MidWest iCrate Review: The Wire Crate Every Puppy Owner Ends Up Buying Anyway

The iCrate has been around long enough, and sold in high enough numbers, that it has basically become shorthand for "wire dog crate." It shows up in vet office recommendations, puppy-training guides, and rescue adoption checklists as the default option, and the review count backs that up. Owners consistently point to the same reasons: it folds flat with a single carrying handle for easy storage or travel, it assembles without tools in a few minutes, and the heavy-duty slide-bolt latches feel more secure than the flimsier clips on cheaper imitators.

A big part of the appeal is the included divider panel. Instead of buying a small crate for puppy months and a bigger one later, you can buy the size your dog will be as an adult and use the divider to shrink the space down while they are small, which matters for house training since dogs generally will not soil an area they have to sleep in. Combined with sizes running from 18 inches up to 54 inches, it covers everything from a Chihuahua to a Great Dane under one product line, which is a big reason it keeps showing up as the top pick across so many different households.

For everyday use, most owners describe the iCrate as easy to live with. It folds down flat for storage or car trips, which matters if you crate train at home but also want a travel option for visiting family or a weekend trip. The removable plastic pan makes cleanup straightforward when a puppy has an accident or tracks in mud, since you can just slide it out, hose it off, and slide it back in without dealing with the whole crate.

The slide-bolt door latches are a frequently mentioned upgrade over bargain wire crates, which often use simple clips that a nose-savvy dog can eventually figure out how to nudge open. On the iCrate, the latches take a deliberate hand motion to release, so most dogs are not opening the door on their own. Between the divider, the tray, and the fold-flat design, it is built around the basic mechanics of crate training rather than any extra features, which is likely why it has stayed popular through so many product cycles without much redesign.

The iCrate is a budget-friendly wire crate, and it behaves like one. Dogs that chew or paw at their crate with real determination can bend or warp the wire over time, so this is not the right choice for a known escape artist or a dog with severe crate anxiety that manifests as biting the bars. The plastic pan, while convenient, can crack or warp after enough time and cleaning cycles, especially if it is left out in direct sun or handled roughly. Some owners also note that the assembly wire can have small sharp edges or burrs right out of the box that are worth checking and sanding down before your dog spends unsupervised time inside. And functionally, it looks exactly like what it is: a wire cage. If you want a crate that blends into a living room as a piece of furniture, this is not it.

For crate training a puppy, or giving an adult dog a consistent, secure space at home, the iCrate is a sensible starting point precisely because it is inexpensive and covers the size range of nearly any dog. If your dog turns out to be gentle with their crate, it will likely serve them for years. If they turn out to be a chewer or a determined escape artist, you will find out relatively cheaply and can look at a heavy-duty or reinforced crate for the next round.

It is worth doing a quick check of the welded wire edges before first use and sanding any rough spots you find, and keeping an eye on the plastic pan over time for cracks. If your dog shows signs of significant crate-related anxiety or destructive behavior beyond normal puppy adjustment, it is a good idea to talk to your vet or a trainer about the underlying cause rather than assuming a different crate alone will fix it.