Northwind vs Pessoa vs Smartpak

[LuckOfTheIrish91]

I hope this is the correct forum to put this on. I’m shopping for a new medium-blanket for my elephant of a horse. He is a 17.3" Irish Sporthorse. Some 84’s fit him well some 87’s fit him well and 86’s fit him really well. I’ve had Pessoa’s for him as well as EOUS brand. Both worked out well and both lived about 3-4 years. Now it is time for me to buy a new one and so many blankets have the 10 year to life guarantee.

I’m looking at the Northwind Turnout from Dover, The Smartpak Ultimate Turnout, or another Pessoa. What are your opinions? I’ve never dealt with Northwind of Smartpak Ultimates.

For what it is worth, this horse isn’t a rough player by any means. Most his blankets get torn from others trying to get him to play. He’d rather be a loner and eat.

Thanks!

Or…should I consider a weatherbeeta Freestyle detach a neck?

[IndyEquestrian]

Okay. . . Take my advice for what its worth, which isn’t much. . . I don’t do the Dover blankets, because. . .shipping. . . it’s ridiculous.

The older Pessoa’s were nice, I don’t know much about the new ones.

I do know SmartPak stands behind their blankets, so out of the 3 that is the one I would go with, and we are competitors!

My favorite blankets will always be Rambo and Bucas, they fit well and last forever and aren’t that much more expensive. I have hard to fit horses, and these never rub, so that is what I use.

[Simkie]

The first year or two the Smartpak blanket was on the market, it was well reviewed but if you really dug into them, there was a LOT of “buckles broke a week in, but SmartPak replaced the blanket right away, so five stars!” and “my horse totally shredded it, but SmartPak was great about the replacement–five stars!”

I’ve not looked closely at the reviews since, so no idea if there’s been an improvement, but it’s something to keep an eye out for, for sure.

I’m with Indy in that I love the Rambos. I do have a lot of SSTack stuff, too.

[bambam]

I have had a lot of northwinds over the years and they have tended to hold up really well, especially for the price. I have a couple that are more than 10 years old.
The current gelding herd at my barn is very mouthy and playful and when the ding dongs destroyed one only a couple of weeks after I bought it, Dover took it back no questions asked (did not even open the garbage bag I had put the remains of it in) and handed me a new one (they stood by their product which was not my experience with Horseware). Yes, Dover shipping is ridiculous but I think it evens out because the northwinds are very reasonably priced.

[whitney159]

I can tell you more come spring, because I just ordered a northwind medium for a friend’s horse at my barn, and two of the smartpaks. I’ve used the northwind in the past and honestly they do hold up well and fit good and stay waterproof. The northwinds I’m replacing are from 2006 (one of them, and the other from maybe 2005?). ON the 2005 model-The fabric holding the round little trim cord is coming completely apart on one (zero real effect on blanket integrity, cut it off and was fine). It got a two inch gash in it last year, a little thread and some Rambo repair and it was working just fine again. I feel like it’s done it’s job and can work as a back up, but want to go into winter with a new one (in PURPLE!).
For the other northwind from 2006-still OK, has one one inch gash which I will sew up and the trim is again, falling apart but plan to cut that off too when the time comes. I have a yearling filly who can now fit into that blanket (78") so am trying the new Smartpak with the 10 year guarantee for the mare and letting the yearling wear the hand me downs.
Last year I bought a SStack blanket for the baby and for the price was amazed at the quality.
I have an old Rambo Wug (purple one)-bought from a flood sale in like 2002 that has held up for my gelding through last year, but going into this year, the straps holding the buckles are wearing through and yes, it’s done it’s job (13 years come on). So that will go to the filly as well for now and serve as a back up.
Dover shipping is ridiculous, I was considering getting their credit card just to cover that cost, but just HATE to cave to the pressure!

