ESP 52in Quickdraw Brolly with Mesh

How well is it built?

The cover is a dark olive 210D fabric with a 5,000mm hydrostatic head, and there's a lightproof inner laminate that cuts down the sunlight coming through, which makes a real difference on a bright morning when you're trying to grab a bit more sleep.

It isn't the 20,000mm you'd get on a premium bivvy, but for a brolly it's a sensible figure and plenty for most UK weather.

The frame uses ultra-strong 8.5mm fibreglass ribs with ESP's space-saving locking mechanism, which keeps the hub compact so you don't lose headroom when you set it low.

That's a small detail, but it's the sort of thing you notice when you're sitting up on the bedchair under a brolly that's been dropped down for the weather.

At 3.7kg for the brolly on its own, it feels well made without being heavy, and I'd have no worries about it standing up to regular use.

Wind Resistance & Stability

Four lightweight storm poles come in the bag, each with augered points and cam locks, so they screw into hard ground and lock at the length you want rather than slipping down when the wind gets up.

The storm sides have three pegging points, and that's what makes the Quickdraw so adaptable, because you can drop it low and tight when the weather turns or lift it on uneven ground so it still sits properly.

Pegged down with the poles in, it's a stable shelter for a brolly of this size.

For a proper winter storm you'd still want a full bivvy, but for overnighters and short sessions it gives you more than enough protection, and it's a lot quicker to get up when the rain arrives.

Coverage & Adjustability

The 52in is built for bedchairs up to 2m long, with room in front when the bedchair is pushed back, so there's space for your kit as well, and the open front means you can still see the water and your rods.

The mesh drape toggles onto the front, pegs at either side and tightens with an elastic cord, and the weighted mesh hangs around the lower edge.

To get in or out you just lift it and let it fall behind you, which is exactly what you want when you're dashing out to a take on a summer night.

The mini detachable groundsheet keeps your kit off the damp ground, and with a 132cm packdown it's easier to carry and fit in the car than the bigger 58in. The trade-off is space, as it won't take a longer or wider bedchair.

Is it good value for money?

The Quickdraw sits in the middle of the price range for carp brollies, and what makes it good value is what's in the bag.

You get the brolly, the mesh drape, a mini groundsheet, four storm poles, eight pegs and an outer bag, so there's nothing else to buy before your first night under it.

It costs more than a basic 60in brolly, but buying a mesh drape, a groundsheet and four cam-lock storm poles separately would soon add up, and here they're all made to fit.

It suits carp anglers who fish overnighters and short sessions with a bedchair of 2m or under, and want a compact, quick shelter with a proper mozzy screen for the summer. If you use a longer or wider bedchair, the 58in is the one to go for.