Trakker CR 2 Piece Winter Suit Camo

How well is it built?

The CR 2 Piece is a heavyweight outfit made from 100% polyester, and both the jacket and the trousers are fully insulated.

The seams are fully taped, which you don't always get on a budget winter suit, and the knees have reinforced detailing for kneeling on gravel, mats and wooden platforms.

The finish is Trakker green with a custom camouflage print, and the jacket has an adjustable hood and hem. It's a straightforward design that puts the focus on warmth and a sealed outer, and that's the right priority for a suit at this level.

To be fair, the Fox Khaki Camo Wintersuit is a step up in fittings, as it adds padded pleated knees, boot zips and baffled two-way main zips. The Trakker CR 3 Piece Winter Suit Camo uses the same fabric but adds a bib and brace and a zip-in fleece.

For a budget winter suit, though, the taped seams and reinforced knees cover the things that matter most, and I think the build is solid for the money.

Weather Protection

How much weather will it keep out? The 5,000mm hydrostatic head handles showers and drizzle, and the Teflon coating helps rain bead up and roll off the outer fabric rather than soaking in.

Fully taped seams stop water creeping through the stitching, and that's often where cheap suits let you down.

It's not made for hours of driving rain out in the open, though. For that, the Daiwa Two Piece Quilted Suit and the Avid Arctic-Series Winter Suit both have 20,000mm fabric.

Most winter carp fishing happens under a brolly or in a bivvy, so for plenty of anglers 5,000mm will be enough.

The adjustable hood and hem let you close the gaps against wind and rain, which matters on an exposed bank. Trousers mean the jacket has to keep your lower back covered when you lean forward, which a high bib does better, and I think it's fair protection for a budget suit.

Comfort & Fit Rating

Keeping you warm is the CR 2 Piece's main job, and both the jacket and the trousers are fully insulated, so you're covered from your shoulders to your ankles on a frosty night. The heavyweight build should hold heat well when you're sitting behind the rods for hours.

The size range is a real strength. It runs from Small to XXX-Large, which covers chest sizes from 38 to 55 inches, so it should suit slim and bigger anglers alike.

The reinforced knees add a tougher layer when you kneel to net or unhook a fish, and the adjustable hood and hem help you fine-tune the fit around your face and waist.

Trousers are easier to pull on and off than a bib and brace, but they don't ride as high at the back. For me, it's a warm and comfortable suit for the money, and I think most winter carp anglers will be pretty happy in it.

Is it good value for money?

So, is it worth buying? It's one of the cheapest insulated carp suits around, and you still get fully taped seams, a Teflon coating, reinforced knees and a wide size range.

For a budget suit, that covers most of the important stuff, and it's why it scores higher for value than for build.

If you want a zip-in fleece and a bib and brace as well, the Trakker CR 3 Piece Winter Suit Camo adds both, and the Fox Khaki Camo Wintersuit adds padded knees, boot zips and micro-fleece linings. Both are steps up in spec, but neither is essential for a first winter suit.

Overall, I'd recommend the Trakker CR 2 Piece Winter Suit Camo to anglers buying their first winter suit, to occasional winter carp anglers and to anyone after a warm camo suit on a tight budget. If you only fish a handful of cold sessions a year, it's an easy choice.