Preston Innovations DF Ultra 25K Jacket

How well is it built?

The DF Ultra 25K is made from a premium three-layer waterproof fabric. Three-layer fabrics are generally the tougher option in a waterproof, which is why they're used on premium shells, and the seams are taped throughout.

It's a smart-looking jacket too, in black with bright blue zips and panels.

The main zips are YKK Vislon, which have chunky moulded teeth that should be easy to work with cold, wet fingers, and they sit behind storm flaps that fasten with hook-and-loop strips.

The cuffs are neoprene with Velcro fasteners, and the hood has a stiffened peak, which should hold its shape rather than flopping over your eyes in a gusty wind.

Zips, cuffs and hoods are usually the first parts of a waterproof to let water in, so it's good to see them done properly.

To be fair, the Berghaus Kielder's 70D Gore-Tex shell is a step up again. For a match jacket, though, I think the 8.8 is a fair score for something built this carefully.

Weather Protection

So, how does the DF Ultra cope with a proper downpour? A 25,000mm waterproof figure is well above the 20,000mm mark for prolonged heavy rain, and taped seams throughout stop water getting in at the stitching.

The Teflon EcoElite DWR finish should make rain bead up and roll off the face fabric rather than soaking in.

The front and neck are its strongest areas. The YKK Vislon zips sit behind storm flaps, the high neck collar keeps wind and rain off your neck, and the waterproof hood has a stiffened peak with Velcro adjustment.

Neoprene cuffs with Velcro fasteners seal the wrists when you're reaching out to feed or ship a pole.

Breathability is 5,000 grams per square metre over 24 hours, which is half the Drennan 25K's figure.

For static match fishing that matters less, because you're sat still for most of the day, but it's the reason the score is 8.7 rather than higher, and it's worth knowing if you carry your kit a fair distance to the peg.

Comfort & Fit Rating

The DF Ultra 25K comes in seven sizes, from S, M and L through XL, 2XL and 3XL to 4XL, so most builds are covered and there's room to size up if you wear a thick fleece underneath.

As a shell, it relies on what you layer under it for warmth, so it works through all four seasons rather than being a winter-only coat.

The high neck collar should feel snug when it's zipped up, and the neoprene cuffs should sit snugly at the wrist. The Velcro hood adjustment lets you pull the hood in so it should turn with your head when you look along the bank or down to your bait tray.

For a static angler on a peg all day, I think the fit and adjustment are spot on, and the 8.6 is fair. If you need built-in warmth, the Fortis Tundra Jacket adds 300 grams per square metre of Primaloft insulation.

Is it good value for money?

So, is the extra over the Drennan 25K worth it? The DF Ultra 25K is the dearer of the two, and both share a 25,000mm waterproof figure. What you pay for is the three-layer fabric, the Teflon EcoElite DWR, storm flaps over YKK Vislon zips and a stiffened peak on the hood.

The Drennan has double the breathability, though, so it's a closer call than the spec sheet suggests, and that's why the value score sits at 8.3. It's a premium match shell priced like one, and you're paying mostly for the build and the detail around the hood, collar and cuffs.

If that detail matters most to you, it's a fair trade, but if you walk a long way to your peg, the Drennan's breathability makes it the more sensible buy.

In short, I'd recommend the DF Ultra 25K to match and coarse anglers who sit on a box through long, wet sessions and want a premium shell with storm flaps and a stiffened hood.