Best no fill turnout rug - your opinions please

monikirk

monikirk

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Leaky rug - presently using Amigo lite turnout which is only 600D I've used it just this season but it has already got small pinprick holes over a lot of it and it's leaking quite badly. :eek:
What is the toughest rug out there that also fits chunky types - I have a friesian with quite big shoulders. :)
 
i have yet to find a waterproof no fill - at least.. not in heavy rain lasting for 2-3 days when its belting it down ;)
I really like my IVhorse rugs. Have mine on an arab (although he's on the very fine type) - and i have it on the tightest at the front - there is a lot of room for expansion as 3 hooks and a buckle system. I took to using and old rain sheet under the other rain sheet to stop the rain getting through.
 
I just bought both of mine an amigo light rug just because the fit fits my 2 the best but will only be using it in light showers.

Rhino are very waterproof and goodbut expensive.
Shires typhoon are very hardy and waterproof but, again, expensive.

Most awful lightweight rug I have ever bought is weatherbeeta. leaked within a matter of weeks and awful fit.
 
I have a Masta Zing lightweight - 600d and it is 100% waterproof to date (had it a year now).

I bought a Robinsons mediumweight in the sale and that leaks on the shoulders badly.
 
Premier Equine are the toughest rugs I have ever used, and I have tried quite a few makes:eek: Of course, a rug must fir well, and although they have fitted many of my herd very well, never shifted or leaked, that does not mean they will fit your horse well.
 
IV horse rug:

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I use my shires typhoon under the IVhorse as it also leaks with me!
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nat_1 said:
Mines got the shires tempest lite.
Im impressed with it for £25 .very deep too
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Agree with this one of mine has this rug & its fab, yesterday we had rain & snow all day just didn't stop & my boy was bone dry. So I shall be ordering another for my other boy.
 
have premier equines on our and certainly cope well with the weather, although they are heavy when wet.

I love my rhino middleweights but they don't do a lightweight with the v neck and without it I think it might be a bit tight on my boy (and they are more ££ as the PEs were in the sale ;) )
 
Shires Tempest Lite... Chunky 17hh horse has worn only this rug throughout the wettest winter I can remember... including two "hurricanes" where it lashed rain for more than 24 hours with winds up to 90mph. Horse stayed dry and rug is still going strong.

We've also found the Chillton LW from eBay very waterproof and durable (I think its 1000D?) but the max size is 6'9" and it does rub hair on shoulders slightly if he has to wear it for more than a couple of days at a time. We ended up stuck in the shires for several weeks - because in October, November and December the rain just never seemed to stop... and there were no rubs. They go up in sizes (using a 7' just now) and are pretty robust.

I do wonder if part of the effectiveness is to do with the horse, though? I know my own Goretex jackets are 100% waterproof provided I'm not cold... If I get cold, they start to let in water, and I think it's because of the way breathable fabrics with hydrophilic membrane work. Provided I'm warm, the rain can't get in because moisture is moving from inside to outside. If I get cold, it starts to go the other way. And I have a very warm horse (he can live fine with no rug in -17 and still feel warm), so maybe part of the reason his no fill rugs work is due to him? Just a whacky theory though :o
 
Brightbay said:
Shires Tempest Lite... Chunky 17hh horse has worn only this rug throughout the wettest winter I can remember... including two "hurricanes" where it lashed rain for more than 24 hours with winds up to 90mph. Horse stayed dry and rug is still going strong.

We've also found the Chillton LW from eBay very waterproof and durable (I think its 1000D?) but the max size is 6'9" and it does rub hair on shoulders slightly if he has to wear it for more than a couple of days at a time. We ended up stuck in the shires for several weeks - because in October, November and December the rain just never seemed to stop... and there were no rubs. They go up in sizes (using a 7' just now) and are pretty robust.

I do wonder if part of the effectiveness is to do with the horse, though? I know my own Goretex jackets are 100% waterproof provided I'm not cold... If I get cold, they start to let in water, and I think it's because of the way breathable fabrics with hydrophilic membrane work. Provided I'm warm, the rain can't get in because moisture is moving from inside to outside. If I get cold, it starts to go the other way. And I have a very warm horse (he can live fine with no rug in -17 and still feel warm), so maybe part of the reason his no fill rugs work is due to him? Just a whacky theory though :o
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i would tend to agree re the water being let in due to breathable rugs - when the horse is warm and maybe sweaty, the rug is designed to let the moisture out.
with my double rain rugging slows the rain is my theory :P Rain hits outer rug full pelt (but doesn't have same cooling affect as inner rug still dry?) and if outer rug leaks the water only just starts to go through so doesn't pentrate the same.:p
 
serious money but my Rambo supreme lightweight is worth every penny. Comes with a detachable neck cover. Tough, breathable and WATERPROOF!
 
Another vote for Shires rugs. I tend to order them one size up as I have cobby types with big shoulders. If I do this they fit just fine. I have the Tempest Lite rugs and also a Highlander one with a bit of fill in it (they may well do a no fill version) They never leak, haven't ripped and are still going strong at about 3 years old, and they were pretty cheap. :)
 
Have you tried the Amigo 1200D rugs? Much better than the 600D ones. I think most people would agree that any 600D turnout rug is more 'showerproof' rather than properly 'waterproof'. I have a Amigo 1200D medium weight and x3 Amigo XLs (which are the same as the 1200D but a broader fit) and can highly recommend them. My TBxWB was living out all winter in one or the other of the rugs, in all weathers and was always dry underneath, no matter how torrential the night's wind and rain had been previously.

Ditto the Rambo Supreme being a super lightweight, waterproof rug but it is very expensive. IME the Amigo 1200D is as waterproof, but at the bargain end of the range; And the Amigo 600D is only okay for summer use in light showers IMO.
 
Another vote for Shires temptest. Unfourtantly mine is ripped to bits now :( but it lasted her ages and kept her dry! Was cheap too. Will get another one.
 
Another vote for shires, been waiting for a thread to come up so I could say how good they were. Never had them before but both horses now have the tempest 100grms and the no fill highlanders, they have been out in some nasty weather and been lovely and dry, fit my tbs well but would go up for big chested horses. Really love them for the money
 
I have a Mark Todd L/W that I bought secondhand for £5 nine years ago, so goodness knows how old it is, but its still waterproof and in very good condition.
In contrast the Weatherbeeta pink and blue L/W never did fit any of my horses well and could only withstand light rain.
 
Hi Monkirk, my friesian girls wear Horze rugs with higher necks, plenty of room, have one that is 2yrs old and looks like new. Very good quality and very roomy for our friesians, my 16hh is actually in a 6'6 to give really good cover even if its a little long in depth, but the girls have no problems with them. Sadly very expensive, last rain sheet £74.00 but I think worth the cost!
 
LaurenBay said:
Another vote for Shires temptest. Unfourtantly mine is ripped to bits now :( but it lasted her ages and kept her dry! Was cheap too. Will get another one.
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I have just ordered 2 of the tempest lites from Hope valley as they doing free delivery on it at the moment :)
 
First season with a HZone, bought at Your Horse Live. Has no filling, just a thin lining and has remained dry inside despite being out for hours in heavy rain. Impressed.
Reasonable price too.
 
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