wondertwinzz wrote:

Okay, female gadgeteer opinion here:

I’ve been intrigued by the SCOTTeVEST line ever since I first read one of Julie’s product reviews. The vests/jackets seem very innovative and totally geared to geeks who want to carry a bunch of stuff but not look too geeky or obvious doing it.

I, admittedly, am one of those geeks. But like Julie and Judie, I’d way prefer something on the more stylish, feminine end of the spectrum.

SOOOO…I’d like to suggest a product line for the gadget girls of the world, starting out with:

1) SCOTTeVEST hooded cable-knit sweater (see sample pics attached, borrowed from dillards.com)

Sweaters are a softer, more attractive look for most women, I’d say, so I think if SeV were to line one of these classic-look puppies with the usual array of nylon pockets and compartments, you’d have quite a few happy women in line to buy it.

2) SCOTTeVEST purse/shoulder bag (see sample pics borrowed from crumpler.com.au and ebags.com)

I was thinking something like a cross between these two styles. The Crumpler bags are totally durable, but very sporty and woefully lacking in pockets. A Crumpler-quality bag in a feminine style with LOTS of compartments/gadget pockets would very be nice, don’t you think? And I’d guess, very popular, especially if offered in both leather and canvas.

2) SCOTTeVEST capri cargo pants (see sample pic borrowed from bluefly.com)

For summer, this option appeals to me most…cargo capris with enough pockets to keep the essential gear items handy. I’d even be happy with straight cargos, which would be great in the cooler months.

These are just my dream suggestions, but maybe there’s more of a market for these (or similar) items than you’d think. I’d also like to suggest pockets or holders designed specifically for female “gadgets” like lipstick, compacts, barretts/hair elastics, unmentionables (seriously – guys, forget you ever read this, but women will understand ), jewelry, and the like.

Laura Jordan, if you read this, I’d love to know what you think.

One of One wrote:

The jackets are a great concept, but as I’ve said SO many times before, velcro and logos just do not belong on jackets!!!

No velcro please! There shouldn’t be one square centimeter of velcro on a jacket. Frankly, it’s tacky, unfashionable, ugly, produces a terrible sound to the ears, and it wears out.

At least they got rid of the velcro on the Cotton jacket

I’m in agreement with you on all counts.

From the first photo, you can see what kind of fold-down collar I’d like to see on these jackets.

In the second and third photos you can see what I mean by barrel cuffs. The jacket in the photo (granted, it’s leather) has these cuffs and they haven’t stretched out at all (Julie, you and I may have been thinking about two different things perhaps). They provide all the room someone would need even when wearing a bigger watch, without confining the wrist, so there’s no chance of anything getting stretched out. They’re just really comfortable and they give the sleeves a nice clean look that I know would look great on these jackets.

And in the forth photo, you can see the brand-name tag found inside the jacket, just below the collar, which is what I suggested these jackets would benefit from in terms of style and logo/brand-name placement.

The fifth photo was just to provide a look of my jacket overall. Of course, it’s on a hanger, so it’s draping and looking different than what it would if I were wearing it, but at least you get an idea.

Hope this helps!

I think the current SCOTTeVEST jackets currently use a method similar to what you’re talking about. They call it a weight management system.

Of course, that might make the sweater a little warmer than usual, but that may also depend on the lining material chosen for the job.

I’m glad you both like the ideas. It’s just crazy trying to find ways to lug your stuff discreetly, while trying to look as normal as possible. Judie got it down (in high style) with the AK bag, but something as nice as that is highly individualized and more rarified. I’d be happy aiming a little lower on the product food chain. It’d be cool to see SeV work on ideas like these, but won’t hold my breath….

I like the idea of a sweater, but I think it might be near impossible to make a “gear-sweater” without it sagging. For instance, the sweater you posted is totally cute – but see how it already has a slightly saggy look on the bottom hem – load those pockets and you would have thunder-hips…hmmmm….keep brainstorming, I like the way you think!

I also like the idea of a gear bag. I’ve been harping to Scott about this for a long time.

As for the capri pants idea, that one isn’t up my alley I bet Judie would go for it though. I’d rather have some more sporty real cargo pants with some pockets on the outside.

One of One:
I totally agree about the collar. I don’t like stand up collars as they rub my neck and hairline. I’m not sure exactly what you mean by barrel cuffs though. Do you mean a knitted type cuff? If so, I’m not too keen on those… they tend to get stretched after a time.

