Our Pick of 2014's Fall/Winter Technical Jackets

Over the past few years technical outerwear has hit trend status and spread like a rash across the internet. Technical clothing is not a new idea of course. The look was last big in the mid '90s and anyone who has enjoyed any kind of outdoor life can probably appreciate The North Face, but while this new technical school of jackets are designed specifically to keep you warm and dry, and feature practical ways to stow your gear while on the go, the idea is that the emphasis on functionality and usability, and magic weather resistant materials like Gore-Tex and Schoeller fabrics should result in a more modern aesthetic and style.

If you want to look perhaps a bit too hard into it, these jackets can be compared to the modern cities their wearers are found in. The muted colours match the architecture, the fabrics are designed to simultaneously offer maximum performance, look and feel good, and every design element is justified via a specific functional purpose. So, now that it's cold and dark outside and only likely to get colder and darker, here's our pick of fall/winter 2014's best technical jackets.

The North Face Purple Label is an exclusive to Japan line that year after year puts out some of the best looking jackets around. If you’re into the updated-mod look, this jacket is a spin on the traditional parka and brings a detachable MA-1 style down-filled liner that is easily as cool as the shell, so it’s easy to mix and match looks on the go. It’s made from water-repellant polyester so you’re not going to get instantly soaked, has large zippered front pockets and a peaked storm hood so your barnet won't be ruined either.

When you need something a bit more formal, adidas Consortium has got you. The line is pitched at the same stores, outlets and customers as Nike's Tier Zero offerings. And dedicated to reinventing classic designs in more sophisticated materials and colour palate, and this Gore-Tex trench maintains that heritage, though it is a surprising addition to the usual sports focused gear. Clean lines, minimal branding and a traditional yet modern take on the trench coat mean you can wear this when you need to look clean and tidy, or just down to your local haunt. While the taped seams and Gore-Tex shell mean you won't be getting wet.

East meets West as Stone Island finally collides with Supreme. It was worth the wait; this jacket brings Stone Island's C.P Company roots back to the fore with the goggles and an evident heavy military aesthetic. With interest in technical performance wear and reflective on the upswing, this marriage of Stone Island's technological know-how and Supreme’s mastery of hype is possibly one of the steeziest collabs to release all this year.

The Isaora—pronounced "eesa-ora"—​3L Tech Shell is, as the name suggests, made up of three layers; an outer, inner and mid membrane. Each layer has properties acting as a barrier to wind and rain. The fabric stretches so snagging shouldn't be a worry. And the asymmetrical front zip not only looks cool but in combination with the second zip provides an adjustable chest panel for adjustable and increased breathability.

Anorak’s have never been so appealing. Definitely one of the more interesting garms out this season, the Ten-C anorak is based on the traditional anoraks worn by Caribou Inuits, the word didn't appear in English until the 1920s. It boasts construction in the Italian brand's innovative OJJ fabric, which is a dense nylon and polyester mix, and is soft to the touch but water resistant, so it’ll withstand a fair bit of rain before you get damp. With wear the anorak will gradually break in and acquire a unique patina with age.

Ignore the slightly indecipherable technobabble that surrounds Berlin based ACRONYM’s clothes; this is the real deal. The hardshell, 3L Gore-Tex Pro fabric of the J43-GT is near totally waterproof and in jet black cuts the high-tech ninja figure perfectly, which is totally awesome. On the side of the collar you’ve got a magnetic strip that holds your headphones in place, and inside there’s a jacket sling so you can wear the jacket like a bag when you don’t need it. Additionally you can incorporate whatever backpack you’re wearing into the jacket by opening the rear zip. Oh, and there’s this thing called an escape zipper that allows super fast jacket removal that has to be seen in motion. If you're left in any doubt of the legitamacy of ACRONYM's technical prowess it's worth remembering Errolson Hugh ACRONYM's designer and the model in the photos above also leads Stone Island's Shadow Project.

Canadian outdoor clothing brand Arc’Teryx, take advantage of expertise developed over the years for their mountaineering and snowsports focused mainline to produce the distinctly up-market Veilance. Veilance's Align Shell jacket is an understated, minimal piece, devoid of bells or whistles, and tailored and super clean in appearance. The Canadian's have even designed the zippers and hood adjustments to remain completely hidden. The Gore-Tex Pro fabric ensures you’re bone dry all the time, and the pocket zippers usually a weak spot in waterproof clothing use a special watertight system to keep whatever you're carrying dry as a bone.

adidas have been smashing it out of the park with their collaborations this year, and this Palace x adidas Originals Tech Jacket is pretty outstanding. A huge throwback to the snowboard and sailing inspired pieces big in the '90s, the Tech Jacket has got a retro-future thing going on, so it's pretty safe to say it’s going to look good in a few years time too. It’s lightweight makes it a winner on a run or out skating, and its polyester outer, nylon inner and taped seams will keep you dry while doing just that. And just look at those glorious mesh pockets.​

Founded in 2008, MA.STRUM's early work saw the firm collaborate with Studio Osti, the organisation founded by Massimo Osti, the legendary designer, and the firm's output still owes a debt to the Italian's seminal work for C.P. Company and Stone Island. The firm's JO-01 takes this influence and melds it with the silhouette of the classic fishtail parka in a heavy duty water resistant dense weave memory fabric.