 Photographer: Brian Forman |
WHAT'S
HOT
The SCOTTeVEST family is expanding,
and one of its newest members is the lightweight Three.0 Spring line
jacket in Stone. The jacket still boasts the full complement of pockets
but in a garment designed for warmer temperatures. And the Stone color
(also available in Olive) is a nice departure from the standard Black
and Red of earlier versions. My jacket looks rather dressy, fitting
in well on my preppy college campus.
The SCOTTeVEST has, since its conception several years ago, been in a class of its own. The original SCOTTeVEST was little more than a glorified photographers vest turned inside out. But founder Scott Jordan and his company have come a long way since then. The new SCOTTeVEST Three.0 is a stylish and severely functional jacket that finds its element on anyone from a secret-operations soldier concealing side arms to an urban technophile sporting every popular mobile device, and a bottle of water. The sleeves and hood are removable as well, so the jacket can adjust to a myriad of weather conditions.
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My SCOTTeVEST claims 31 separate yet interconnected pockets throughout the jacket, and each pocket was designed with a specific purpose in mind. My hands have on multiple occasions gotten lost in the event's labyrinth of finely sewn compartments. To help you get to know the jacket and its features, SeV includes cards in many of the pockets that outline the pocket's purpose and ideal contents. Many of these pockets are linked together using the SCOTTeVEST's so-called Personal Area Network (PAN). The PAN allows for convenient routing of things like headphones, power cords and hydration hoses. The event's feature-rich collar provides the wearer with plenty of options for securing these wires and hoses once they get there. Also found inside some of the pockets are helpful accessories, including a cloth for cleaning sunglasses, an elastic retention system to keep water bottle upright, and a leash-style keychain.
Inside Pockets
PAN ports and pen holders along zipper
It has been said that, if Bill Gates and Giorgio Armani were stuck on a desert island, this is what they would come up with. Now, leaving behind my doubts that either would last long enough on said island to produce a fine article of clothing, I'd say this is reasonably accurate. The eVEST is both sporty and functional, fashionable and yet completely utilitarian. Personally, I think that my Stonewash Three.0 is more likely the product of a group effort from Steve Jobs Calvin Klien and MacGyver, but I digress.
Cards from jacket Pockets
The eVEST's Collar
Wearing the SCOTTeVEST around campus is a pleasure. Its simple and elegant styling fits right in with my school's preppy student body. And, when moderately loaded with gear, its weight is hardly noticeable; the eVEST does a great job of distributing your load across the shoulders. The vest, when loaded moderately, is not bulky at all. No item in one pocket seemed to sit over an item in another pocket.... surprising for a jacket that possesses pockets 4-deep in places. Under heavy loading however, I must say that the eVEST is not more comfortable or convenient than an adequately sized shoulder bag.
Everything here (except plant)
Fits easily into the eVEST
The SCOTTeVEST's largest pocket is located at the small of the wearer's back. The card inside suggests stowing notebooks, a full-sized laptop or a hydration system's bladder (not all at the same time of course). I tried replacing my school bag with the eVEST for a day; the back pocket was the reasonable choice for my 5-subject notebook. The added rigid bulk was rather uncomfortable for me to carry around (not to mention the jacket was a little strange-looking with the large rectangular bulge). I can only imagine what a larger, bulkier laptop would feel like. A hydration bladder, on the other hand, fits just find by virtue of its ability to fit the form of the wearer's back.  Front Pockets |
BUGS
AND WISHES
The SCOTTeVEST offers its wearer
a multitude of pockets and features for stowing all sorts of gear. This
complexity makes the jacket a bit imposing to the first-time user. When
I first put the Three.0 on and started fishing around in the pockets
I was taken aback by how complex the jacket really was. The cards found
in some of the pockets help explain some of the jacket's features, and
the 'Self-Demonstration' instruction sheet that accompanied my new garment
made navigating the many pockets a little easier. But I've had the jacket
for two weeks now and I still find a new pocket every now and then.
I think that a visual depiction of the jacket's pockets-road map style-would
be much more helpful to the new user than the instruction sheet which
consists only of words explaining how to move your hands around inside
the jacket.
PURCHASING
The
SCOTTeVEST Three.0 Spring can be purchased for $149.99 from SCOTTeVEST's
Website. For some, this price may be a bit high - but for those
looking for something to suit their device-carrying needs, in a light
spring-type jacket, the price is certainly reasonable.
PROS
Sleek, comfortable, fits well
Carries a surprising amount of gear comfortably
Fits its target niche perfectly
One of a kind
- Reasonable price
CONS
May not adequately replace a backpack for large amounts of gear
- Jacket may hold large devices, but doesn't protect them
- Visual depiction of pockets could help with usability
OVERALL
IMPRESSION
The SCOTTeVEST does a great
job of securing all your electronic gear and making it easily accessible.
It is stylish enough to wear just about anywhere. However, I think that
it does not offer enough storage for the average student or businessman
to justifying leaving backpacks and attache cases at home. One the whole,
the SCOTTeVEST is a great article of clothing, and if you have several
small electronic gadgets that you have trouble keeping track of and
want to also benefit from the coverage of a light spring jacket for
chilly days and nights, order and eVEST Spring and see for yourself
just how convenient this jacket can be.
