The best men’s trench coats to stay suave whatever the weather
Because there’s more to the world of men’s trench coats than a classic Burberry…
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Best overall men's trench coatPercival Sherlock trench coatRead more
Best designer trench coatBurberry Longline 'Kensington' trench coatRead more
Best traditional trench coatMackintosh Mid-length trench coatRead more
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Trench coats have quite the cultural cachet. Loved by fictional inspectors of all stripes and regularly wheeled out for photo calls by every big name on earth, the best men’s trench coats are a bastion of both functionality and suave mystique.
Much like a solid rotation of white T-shirts, a helping of cashmere knitwear and a sturdy pair of selvedge jeans, they’re also an essential part of most kinds of wardrobe, from the traditional to the esoteric.
The advent of men’s trench coats saw raincoats become double-breasted and longer in the hem than the mac coat that came before it. As the name suggests, the style became popular during the trench warfare of WWI, and for this reason the trench coat was first and foremost a practical garment. Though it’s not always the case now, trench coats were always water-resistant with shoulder pads intended to bear the weight of a gun and a waist belt to keep out the elements.
Today, the shape and look of the belted trench coat has not changed much... unless you look to the designers — usually from the United Kingdom — who play with the history of this vintage outerwear.
Best men's trench coats at a glance…
- Best overall men's trench coat: Percival Auxiliary Sherlock, £239 at percivalclo.com
- Best affordable men's trench coat: Uniqlo, £99.90 at uniqlo.com
- Best designer trench coat: Burberry, £1,890 at uk.burberry.com
- Best traditional trench coat: Mackintosh, £995 at mackintosh.com
- Best waterproof trench coat: M&S, £70 at marksandspencer.com
Burberry ‘Kensington’ trench coat | Duke + Dexter loafers | Jeans and white T-shirt are model's own
What are the best men’s trench coat styles for a rainy season?
While the UK might not see anywhere near the kind of rainfall as more humid countries, we still tend to get a battering for a good portion of the year. If you want your new trench coat to function more like parkas do — that is, by keeping out lighter rainfall — you’ll want to prioritise waterproofing and the trappings that come with it, such as taped seams. We’ve listed which of the below trench coats are waterproof for ease. Although, having said all that, if you’re more concerned about letting in the elements, you’d probably be better off with a windbreaker…
How do we select our favourite trench coats?
So, how exactly do we choose what constitutes the best trench coats for men in 2024? Simple. We know our stuff, we do our research, and we get out there to experience as much product as possible.
Our section head of menswear for GQ Recommends, Heidi Quill, is obsessed with clothes. Joining British GQ in 2021, Heidi might primarily look after clothing content, but she spends a healthy amount of time up to her neck in samples, checking product for the very best quality, price and design, all before recommending it to you. That includes knowing everything there is to know about a good trench coat.
The trench coat is a time-honoured stalwart: a piece of outerwear found as regularly in a men's wardrobe as a car coat or a leather jacket…but that doesn't make choosing one for your own closet any easier. If anything, the limitations — and quality — of choice make this a very big decision, especially if you're looking at spending big on a piece from the likes of Burberry or Mackintosh. As far as Heidi and our team of contributing writers (Jessie Atkinson, Faye Fearon and Adam Cheung) are concerned, though, the pieces in the list to follow are all worth your consideration.
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Best overall men's trench coat
1/13Percival
Sherlock trench coat
- Waterproof: Yes
- Sizes: XS - XXL
- Colours: Beige, Navy, Black, Brown, Green, Grey
Celeb-adored polo shirts to one side, the almighty Sherlock trench might be one of Percival's most-adored pieces… and it's not hard to see why. Keeping its silhouette sharp and simple with a straight line of single-breasted buttons and a clean, mod-like shape, the Sherlock might be named after the famed Sir Arthur Conan Doyle character, but you don't need masterful deduction skills to know that it's a pretty sweet piece.
Best designer trench coat
2/13Burberry
Longline 'Kensington' trench coat
- Waterproof: No
- Sizes: 42 - 60
- Colours: Beige, Black
This is The Classic Trench Coat (capitalisation necessary) and will be one of the best investments you ever make. The quality of Burberry’s fabric will ensure the coat looks as good in ten years as it does the day you walk out the store. Never will this dip and dive out of fashion either. The Burberry trench is concrete in its timelessness.
Best traditional trench coat
3/13Mackintosh
Mid-length trench coat
- Waterproof: Yes
- Sizes: 34 - 46
- Colours: Beige, Navy, Black, Green
If you ever hear someone talking about a Mackintosh coat, this is probably the one that they’re referring to. Carefully handmade in Scotland using traditional methods honed over many years, this classic cotton trench is cut in the label’s “Manchester” silhouette, promising to communicate some serious Britpop sensibilities upon wear.
