The modern waterproof raincoat was pioneered by Scottish chemist Charles Macintosh in 1824. His design used rubber dissolved in coal tar naphtha, sandwiched between two layers of fabric.

The classic British raincoat is still called a “mackintosh” (or “mac”) because of him.

Early rubber raincoats smelled strongly and became stiff in cold weather. They could also melt or become sticky in hot weather.

Thomas Hancock improved the design by developing vulcanized rubber. Vulcanization was later perfected by Charles Goodyear in 1839.

The trench coat evolved from military raincoats worn in World War I.

Modern raincoats often use polyurethane (PU) coatings instead of rubber.

Gore-Tex revolutionized rainwear in the 1970’s with waterproof yet breathable fabric. It works by using microscopic pores that block water droplets while allowing vapor to pass through.

Vinyl raincoats became popular in the 1960s for their shiny look.

PVC raincoats are 100 percent waterproof but not breathable.

Waxed cotton raincoats need to be re-waxed to maintain waterproofing.

Fishermen’s yellow raincoats became iconic in coastal towns, especially in New England.

Bright yellow was chosen because it is highly visible in storms and fog.

Oilskin raincoats were used by sailors in the 1800s.

The word “slicker” is another term for a raincoat.

Raincoats are measured in millimeters of waterproof rating, such as 5,000 mm or 20,000 mm. A 20,000 mm rating means the fabric can withstand very heavy rainfall pressure.