I need an upgrade from my now elderly Rambo midweight for my retired (23 year old) mare who is on pasture board; out 24/7 with no run-in shed. She has always done fine with my Rambo sheet and the midweight, but they are showing their years - so I thought I’d ask on here for opinions about the Tough 1, it’s certainly much cheaper, but seems to get great reviews…MOSTLY concerned about how “waterproof” it really is!!
TIA!
Tough 1 brand is hot garbage.
Ah, yikes - thanks! Have you had personal experience?
I have a sample size of one (a boarder who had one), but I have to agree with @Djones. It wouldn’t stay waterproof for anything, and it was being treated very lovingly. Would not take one for free, much less pay money for one.
Jeeez. Good to know, though!
Tough 1’s fit my minis oddly. Very small through the chest and shoulders. I have to add a piece in the front to get them to work. Waterproofing was ok and they ARE warm but I would not buy again because of the fit issues. Not sure if these observations carry over to the big horse blankets though.
QFT.
Those things fall apart if you look at them.
The whole brand is cheap and poorly made, no exceptions
Wow - I guess you get what you pay for! (at least in this case.)
Agree this brand is garbage. Bought a rain sheet that soaked through in about an hours in a light rain. Useless.
Huh. My sister uses them and likes them - I think she’s had just the original ones for several years now - but then her horses are two (mostly) quiet elderly retired Standardbreds who have been together for years and don’t rip at each other, and they wear them for winter warmth in central NH when there’s not a lot of wet. And I don’t think she washes them between seasons. I’d have to ask her if they’re still waterproof.
I have an even cheaper blanket - “Showman” picked up super cheap from Chicks at Equine Affaire - and it’s been through 2 winters with just a small rip in the (very thin fabric) lining. I also don’t wash, since I only blanket when it’s near or below zero (and not always then), so no mud plus there aren’t as many of those nights any more - and just our pair of horses, so not a lot of abuse.
Just to say that these cheap blankets have a place, though that would not be with an active or playful horse, or a larger number of horses or a herd that’s reworking dynamics for any reason - and also apparently not when wet is an issue, at least if you want more than a season from it.
(I also impulse-purchased a cheap Jeffers rain sheet that I’ve now used 2 years, a bit each fall & spring, and last time it was in the rain it was waterproof. I have “washed” it - washing machine but no soap - as it gets used when the ground is muddy. It was fine last year after that, & we’ll see how it is this fall. But it has a use even if it isn’t waterproof, as it’s blaze orange hunting season wear. But it just shows that I’m kind of the opposite of a connoisseur of fine blankets!)
I have one and it’s held up remarkably well for some reason. I re-waterproof it every year and haven’t had any issues with it so far.
I have one and no complaints, it has held up two seasons going into a third
I have one and no complaints. So far three years and still waterproof, but light use. It’s really warm and doesn’t seem to breath as well as other brands, but for the money it’s a decent blanket.
From the varying responses, it seems like maybe there are some quality control issues with these blankets.
I wouldn’t recommend it! mine got ripped off along the stitches and it gets soaked after just few drops of rain.
I have one that’s about 3 years old and has been a useful, warm blanket that hasn’t rubbed and has stayed waterproof.
Cant speak for waterproof, but I use Tough 1 fly sheets for my horse, and also have a Tough 1 “windbreaker” type sheet. Now admittedly my horse is easy on his clothes, but the fly sheets last me quite a long time - easily a year or more in Florida. I’ve had the sheet probably 5 years, but it only gets worn maybe a dozen times throughout our winter…
I also admit to being cheap and having a zebra fetish…
Nothing could make me order a T1 blanket, but man - your zebra is a serious cutie!
He knows it too.
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