18 Best Raincoats for Men 2026, According to GQ Editors

Decades ago, your only options for rainy weather coverage were some kind of trench coat, a coarse wool overcoat, or, if you really needed to be out in it, a thick rubber sack that kept you dry but didn’t breathe. Thankfully, material science has advanced.There are, of course, umbrellas? And we won’t stop you looking into those. But ask anyone from the Pacific Northwest, and they’ll tell you their rain jacket does all that work with ease. That’s because raincoats aren’t an accessory to your outfit: they’re the main focus. A good raincoat can turn your sad ensemble into head-turning Paparazzi fodder, or at the very least, keep you dry and stylish when it’s wet out.Still not convinced? We figured—so we tested the best rain jackets and coats for men on the market right now, from the tried-and-true natural-fabric mainstays to the buzzy, newfangled riffs, and everything in between. Here they are.The Best Raincoat OverallArc'teryx Beta SL JacketRead moreThe Best Budget RaincoatPatagonia Torrentshell 3L Rain JacketRead moreThe Best Waxed Canvas RaincoatBarbour BeaufortRead moreThe Best Longer RaincoatJ.Press x Barbour BurghleyRead moreThe Best Upgrade RaincoatBurberry Long Gabardine TrenchRead moreThe Fashion Guy FavoriteJames Coward Waterproof Draft CoatRead moreBest Raincoat Overall: Arc’teryx Beta SL JacketProsBest-in-class waterproofing and constructionInsurmountable cloutConsHalf. A. G.Arc'teryx's Beta LT jacket is the pinnacle of no-BS rain defense, beloved by wannabe Everest climbers, GQ Recommends editors, 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.It’s an investment, but hundreds of guys were showering in theirs for a reason: If you need top-tier weather protection and long-term durability—and are willing to invest—this is still the best rain jacket for serious outdoor use. That said, most dudes chasing the clout that Arc’teryx affords won’t need to max out its capabilities. Still, it’s good to know that if you’re ever caught in a downpour that won’t let up, the Beta’s the one waterproof jacket that won’t leave you high and, uh, wet.Best Budget Raincoat: Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Rain JacketPatagoniaTorrentshell 3L Rain JacketProsClassic rain shell designWaterproof and breathableMade of recycled materialsWide range of colorways availableConsUhhhh….When it comes to outdoor gear that keeps up with Mother Nature, Patagonia’s among the first to come to mind. The OG gorpcore label has more than its fair share of bangers for every climate from the iconic Baggies shorts to its range of plush fleece jackets, and when it comes to rainy weather, there’s the Torrentshell jacket. It’s a canonical piece of kit for Patagonia and has kept customers dry and fly for years.The latest version features a three-layer shell system that maximizes water-repellency and breathability with a 100% recycled nylon face fabric. It features toasty microfleece-lined handwarmer pockets, welted zippers for water protection (plus pit zips for ventilation), and the entire thing can pack down into itself. So pack it up, throw it in your bag, and bust it out whenever the weather turns out to be worse than what the weatherman says. With a feature set like that, you’d expect to pay through the nose, but we’re thrilled to say that it doesn’t even break $200.Best Waxed Canvas Raincoat: Barbour BeaufortProsUnimpeachable pedigreeAll key design details are thereLong enough to fit over a sport coatBarbour allows you to ship your jacket back to their HQ for a re-waxConsNot as insulated as some others (though sizing up to fit a chunky knit under should help there)The advancements in rain-wicking technology tickles our lizard brains as much as watching a rock-crushing machine turn a boulder into pebbles. But as much as we appreciate multi-layered DWR-coated materials and heat-sealed seams give us joy, we also have a great reverence and appreciation for rain coats of yore. Enter the waxed jacket, a time-tested fabric used by sailors off the British coast since the 1800s.If you’re gonna get a waxed jacket, you’d best get a Barbour, the reigning champ of waxed jackets. Barbour has more options and collaborations than ever, so it can be tricky to get your head around what’s what but for our money, the classic Beaufort is the Goldilocks of wax jackets. Where the Bedale is shorter and styles like the Border run down to