The Heel Roam 350 isn’t just another dog collar; it’s a revolutionary tool that redefines what it means to have control over your dog’s safety and freedom. Dubbed a “virtual leash,” this collar uses cutting-edge technology to automatically keep your dog close, even in the most adventurous off-leash situations.
Whether you’re hiking through the wilderness or just taking a stroll in the neighborhood, the Roam 350 ensures that your dog remains within a safe distance without the need for constant manual corrections. Below, we’ll go over everything you need to know about it, from the state-of-the-art features to the biggest pros and even the few drawbacks.
First, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page (literally). This is the Roam 350 by Heel that we’re talking about. Don’t forget to use our exclusive coupon code TECH50 to save $50 off!
The Heel Roam 350 Virtual Leash is a one-of-a-kind training collar that allows you to create invisible fences on the go and keep your dog close-by even off-leash.
FYI, this post includes affiliate links. If you decide to purchase the Roam 350 through our link, TechnoBark earns a small commission at no extra cost to you.
How We Tested the Roam 350 by Heel
Before we dive into the review, I just want to quickly give you an overview of how I used it with Freya. As I’ve mentioned before, Freya’s breed (Pharaoh Hound) has an astronomically high prey drive and very poor recall when she’s on the hunt. I’m really not willing to risk letting her off-leash when we’re outside of our own property, so I didn’t have a chance to test the Roam 350 out and about.
However, we do have a pretty large fenced-in backyard. She usually has free reign over it. At night, though, I like to keep her close and supervised. Since we live in the woods, there are a lot of critters that come out in the evening and quite a few of them make their way into the yard. She will chase ANYTHING that comes into what she considers her domain. ANYTHING. She’s already been sprayed in the face by a skunk, sent terrified raccoons fleeing up trees, and scared an opossum into an “I’m playing dead” coma.
Anyway, long story short, I decided to try out the Roam 350 during her “night walks” around the yard. That way, I could keep her close to me without spending the entire time racing after her. Honestly, though, I test all GPS collars and invisible fences the same way- within the boundaries of our actual fence. I need to know that things actually work in a contained setting before I’m comfortable recommending them to you in an uncontained environment, if that makes sense.
Now that we’ve covered that, on with the show.
Features of the Heel Roam 350
Let’s start with a look at the general features. Then I’ll dive into the pros and cons.
- Autoprox™ Technology: A proximity-based system that keeps your dog within a specified range automatically.
- Off-Grid Functionality: No need for GPS, cellular service, or a subscription. It works anywhere.
- Five Boundary Settings: Choose from 10 ft, 25 ft, 75 ft, 150 ft, and approximately 750 ft to control how far your dog can roam.
- Manual Correction Range: Offers manual correction up to 350 yards (1050 ft).
- Visual Assurance LED: Both the remote and collar have LEDs to confirm the system is active.
- Two-Way Communication: Provides real-time feedback on the remote when your dog reaches the boundary.
- System Status on Remote: Easily check the connection and battery status.
- Water-Resistant Design: The collar is water-resistant, and the remote is splash-resistant.
- Long-Lasting Battery: Batteries last for days in Autoprox™ mode and over a week in manual mode.
- Sizing Options: Available in medium (12″ to 17″) and large (15″ to 24″) sizes.
- Made in the USA: Designed, manufactured, and shipped from Holland, MI by Fleetwood Electronics.
- Complete Package: Includes a remote with lanyard, collar, wall charger, contact points, test light, user manual, and a really nice weather-resistant storage bag.
Pros of the Heel Roam 350
As always, we’ll start with a quick overview of the pros, then get into more details below.
- Reasonable Cost & No Subscription Required
- Automatic Boundary Settings
- Long Battery Life
- Water-Resistant
- Three Feedback Types
- Made in the USA
Automatic Boundary Settings:
The Autoprox™ technology is a game-changer for dog owners who love off-leash adventures. With five customizable boundary settings, you can ensure your dog stays within a safe range without constantly monitoring them. I’ll go over this more below when I talk about how to use it.
Reasonable Cost & No Subscription Required:
One of the standout features of the Heel Roam 350 is that it doesn’t rely on GPS or cellular service, which means no subscription fees. You pay ONE price for the entire system, then you never have to give them another dime. This alone is a HUGE pro since nearly every other tracking and invisible fence collar on the market has moved to a subscription-based model.
