MidWest iCrate 42-Inch Two-Door Folding Dog Crate Review

Why you should trust this review

I worked from MidWest’s published spec sheet, current Amazon owner photos and reviews, and direct comparison with three competing crates at the 42 inch size. MidWest did not provide a sample and there is no editorial relationship with the brand. Where I cite a measurement or feature, the source is MidWest’s product page or aggregated owner reports.

The reason that holds up is the scale of the owner record behind this crate. The 42 inch two door is one of the most purchased dog crates on Amazon, with a 4.7 average across more than 168,000 reviews. That is the kind of long tail signal that confirms the construction is right, not just popular, because problems with a crate at that review volume surface clearly over years. My job is to tell you honestly why this is the default, and where the few real tradeoffs of a folding wire crate actually bite.

How we evaluated

I evaluated the 42 inch around the questions that decide whether a crate is the right default: is the 71 to 90 pound rating accurate for the breeds it targets, does the two door design earn its small premium, how secure are the latches against escape, and how does the value compare against the alternatives. I checked MidWest’s published 42 by 28 by 31 inch dimensions and the weight rating against how Labradors, Goldens, and German Shepherds size out. I read owner photos and reviews for long term behavior of the latches, divider, and tray. I then compared the spec and price directly against the AmazonBasics 42 inch, the Frisco Heavy Duty 42 inch, and the iCrate 48 inch to place where this crate sits in the lineup.

Two door access: more useful than it sounds

The two door design is the feature that distinguishes this iCrate from the cheaper single door 42 inch options, and in practice it matters more than a spec line suggests. The side door lets you place the crate against a wall and still have an open doorway, which is exactly the constraint you hit in living rooms and bedrooms where the crate’s wall position is fixed by the furniture. Owners who started with single door crates and upgraded to two door consistently flag this in their reviews.

Both doors share the same slide bolt latch design with secondary locks, so they are equally secure when latched, and either can be left open for free access training. The front door handles travel and middle of room access, the side door handles the against the wall placements, and the combination simply gives you more options for where the crate lives. For the small premium over a single door 42 inch, that flexibility is worth it for most owners, and it is a real reason to choose this version.

The divider panel: the housetraining feature

The included divider panel is the feature that justifies buying a properly sized crate from puppyhood rather than buying multiple crates as the dog grows. The panel slides into multiple positions, letting you reduce the usable interior to roughly half, two thirds, or three quarters of the full size. For housetraining the rule is just enough room to stand, turn around, and lie down, and the divider matches that target as the puppy grows.

This is the practical money saver for Labrador and Golden owners. A puppy that will reach 71 to 90 pounds adult belongs in the 42 inch, but a young puppy in the full 42 inch interior has too much room and may use one end as a bathroom, working against training. The divider scales the space down now and back up later, so one crate covers the whole arc from puppy to adult. Some competitors at this price sell the divider separately. MidWest includes it standard, which is part of the value calculation and one of the reasons this crate undercuts the field.

Latches, tray, and the honest tradeoffs of wire

MidWest’s slide bolt latches with secondary locks are above average for a wire crate at this price, and for most dogs they are secure. The honest caveat is escape behavior: determined escape artists, particularly anxious dogs that have learned to manipulate latches, may still get out, and for those dogs the heavier duty Frisco or Diggs crates are the appropriate step up. The latches also require a deliberate squeeze to release, which is good for security but a touch slower for the owner, a fair trade. The composite plastic tray is removable and genuinely leak proof in practice, pulling out for cleaning without moving the crate, though the surface scratches over time under dogs that paw at the floor, and replacement trays are available separately.

The two remaining tradeoffs are inherent to a folding wire crate. It is louder than a plastic crate when the dog shifts and moves, which some anxious dogs notice, and at about 35 pounds assembled it is heavy. It folds flat to roughly 4.5 inches with no tools and has a top handle, but at that weight it is more car trip portable than carry around portable. Neither is a flaw exactly, they are the nature of the format, and worth knowing before you buy.

Who should buy the iCrate 42 inch Two-Door?

Buy it if you are crate training a puppy that will grow into the 71 to 90 pound range, if you have an adult Labrador, Golden, or German Shepherd and need a properly sized crate, or if you want a folding crate that handles the standard use cases of house training, separation anxiety management, travel, and vet visits. The two door design is meaningfully more flexible for awkward room placements.

Skip it if your dog is a confirmed escape artist that has bent or unlatched cheaper wire crates, where heavy duty Frisco or Diggs is the right step up, if you need an airline approved travel crate, where a plastic vari kennel is required, or if your dog is anxious about wire frame visibility and would feel more secure in a den style plastic crate.

The verdict

The MidWest iCrate 42 inch Two-Door is the Editor’s Choice crate because it is the default most buyers should pick. The folding wire frame, two door access, included divider, and leak proof tray are the four features owners actually need, the price undercuts the equivalent Frisco and matches AmazonBasics while including the divider that some rivals charge extra for, and the 168,000 review record confirms the construction is right. The honest tradeoffs are the noise of a wire crate, latches that take a deliberate squeeze, and a 35 pound assembled weight. For crate training, owner travel, and standard household use with a large dog, this is the crate to buy.