The Best Waterproof Fishing Jackets
By Alex Clayton · Updated 23 October 2026
One wading jacket is listed at 10,000mm by a UK tackle retailer and at 20,000mm by a review site. Same jacket, double the figure. The number on the label won’t pick your jacket for you.
Here is the short answer on the best waterproof fishing jacket UK anglers can buy: aim for about 10,000mm as a minimum for regular fishing, go to 20,000mm or more if you sit out sustained heavy rain or kneel on wet ground, and match breathability to how much you move. Fit, cuffs, hood and seams decide how dry you stay as much as the fabric rating does.
The picks below are organised by how you fish: static coarse and carp, long sits in a bib and brace, roving lure fishing, wading, winter and shore sessions, budget kit, and keeping fishing waterproofs working. Some links on this page may be affiliate links, and they never change what is recommended. Prices and stock change quickly, so check the retailer before you buy. For other kit, see our other tackle buying guides.
1. Best All-Round Waterproof Fishing Jacket for Static Coarse and Carp Sessions
Rain rarely soaks through a decent jacket’s fabric first. It gets in at the neck, the cuffs and the zip, often hours into a session once you’ve stopped checking.
The mm rating is the hydrostatic head: the height of a column of water the fabric resists before it leaks, so 10,000mm means a 10 metre column (Section Hiker). Brands use different test standards, so treat the figure as a guide rather than a precise comparison between makes.
| Rating | What it means | Fine for |
|---|---|---|
| About 5,000mm | Where fabric starts to count as waterproof | Showers and short sessions |
| 10,000mm | Sensible minimum for regular UK use | Most day sessions |
| 20,000mm+ | High waterproofing | Sustained heavy rain, kneeling on wet ground |
Breathability is listed in g/m²/24h. Fishing brands often quote 3,000 to 5,000g, well below the 10,000g+ that outdoor sources treat as good for active use. Sitting behind rods all day, you’ll notice that far less than a leak.
For static fishing, look for:
- A high neck and a storm flap over a waterproof zip
- Neoprene cuffs
- A stiffened hood peak
- Reinforced shoulders
- Taped seams
The Preston DFX jacket has all of them on paper, listed at 20,000mm with neoprene cuffs and thumb holes. On 23 October 2026 it was out of stock at Angling Direct with no confirmed price, so check the retailer before planning around it.
Best for: day-long pole, feeder and carp sessions. Skip if: you walk miles between swims (see pick 3).
2. Best Fishing Bib and Brace for Long Sitting Sessions
The most waterproof bib and brace in the Angling Times roundup is also one of the least breathable. Whether that’s a problem depends on whether you sit or walk.
Sit on a box or bedchair and lean forward, and waist-high waterproof trousers gap at the back. A bib covers the lower back and seat, which makes the best fishing bib and brace a better buy than trousers for static anglers.
The seat and knees matter most. Sitting on wet ground or kneeling to net a fish presses water into the fabric far harder than rain landing on your shoulders. The features worth paying for:
- Reinforced knees and seat
- Adjustable ankles to sit neatly over fishing boots
- An elasticated waist
- Taped seams
- Zipped pockets
These are the listed figures from that roundup (checked 23 October 2026). The page quoted prices in US dollars, so check current UK prices with a retailer.
| Model | Listed waterproof | Listed breathability |
|---|---|---|
| Fox RS25K | 25,000mm | 3,000g |
| Century NG Team | 15,000mm | Not stated |
| Drennan 10K | 10,000mm | 5,000g |
The trade-off is plain. The RS25K is very waterproof, but at 3,000g breathability you’ll sweat once you start moving. The Drennan 10K is lighter and breathes better, but it can let water through in prolonged heavy rain.
Quick comparison: if you sit through winter rain, take the higher mm rating of the RS25K. For mixed seasons and some walking, the lighter Drennan 10K is the better fit.