No velcro please! There shouldn’t be one square centimeter of velcro on a jacket. Frankly, it’s tacky, unfashionable, ugly, produces a terrible sound to the ears, and it wears out.

No logos please! The only place a jacket should have a logo, is on the inside. That’s how 99% of jackets are made. And I mean no offense, but referring to another manufacturer’s use of huge logos shouldn’t be used as a justification for plastering logos on your jacket. People will recognize your jacket by its design – have faith in the design and let the jacket speak for itself. Logos are unnecessary. Two and three logos is certainly too much. One is too much, but tolerable depending on where it’s located. The best option is to simply put a tag with your logo on the inside just below the collar, like you see with most every shirt and jacket around.

What I’d like to see are barrel cuffs on the sleeves. No snaps, zippers, velcro, elastic, or buttons. Just nice clean barrel cuffs that don’t taper, but are of the same width as the sleeve. This way, they’ll be roomy enough for a person’s wrists, especially when wearing a bigger watch, and the sleeves overall will look much, much better by giving them cleaner lines.

And Scott, please change the collar!!! Please make the collar fold down. You have a great concept with your jackets, but that collar has got to go! It’s just too nerdy looking.

If you’d change the cuffs and the collar as I suggest, and remove the logos, your jackets would look so much better! I couldn’t even tell ya.

Maybe I could snap some photos of what I’ve suggested so you can see what I’m talking about.

Thanks for listening!

I’ve been intrigued by the SCOTTeVEST line ever since I first read one of Julie’s product reviews. The vests/jackets seem very innovative and totally geared to geeks who want to carry a bunch of stuff but not look too geeky or obvious doing it.

I, admittedly, am one of those geeks. But like Julie and Judie, I’d way prefer something on the more stylish, feminine end of the spectrum.

SOOOO…I’d like to suggest a product line for the gadget girls of the world, starting out with:

1) SCOTTeVEST hooded cable-knit sweater (see sample pics attached, borrowed from dillards.com)

Sweaters are a softer, more attractive look for most women, I’d say, so I think if SeV were to line one of these classic-look puppies with the usual array of nylon pockets and compartments, you’d have quite a few happy women in line to buy it.

2) SCOTTeVEST purse/shoulder bag (see sample pics borrowed from crumpler.com.au and ebags.com)

I was thinking something like a cross between these two styles. The Crumpler bags are totally durable, but very sporty and woefully lacking in pockets. A Crumpler-quality bag in a feminine style with LOTS of compartments/gadget pockets would very be nice, don’t you think? And I’d guess, very popular, especially if offered in both leather and canvas.

2) SCOTTeVEST capri cargo pants (see sample pic borrowed from bluefly.com)

For summer, this option appeals to me most…cargo capris with enough pockets to keep the essential gear items handy. I’d even be happy with straight cargos, which would be great in the cooler months.

These are just my dream suggestions, but maybe there’s more of a market for these (or similar) items than you’d think. I’d also like to suggest pockets or holders designed specifically for female “gadgets” like lipstick, compacts, barretts/hair elastics, unmentionables (seriously – guys, forget you ever read this, but women will understand ), jewelry, and the like.

Laura Jordan, if you read this, I’d love to know what you think.

Scott

First impression and kind of an issue for me: it’s warm! All these layered pockets make the jacket keep heat. That’s excellent for the cool weather, but it’s almost impossible to wear the vest on a sunny day even in September. It’s almost fine for the office with always working conditioning system, but still a little bit warmer than I’d like, especially the thick standing collar (even with the hood removed from there) adds some heat insulation. Personally I’d prefer a foldable collar – to keep it up outside (where it really helps in a cold weather), but fold it down inside.

Another first note – the main front zipper is left-handed for some reason! I’m used to hold one part of zipper (the one with the slide attached) with my left hand, take another part of the zipper with right hand, insert the end into the slider, and while still holding the end with left hand, move the slider up with right hand. Now for this jacket I have to change my habits, and even after two weeks I still try to connect the zipper another way – like with all my other clothings with zipper. What was the reason for such an unusual design?

The sleeve cuffs with Julie’s “favorite” material are also designed quite another way than I’d prefer. The cuff fastener attaches to the outer side of the cuff, where its end sticks out, doesn’t look good, and catches to the things. And the unused rest of black Velcro strip is too visible on the light “Stone”-color background of the cuff. All clothings usually have the fasteners (with snaps, buttons or Velcro) on the inner side of the cuff (between the forearm and the body) where they are basically hidden. Why not use the same approach?