[beowulf]

Dover’s Northwind, by far. All else pales. Tough material, looks new after multiple seasons, good waterproofing, and a life time warranty. This means that when a hardware snaps ten years from now, you can replace it for the cost of shipping. Honestly I have NO problem paying $24.95 to ship my old blanket back for a new one… All of our horses have Northwinds now, each of them on their (at least) 3rd season - they all look brand new, retained water proofing and are tough. MY only ONLY quip with Northwind (and you will find this true along the entire Northwind line) is that the reflective material is not very weather-resistant - after the first freeze it gets very brittle and breaks… but this does not affect the integrity of the blanket so I honestly don’t give a flip.

I had a GORGEOUS Pessoa winter blanket with reportedly high count denier. I absolutely coveted it. I got it for my gelding right before he passed and never got to use it. It was beautiful grey black and charcoal pattern…

Put it on the new gelding 2 yrs later (It’d been sitting in ORIGINAL PACKAGING, never used!) and no joke, 5 m into new gelding wearing it, it got ripped open from the shoulder to the hip by his paddock mate, who is a confirmed biter. I watched the whole thing happen and honestly it was like a child ripping open Christmas wrapping over a present. It even made the same noise. Of course I couldn’t replace it.

That Northwind, however, has sustained multiple bites from confirmed-biter and has not ripped. At all. And when it does, I can replace it for next to nothing. Endlessly.

I don’t do Smartpak after a bad experience, which is is a shame because I do really like some of their stuff. They refused to take back a blingy browband I got when the bling came off two days within use because the browband was a sale item. I see they’re finally catching up to Dover regarding blanket warranties but I’ve seen from friends they can be kind of wishy-washy on the policy.

[GPSM]

I don’t have personal experience with the SmartPak or Pessoa blankets, but I can definitely say that my gelding’s Rambo has held up better (and for longer) than his Northwind did. He’s low on the totem pole in a frat house (turnout with several other geldings).

Rambos and Northwinds don’t fit my mare, so she wears Weatherbeeta Freestyle (lower denier than Rambo or Northwind) and Turtlenecks. She’s a boss mare in turnout.

I think a really big part of it is turnout conditions and pecking orders - not so much your horse, but rather, other horses.

[pacific_jumper]

I love love love my bucus blankets. I currently have a rain sheet, winter turnout, neck cover, and two stable blankets (which I won and save for special occasions/shows). The turnouts have held up great, although my mare is not particularly hard on blankets. I am going into my fourth winter with the same ones. Her back is never wet, and I love the way the chest area is designed. They have never given my sensitive red head a rub.

[LDavis104]

My Northwind sheet is the only blanket I own that hasn’t ripped. I haven’t used Pessoa or Smartpaks ultimate one to compare, but the Northwind material is VERY tough.

[LuckOfTheIrish91]

I’m tempted for the Northwind at this point after so many good reviews. I hate Dover customer service as far as shipping and returns go but, hopefully i won’t have to use it much.

I’ve also considered the Amigo Bravo with hoods…are they worth it. I lose the warranty but…I’m looking for the best bang for my buck. Rambo blankets aren’t an option- my budget doesn’t expand that far for a single blanket!

[flypony74]

I’m sitting here looking at a Dover Northwind that is probably at least 10 years old and is still in great condition. I have found them to fit multiple body types very well, and obviously they are extremely durable. I’m not wild about Dover’s shipping rates, but their customer service is unmatched, as they will absolutely take an item back, no questions asked, if you are not happy with it.

[Peggy]

I have what is either the Northwind or its precursor, purchased in 2002 for a then 3-y.o. He tried to remove the binding at the bottom front but I sewed it back together and eventually he gave up. I stopped using it regularly in about 2007 because I finally figured out it was mostly too much blanket for this horse. Pulled it out again a few years ago to use on a horse I was riding for someone else. Still in great shape. I’m no longer riding that horse but left it with the owner to continue using since if fit him do nicely. The only repair I ever had to do was to that front binding.

