why can't waterproof rugs actually keep out the water

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Jesstickle

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Poor old BH was damp this morning under his rug. Grrr. It isn't particularly old and it hasn't even been washed yet. Light weight rugs are totally hopeless. It's a Shires something or other so not even a total cheapo one. Have changed him into his weatherbeeta which also lets in the rain if it really goes for it! Perhaps I should just paint them with PVA glue. That would keep the rain out. Grrr grr grr. Cross now.
 
I had a lightweight rug leak like a sieve, when I phoned to complain I was told it wasnt meant to be water proof, just shower proof!!!
 
jesstickle said:
Poor old BH was damp this morning under his rug. Grrr. It isn't particularly old and it hasn't even been washed yet. Light weight rugs are totally hopeless. It's a Shires something or other so not even a total cheapo one. Have changed him into his weatherbeeta which also lets in the rain if it really goes for it! Perhaps I should just paint them with PVA glue. That would keep the rain out. Grrr grr grr. Cross now.
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I left little tb out last night with her Shires lightweight on, I didn't realise we were due for quite such heavy rain.
... She was soaked through and shivering this morning. I know she's a wimpy tb, but I felt very mean :(
 
I was told (by a Fal salesperson) that rugs are only waterproof if the outer layer and the lining are not in contact with each other, which is why Fal lightweight rugs have 40g of fill. This also helps them to be breathable so even though they've got filling in them they sould be cool enough. I must admit that my Fal lightweight is the only one that keeps the water out completely.
 
annagain said:
I was told (by a Fal salesperson) that rugs are only waterproof if the outer layer and the lining are not in contact with each other, which is why Fal lightweight rugs have 40g of fill. This also helps them to be breathable so even though they've got filling in them they sould be cool enough. I must admit that my Fal lightweight is the only one that keeps the water out completely.
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This^^^^^^ which is why if we are expecting more than a showers I use one with 'some' fill.
 
This is a subject close to my heart as it really p***es me off.

After a few bad experiences and avoiding rugs that are marketed as showerproof I started buying Rhino ones with no fill and for years these have been totally waterproof. However the new ones I bought last year are useless and have leaked since day one - at about £90 each this really annoys me.

I also bought 100g liners for them so they could be an inbetween rug for autumn & spring but the shape of the necks are so bad that all the water runs in. The liners then get soaked and it seems to soak right back so they are wet right back to their shoulders.

I too tried the Fal 40g ones and OMG their 40g ones are as warm as Horseware 200g ones! Again more money wasted as the rugs were far too warm to wear in summer rain.

If someone on here wants to manufacture a LIGHTWEIGHT WATERPROOF rug that actually works I'll be your first customer :D
 
You need a minim of 1000 Denier for a rug to be waterproof (rather than showerproof). And most lightweight rugs are only 600 Denier. So anything more than a light shower and they will saturate.
 
amymay said:
You need a minim of 1000 Denier for a rug to be waterproof (rather than showerproof). And most lightweight rugs are only 600 Denier. So anything more than a light shower and they will saturate.
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This! I never get 600D ones, it's a pain because not as many people do higher than that for rain sheets, and they do tend to be more expensive, but they're more waterproof and better lasting I've found.. xx
 
sonjafoers said:
This is a subject close to my heart as it really p***es me off.

After a few bad experiences and avoiding rugs that are marketed as showerproof I started buying Rhino ones with no fill and for years these have been totally waterproof. However the new ones I bought last year are useless and have leaked since day one - at about £90 each this really annoys me.

I also bought 100g liners for them so they could be an inbetween rug for autumn & spring but the shape of the necks are so bad that all the water runs in. The liners then get soaked and it seems to soak right back so they are wet right back to their shoulders.

I too tried the Fal 40g ones and OMG their 40g ones are as warm as Horseware 200g ones! Again more money wasted as the rugs were far too warm to wear in summer rain.

If someone on here wants to manufacture a LIGHTWEIGHT WATERPROOF rug that actually works I'll be your first customer :D
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I sent my Rambo back TWICE!! as it leaked

The shires 100g is fab only 600g but waterproof! and not mega hot either
 
I've given up on lightweights completeing - I find that, even if they do keep the rain out, after a while mine still end up shivery becuase they don't trap any warm air in so it's just like a massive cold sheet on them - and they shiver cos the rest of them is cold! If it's cold/wet enough for a rug i just use medium weights now and make sure to take off as soon as it dries out - but then I'm lucky as I live near the yard and only work 20 mins away so i can cycle over in my lunchbreak if need be...
 
We use the Amigo 1200D rainsheets and they have never leaked. A friend got one of the Lite ones which are 600D and hers leaks like a sieve in anything other than a very slight shower.

