Trench Raincoats

2 products

A trench raincoat is a long, belted rain coat cut to shed water while you keep walking, and Duck Apparel makes two of them for the Australian market, The Regent Trench and The Landmark Trench. Both sit on the rain side of the Duck Apparel range rather than the down side, so they are chosen for wet and windy days rather than for the coldest mornings of the year. This page explains what the shape actually does, how to compare the two trenches, and how to decide between a trench raincoat and an insulated coat in Australia.

What is a trench raincoat for?

A trench raincoat earns its place on days that are wet and mild rather than dry and freezing. The cut is long, the front closes over itself, and the belt pulls the waist in so wind cannot push rain up under the hem. That suits a Sydney downpour, a Brisbane storm that arrives in ten minutes, and a Melbourne day that changes its mind four times before lunch. The length matters, because it covers the tops of the legs, which a short jacket leaves exposed at a tram stop.

The trade off is warmth. A trench is a shell shape, so it works with layers rather than instead of them. In Australia that usually makes it a March to May and September to November coat, when the air is cool and the sky is unreliable but the temperature never falls far. Through June, July and August in Melbourne, Canberra, Tasmania and the alpine areas, a trench is worn over a jumper or swapped for something insulated.

The Regent Trench compared with The Landmark Trench

The fastest way to separate The Regent Trench from The Landmark Trench is by length, because length changes both how much of you stays dry and how formal the coat reads. Duck Apparel sorts its outerwear the same way, so styles that finish around the knee sit with the other knee length coats and the longer styles that run down towards the boot sit with the ankle length coats. A knee length trench is easier to drive in and less likely to drag on a wet footpath. A longer trench covers more of the leg, which matters if you commute on foot or stand around outdoors.

Trench raincoat or padded coat?

Buy a trench raincoat when rain is the problem and buy something insulated when cold is the problem. Duck Apparel also splits its wet weather pieces by how heavy the weather is, and the lighter end, made for showers and grey drizzle rather than sustained rain, is grouped in the drizzle weight rainwear range. If your winter is a Perth, Adelaide or Sydney winter, a trench over a knit covers most of the season. If you live in Hobart or Canberra, or you drive up to the snow, treat the trench as a shoulder season coat and keep a warmer layer for the middle of winter.

Fit, layering and care

Size a trench raincoat around what you will wear under it, not around a shirt. Most people in Australia wear one over a jumper for at least half the year, so check the belt still fastens with that layer on. Tying the belt makes the coat warmer and more windproof, and leaving it open makes it read as a longline jacket. After a wet day, hang the coat by the shoulders in moving air instead of folding it away damp, and follow the care instructions on the label.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a trench raincoat warm enough for winter in Australia?

A trench raincoat is warm enough for most Australian winters when it is worn over a jumper, but it is not a substitute for an insulated coat in the coldest places. In Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide it works right through the season. In Melbourne, Canberra, Tasmania and the alpine regions it is better treated as a wet weather layer for the shoulder months, with something padded kept aside for the deep cold of June to August.

What is the difference between The Regent Trench and The Landmark Trench?

The Regent Trench and The Landmark Trench are both belted rain coats from Duck Apparel, and the practical difference to check first is the length and cut of each one, listed on the individual product pages. Length decides how much of your legs stays dry, how easy the coat is to sit and drive in, and how formal it looks over work clothes. Choose the shorter option for daily movement and the longer option for coverage.

Are Duck Apparel trench raincoats waterproof?

Duck Apparel trench raincoats are built for rain, and the exact level of water protection for each style is listed on its product page. A trench is designed to shed rain and block wind while staying comfortable to walk in, which is a different job from a sealed technical hiking shell. For long hours in heavy, driving rain, check the product page detail before buying.

What do you wear under a trench raincoat?

A trench raincoat is worn over whatever the day needs, most often a shirt and knit in autumn and a heavier jumper in winter. Because the coat provides very little insulation of its own, layering is what makes it work across a wide temperature range. Adding a scarf and closing the belt makes a noticeable difference on a cold, windy morning in Melbourne or Canberra.

When should you wear a trench raincoat in Australia?

The best months for a trench raincoat in Australia are March to May and September to November, when rain is common and the temperature sits in the mild range. Winter in the warmer capitals also suits a trench worn over a knit. Summer, from December to February, is usually too warm for a full length coat except on a cool, wet evening in the southern states.

Does a trench raincoat work for both work and travel?

A trench raincoat suits work and travel better than most rain layers because it looks finished over office clothes and still handles a wet platform or a walk from the car park. It also packs more easily than a padded coat, and it can be worn open indoors without looking like sportswear. That makes it a sensible single coat for a trip that crosses several Australian climates.

Should you buy a trench raincoat or a down coat first?

Buy the trench raincoat first if you live somewhere that rains more than it freezes, and buy the down coat first if you live somewhere that freezes more than it rains. Most people in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide get more wear from the trench. People in Hobart, Canberra and the alpine towns usually get more wear from insulation, then add a trench for the shoulder seasons.