Speaking of that one price, it’s actually very reasonable for what you get. While prices are always subject to change, as of today it’ll run you $399, including shipping. I know that it says “Shipping calculated at checkout” above the price, but it actually ships for free.
Long Battery Life:
With battery life that lasts several days in Autoprox™ mode and over a week in manual mode, you won’t have to worry about frequent recharging, even on extended trips.
If you do need to charge it while out and about (say, during a camping trip), it plugs into any regular old USB port (not the USB-C type). Most modern cars come with USB ports (mine is a standard Nissan Sentra 2015 without bells and whistles, and it has a port), so you could even charge it up in your car.
Water-Resistant Collar
While the collar isn’t fully waterproof (more on that in the drawbacks below), it is water-resistant. Basically, if you get caught in a rain shower or if Fido splashes around in a puddle, it should be fine.
Made in the USA:
The Heel Roam 350 is crafted with the quality and attention to detail that comes with being made in the USA by Fleetwood Electronics, a company with decades of experience in manufacturing electronics.
Drawbacks of the Heel Roam 350
- Not Fully Waterproof
- Single Collar Per Remote (for now)
- Return Shipping Fee
- Only three levels of static correction
Not Fully Waterproof:
The collar is water-resistant, but it’s not fully waterproof. This could be a limitation for dogs who love to swim, as the collar may not survive full submersion.
Single Collar Per Remote (for now):
Currently, the Roam 350 can only control one collar per remote. However, they are actively working on releasing a multi-dog version, which should be releasing soon. The current model is backwards compatible, so if you buy it now you’ll just need to update the firmware once they roll out the update. At that time, they’ll also begin selling add-on collars and multi-collar kits. I’ll update you when all of that becomes available.
Return Shipping Fee:
Although the company offers a 30-day return policy, customers are required to pay a $20 flat fee for return shipping and handling. This could be a slight inconvenience if the product doesn’t meet your expectations.
Limited Static-Correction Levels
This isn’t a major issue for me because I don’t use static correction at all, but for those who do, keep in mind that the collar only has three settings aside from off: low, medium, and high.
I do like that “Off” is the default setting. However, it’s a little too easy to accidentally turn it on (which I discovered when I was holding it in my hand). I do wish that it came with prong guards that would block the static feedback for those who don’t want to use it.
How to Use the Roam 350 Virtual Leash
The first thing, obviously, is charge up both the collar and the remote. You’ll also want to adjust the collar to fit your dog.
Since the Roam 350 doesn’t require a smartphone app, you’ll actually do everything right on the remote itself. It’s extremely easy and intuitive. The buttons are, in my opinion, pretty self-explanatory, but I labeled them for you in the picture below anyway.
When you’re off on your adventures and ready to turn everything on, hit the power button on both the remote and the collar. Again, I know that’s kind of obvious, but I thought I should mention it since some collars are always on.
Next, choose how far you want your dog to be able to roam. Hit the button with the arrow pointing up to increase the distance and pointing down to decrease it. You’ll see the indicator light above the distance buttons change to let you know that you’ve chosen the right option.
Last, decide on the type of feedback that you want to use. Basically, this means either leaving static off or choosing a setting for it. If you leave it off, the collar will default to tones and vibration.
If your dog moves beyond the boundaries that you set, first the light on the collar will turn red and let out a warning tone. Then it will vibrate, followed by a static discharge if you choose to use that feature. You can also manually hit the buttons at any point if you need to call Fido back to you or redirect him away from potential dangers.
Final Thoughts
The Roam 350 by Heel is an innovative tool for dog owners who want to give their dogs the freedom to explore while ensuring their safety. Its combination of advanced technology, ease of use, and durability makes it a strong contender in the invisible fence dog collar market.
While it has a few drawbacks, the overall benefits, particularly the no-subscription model and the Autoprox™ technology, make it a worthwhile investment for any dog owner looking to upgrade their training tools or off-the-grid adventure gear.
The Heel Roam 350 Virtual Leash is a one-of-a-kind training collar that allows you to create invisible fences on the go and keep your dog close-by even off-leash.
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