Rambo OPTIMO rug - Opinions before I buy pls

[Spyda]

As title really.

Have always brought Rambos until I tried the Duo a couple of years ago. Put me right off trying anything new from Rambo. Neck cover was too tight. Front gapped open. Stitching unpicking within months. Liners freying. Nothing as good as their old Rambo Supremes or Wug range, however, do like the liner system.

Tried Weatherbeeta Tristar's last year. Not that impressed with them this year. They're not proving water-proof enough, are leaking and letting water in. Plus, are taking an age to dry once soaked.

So.... am leaning towards trying a 6'9" Optimo. Just don't want to be disappointed again, like I was with the Duo. Just want a good quality, long lasting WATERPROOF rug which has a liner system. Comments appreciated from anyone who's experience using one this winter?

Thanks

 

[saddlesore]

Haven't got one, but WOW! What a price!! I have the premier equine trio and it is totally waterproof. This is its 3rd year and going strong.

http://www.premierequine.co.uk/acatalog/Turnout_Rugs.html

 

[Spyda]

Yeah, know they're expensive but Hey Farm on eBay are selling some ex-display ones for £195. In the size I want.

Just want a long lasting, well fitting, waterproof, excellent quality rug that my horse can winter out in, in all weathers; Including persistent heavy downpours. I always keep two of every rug, but having two wet Tristar rugs drying at the yard this morning isn't impressing me one bit. A Rambo would have dried out over night and have been ready to go on this morning. Not so the Tristar.

Am tempted by the PE Trio. Just wary as I haven't used them before for rugs. Good reports on them though. Almost everyone rates them, although did hear someone say the liner caused rubbing.

 

[saddlesore]

I started buying them a few years ago when the HW ones seemed to deteriorate quality wise, particularly the duo like you say. I've had a few of them now - for current horse and previous horse - and I really do rate them. My horse lives out in his 24/7 and never had any issues with leaking/rubbing.

I actually want a new one, but only coz I like the new red colour ha ha. Thankfully I can't afford one so no need to sit on my hands!!

 

[scarymare]

I would honestly look at the rambo supreme/extreme HW. Its smart, has good reflective bits and my horses live out 24/7 (one clipped with chaser). Five years now and going strong.

 

[Gorgeous George]

Why don't you go for a no fill rambo supreme? As long as you buy one produced for this winter it will come with the attachments for the liner system - I have one on order and can't wait for it to arrive.

 

[hotdog]

I haven't tried the Rambo but do have the premier equine one and rate it. It fits my 17.2 boy well and comes down to his knees so has good coverage. So far I've had no rubbing from it and he lives in it all the time

I did manage to get it when they had it on offer though so that helped!

 

[galaxy]

I saw one on display yesterday. It looked good in principle but my overall impression was wow it's ugly!!!!! lol!

I think there were problems with the duo when they 1st came out. This is my 2nd winter with mine and it is as good as new. No problems with the fastening, waterproofness or anything.

 

[Spyda]

Why don't you go for a no fill rambo supreme? As long as you buy one produced for this winter it will come with the attachments for the liner system - I have one on order and can't wait for it to arrive.

Now that would be ideal... if it came with the attachments. Hmmmm... Choices! Choices!

 

[terrierliz]

I bought one at the end of November - I have to say that I love the rug and it actually fits really well apart from the neck - it is far too tight and I have had alternative rings put on my rug so that I can use my masta neck covers which fit him perfectly. Oh and why sell a heavyweight rug with a no fill neck - you can buy the filled neck as an extra.

I did speak to horseware about it but they didn't want to know - told me I should just buy the bigger neck cover Well I borrowed the XL neck cover from someone and it wasn't very different.

Another gripe is the liner fittings, they are fairly flimsy plastic but I understand that this is being addressed.

I am currently trying to get hold of a 200g liner so that I can use it as a medium weight but struggling to find one.

So all in all it's a nice rug but a lot of money if you then have to have it altered buy alternative necks etc.

