

The smaller Mr. Peanut’s models such as the Gold Series Mini and Rhodium Series Mini are about 14” (35.5cm) on the interior length and about 8.5-9” (23cm) of interior height. Best fitting for pets like small cats, Chihuahuas, Yorkies, Maltese, etc

The standard sized models such as the Diamond, Gold, Silver, Rhodium and Platinum Series models are about 16" (41cm) interior length and about 10” (25cm) interior height. These well fit the smaller pets of similar sizes such as medium cats, Daschunds, Terriers, small Pugs, King Charles Cavs, Poms, etc.

The larger Gold Series Big Apple sized model is about as large as one can go for airline capability. It is about an 18" (46cm) interior length but the same height and width as the standard sized models. The exterior is about 2” (5cm) longer at 20” (51cm) exterior than most airlines will spec, but it’s built for those pets where there is simply not an option for a smaller size. The Big Apple model has been on the market for a long period of time now, literally sold worldwide, and a very popular model. I have yet to receive a review or complaint of it not being accepted by an airline. It is a good fit for pets of similar size as larger cats, medium Frenchies, Maltipoos, Corgis, Bostons, Pugs, etc.

Backpacks are a great choice for taller pets or those users who seek to take the weight off of their shoulders and free up their hands in busy airports. All of the backpack models are made to lay on their short sides for under seat use, and are padded on both bottom and sides for this. The smaller backpack models consist of the Vancouver, the Monterey, and the Malibu Series. Those smaller backpacks are best fit for smaller cats, small dog breeds such as Chihuahua, Yorkies, Bunnies, etc.

The larger backpack models consist of the Aspen and the Tahoe Series. These models well fit medium to large cats, small Bostons, Daschunds, small Pugs and similar sized breeds.

And for even larger pets where airline capability is not needed but maximum space is desired, do check out the Coronado XL Series as well as the Mr. Peanut’s Portable Pet Crate. Both are structured larger models with considerably more height and space than airline capable carriers can offer.