Its difficult at this time of year, mine would melt if I put their 40g FALs on at the moment.
 
VioletStripe said:
This! I never get 600D ones, it's a pain because not as many people do higher than that for rain sheets, and they do tend to be more expensive, but they're more waterproof and better lasting I've found.. xx
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Yes, yes, yes! 600D may be cheaper but as they leak it's a waste of money. Also 1000D last longer.
 
The 2 Rhinos I bought last year are 1000 denier and they are worse than useless. I'm not sure what's going on with Horseware rugs but they aren't the quality they used to be.

Soulfull my brand new Rambo lightweights leaked too which is why I sent them back & ended up with Rhinos - which also leak!
 
ISHmad said:
We use the Amigo 1200D rainsheets and they have never leaked. A friend got one of the Lite ones which are 600D and hers leaks like a sieve in anything other than a very slight shower.

Its difficult at this time of year, mine would melt if I put their 40g FALs on at the moment.
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I should have said about the Fal 40g rugs, that I haven't tested their theory on them being cool as my boy just gets rained on in the summer. He doesn't wear any rugs, even the 40g lightweight until mid October.
 
annagain said:
I should have said about the Fal 40g rugs, that I haven't tested their theory on them being cool as my boy just gets rained on in the summer. He doesn't wear any rugs, even the 40g lightweight until mid October.
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I learnt from experience that they are definately NOT cool, and wasted over £200 on them. If I had searched on here first and seen that everyone who has them says they are as warm as a normal 200g mediumweight I would never have bought them. Lesson learnt :D
 
I've never had my rhino or rambo leak, and Be spent nearly all of last winter in her LW rhino. :) She certainly didn't have one on last night though, the fatty! :D

I completely agree some other brands are no use though. I've bad bad experiences with Masta and Rhinegold.
 
I'm learning a lot here. I think I may need to invest in a new rug wardrobe.

I've recently taken to leaving my horse naked unless I am free to get to the yard quickly as she seems better this way than with a cold wet rug on. I've now covered them all in a reproofer spray but haven't been brave enough to try them yet. Does anyone have any experience of these?
 
annagain said:
I was told (by a Fal salesperson) that rugs are only waterproof if the outer layer and the lining are not in contact with each other, which is why Fal lightweight rugs have 40g of fill. This also helps them to be breathable so even though they've got filling in them they sould be cool enough. I must admit that my Fal lightweight is the only one that keeps the water out completely.
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Yep, just like a tent, if you've got something inside that's touching the outer layer, wet will soak through.

IME the best, most waterproof rugs are those made of ballistic nylon, ie Rambo, some PE and some Fal.
 
It just annoys me as my waterproof, no fill coat is just that. Waterproof. How difficult can it be to make a rug that is the same?!

O well, what can you do? I'm not buying more lightweight rugs, he'll just have to go without and get wet!
 
I have 3 lightweights (no fill). The Masta was never more than showerproof, and isn't even that now, but both the Shires are absolutely perfectly waterproof, despite one of them being second-hand off Ebay. I have an elderly non-brand lightweight with a tiny amount of fill which I use if I know it is going to be seriously wet as being a tad heavier, doesn't blow up and let the rain underneath.
 
I don't understand why Fal say rugs have to have fill to be waterproof - my old Rhino no fills were certainly waterproof and the plethora of Gore-Tex jackets hanging up in my house don't have any fill and they manage to keep me dry!
 
jesstickle said:
It just annoys me as my waterproof, no fill coat is just that. Waterproof. How difficult can it be to make a rug that is the same?!

O well, what can you do? I'm not buying more lightweight rugs, he'll just have to go without and get wet!
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Ah just seen this jesstickle - great minds...!!
 
arizonahoney said:
I use Bucas Smartex Rain...pretty good... And if you have a pony, very reasonably priced :o
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Sadly I have a hulking great lump of a horse that wears a 6'9'' rug. And Nitty obviously but she hardly ever has a rug on as she doesn't seem to care about being cold or wet.

I should probably just sew together a load of waterproof jackets, tape the seams and make a coat that way. I'd have more luck I think :D
 
i have found no-fill premier Equine and Bucas rugs to stay dry.

I've only ever had bad experiences with Shires - false economy and even the heavyweights leak, or at the very least absorb water.

It really is (unless you have a rug trasher) worth buying the best quality turnout rugs you can.

Masta, Rhinegold, Gallop, Shires I have never found to be good fits or waterproof.

Weatherbeetas are normally ok when new, but start to leak / absorb water in their second year.

Rambo, Bucas, Rhino, FAL and Premier Equine have all been excellent rugs and stayed waterproof after years of use.
 
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