It will probably be my first and last rambo rug purchase - horseware's customer service has put me right off

 

[Spyda]

I bought one at the end of November - I have to say that I love the rug and it actually fits really well apart from the neck - it is far too tight and I have had alternative rings put on my rug so that I can use my masta neck covers which fit him perfectly. Oh and why sell a heavyweight rug with a no fill neck - you can buy the filled neck as an extra.

I did speak to horseware about it but they didn't want to know - told me I should just buy the bigger neck cover Well I borrowed the XL neck cover from someone and it wasn't very different.

Another gripe is the liner fittings, they are fairly flimsy plastic but I understand that this is being addressed.

I am currently trying to get hold of a 200g liner so that I can use it as a medium weight but struggling to find one.

So all in all it's a nice rug but a lot of money if you then have to have it altered buy alternative necks etc.

It will probably be my first and last rambo rug purchase - horseware's customer service has put me right off

Oooh, that puts me right off Horsewear Ireland rugs. The Duo was a huge disappointment. A real 'lemon' of a rug. That didn't do their reputation any good. And now they're falling short on customer service too. There's definitely a problem with their neck covers being big enough. It's not good enough for them to just shrug and say "tough luck" when a customer has spend over £200 on a rug. Shame on them. They need to wake up and smell the coffee before they loose their reputation all together. And I never thought I'd say that as a previously commited Rambo customer. There are too many up and coming companies for them to rest on their laurels and assume their old reputation will keep them going.
Wakey wakey Horsewear Ireland!!

 

[Izzwizz]

Dont know anything about the Optimo, but have to say I have 2 Duos. One of them is nearly 5yrs old and never had a problem with it. The newest one is the brown/cream one and its fab. A few modifications from the original one and fits well. These rugs come with a 3yr guarantee, did you not get that with yours? If so you ought to have taken it back given the problems you have detailed. Personally I wouldnt bother with the Premier Equine Trio. Very heavy when wet and not as good quality material as the Rambos.

 

[moppy2045]

Hi - I have a Rambo duo which is about 3 years old and no problems with the neck cover which is amply big enough for my boy who has quite a thick neck. I do love Horseware rugs and was considering buying the optimo rug for my other horse but this feedback has put me off so I might just buy another duo. Does anyone else have anything to add on the optimo rug before I make my mind up.

 

[marmalade76]

Have to say that I think the Optimo doesn't look like a good idea to me - I don't think it would stand the test of time like the original Rambos (I think there will be a lot of pressure in the area above the pleat and I think it will give way after a bit of wear) and the price!!

PE are much better value for money IMO.

 

[anorakarabian]

The Optimos fit big so be sure to check out the sizing codes on the Horseware website before you buy.

 

[MissGem]

They do come up bigger than normal Rambo rugs. I have a 6'6 which is too big for my boy. If anyone interested in buying, please pm me.

 

[Inchy]

Premier equine rugs are fab - I switched to them after being dissappointed with the rambo duo.

 

[TicTac]

I have to admit to loving most of the Horseware rugs and have happily spent money on them over the years , not the Optimo though. However this year my mare is in the new shaped Rambo original with an added 150g Neck cover and so far I am chuffed to bits with it. However I do agree with the comments re the neck covers. I never find any of them big enough. They come up a bit short. My 15.1 has to have a large just to get the length.

I personally would go for a supreme rather than the Optimo but thats only because I'm not keen on liner systems for turnout rugs. I,m going to spend the money on a rambo original lightweight for the spring as well!

 

[terrierliz]

As posted previously I bought one last November and had problems with the neck fit which Horsewear didn't want to know about, had some alternative fittings put on it by saddler and used an existing neck cover.

Got it out this September to use as a lightweight (no fill) and it leaked Horsewear did exchange it, eventually, through my local retailer and when I got the new one back I sent it to get neck fixings on. Got it home, tried it on him to find that the neck is now slightly filled and they must have made it larger because it fits him.

So maybe Horsewear did listen to comments and adjusted them, just a shame they didn't admit there was an issue in the first place.

They do come up large, my lad is a 6' 6" in every other rug but a 6'3" in the optimo and its still generous.