Is the Thermatex Original Cooler Rug worth the money?

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Really considering getting one of these as I've heard good reviews but the price tag is the only thing holding me back at the mo! About £117.35....
Also, how long does it take for them to arrive? I've heard tales of 3 to even 6 weeks!
Basically, are they worth it!?
 
Yes they are. Incredibly good quality, versatile rugs.

Phone them and see if they've got the colours you want in stock, and if not, ask them how long for delivery.
 
Imo worth it :)

I am sill using one that is over 20 years old, and have bought a couple in the last few years.

There is usually a wait if you want particular colours, but if you ring them with your size they will tell you what colours they have in stock.
 
They are worth it. I have one I bought from YHL a few years ago for £50. (Back when you could get deals like that...) But having bought one I would not hesitate to buy another at full price. That said - the price tag is high and the weatherbeeta coolex is almost as good but less than half the price. Probably won't last as long though.
 
I paid up for one and although it is VERY FINE fine I'm not really convinced it was worth the extra. A cheap fleece cooler seems to do the job just as well.
 
Nothing you buy for a horse will be more worth it than one of these wonderful rugs .
Wash it in woolite or similar to keep it in good shape for longer and never let them get too dirty .
My oldest one will have its 30ith birthday this year still used every day in winter it's no longer a going out rug it's a wears after work or a bath at home rug.
 
Sorry to hijack, OP, but what is the sizing like as I've heard they are a bit odd. A friend has had one for at least 15 years and it's still like new and she says it's the best item she's had for her horses...Lucky thing won it in a show.

I live not too far from their factory and am keeping an eye out for the factory sale, which I'm led to believe has very good offers.
 
They are brilliant. Apparently they come up a size bigger than normal. Although I was talked into buying the 6'6 at a show and it's definitely a bit too small for my horse who is normally 6'9 - so I am not sp sure this is the case. Luckily I also have a horse who is 6'6, but it means I will need another one.

If you don't mind second hand keep an eye on ebay as you can find them there in good condition.
 
Brilliant. I bought one for my first horse 18 years ago, still going strong although had to have one of the straps replaced but only because non-horsey OH made a dog's bed out of it and the dog chewed the strap!
 
yes they are worth the money - they work extremely well, last for years, are very versatile and they seem to 'mould' to the horse so most of them seem very comfortable when wearing them. Fleece rugs don't come close.

If you order very specific colourways (as we did) then they can take a while to arrive as they have to be made to order - but what's a few weeks when the rug lasts for many years!
 
I bought mine when I was 18 or 19 years old, and I am now 49! At first it was a travel only rug, but after it got scruffy it became a round the yard rug.

They do come up a bit large, and I would not use overnight as I found that mine pulls back onto the withers, as the rug is soft and stretches backwards. On their own they pick up shavings badly.

The rug looks a right old sight, rips and tears, paint, rust on the buckles, but it is a real old workhorse. It washes well.

I did replace with a Coolex for travel, which is about half as thick, and also a lapel rug, which is nice. So, although I thought mine was fab, I have in fact replaced with something else.
 
I find they come up quite big. My horse takes a 6ft3 in any rug yet his 6ft6 Thermatex swamps him.
I don't think I would pay for one again. Find my £30 waffle rugs just as useful :)
 
Yes. I have 3, 2 original and one stable and I think they're really useful and well worth the money. The first one I bought 18 years ago, has since had a replaced strap and a patch but still going strong.
 
Definitely not IMO.

I won one, and had it a long time, and barely ever used it.

I found as someone else mentioned, it pulled back as stretch, an couldn't be left on over night.

It also picked up shavings horrendously.

I used it very occasionally after bathing / travel rug. I sold it.

I use old towels and waffle rugs after washing, and the PE brown liners (with full straps and fleece underneath) - these are useless as under rugs as stick to horse, but great as wicking travel rugs / drying rugs. And don't slip back, and don't pick up hay and shavings.
 
LouisCat said:
I find they come up quite big. My horse takes a 6ft3 in any rug yet his 6ft6 Thermatex swamps him.
I don't think I would pay for one again. Find my £30 waffle rugs just as useful :)
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Yes, they're a size BIG so if you bought your 6'3 horse a 6'6 thermatex it will swamp the horse.

I love mine, if horses come in soaked it drys them off in around 30 minutes.
 
I have had two and yes they are good rugs. However I just bought a Derby House one for £20 in the sale and it works equally well and is very good quality. I would never pay for a thermatex one again when cheaper and just as good quality alternatives are around.
 
I bought mine second hand unused so super pleased. If you are not in hurry you can find them cheaper.

It is quite heavy though and my horse is too warm in it so I only use it in the winter. In the summer I far prefer a Mark Todd cooling rug with the mesh on the bottom half as haven't found a Thermatex summer weight one on the cheap yet.

They come up big.
 
Watch out for mice - I have a lightweight one and they used big parts of it for bedding! It doesn't look quite so smart now it has been patched.
 
Depends what you intend to use it for.
They are excellent winter drying off/travelling rugs.
I generally find they are too warm for summer use and too stretchy/pick up dirt for general use in stable or as under rug.

Not much surpasses them though for quality and durability.

I got a M2M Lansdown equivalent many years ago which is superb but I'm not sure they are made any more. The front fastening is much better and it's reinforced better around the shoulder so doesn't pull back like a thermatex if used as under rug.
 
Totally worth it. Until we sold them (too small and too big) we still had our first ones from over 10 years ago!

They do come up big.
 
I brought one second hand and to behonest it was a disappointment.

It pulls back on the horse and stretchs, it also gets dirty very easily.
Only use it for drying horse in winter if sweaty ir had a wash down other than that it stays in the cupboard.

The lovesan waffles or the Weatherbeeta therma cell is much better
 
LouisCat said:
I find they come up quite big. My horse takes a 6ft3 in any rug yet his 6ft6 Thermatex swamps him.
I don't think I would pay for one again. Find my £30 waffle rugs just as useful :)
Click to expand...

9tails said:
Yes, they're a size BIG so if you bought your 6'3 horse a 6'6 thermatex it will swamp the horse.

I love mine, if horses come in soaked it drys them off in around 30 minutes.
Click to expand...


Sorry brain wasn't working... I meant his 6ft3 Thermatexcomes up like a 6ft6!
 
Yes, absolutely worth the money. They do come up big, so I bought a 6'9 instead of a 7'. I also got an exercise rug in bright yellow for hacking out in - which was brilliant in cold weather.
 
Yes, if you've got the money to buy one then you won't be disappointed; they're an investment.

If you don't actually have the money, then there are several similar alternatives around that are also pretty nice (though don't have the edge on Thermatex, hence the price difference).
 
I went for the PE version (in the sale) and don't regret it after reading reviews about them stretching, PE one looks as new after a year of abuse. Use it as a cooler even in summer/winter rain or shine, fab bit of kit!
 
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