A raincoat and a rain jacket both keep rain off, but a raincoat is usually longer (thigh to knee length or more) and made for everyday wear, while a rain jacket is hip length, lighter and often built for walking or outdoor activity. A classic trench coat is usually not waterproof: most are made from cotton gabardine, a tightly woven fabric that is water-resistant and will shed a shower but can soak through in sustained rain.
Key takeaways
- Waterproof means water cannot get through the fabric or the seams. Water-resistant means it slows water down for a while.
- Raincoats are longer and cover more of you. Rain jackets are shorter, lighter and easier to move in.
- A traditional trench coat in cotton gabardine is water-resistant, not waterproof.
- A mac, short for mackintosh, originally meant a coat of rubberised cotton, which is fully waterproof but does not breathe.
- In everyday British English, “mac” is now used loosely for almost any light raincoat.
Is a raincoat the same as a rain jacket?
Not quite, although people use the words interchangeably and shops do too. The clearest difference is length. A raincoat usually reaches at least mid-thigh and often the knee, so it covers the top of your trousers (pants) as well as your body. A rain jacket stops around the hips.
The other difference is purpose. Raincoats tend to be designed for town: walking to work, going out in the evening, wearing over a suit or knitwear. Rain jackets lean towards activity, so they are often lighter, pack down small, have adjustable hoods and cuffs, and use breathable fabrics that let sweat vapour escape.
Waterproof vs water-resistant: what is the difference?
This is the distinction that matters most when you are standing at a bus stop in a downpour. The label may use either word, and they mean different things.
Waterproof
A waterproof garment stops water getting through the fabric, even under pressure, such as when a rucksack (backpack) strap presses wet fabric against your shoulder. The seams also need to be sealed or taped, because every stitch hole is a potential leak. Makers often quote a hydrostatic head rating in millimetres, and a higher number means the fabric resists more water pressure.
Water-resistant
A water-resistant garment slows water down rather than stopping it. That might come from a tight weave, a water-repellent coating, or both. It will keep you dry in a light shower or a short walk, but in steady rain the fabric eventually wets through, usually at the shoulders first.
Breathability
Fully waterproof fabrics with no membrane can trap body heat and moisture, so you feel damp from the inside. Breathable membranes and coatings are designed to let water vapour out while keeping liquid water from getting in. Breathability matters more if you walk fast, cycle or carry a bag.
What is a trench coat, and is it waterproof?
A trench coat is a long, usually double-breasted coat with a belt, a storm flap at the shoulder, epaulettes, and buckled cuff straps. The style is widely linked to officers’ coats of the First World War, which is where the name comes from. Many of those details were practical, and today they are mostly about the look.
Most classic trench coats are made from cotton gabardine. Gabardine is a tightly woven twill, and the density of the weave is what makes water bead and roll off. It is water-resistant, not waterproof, and the seams are not usually taped. Some modern trench coats use a waterproof fabric or a laminated lining, so check the label or product description if you need it to survive a full day of rain.
What is a mac?
Mac is short for mackintosh. The name comes from Charles Macintosh, a Scottish chemist who in the 1820s patented a method of bonding two layers of cloth with rubber in between. The result was a truly waterproof fabric, and coats made from it became known as mackintoshes. The coat is usually spelled with a “k”, while the chemist’s surname is not.
A traditional rubberised cotton mac is fully waterproof, and its seams are glued and taped rather than simply sewn. The trade-off is that it does not breathe, so it can feel warm and clammy if you are moving quickly. In day-to-day British English, though, “mac” has drifted to mean any light, knee-length raincoat, including ones in nylon, polyester or gabardine.
Raincoat vs rain jacket vs trench coat vs mac: comparison table
| Type | Typical length | Typical fabric | Waterproof? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raincoat | Mid-thigh to knee or below | Coated polyester, nylon or cotton blends | Often, but check for taped seams | Commuting and everyday town wear |
| Rain jacket | Hip length | Nylon or polyester, often with a breathable membrane | Usually, if described as waterproof | Walking, travel, cycling, outdoor activity |
| Trench coat | Knee length or longer | Cotton gabardine, sometimes with modern waterproof fabrics | Usually water-resistant only | Smart dressing in showery weather |
| Mac (traditional) | Knee length | Rubberised cotton | Yes, fully | Heavy rain when you are not exerting yourself |
| Mac (everyday use) | Knee length | Anything from nylon to gabardine | Depends on the coat | A catch-all British word for a light raincoat |
Which one should you buy?
For a city commute
A knee-length raincoat is usually the most practical choice. It covers a work outfit, keeps the tops of your trousers dry, and looks neat over tailoring or knitwear. Look for a hood or be prepared to carry an umbrella.
For walking, hiking and travel
A hip-length rain jacket makes more sense. Shorter coats do not tangle round your legs, and a breathable, packable jacket can be stuffed in a bag when the sun comes out. Adjustable hoods and cuffs help in wind.
For smart occasions in changeable weather
A trench coat is the dressiest of the four. It handles a light shower well and layers over a suit or a jumper (sweater). If you live somewhere with long spells of heavy rain, pair it with an umbrella or choose one made in a waterproof fabric.
For the heaviest rain
A traditional rubberised mac or a fully seam-sealed raincoat will keep out the most water. They suit standing, waiting and short walks better than hard exercise, because non-breathable fabrics trap heat.
How do you keep a rain coat working?
- Read the care label first. Waterproof membranes, coated fabrics and rubberised cotton all need different handling, and some should never go in a washing machine.
- Wash sparingly and gently. Dirt and body oils can make water-repellent finishes stop working, so an occasional wash with a technical wash or mild detergent can help. Avoid fabric softener, which can coat the fibres.
- Reproof when water stops beading. If rain soaks into the outer fabric instead of rolling off, a wash-in or spray-on reproofer can restore the finish on many coats.
- Dry and store it properly. Hang it on a wide hanger to dry at room temperature, away from direct heat, and store it unfolded if possible so creases do not weaken coatings over time.
What size raincoat should you get?
Rain coats go over other clothes, so leave room for a jumper or a blazer underneath. Try the coat with the layers you plan to wear, raise your arms, and check the sleeves still cover your wrists. Our men’s clothing size converter helps if a brand lists US, UK or EU sizes you are less familiar with, and the main size guide covers other garments. If you are looking for a new one, you will find our raincoat in the Luxeurs shop.
FAQs
Is a trench coat good in heavy rain?
A classic gabardine trench will cope with a shower or a short walk, but in a prolonged downpour it will eventually let water through. For heavy rain, a coat with a waterproof fabric and sealed seams is the safer choice.
Why is a raincoat called a mac in the UK?
The word is short for mackintosh, named after the chemist Charles Macintosh, whose rubber-bonded cloth was used for early waterproof coats. Over time Britons started calling almost any raincoat a mac.
Can a water-resistant coat be made waterproof?
Not fully. A reproofing treatment can refresh the water-repellent finish so rain beads up again, but it cannot seal stitch holes or turn a woven fabric into a waterproof one.
What is the difference between a raincoat and a cagoule?
A cagoule is a British term for a very light, hooded waterproof, often pulled on over the head and short enough to pack into its own pocket. It is closer to a rain jacket than to a knee-length raincoat.
Are rain jackets warm?
Most are not insulated. They block wind and rain, which helps you feel warmer, but for cold weather you will need a fleece, jumper or insulated layer underneath.