And one more thing. You won’t believe it, but I need more pockets!
I’d like to have a couple of small ones inside deep hand pockets – to keep the keys there. A bottle holder elastic strip at the bottom of the left hand pocket could be attached to the bottom to form a pocket – a good place for a key chain, where it wouldn’t interfere with other items in the big pocket, and wouldn’t jingle when you’re walking. The zipper, which separates the big pocket into two sections helps a little, but that’s less comfortable, than just a small pocket-in-pocket. The right hand pocket has a very handy elastic key holder, but again, it would be very good to put the keys attached there in some small pocket inside the big one to secure them. Now they always jingle with each my step . I try to make a small opening in the Velcro at the back of the pocket, and put the keys there, but again that’s not as convenient as a small pocket.

I haven’t found a good usage for the small “transparent” pockets on the left inner side. The small mesh ones are good for memory cards, but I don’t have any extra ones. Anyway I think 4 small pockets is too much. Two of them could be combined into a bigger one, where business cards can be stored, for example. I tried to put the cards into a long transparent pocket, but that one is too deep and is located so that the cards bend inside when you sit.

There are 4 pen/stylus pockets, but I cannot use them either. A pen in the lower two can break because the jacket bends there when you sit. A pen in any of the upper two pockets tends to stick into the brest, especially when pressed by a safety belt in the car. And all these pockets are too narrow for a good pen (I don’t mean Parker, but any thicker one, which is more comfortable to hold, and some handy stylus pens by StylusCentral, for example).

And the last thing. I’m in Canada (Vancouver), so I had to pay some duties and taxes, but frankly speaking I didn’t expect they will be so high. I already bought a couple of Pocket PCs in the US before, and the taxes were acceptable, but now I paid 55+% in addition to the jacket price! :wacko: Customs duties were quite noticeable (maybe they consider the jacket made in Korea as imported to the US?), and the customs brokers fees, which UPS also collects, were much higher than for Canada Post. This unexpected extra payment didn’t allow me to fully enjoy with my new purchase.

But regardless of that quite sad stuff, I like the jacket very much! It has much more positive things. Finally all my stuff is well distributed in the pockets. I don’t have too much actually, but now my jeans and shirt pockets are empty, which makes me feel much more comfortable than when my PDA, wallet, keys and phone were there. I always carry with me the following: a Pocket PC, a cell phone, a small SD/MMC card reader with a short cable, a wallet, a key chain with a lot of keys, a couple of other separate keys (I put them on the elastic key holder – very useful as they are required only to open some doors), a couple of security cards for electronic locks (have to be in separate pockets to not interfere with each other when presented to the reader device, BTW, I don’t even need to take them out from the pockets), some other ID and business cards. From time to time I need to carry sunglasses, ear-phones, CD/DVD disks, photo camera, some papers, envelopes, magazines… Now I have no problem with all this – everything fits in my jacket.
Guys, you did a great job!

If the minor “bugs” I mentioned above could be fixed, that would be an ideal garment.
Is it possible to get a free patch to upgrade to the version 3.1?

However, one thing does bug me though: a tiny portion of the ID tag was not properly sewn in, leaving a tiny torn appearance. Pls don’t get me wrong — the vest is wonderfully made and I am sure the general consumer would not have minded it. However, having anticipated and waited for the eVEST for 2 yrs, I am anxious that my eVEST is in the best possible condition.

As such, I will be returning the eVEST for a new one. I have 2 questions:

1. It is a minor (and I mean really minor) original defect but will this entitle me to an exchange sans the shipping charges?

2. I have every intention of buying a hidden cargo pants to go along with the eVEST. If I were to send the eVEST back, can the newly ordered pants be arranged to be in the same shipping package with the new eVEST? Also, since I am in effect re-ordering a pair of pants along with an eVEST, will I enjoy the special price for the pants that was offered to me when I ordered the initial eVEST?

Once again, I am very pleased with the eVEST and I am sorry that I have to ask for an exchange over a very, very small defect. However, because I won’t be in the US for long and won’t be able to have easy access to the eVEST (it does make a difference when you’re half-way around the world), I’m sure you would want a perfect eVEST.

Pls let me know. Thank you.

That’s what the “better halfs” are for – to help another half make the right decision…

The only problem – I cannot wait until my order arrives…

http://www.bostonpocketpc.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=168

http://davesipaq.com/articles/00085/iPAQ_clothing_SCOTTeVEST_Classic/1