3. Best Breathable Waterproofs for Roving Lure and Predator Anglers
Walk the bank for half an hour in a heavy, low-breathability jacket and the inside ends up as wet as the outside. For mobile anglers, sweat does more damage than rain.
When I’m lure fishing for pike and perch on Windermere, I’m moving most of the day, and I’ve found a jacket that breathes and lets me cast freely matters more than the biggest number on the tag. The same applies to anyone covering water on foot.
What to look for:
- A stated breathability figure, higher than static kit. Fishing brands often list 3,000 to 5,000g, while outdoor sources treat 10,000g+ as good for active use. If a jacket states no figure at all, be wary of it.
- 3-layer construction. It generally lasts longer and handles moisture better than 2-layer, which tends to wet out sooner.
- Casting freedom. Articulated shoulders, cuffs that don’t catch line, chest pockets clear of the casting stroke and a hood that turns with your head.
- Enough waterproofing. You still want around 10,000mm for proper UK rain.
There’s no named pick here. We couldn’t confirm a current, sourced spec for a lightweight predator jacket, so judge by the checklist. A breathable shell only works over the right base and mid layers, covered in our guide to fishing clothing and layering.
The recommendation: if you fish on the move, start with breathability and fit, then check the mm figure clears 10,000mm.
4. Best Wading Jacket for Fly and Game Anglers
The quickest check on a wading jacket takes two seconds: look at the length. It should finish above the point the water reaches when you wade.
A standard long fishing jacket trails in the river, soaks from the hem up and covers your wader belt and pockets. A wading jacket is cut short to sit above the wader top and keep everything clear of the water.
The features that separate a proper wading jacket:
- A short cut that sits above the wader top
- Storm cuffs to stop water running down your arms as you cast
- Pockets placed high and clear of the wading belt
- A hood that fits over a cap
- Good breathability, because wading and casting are active work
The Greys Tail wading jacket shows why you should check specs at source. Foxons listed it at £159.99 when checked in October 2026, with a 10,000mm rating, 5,000 MVP (moisture vapour permeability) breathability and three-layer polyester. A review site lists the same jacket at 20,000mm. Check the maker’s or retailer’s current spec before relying on either figure.
Your jacket and waders have to work as a pair, so make sure the hem clears your chest or waist waders at the depth you usually fish. Our guide to choosing fishing waders covers matching the two.
The verdict: for wading, cut and pocket position matter as much as the mm rating.
5. Best Waterproof Fishing Suit for Winter, Night and Shore Sessions
On an exposed beach or a winter reservoir bank, wind drives rain sideways and straight into the gap between jacket and trousers. A jacket alone won’t fix that.
A waterproof fishing suit pairs a jacket with a bib and brace or salopettes. The overlap at the waist removes the weak spot, which is why a suit makes sense once wind and cold join the rain.
You have two routes:
- Shell suit plus layers. More flexible across seasons, because you add or remove insulation underneath.
- Insulated thermal suit. Warmer when you’re static in real cold, such as night carp or winter piking. See our pick of thermal fishing suits.
On spec, aim for 20,000mm-class waterproofing to cope with sustained rain and sea spray. Add taped seams, a high collar and a hood that cinches tight in wind.
Let the forecast decide what goes in the car. Check the wind speed, the temperature and, on rivers, the levels before you choose which kit to take. Mild drizzle on a sheltered bank and a cold onshore gale on a beach call for very different waterproofs.
You may see EN 343 on some kit. It’s a European workwear standard with classes for water penetration and breathability, and it’s rarely quoted on fishing clothing, so you can’t compare fishing suits by it.
Best for: winter piking, night carp and beach sessions. Skip if: you mostly fish summer evenings.
6. Best Budget Fishing Waterproofs: When 5,000 to 8,000mm Is Enough
Do you need a 20,000mm suit for a two-hour summer evening on the local pond? Usually not.
About 5,000mm is where fabric starts to count as waterproof. That’s fine for showers and short sessions. It isn’t enough for kneeling on wet grass or sitting through a full day of rain, where pressure at the knees and seat forces moisture through.
