Human beings have been wearing some form of rain-resistant clothing for thousands of years. From water- and snow-resistant parkas made from skins worn by hunters in polar regions to garments fabricated using woven straw, such as the ancient Japanese mino, people have long sought ways to remain dry while outside in wet weather. Which makes sense, because getting cold and wet is really not much fun.

Protective rain gear entered the modern era in the 1820s when Scottish chemist Charles Mackintosh created the first practical waterproof fabric. His creation involved the bonding together of two layers of cloth using a layer of rubber, thus producing a material that could be used to make clothing, tents, tarps for wagons, and myriad other purposes. His surname was lent to the Mackintosh Raincoat, a garment still popular today more than 170 years after his death.

When selecting the right rain jacket for your needs, put function in front of style. If your jacket can't help you properly perform the tasks at hand, it doesn't serve you well even if it looks great. Consider whether you'll need to stay dry while jogging, commuting, working outdoors, traveling, or when out for a night on the town.

Once you know the demands that will be placed on your rain gear based on location and circumstance, then you should be all means start to think about style. After all, while a rain jacket's primary purpose is to keep everything underneath it dry, as the outer layer, it's the most visible thing you'll be wearing, so it might as well look good.