When it comes to clothing brands that the public may not be overly aware of, but tech geeks are, the leader of that pack is likely SCOTTeVEST. I know for myself, I first became aware of – and a fan of – their stuff back when I learned about them on some of Leo Laporte’s early podcasts. Fast-forward, well, a decade or more, and SCOTTeVEST has expanded from those roots. Today, we’ll have a look at a few items from their catalog.
SCOTTeVEST made their bones by creating jackets that had a ton of pockets. But not like you’d see on a photographer or safari jacket, with gusseted pockets all over the exterior. No, the SeV pocket system was much more subtle, and actually (mostly) hidden. They even developed a method for running headphone cables through the jackets from a pocket up to the collar so you didn’t have those banging around.
When it comes to shirts and pants, though, some number of pockets are going to be expected. For instance on the SCOTTeVEST Homestead shirt ($80) you see teh two chest pockets right off the bat. Easy peasy. What’s not as obvious is the second pocket hiding in one of the chest pockets, two zippered ones on either side seam, and then the sixth hiding down at the hem (right by a suede eyeglass wipe, curiously) intended to tuck away some backup cash. Realistically, a shirt like this has a lot of uses. It’s a cotton/nylon/spandex blend, so it will move with you, and should provide some breathability in warmer weather (as would the short sleeves).
Aside from outdoor adventure, I think the SCOTTeVEST Homestead works well for a traveller. By this, I mean someone who’s headed out to tour a city, and wants to tuck stuff away where it’s not obvious that, say, you’ve got your passport over here and wallet there. It’s a subtle way to carry multiple things without requiring a bag, you know? Something like this shirt could easily replace the around-the-neck sorts of things I’ve used in the past.
If you’re looking to replace the need for a backpack, the SCOTTeVEST Homestead will get you part of the way there. You’re going to need some cargo hauling capacity of your pants as well. That’s where the SCOTTeVEST Absolute Cargo Pants ($95) come into play. Here, of course, you’ve got the obvious pockets – two slash pockets up front, a cargo pocket on each side, and then two in the back. So that’s 6 spots, but there are 4 more.
In the past, I had a pair of Hidden Cargo pants from SCOTTeVEST, and those implemented additional pockets by using a magnetic closure on the slash pockets up front. It was a good idea, but I never got the magnetic closures to align quite right. Here, on the SCOTTeVEST Absolute Cargo Pants, those magnets are gone. Instead, they’ve gotten the 4 extra compartments involved by putting some partial dividers in the main pockets (front and back; curiously, not in the cargo pockets though). For the back pockets, that just allows some stacking of things.
For the front pockets of the SCOTTeVEST Absolute Cargo Pants, though, that really gets a bit more interesting. For starters, these are very deep pockets, reaching to just about the bottom seam of the cargo pockets. So, you’ve got a lot of space. Then, there’s some stitching that creates some separation, so you can sort of organize things a bit, and keep, say, your chapstick and change, from jumbling all around. This might be harder to envision, but it’s a very practical thing. Without the extra organization, those deep pockets – while useful – would be a bit less “Get rid of the backpack” friendly.
In terms of material, the SCOTTeVEST Absolute Cargo Pants are 98% cotton, with the other 2% being Spandex. This is my first foray with a pair of pants with stretch in them, so I wasn’t sure how it would go, or what I’d think. Well, spoiler alert – I rather like it. The weave of the SCOTTeVEST Absolute Cargo Pants isn’t coarse, but it’s noticeable, and makes you think that you’ll have some stiffer and less-mobile pants in store. With the stretch, though, the pants just move with you as you need them to. Great on the trail or wandering a new city. The stretch also helps if you’re trying to jam things into the pants pockets that are larger. Maybe not as subtle, but yeah, you could easily carry water bottles and small umbrellas in there, if you needed to.
Now, I get it, not everyone is going to be as in to pockets as I apparently am. Even if you’re not, the way SCOTTeVEST hides them around their apparel gives you a lot of non-obvious versatility. Throw one of their jackets in the mix (I’ve got one of their older TropiFormer jackets that I’ve travelled with quite a bit) and you can certainly have a lot on your person without needing a bag, if you were so moved in that direction. Past travel, I think gear like this is rather handy for parents.
A trip to the park, as parents are aware, is not just a simple “head out the door and go” sort of a thing. You’ll need to bring snacks, waters, and all manner of other things. And even if you’re not starting out carrying it, you likely are going to be handed things at some point that the kids no longer want to have with them – say, some mittens or a stuffed toy. With SeV, you’ve got that sort of cargo capacity readily available.
Suffice to say, I’ve been a longtime fan of SCOTTeVEST with some of their gear already in my closet. With items like the SCOTTeVEST Absolute Cargo Pants and Homestead shirt, you really could gear yourself up with easily a dozen (or more) pockets for your next adventure (and that’s not even considering the undergarments they offer). And for those less globetrotting, I still think this is great gear for the office or around the house. Never know when you might have the need to secret some doubloons on your person. Or, you know, your wallet, phone, keys, and sunglasses. Both equally likely scenarios, no?
Be sure to let us know what you think of the SCOTTeVEST stuff, especially if you’ve gone traveling with it. I know I like it, and have done so, but it’s always good to hear what our readers think and have used the products for. You can do so by commenting below, of course, or joining us over on our Slack channel for all manner of discussion, be it watches, clothes, or even gold coins if you want. scottevest.com
Photos shown with the Shinola Canfield Sport watch, a Goorin Bros. hat, and the Xero DayLite Hikers