Best waterproof trench coat
4/13Marks & Spencer
Short-length trench coat
- Waterproof: Yes
- Sizes: XS - 4XL in Regular and Short
- Colours: Black, Navy, Green
This just in: highstreet hero M&S makes an exceedingly good trench coat. Eschewing the trad belted waist and double-breasted fastening, M&S' trench takes a sleeker route, modernising the old-school style for a new generation of dapper dressers. Oh, and it's water-repellent too. A win-win.
Fear of God
5/13Fear of God
Fear of God
- Waterproof: No
- Sizes: 44-56
- Colours: Green
Hats off to Californian fashion label Fear of God for bringing a contemporary spin to the traditional trench coat. This comes courtesy of its silhouette: a billowing, cape-like frame which features two slanted pockets towards the top, a nifty pointed collar and concealed button fastenings. Assembled from a virgin-wool crepe, its quality texture and understated design makes for a piece of outerwear to last a lifetime.
Hawes & Curtis
6/13Hawes & Curtis
Hawes & Curtis
- Waterproof: Yes
- Sizes: 36 - 50
- Colours: Beige
A traditional trench if ever we saw one, this Hawes & Curtis pick is here to see you through autumn, winter and spring in style… Plus, who can resist the ever-so-slight Inspector Gadget vibes? The menswear hero we didn't know we needed.
H&M
7/13H&M
H&M
- Waterproof: No
- Sizes: XS-XXL
- Colours: Beige, black
Searching for a budget-friendly trench coat which doesn't sacrifice style? This one by H&M is your best bet. Made from a woven fabric and sitting with a slightly oversized shape, it ticks the boxes for all details most commonly associated with the design: from a double-breasted button fastening and grand peak lapels to the single back vent and belted waist. For under £100, it's an easy win.
T.M. Lewin
8/13T.M. Lewin
T.M. Lewin
- Waterproof: Yes (showerproof)
- Sizes: 36 - 48
- Colours: Olive
A sharp injection of olive tone stands this showerproof apart from its traditionally beige and navy counterparts. A nod to the military origins of the design, it has all the bells and whistles, from buttoned epaulettes to exposed button double-breasting. Bonus! It’s quilted for warmth and showerproof.
Carhartt WIP
9/13Carhartt WIP
Carhartt WIP
- Waterproof: No
- Sizes: S - XL
- Colours: Beige
An overcoat with plentiful trench touchstones, Carhartt’s ‘Newhaven’ is built for just the kind of weather that its namesake town gets: temperate with potential wind chill. Button it up over some light knitwear for the easiest case of layering you ever achieved.
A.P.C.
10/13A.P.C.
A.P.C.
- Waterproof: No
- Sizes: XS - XXL
- Colours: Beige
The cinched, belted waist is not for everyone. If you prefer a straighter silhouette (which may well prove the sensible style option for shorter men as it'll elongate the body) look to APC's classically tailored trench. The refined details more than make up for any smarts lost in the belt department, including a full satin lining and beautiful tortoiseshell horn buttons.
Charles Tyrwhitt
11/13Charles Tyrwhitt
Charles Tyrwhitt
- Waterproof: Yes (showerproof)
- Sizes: 36R - 48R
- Colours: Beige, Navy, Olive
Somewhere between trench and car coat, Charles Tyrwhitt's take on the classic menswear piece is all about versatility. Stripped back and single-breasted, this simplified pick still pays homage to the OG trenches via its militaristic belted cuffs and rich navy hue.
G-Star Raw
12/13G-Star Raw
G-Star Raw
- Waterproof: No
- Sizes: XS - XXL
- Colours: Light Grey
Designing with trend cycles at its core, G-Star has become known for its streetwise edge, quality craftsmanship and urban energy. It ought to come as no surprise, therefore, that the brand's take on the trench isn't wholly a traditional one: in a stone grey hue, this piece is modernised by its taut, shrunken collar and sharp-cut hems.
Burberry
13/13Burberry
Burberry
- Waterproof: No
- Sizes: 36 - 44
- Colours: Beige, Navy, Black
Think Burberry trench coat, think beige. We're not knocking it – it's a look that will never go out of style – but the same applies to the chic noir black colourway decorating the Kensington Heritage trench, which represents Daniel Lee's slightly edgier approach to menswear classics. Simply turn up the collar and relish in your vampirical luxury.
