The Oxford Blue navy blue hooded raincoat, modern lightweight waterproof raincoat perfect for Australia’s changing weather and rain

Australia's Best RAINCOAT

15 products

A Duck Apparel raincoat is a light outer layer worn over the top of everything else to keep rain off your clothes, and it is the piece most people in Australia reach for before the weather turns cold enough for down. This collection gathers the Duck Apparel raincoat colourways and prints in one place, from quiet neutrals to bold seasonal editions, so you can choose a rain layer for the commute, the school run, travel or a wet weekend without moving into heavy winter outerwear.

What is in the Duck Apparel raincoat collection?

The collection covers the full spread of Duck Apparel raincoat colours and prints, which is the main decision you are making here. The quieter, easy to match options are The Oxford Blue, The Truffle Haze, The Juniper and The Highland Midnight. The brighter and printed options are The Sienna Sunset, The Coral Spritz, The Limoncello Edition, Lipstick Crush No. 5 and The Cape Leopard. Between those two ends sit the softer neutrals, including The Cairo Sands, Rosewater Mist, The Whipped Release, Sugar Spice No.1, The Snowfall Edit and The Wild Whisper. If the raincoat is going over work clothes most days, the neutrals and deeper tones disappear into an outfit. If it is going over gym gear, jeans or a uniform, a print does more work.

A raincoat is sized differently from a fitted jacket because it is meant to go over other clothing. Leave enough room across the shoulders and through the body for a jumper or a light down layer underneath, and check that the sleeves still sit at the wrist once you have a long sleeve on. People buying mainly for warmer months can stay close to their usual size, while people buying for winter in the southern states should size for what goes underneath.

When do you need a raincoat in Australia?

Raincoat season in Australia runs longer than winter does, because rain is not tied to the cold months. Sydney and the east coast get their heaviest falls through autumn and into early summer, while Melbourne delivers wet grey stretches at almost any point on the calendar. Winter itself runs June to August, and through those months a raincoat in Melbourne, Canberra, Tasmania or the alpine towns is usually worn as the outer half of a two piece system rather than on its own. For cool, dry days where rain is not the problem and you only want a light shield against wind, the cool weather layering edit is the better place to start.

Raincoat or down jacket: how do you choose?

Choose a raincoat when the problem is water and a down jacket when the problem is temperature. A raincoat is thin, packs into a bag and goes over the top of your existing layers, which makes it the sensible choice for a Sydney spring or a trip where you cannot predict the forecast. A down jacket traps warmth and is the right answer for a Canberra morning or an alpine weekend. Many Duck Apparel customers in Australia own both and wear the raincoat over the down piece when it is cold and wet at once. If you want the rain layer to cover more of your legs as well, the knee length coat collection runs longer than the standard hip length cut.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Duck Apparel raincoat?

A Duck Apparel raincoat is a light outer jacket designed to be worn over your other clothes so that rain stays off them. Duck Apparel is a duck down outerwear brand that began in South Africa in 2017 and opened its Australian store in 2021, and the raincoats sit alongside the down range as the warm weather and wet weather half of the wardrobe. They are cut with room to layer, and they come in plain colours as well as prints such as The Cape Leopard and The Limoncello Edition.

Are raincoats warm enough for winter in Australia?

A raincoat on its own is not a winter jacket, because it is built to block water rather than hold heat. Across most of Australia a raincoat handles autumn, spring and mild winter days without help. In Melbourne, Canberra, Tasmania and the alpine regions between June and August, wear it over a knit or a down layer rather than over a shirt.

Which Duck Apparel raincoat colour should I choose?

Choose a neutral or deep colour if the raincoat will go over work clothes, and a print if it will go over casual clothing. The Oxford Blue, The Highland Midnight, The Truffle Haze and The Juniper are the easiest to match with anything. The Cairo Sands, Rosewater Mist, The Whipped Release and The Snowfall Edit are the lighter neutrals. The Sienna Sunset, The Coral Spritz, Lipstick Crush No. 5, The Cape Leopard and The Limoncello Edition are the loudest options in the collection.

Can you wear a raincoat over a puffer jacket?

Yes, wearing a raincoat over a puffer jacket is a common way to handle cold and wet weather at the same time. The raincoat keeps the down layer dry while the down layer does the warming. If you plan to wear the two together, buy the raincoat with enough room through the chest and shoulders to sit over the puffer without pulling.

When is raincoat season in Australia?

There is no single raincoat season in Australia, because rainfall patterns differ by state. The east coast sees the most rain from autumn through to early summer, the tropical north is wettest over the summer months, and Melbourne and Tasmania get wet spells year round. Practically, a raincoat earns its place in the wardrobe in every month of the year somewhere in the country.

How should a Duck Apparel raincoat fit?

A raincoat should fit loosely enough to close comfortably over a jumper or a light down layer. Check the shoulders and the chest first, because that is where a raincoat pulls when it is too small. Sleeves should still reach the wrist once you have long sleeves underneath. If you are between sizes and plan to wear it through winter, take the larger one.