Why aren’t lightweight turnouts actually waterproof?!

[Spotherisk]

After my recent post about the waterproof back mesh bottom full neck rugs and if you could get them with the back part being 50g fill I have done nothing to improve the situation ie not bought the super duper Rambo one which I was recommended and was £££.

Horse is elderly, has shed all his winter coat and lives out (naked, all winter), but now it’s raining and I’ve put his Shires Highlander plus waterproof fly rug on and the rain just goes straight through, so now he’s soaked, with a flattened coat. The Weatherbeeta ComFiTec 600d waterproof fly is no better. Neither rug has been washed, scrubbed, reproofed etc, and they’ve been like it from day one. It’s just so frustrating! I’ve tried a 50g turnout recently and he sweated.

Just needed to vent about my sopping wet horse and useless rugs!

 

[maya2008]

Mine are?
3x ruggles (one three years old, one a year old, one bought this winter)
1x Weatherbeeta combo (new this year)
2x shires

Other than the ruggles ones, they tend to last a year then loose the proofing I find.

 

[Surbie]

My Ruggles no-fill is a sieve. I've had it 3 years and it has always leaked. I washed it and doused it in Fabsil Gold. It is still a sieve. I wish I could find one that wasn't - the 40g and 50g rugs my horse has are much better but too hot.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

It's because the denier is low and they are meant to be breathable so only really shower proof.

 

[MuddyMonster]

My Swish 1200D 0g turn out rug hasn't leaked once.

It wasn't hugely expensive at about £80-90 either.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

My Weatherbeeta Comfitec Dynamic 1200D leaks and is terrible, but my Amigo Hero 600D at half the price, and is a lighter material, is leak free and the horse stays dry underneath.

Never had any issue with my Rambo's either.

Generally when I stick with Horseware, I've done ok. Even when I've cleaned them.

 

[Fieldlife]

It's because the denier is low and they are meant to be breathable so only really shower proof.

I listened to a rug specialist podcast and apparently that is a myth.

1200 dernier rugs are tougher and more tear resistant than 600 dernier but not necessarily more waterproof.

I had a new Rambo Optimo leak, wasnt happy. Did get full refund.

I do find 50g more durable in sustained rain than 0 fill.

I have big horse, epic rugs, and mine dont leak. Though I think the no fill gets a bit damp in places if it is torrential rain all night.

 

[asmp]

My Ruggles no-fill is a sieve. I've had it 3 years and it has always leaked. I washed it and doused it in Fabsil Gold. It is still a sieve. I wish I could find one that wasn't - the 40g and 50g rugs my horse has are much better but too hot.

Same here - absolute rubbish (yet their heavier weight rugs are fine). I bought a second hand Rhino Wug and it is very good.

 

[Arzada]

Our No Fill Rambo Wug Turn Out Lite has been waterproof for the ten years we have owned it. Washed only once with plain water and sponge. It was secondhand from eBay. Generally Arzada is unrugged but rugged on wet windy days so the Wug is used on average about 10 days per year. I don't really like no fills when it's cold and windy and then the 100g comes out to play.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

My Rhino no fills have never leaked and they are both 7 years old. I had one Shires and never again.

 

[GoldenWillow]

I've weatherbeeta 600d and 1200d no fill turnouts, one 6ish years old one about 4. The 1200 is fully waterproof in the heaviest of rain, the 600 will let a little through on the back in that rain, maybe I've just got lucky? Neither have been washed though, I'll scrub the inside with cold water and hose the outer off but that's it. I've never found any rugs to be fully waterproof after being washed.

 

[sassandbells]

I’ve been quite lucky I think, the PE waterproof fly rug I have has remained waterproof for a few years now, keeps the worst off their backs but they do get soggy round the sides, would be no good for the wind we have at the mo.

Both of mine are out in no fills at the moment, one Weatherbeeta 1200d and one PE, neither have leaked. GoldenWillow makes a good point though, none of mine have been properly washed and have been going a few years now!

 

[dorsetladette]

Both mine are in on fills with no problem. Whent he weather particularly bad water runs under the ncks and sometimes up from the back, but as a rule I haven't had leaks as such. Currently ours are in a derby house and a weatherbeeta (bought second hand).

Old B used to get clammy under a no fill in spring but not wet from rain.

 

[Tiddlypom]

If the weather down south is as wild as the weather here today, then most waterproof fly rugs would not really be up to the challenge.

The Rambo summer series would indeed have at least kept his back dry, though.

Re no fill rugs, Rambo turnouts again rock, mine never leak. The oldest ones are going on for 20 years old, get washed and reproofed annually, and while now getting very worn they are still watertight.

