I have Rambos and Amigos for waterproof turn outs. Prefer rambos for waterproof and riptstop qualities. In market for one more but Amigos seem to tear easier. Lower denier? Am I missing anything else out there on the market that could be equivalent but less expensive?
Look at Schneiders-- www.sstack.com. Like you, my rambos have held up better than the amigos, but ime, Schneiders are better for the money.
You can patch and mend all of the turnouts, then spray them with the waterproof stuff that they sell at sporting goods store, or Walmarts–maybe get another year or two if your horses aren’t too rambunctious.
ETA: Smartpak was offering a turnout with a ten-year guarantee. I didn’t quite believe it, but who knows? Wasn’t horribly expensive as turnouts go.
I bought several Schneiders VTEK turnouts last year, and not one is waterproof. They just get soaked right through.
Following
We’ve always bought Rambo’s and Amigos but the HFI blanket prices have recently increased by $80 to $120 per blanket here in Canada because our dollar is performing poorly. We were lucky enough to purchase 4 blankets last week at pre-increase prices but going forward there will be no more purchasing of HFI blankets unless we find some really good deals.
Some of the alternates that I have been looking at are the Pessoa’s, Centaur Turbo’s, Big D’s and the Shire’s blankets. No experience with them but the reviews seem pretty good.
- Centaur Turbo 3600D Heavyweight Turnout Blanket
- Shires Stormcheeta Combo Blanket 400g 2000D
- Big D Magnum Heavy Turnout Blanket 2100D
I have two Pessoa rainsheets with 2100D and love them, so I’ve been on the hunt for the Pessoa Tundra Heavyweight Turnout Blanket with 2100D but don’t think they are in production anymore.
I’m looking forward to other peoples opinions!
I looooove my Rambos, but I also have a ton of SSTack stuff as the cost to outfit four in Rambo last year when we moved to MN was a little … untenable.
I like the SSTack stuff a lot, and sure haven’t had the issues with waterproofing like 2miniB and others have posted about, but they’re not in the same ballpark as Rambo. And I wouldn’t expect them to be, with the cost difference. But I found them nice blankets for the price and they performed fine for me last year.
I also picked up a couple of the Shires, and I like them, too. About as much as I like the SSTack stuff. They work, and work well, but I still prefer the Rambo.
I’ve found the Centaurs to fit quite narrow. Had a few for Pigs that first winter when he was 3 and built like a 2 x 4, and they were perfect. They did not work for him at all once he sprung and developed some breadth. The turbo might fit differently, though.
Look at Turtleneck. Elastic around neck, a nice variety of weights, waterproof and come with spare parts. I have 2 different denier sheets and love them both. Stay in place and don’t seem to rub. Have a Rambo turnout blanket mostly because I like the ability to layer. If I need to replace my blanket, I will go with Turtleneck. US made and great customer service. Do recommend buying from manufacturer in Texas as ones you find elsewhere maybe older models.
My Amigo Rainsheet is crap, the first year it was alright, but now it doesn’t even repel water, retains it and he’s soaked underneath. I’ve even waterproofed it this summer before the cooler months… had one rainfall and it was soaked. UGH.
I find Rambo fits better then anything else. Tried Schneiders and had horrible shoulder rubs. Pessoa gave one of my horses the worst wither rubs AND shoulder rubs. Just didn’t fit her right, and she’s not that tricky to fit.
My 2nd choice has been the Dover International turnouts - for the price, they hold up well - you do have to re-waterproof them more often then Rambo, but I’ve gotten several years out of their blankets, and a decent fit.
Weathabeata is OK, but fit isn’t as good, and again, needs more frequent waterproofing.
I have several Rambos, and in the long run, I think they are the best blanket on the market.
The Big D Magnum blankets are extremely sturdy. I have the sheet version that is on year five and I have washed it numerous times with regular Tide. it is still 100% waterproof with not a single piece of broken hardware. It has faded a little, that’s it. I liked it so much I bought my new horse one two years ago.
I also really like Rambo but I watch for discontinued models and only buy them on sale. I have all the ugly colors. I have two in a godawful army green, for example…But, and here is the big but, Rambo does not hold its waterproofing that well. I have several that are not at all waterproof any more and I washed them much more carefully and rarely. Now I just don’t wash them except once at the end of the season on cold with blanket wash.
I don’t think “rewaterproofing” anything works particularly well but my horses live out 24/7 so I need their blankets to be really, really waterproof. I have taken to using stable blankets/sheets underneath that I can wash more regularly and just let their turnouts be nasty.
The only turnouts that don’t cause my gelding shoulder rubs are Amigo or Rambo. All the others, even weatherbeeta which is supposed to be good for big shoulders, have caused him rubs. He’s clipped in the winter and out 24/7 so he is in blankets full time from October to May.
I haven’t had any issues with my Amigo sheets losing waterproofness. And he wears them in group turnout. I’ve only had to do one repair so far.
