Thursday, April 2, 2009

Tough-1 Camo-Print Rain Sheet



MSRP: $69.99 (for rain sheet w/out fill. $79.99 for the blanket version with 300 grams fill)


Rating
: ***+ (3.5 out of 5)

I bought this the Tought-1 rain sheet for my gelding back in November, and he wore it until the last week of February. I bought it at a local tack store for the suggested retail price.

I have to admit that I liked the fun print; most sheets and blankets are very traditional and come in limited color and style options. This sheet and the matching blanket also come in a pink/purple camouflage, as well as a variety of solid colors, including lime green and a highly-visible bright orange.

Overall, I thought that the sheet was of good quality for the price. The material is a rip-stop nylon outer shell, with a soft nylon lining. The sheet stayed reliably waterproof even during periods of heavy rain, and even after being washed in an industrial washing machine (without an agitator and on a gentle cycle with a special blanket detergent). The sheet was truly "rip-stop" as well; my gelding has a knack for destroying sheets, and even after scratching on the fencing, any rips he induced in the sheet's outer layer were small and easy to mend or patch.

As far as construction, I thought that the stitching and hardware on the sheet were it's weaker points. After just a few days of use, the upper chest strap fell off - the seam had popped even though the sheet fit the horse and was properly adjusted. The hardware was cheap, nickle-plated snaps and t-hooks. The snaps on the leg straps filled with mud on a regular basis which, when it hardened, made them impossible to unsnap. I had to either use an old tooth brush to scrub out the dirt, or else remove the blanket by unbuckling everything else and then having my horse step out of the rear leg straps. I ended up switching the leg straps out for better ones with small trigger snaps instead.

I don't see this sheet making it all the way though a second winter and I'll probably buy another rain sheet and keep this one as back up. I think that for horses who are easier on their clothes than mine is, this sheet is a good bargain and will do the job.