Gear Review of Scottevest's Essential Travel Jacket for Women

If it's possible to fall in love with a travel garment then I'm in the "deep like" stage of love with Scottevest's Essential Travel Jacket for Women. This multi-pocket lightweight jacket has been my reliable travel companion during a week-long trip to the Pacific Northwest.

Pockets Galore of Scottevest's Essential Travel Jacket

I'm a quasi-geek with a travel habit and the Scottevest Essential Travel Jacket for Women has 18 pockets to keep essentials secure and close at hand. Carrying capacity of this jacket with its secret and interior pockets makes carrying a purse so twentieth century.

Pockets are labeled with its function and include specific pockets for a cell phone, identification, sunglasses and an iPod. Pockets not indicated with a label (and for those with labels) contain a business card stating how the pocket can be used.

For my trip, there were enough pockets to carry my iPhone, Canon PowerShot Digital Camera, sunglasses, Flip Video Camcorder, mini-tripod, small Moleskine notebook, cash, credit cards, gloves, lip gloss and GPS. The only item I could not carry in Scottevest's Essential Travel Jacket was my Nikon 35mm digital camera. There was no need to worry about pickpockets or items falling out since zippers or Velcro secured everything and the most valuable items were kept close to my body.

If I were more tech savvy, I would have taken advantage of the features for wiring my earphones from my iPhone through the jacket to my ears. That feature looks as though it keeps earphones from becoming tangled. And for uber-geeks, the Essential Travel Jacket has a pocket to fit the iPad.

Temperate Attitude of Scottevest's Essential Travel Jacket

The Essential Travel Jacket was perfect for the Pacific Northwest's climate which ranged from temperatures in the 40s through the low 70s. When the temperature was too warm, I zipped off the arms and used the jacket as a vest. Zipping the arm sleeves on the jacket, which are labeled with the side they belong, was easy and quicker than anticipated.

Vacationing in the Pacific Northwest meant a good chance of rain and when it did, the Travel Jacket's Teflon coating caused rain to bead up and kept me dry. When the jacket was soiled it was easy to clean off.
The Essential Travel Jacket for Women is available in black, red and sand and I opted for the darkest color because it's slimming and great for hiding dirt and grime. Coupled with the jacket's slimming design, carrying the gear did not make me look bulky.

Other Groovy Things I Like About Scottevest's Essential Travel Jacket

The sunglasses pocket contains a lens cleaning cloth to keep my shades clean and an exterior pocket has a key chain attached to the pocket's interior. Scottevest's Essential Travel Jacket contains magnets and was worried these would demagnetize hotel room key cards but that did not happen.

Not So Hot Things About Scottevest's Essential Travel Jacket

This jacket has given me a new freedom for my travels and I no longer have to worry about lugging gear in a separate bag. Unfortunately living in Florida, I probably will not wear it much. It's not a heavy jacket but I have little use for wearing this type of covering during steamy Florida summers.

The identification pocket is handy but only holds five cards securely. I carried my driver's license, three credit cards and my AAA card in that pocket comfortably. When the hotel room key was added the pocket expanded and could not be fastened securely with the Velcro. When it came time for rain, having a hood for the Essential Travel Jacket would have been nice and should be standard with the jacket.

Final Verdict on Scottevest's Essential Travel Jacket for Women

This jacket costs $120 and was a worthwhile investment, especially for security and convenience it provided me. Down the road, I see more trips being made with my new and reliable travel companion.

Source:
Purchase and Use of Scottevest's Essential Travel Jacket for Women, April 2010, www.scottevest.com/v3_store/Essential_Jacket_Women.shtml