 

[JBM]

Weatherbeeta rugs usually come with a warranty so if they’re leaking I would send them back! My girl has this one I had a problem with the buckles on the first rug and they sent me a new one no charge and paid for the shipping for me to return old one
Never leaks only 50g

 

[criso]

I've got a Rhino and an older Weatherbeetas freestyle 1200 which never leak. I sold Amigo, Gallop and Pessoa 600d as they all leaked from day 1

 

[Mrs B]

My Ruggles no-fill is a sieve. I've had it 3 years and it has always leaked. I washed it and doused it in Fabsil Gold. It is still a sieve. I wish I could find one that wasn't - the 40g and 50g rugs my horse has are much better but too hot.

I found the same ... twice!
Against my better judgement, I thought maybe the first one simply hadn't been proofed properly.

My PE sheet however, is still fab after several years.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I listened to a rug specialist podcast and apparently that is a myth.

1200 dernier rugs are tougher and more tear resistant than 600 dernier but not necessarily more waterproof.

I had a new Rambo Optimo leak, wasnt happy. Did get full refund.

I do find 50g more durable in sustained rain than 0 fill.

I have big horse, epic rugs, and mine dont leak. Though I think the no fill gets a bit damp in places if it is torrential rain all night.

I find 50g rugs are more waterproof than no fill as well I try not to use no fill if it's torrential.

 

[sakura]

None of my no fills (600D or 1200D) have ever stood up to serious rain. I don't wash them, ever. They're okay in a shower, useless in prolonged heavy rain. 50g is great though.

 

[DressageCob]

I've got a no fill Rhino rug with a neck that's brilliant. That is definitely leak proof. I've also got a cheap and cheerful rug with tractors on it (Hy StormX I think it's called) and that's waterproof too. My old Amigo lightweights were always hit and miss.

 

[SEL]

My Ruggles 100g is for dry weather or light showers only Weatherbeeta no fill ok but I've got 50g for the ponies now for torrential rain.

 

[NinjaPony]

I have a shire waterproof fly rug and it’s great for unexpected showers but it’s not designed for proper downpours like today, the mesh lets that kind of rain in.

My 50g amigo is very waterproof, unfortunately I find those without a neck tend to leave him with wet shoulders! My no fill amigo is fine for summer rain but not storms like this.

 

[marmalade76]

Because they have no fill, it's the tent theory, if something is touching the inside of a tent, the wet will soak though, if not, it won't. The fill in a rug acts like the gap between a tent's outer and it's liner, in a no fill rug, you don't get that gap.

 

[splashgirl45]

I had an amigo 50g with neck cover and it never leaked, I used to get it cleaned and reproofed once a year, also had a gallop which didn’t leak.

 

[Spotherisk]

Unfortunately the is sweating the the 50g ones, the field is well sheltered with trees. If he hadn’t dropped all his winter coat I would have left him naked, he’s gone fro a hairball to nude in about a week.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I have a broad selection from Amigo rainsheet, through Shires Tempest 100g, Weatherbeeta dynamic comfitec 100g and 200g, el cheapo 40g from feed store, Shires 300g (rarely used) etc, not one has leaked. All only ever hosed off in the summer.

The only outdoor rug I bought for little A was a ruggles full neck no fill. It leaked like a bloody sieve from day 1, I gave up arguing in the end, that was 5 yrs ago. On rare occasions she wears a v v old rainsheet that I was given.

 

[Lady Jane]

Because they have no fill, it's the tent theory, if something is touching the inside of a tent, the wet will soak though, if not, it won't. The fill in a rug acts like the gap between a tent's outer and it's liner, in a no fill rug, you don't get that gap.

Excellent explanation!

 

[Lady Jane]

You haven't a hope unless its 1200d. Swish say its condensation as there is a lack of air flow with a no fill and although all their rugs are 1200d they specifically state you will have damp under your no fill. It sounds like you have a warm horse if he's sweating in 50g so I think you will have a problem with no fill rugs

 

[Lady Jane]

My Swish 1200D 0g turn out rug hasn't leaked once.

It wasn't hugely expensive at about £80-90 either.

I haven't got the no fill but I have the 50g & 100g and I'm really pleased with how they are wearing - and the liners work well when you need more warmth. I converted from Horseware partly because they fitted my horse better and partly they are a good price

 

[poiuytrewq]

My Swish 1200D 0g turn out rug hasn't leaked once.

It wasn't hugely expensive at about £80-90 either.

My horse has been in a Swish LW this week and has been out all night in some torrential rain. He’s been bone dry. Super impressed, he’s not. It’s pink