[Doctracy]

I’ve never had luck fitting Weather Beaters although I have a fly sheet from them that I got for $20 on sale and must say that it is very durable as my pony has worn it for at least 2-3 weeks without destroying it. She destroyed her Durashield in a week or less. She also destroyed a Smartpak turnout sheet Ultimate in 1 day. Buckles don’t seem as good of quality on the Smartpaks. I have another Smartpak high neck. Material seems good but buckles seem cheap.
I suspect Northwind will be the next blanket I try as I really like Rider International blankets. Good buckles, good materials,good fit. I assume the Northeind, being their higher end, would be even nicer.

[fordtraktor]

I have a Smartpak Ultimate for my pony and a Pessoa sheet for my horse. The Smartpak is a nice blanket, she wore it all last year and it looks perfect, and the hardware is decent. As good as other Dover blankets I have had but I haven’t had the Northwind.

The Pessoa is just as nice a blanket but the cut is a bit weird. It fits my TB ok but didn’t fit my Appendix at all. The top line just doesn’t seem to fit horses correctly. It is weird! But if other Pessoas fit your horse maybe it would be OK. The material is nice and it looks brand new after a year.
I dont like Amigos, my playful horse shredded one in under 24 hours and left it in a heap in the field. I went out the next morning and his brand new Amigo was in tatters and he was naked. Ugh. They are not at all like Rambos.

And if you are going to spend $200 on these, I would go ahead and spend the extra $40 and just get the Rambo Original. If you are looking for a heavyweight, here is a great deal on an Optimo comparable to a Northwind detach a neck: http://www.adamshorsesupplies.com/rambo-optimo-turnout-closeout-color-203361#92=2471&155=1128

[ladipus]

I’ve had the best luck with either Turtleneck Premium Horse Clothing blankets…such as the Frost Turtle or Ice Turtle -for turnout blankets…Mud Turtle or Rain Turtle for turnout sheets…they have held up on my toughest horses for over 6 years now…then of course Rhino/Rambos are great too

[stryder]

@LuckOfTheIrish91;8333147

I hate Dover customer service as far as shipping and returns go but, hopefully i won’t have to use it much.

Customer service from Dover has always worked just fine for me.

[MysticOakRanch]

[QUOTE=beowulf;8321144]
I don’t do Smartpak after a bad experience, which is is a shame because I do really like some of their stuff. They refused to take back a blingy browband I got when the bling came off two days within use because the browband was a sale item. I see they’re finally catching up to Dover regarding blanket warranties but I’ve seen from friends they can be kind of wishy-washy on the policy.[/QUOTE]

Slightly off topic, but I had the SAME experience with SmartPak! Not a blingy browband, mine was a show jacket, on sale was still several hundred $, and the buttons fell off the first time I wore it and the refused to take it back or even find me new buttons. It was NOT tight, in fact, it was a bit loose, and they just fell off in the arena as I was showing, OMG. So I won’t buy from them either.

On OP’s topic - Rambo has their “$50 discount if you send in any old blanket” so if you are considering a Rambo, that is the way to save a bit.

[FineAlready]

Not at all a fan of SmartPak’s blankets. I had one tear immediately and at the time my horse literally got two hours of turnout per day, alone. I can’t even imagine how it got torn. They wouldn’t commit to take it back unless I would first send it to them to “inspect.” At the time it was the only heavy turnout I had, so he needed to wear it or a replacement…couldn’t really go without. Not worth the hassle, especially if they would not commit that they would ultimately replace it. Got a Dover Rider’s International and it has lasted great and fits much better.

[TullyMars]

I have nothing but great things to say about SmartPak Ultimate. I have the light ones, and have had the mesh lining damaged from snagging on the fence(they replaced even with embroidery)and then I had 2 chest straps need replacing. They never hesitated. Good luck!

[Showbizz]

I have an Amigo Bravo 12 with detatchable neck cover, and I adore it. It’s only one year old but still looks brand new.

That said, I’ve heard great things about the Northwind blankets.