Which Denier Should I Choose for a Turnout Horse Rug?

When describing a waterproof/turnout horse rug's base fabric, we use the denier specification. This refers to the thickness of the individual thread used in the yarn weave. The overall weight of the fabric is referred to as GSM (grams per square meter of fabric)

600 denier versus 1200 denier versus 1680 denier

Essentially the higher the denier, the thicker the weave, the stronger the material. Commonly rugs will be 600D, 1200D and 1680D. A 1200 denier horse rug will cost you around 15% more than a 600 denier, but a 1200 denier will generally be much more durable and potentially have a longer life. Likewise, a 1680 denier is the gold standard of horse rug fabrics, it is stronger again than a 1200 denier, but they do come at a cost premium. Additionally, Teflon coatings are often used on 1680 deniers, which improves the dispersal of water and helps reduce staining on the horse rugs.

Waterproofing and breathability will be the same between 600/1200/1680 deniers, they will all use the same style of the waterproof and breathable membrane.

Some customers like 600 deniers because they are a little lighter than a 1200 or 1680 denier. The actual difference in the overall weight of a 6'0 neck combo between 600D and 1200D in a 6'0 combo is about 0.3kg. Likewise a 1680D will be around 0.2kg heavier than a 1200 denier. Considering a rainsheet combo is usually around 3.5to 4kg, it's not a significant difference.

Which denier is best?

It really comes down to your budget, your horse's nature and the environment you are keeping them in. For many, 1200D is the sweet point between price and durability/performance.

Unfortunately, to offer cheaper prices, many importers have reverted to dropping the GSM weight of the denier fabrics - essentially using a thinner fabric, but the same denier rating. Traditionally a 1200 denier would have a fabric weight of 370 GSM. We are seeing more & more competitors that are using lower GSM 1200 & 1680 deniers. They have dropped the GSM weight down to 300 GSM (instead of 370 GSM in a 1200 denier). From a consumer point of view, the fabric looks the same, but its strength and durability will be reduced, as its 20% thinner.

Caribu has a range of waterproof turnout horse rugs .