the mid-thigh, the Beaufort is just right but still long enough to layer over your sport coats. Whichever you choose, don’t forget to re-wax at home after a few seasons. Guys seem to be nervous to do it, but it’s easy, and everytime I’ve re-waxed mine, people compliment me on how great it looks. The reward for your grunt work is a jacket you'll keep for decades to come.Best Longer Raincoat: Barbour x J.Press BurghleyJ.Press x BarbourBurghleyProsSignature Barbour details in a unique full-length styleWater-resistant and breathableDetachable hoodConsProbably too long for drivers, great for walkers, commutersThis season, J.Press has unearthed a Rare Barbour: the Burghley. It hasn’t been in the brand’s regular rotation for a number of years, earning it a following among collectors in places like Japan. But now it’s back in all its sweeping, full-length glory.Originally designed to extend past the knees (and over the saddle and tops of riding boots) the Burghley protects the rider from rain and thorns. It’s a dramatic silhouette that will set you apart from all the cropped Transport and Bedales out there. Sure, it has equestrian heritage, but you needn’t be keeping a stable to wear one. It’s a great alternative to a trench, at home in the city as well as the country. And yes, it’s still made in England.Best Upgrade Raincoat: Burberry Long Gabardine Trench CoatBurberryLong Gabardine TrenchProsEnduring, minimalist designStellar construction and qualityConsNot for use in heavy rainOver. Three. Gs.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.Its WWI heritage is well-documented—British officers wore it in the trenches, using details like the shoulder flap for rifle recoil and belt rings for canteens and grenades serving real military functions. Today, it’s less about battlefield utility and more about how that water-resistant cotton gabardine will keep you dry in light city rain. I like the black, but the classic tan is always an option for you too.Best Raincoat for Fashion Guys: James Coward Waterproof Draft CoatJames CowardWaterproof Draft CoatProsVersatile color and designNatural waterproof fabricGenerous silhouette with roomy raglan sleevesConsNot for use in the heaviest of rainNot inexpensive!Another entry from Vancouver—what can we say, they know a few things about rain up there. Indie label James Coward sources fabric from mills known for their quality and considered production practices, then makes its garments locally in its workshop. This coat is cut from the brand’s durable, waterproof ‘Mastershield cloth, a dense weave that offers protection from the elements. A generous silhouette and roomy raglan sleeves give it natural gravitas in gloomy weather, all while keeping the look relaxed and easy to layer.What Type of Raincoat Should You Be Looking for?Who wants to drag a sopping wet umbrella around only to forget it at the restaurant or in the back of a cab? When you’ve got a trench coat with your cell and headphones in the pockets, it’s almost impossible to lose. Through light mists, heavy rain, and even torrential downpours, the best rain coats are, ironically, the drippiest too. They’ll prevent you from showing up to the function like a poor wet dog and instead make your arrival a warm, dry welcome.Trench coats that aren’t the only coats vying to shield you from the rain, though. Gorpcore’s popularity has given us waves of tech-y jackets, parkas, and anoraks all wrought from futuristic multi-layered materials that balance breathability with waterproof ability. The result is a cementing of this 21st century sportswear into must-have menswear. And let’s not forget the workwear-adjacent waxed jackets born from sailing the Scottish seas in 15th-century Scotland. With their rugged good looks and a lust for patina, they’ve become stylish staples when the weather’s all doom and gloom.How We Test and Review ProductsStyle is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t.How We Make These PicksWe make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price.To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets.We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price.Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs.Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (Read more about GQ's testing process here.)Production CreditsPhotographs by Bowen Fernie and Natalie PiserchioStyled by Tyler AustinGrooming by Laramie using RéVive and Oribe