Trakker Techpro Thermal Jacket

How well is it built?

The Techpro Thermal is made from 100% polyester with an ultra-breathable membrane, and the seams are fully taped. The inside is where it stands out, with a cross-weave reflective silver lining through the body and a Sherpa lining in the hood.

The outer has a camo print, the zips are waterproof, and the cuffs and hem adjust. Storage is well thought out, with a water-resistant zipped chest pocket, two hand pockets and a large rear pocket, which is handy for a hat, gloves or a spare pair of socks.

It's a tidy, practical layout for a jacket you'll live in through the colder months.

To be fair, the Fortis Tundra Jacket is a step up on build, with its stretch Triflex outer, 300 grams per square metre of Primaloft and a two-way YKK Vislon zip. For a mid-priced winter jacket, though, I think the 8.5 is fair, and the construction looks well finished throughout.

Weather Protection

How waterproof is it? On paper, 10,000mm suits showers more than prolonged heavy rain, though fully taped seams, waterproof zips and the EcoElite DWR finish are all built to keep water out when a heavy downpour comes through.

The DWR should make rain bead up and run off the camo shell.

Breathability is 5,000 MVP, which is short for moisture vapour permeability and is a measure of how much sweat vapour the fabric lets out.

That's modest, but for a static carp angler sat behind the rods, it matters less than it would on a mobile session, and the ultra-breathable membrane should still let some moisture escape on the barrow push.

The adjustable cuffs and hem close off draughts, and the Sherpa-lined hood keeps heat in around your head when the wind picks up. For me, the 8.4 is fair, as the lining adds warmth while the shell is more of a showers-and-wind jacket than one for a full day of rain.

Comfort & Fit Rating

Warmth is the Techpro's strong point. The cross-weave silver lining is reflective, so it's designed to bounce body heat back towards you and reduce heat loss, and it does that while keeping the weight down.

The Sherpa-lined hood adds a soft, warm layer around your head and neck on frosty mornings.

It comes in sizes S to XXXL, so most builds are covered, and the adjustable cuffs and hem let you trap warm air in when you're sat still.

The two hand pockets give you somewhere to warm your fingers, while the zipped chest pocket suits a phone and the large rear pocket takes bulkier bits.

To be fair, if you sit out the coldest nights of the year, the Fortis Tundra Jacket adds 300 grams per square metre of Primaloft insulation. For most winter carp sessions, though, I think the 8.6 is well earned, and the Sherpa hood alone makes it a cosy jacket for frosty dawns.

Is it good value for money?

Is the Techpro good value? It's a mid-priced winter jacket and dearer than the Navitas Aquaguard 20K, and the 8.1 reflects a spec that's strong on warmth but lighter on waterproofing.

You're paying for the reflective lining, the Sherpa-lined hood and a well-planned set of pockets rather than a big waterproof figure.

The Fortis Tundra Jacket is dearer still but goes much further with its over 25,000mm outer and Primaloft fill, while the Fox Sherpa-Tec Jacket pairs a 10,000mm shell with a Sherpa fleece lining.

The Techpro is the one to pick if you like the idea of a reflective lining that keeps warmth in without a lot of bulk, and if your winters bring more frost and wind than steady rain.

So, I'd recommend the Techpro Thermal to carp anglers who want a warm, comfortable jacket for cold, static sessions and mostly face showers, wind and frost rather than all-day rain. If heavy rain is the norm where you fish, the Fortis Tundra is the safer choice.