Drennan 25K Waterproof Jacket

How well is it built?

The shell is a tough nylon-lined rip-stop fabric. Rip-stop has a grid of thicker threads woven through it, so a small snag on a bush or the corner of your seat box shouldn't spread into a bigger tear, and that matters on a jacket you'll be pulling on and off all season.

The main zip is a full-length YKK zip, which is about as dependable as zips get, and it sits behind a rain baffle.

The hem is elasticated and adjustable, while the cuffs are lined neoprene, which is a comfortable choice for a jacket that'll spend hours with your arms stretched out over the water.

A zipped pocket on the front has a chunky Drennan pull, which should be easy to find with cold fingers.

To be fair, the Berghaus Kielder's two-layer Gore-Tex and 70D face put it a step ahead on fabric. Even so, I think the 8.8 is deserved, as it's a properly tough jacket for coarse and match fishing.

Weather Protection

So, can it handle a full day of rain? A 25,000mm hydrostatic head says yes on paper, because anything above 20,000mm is built for prolonged heavy rain.

Breathability is 10,000 grams per square metre, which is double the Preston DF Ultra 25K's figure and should let some sweat out when you're carrying gear to your peg or packing up in a hurry.

The front is well protected. The full-length YKK zip sits behind a rain baffle, the high collar keeps the wind off your neck, and the peaked, adjustable hood should keep rain off your face while you're watching a float or a pole tip.

Lined neoprene cuffs close up the wrists too, which helps when you're reaching forward to feed or net a fish.

For me, that's a very complete set of rain defences for a coarse or match jacket. It sits just behind the Berghaus Kielder's 28,000mm Gore-Tex shell, and I think the 8.9 is fair.

Comfort & Fit Rating

The 25K comes in seven sizes from Small to 4XL, with chest sizes running from roughly 40-42in on the Small up to 54-56in on the 4XL. That's a wide spread, and it's handy if you want to size up so a thick fleece or a thermal top fits underneath.

It's a waterproof shell, so warmth comes from your layers, and the elasticated, adjustable hem and neoprene cuffs help keep that warmth in. The peaked hood adjusts to fit, and the high collar should feel snug when it's zipped right up on a cold, wet morning.

Storage is sensible. There are two waterproof external handwarmer pockets for cold hands and a zipped internal security pocket for your phone or keys, so the essentials stay dry.

For long, cold sessions, the Fortis Tundra Jacket adds 300 grams per square metre of Primaloft insulation, but as a shell to layer up under, I think the 8.6 is fair.

Is it good value for money?

Does it justify the spend? The 25K is a mid-priced waterproof and dearer than the Navitas Aquaguard 20K, but the extra buys a higher 25,000mm head on a tough nylon-lined rip-stop shell, finished with a full-length YKK zip, a rain baffle and lined neoprene cuffs.

Next to the Preston DF Ultra 25K, it has the same waterproof figure and double the breathability.

Given how it's built, I'd expect it to be a jacket you keep for a good few winters rather than one you replace after a season, and that's where the value really lies.

The money has gone into the fabric, the zip and the cuffs, which are the parts that decide how long a waterproof lasts, and the 8.5 reflects a well-built jacket at a fair level of spend.

All told, I'd recommend the Drennan 25K to coarse and match anglers who sit out long sessions in the rain and want a proper 25,000mm shell without paying for Gore-Tex.