For the people who are re-waterproofing - maybe try a different product. I found some re-waterproofing sprays to be superior to others. The Tent waterproofing spray that the hardware store has doesn’t work on the material of a turnout. But the stuff I bought from CanPro (http://www.bahrsaddlery.com/can-pro-eque-proof-waterproofing.html) worked excellent and held up through 3 days of near nonstop rain and kept my boy dry underneath that whole time and multiple rainstorms since.
I’ve fixed up an old blanker by using a silicone waterproofing by Atsko, recommended by the shoe repair shop, to seal up the back seams and where the straps attached. http://www.atsko.com/silicone-water-guard-12-oz-aerosol/
Worked well!
This year I fixed rips with a silicone seam sealer from the camping goods store. Haven’t road tested it yet, but seems pretty secure, though it does leave a lumpy clear rubber scar over the rip. http://www.mec.ca/product/4001-094/gear-aid-seam-grip-1-oz28.4g/?q=seam%2Bsealer
I wash my waterproof blankets at home, in my washer, on cold, no soap. Like the Goretex or hydro-membrane type jackets for people, that you have to wash in special “Tec Wash” or they lose their water proofing/breathability.
I have a Rambo (second hand) but find the slightly high neck is a bit tight on my horse, who has a very big shoulder.
I like the Rhino’s as a medium cost alternative between the cheap-o Amigo’s and the expensive Rambos. They make a high neck cut sheet that has lasted me several seasons with once per year waterproofing. Sometimes you can find clearance colors, but more plentiful sales in late winter/spring.
[QUOTE=silverdog;8334804]
Look at Turtleneck. Elastic around neck, a nice variety of weights, waterproof and come with spare parts. I have 2 different denier sheets and love them both. Stay in place and don’t seem to rub. Have a Rambo turnout blanket mostly because I like the ability to layer. If I need to replace my blanket, I will go with Turtleneck. US made and great customer service. Do recommend buying from manufacturer in Texas as ones you find elsewhere maybe older models.[/QUOTE]
I tried the Turtleneck rain sheet and it wasn’t waterproof. It held up ok first time but after that, forget it. They said maybe it was defective and replaced but even the replacement leaked. I loved the fit though. Who knows, maybe they fixed the problem. The membrane they use is supposed to function like Gore-tex and maybe it was a manufacturing problem.
Larbear - good to know. I alternated my 2 with a Rambo last winter when it rained non-stop and they seemed to keep the horse dry (he was living out 24/7). I will be keeping an eye out for any leaking this winter - he will be staying inside during really bad rain this year. The fit and price are awesome.
Yes.
Rambos are a better quality nylon than amigos and rhinos and hold up better than anything else I’ve tried. You pay for the quality but I have several that are over a decade old. You can patch any of them if needed and rewaterproof as needed. But anytime I have gone with something other than Rambo to save money, I’ve regretted it. The durability, fit for my horses, waterproofing, design, and hardware all are a step above everything else I’ve tried lover the years.
The Bucas turnouts that are made with ballistic nylon are ultra tough. Plus they are all made with gathers at the neckline near the point of shoulder, which fit my big TB perfectly, resulting in no rubs at all.
I couldn’t be happier with my three turnouts from Bucas.
I have the Shires stormcheetah - and have had it since 2010 and it has been indestructible. Best $200 ever spent and it’s STILL going!
I have several blankets that are getting close to a decade old - 9 years, that have held up well and are still waterproof. They are not Rambos. So it is possible to get something as nice for less $. I particularly love my Weatherbeetas, but I have a Big D Magnum sheet that’s nearly 10 years old and still waterproof with no tears, and a 6 year old Schneiders Euro cut blanket with no tears and is still water proof (and fits my chunkier mare beautifully). There was a period of time where it seemed Weatherbeeta cheaped out a bit and the quality of their blankets suffered, but they seem to have remedied this. . . Oh and Dover’s Northwind turnouts are very nice too.
My experience with Amigo has been both good and bad depending on what “level” of rug I bought. The lowest priced 600D is total crap, in my experience. I went through 3 in one winter-- two leaked badly, and the third was shredded the first night my horse wore it. He was turned out alone overnight so no buddies to tear it and it was rpiped from wither to tail. Dover finally got tired of sending me new ones and offered me one of theirs at the cheapo Amigo price which has turned out to be an excellent rug (6 yeas old now, doesn’t leak, and despite my TBs eforts no holes). I decided to try the higher level Amigo (1200D) and have been happy with those. No leaking, hold up to high jinx, and don’t kill my wallet. Mine are 4 or 5 years old now and in great shape. I am sure Rambos are better but I am pretty happy with my lower end Horseware stuff.
I have one horse that fits the Amigos perfectly but another that they don’t fit him very well.
I posted a similar thread looking for a high neck sheet for him since he insists on standing outside in bad weather. A couple people recommended the Schneiders and I bought their high neck storm shield sheet.
My review: I’ll keep it, because it’s too much of a pain in the ass to send it back, but the waterproofing is NOT GOOD. I will not buy another. I’m considering trying a cheapo Amigo in a smaller size and seeing if that fits better or dropping $200 on a Rhino Wug sheet. I want to stay DRY underneath the sheet, not just less wet!!
