It’s only a little hyperbolic to say that the best raincoats for men are symbols of human progress. Since our Cenozoic ancestors started fashioning, like, wooly mammoth pelts to one-up Mother Nature, outerwear of every kind has worked overtime to keep us warm, dry, and most of all, alive. In 2024, the stakes aren’t nearly as high, but still—the right raincoat can be the difference between a great day and a soggy, miserable one.
The Best Raincoats for Men, According to GQ
In decades past, your downpour defense basically involved a tan trench coat that looked solid over a suit. Those haven’t gone anywhere—but in 2024 there are more options, at more price points, than ever before. Perhaps the most important recent development in the raincoat arena? The rise of crunchy, tech-y outerwear as a bona fide swerve, giving way to heavy-duty (and blissfully lightweight) rain jackets that are just as ready for the camp site as they are the downtown commute. (Think sealed zippers, hoods that stop wind in its tracks, and pockets galore, to keep you and all the important stuff you’re schlepping in working order.)
To help you beat back the elements in style, we rounded up the very best raincoats for men—from classic belted trenches to gorp-adjacent, waist-length parkas—each of ’em designed to make the Neanderthal in you proud.
The Best Raincoat Overall
Arc’teryx’s Beta LT jacket is the pinnacle of no-BS rain defense, beloved by wannabe Everest climbers and meme-savvy TikTokers alike. Its custom Gore-Tex fabrication will keep you from getting soaked during the harshest of downpours, while its breathable pores work overtime to let water vapor (a.k.a. sweat) escape. That sleek, streamlined silhouette also lends itself naturally to a range of pairings, from straight-fit jeans and sneakers to a full-on “Scaling Kilimanjaro” kit—cargos, backpack, hiking boots—perfect for all of your wildcard outdoor activities.
The Best Trench Coat
The perfect trench coat does exist, and Burberry, inventor of the style’s signature gabardine fabric in 1879, cracked the code on it long ago. In the nearly 150 years since, surprisingly little has changed about the silhouette, and for good reason. The classic fit means it’s roomy enough to layer over your slouchiest Armani-inspired suiting, while the belted design gives it instant sophistication. Plus, the lining and under-collar check pattern is unmistakably Burberry—an investment-worthy flex since the coat was invented.
The Best Old-School Raincoat
We dig an ultra-futuristic waterproof rain jacket as much as the next guy, but sometimes occasions calls for a more, uh, analog way of keeping out the elements—and a coat to match. Barbour’s been making some version of its waxed cotton raincoats for over 100 years, but it first introduced the Bedale in the ’80s with countryside hunting in mind. Wear it to death for a few seasons and then rewax it at home, a veritable rite of passage for many a menswear enthusiast. The reward for your grunt work is a jacket you’ll keep for decades to come, making it one of our top picks.
The Best Raincoat for a Light Mist
With the help of Brendon Babenzien, the ex-Supreme honcho behind its buzzy menswear reboot, J.Crew continues to push forward by looking backwards—mostly to the brand’s catalog-era heyday. Exhibit A: The limited-edition anorak it reintroduced earlier this year, a peppy, colorblocked number yanked straight from its ‘80s archives. Back then, East Coast prepsters didn’t rely on Gore-Tex quite as heavily as their modern-day counterparts: instead, they hightailed it around campus in quarter-zip jackets exactly like this, cut from a sturdy cotton reinforced with a breathable double lining. In 2024, there are plenty of heavy-duty alternatives to keep you dry during an unexpected thunderstorm. But if the weather outside is just a little drizzly, a retro-doused pullover will look a heckuva lot better with a rumpled Oxford shirt and faded jeans than the genuinely waterproof stuff.
The Best Raincoat for Surprise Thunderstorms
When you think of men’s rain jackets, the fishtail parka is probably the first silhouette you imagine. It was introduced to keep US troops warm in Korea, but the outerwear style has been a civilian favorite ever since. (It gets its name from the signature drawstring “fishtail” by the back hem). Today, you can definitely scoop one at your local army surplus store, but if you yearn for one with a touch more street cred, Rains’ lightweight rain jacket is a great contender. Made from stretchy waterproof fabric that is also insanely windproof (the adjustable hood and hem cinch so you can really pack in the heat), you can wear this mossy green anorak in a myriad of climates without sacrificing style points.