Two lower-rated bibs from the Angling Times list show the budget end (listed ratings only, so check UK prices with a retailer):
- Matrix 8K Ultralight: 8,000mm, lightweight, with adjustable leg length, though there’s no small size.
- MAP 5K: 5,000mm, suited to short and summer sessions.
If money is tight, spend it where you sit. Put the budget into the bib or trousers that take the pressure, and wear a lighter jacket on top. A hiking jacket works as a stopgap, though it’s usually shorter and the pockets aren’t placed with fishing in mind.
Be clear about the limits. A lower-rated bib is the first thing to wet through when you sit on a soaked seat for hours, and cheap jackets tend to give way at zips and cuffs before the fabric. That doesn’t make budget kit bad value for a summer angler. It just isn’t winter kit.
One rule holds at any price: taped seams are non-negotiable. Fishing waterproofs without them leak at the stitching, however good the fabric rating looks.
The recommendation: if you fish short summer sessions, a 5,000 to 8,000mm set will do. Upgrade before your first winter.
7. Best Way to Keep Fishing Waterproofs Working: Technical Wash and Reproofer
A jacket that feels damp inside may not be leaking at all. Once the outer durable water repellent (DWR) finish stops beading water, the face fabric soaks through, breathability collapses and condensation builds up inside.
Before buying a replacement, restore what you have. Based on Montane’s waterproof aftercare guidance:
- Check whether water still beads on the surface. If not, clean the jacket first.
- Clean your washing machine’s detergent drawer, and don’t use fabric softener.
- Wash the jacket with a technical cleaner.
- Apply a wash-in or spray-on DWR reproofer.
- Use heat (tumble dryer or iron) only if the reproofer or care label says so. Advice differs between brands, so follow the label.
Fishing adds its own wear. Rinse off groundbait, fish slime and salt spray after sessions, because dirt clogs the finish and speeds up wetting out. The reinforced knees and seat of a bib and brace take the most punishment, so check those first.
You need two product types: a technical cleaner and a DWR reproofer.
To know when it’s time, flick a few drops of water onto the shoulders and thighs, where the most rain lands. If the water rolls off, leave the jacket alone. If it spreads and darkens the fabric, clean and reproof before your next wet session.
The verdict: reproof when water stops beading, rather than on a fixed schedule.
Frequently asked questions
How many mm waterproof do I need for fishing?
About 10,000mm is a sensible minimum for regular UK fishing. Go to 20,000mm or more if you sit through sustained heavy rain or kneel on wet ground. Test methods differ between brands, so treat the figure as a guide and check the seams, cuffs and hood too. The ratings table in pick 1 has the full breakdown.
Is a bib and brace better than waterproof trousers for fishing?
For sitting sessions, yes. A bib and brace covers your lower back and seat, where waist-high trousers gap when you lean forward on a box or bedchair. Waterproof trousers are lighter and cooler for roving anglers who walk between swims. Pick 2 lists the ratings and the features worth paying for.
Can I use a hiking jacket for fishing?
Yes, as a stopgap. A hiking jacket keeps rain off, but it's usually shorter than a fishing jacket, its pockets aren't placed for fishing, and its hood often lacks a stiffened peak to keep rain off your face while you watch a float or rod tip. For regular sessions, a fishing-specific jacket is worth the upgrade.
What does EN 343 mean on a waterproof jacket?
EN 343 is a European standard for protective clothing against rain. It rates garments in four classes for water penetration and breathability, with higher classes giving better protection. It's mainly used on workwear and rarely shown on fishing kit, so most fishing jackets are rated by their mm hydrostatic head and g/m² breathability figures instead.
How do I make my fishing jacket waterproof again?
Clean it with a technical wash, then reapply a DWR reproofer, either wash-in or spray-on. Skip fabric softener, and only use heat if the care label or reproofer instructions say so. A jacket that seems to leak has often just lost its outer finish. Pick 7 has the full step-by-step method.