Brad Adrian
07-22-2002, 07:00 AM
To be honest, the first time I saw the Scott eVEST™ I wasn't sure that it was anything I could find useful. I mean, I had been using a photographer's vest to carry my many electronic toys with me for several years, and it seemed functional enough.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/adrian/evest3b.jpg" /><br /><br />I gave the eVEST™ a try, though, and even talked with the vest's inventor, Scott Jordan. Quickly, any doubts that I had about the quality and usefulness of the ScotteVEST™ were dispelled. <!><br /><br /><span><b>ScotteVEST™ Review</b></span><br /><br />I was very glad that Scott Jordan took a few minutes to talk with me about the eVEST™. I had been using it for a few days and was pretty sure that I had discovered all of the available pockets and secrets that the vest has to offer. Boy, was I wrong! This garment has more cubby-holes and hidden corners than I ever thought possible.<br /><br /><span><b>Garment Overview</b></span><br /><br />The eVEST™ that I've been using is designated "version 2.0," and, as one might guess, it builds upon the features incorporated in earlier versions. I have a black eVEST™, but it is also available in navy, stone and khaki. The "Sport" version is made of light-weight nylon and the "Regular" version is made of nylon microfiber.<br /><br />The eVEST™ is actually not just a vest. As you can see by the photos, it includes zip-off sleeves, making it a fully functional jacket. That's a great benefit to me, because it means I can use the eVEST™ virtually year-round. The fabric is some of the softest, most supple brushed nylon microfiber I've ever worn, and the stitching, seams and zippers are top-notch. All of the stress points where seams might rip out, like at pocket edges, are overstitched for added strength.<br /><br /><span><b>Oh, Those Pockets</b></span><br /><br />This little beauty boasts no fewer than seventeen pockets. Seventeen! Now, think about that. That should be more than enough for even the greatest uber-geek to carry his whole kit. Even with as many gadgets as I own, I was hard-pressed to actually fill up all of the pockets. The eVEST™ incorporates more than just a bunch of pockets, though. It is the insightful and intelligent way that those pockets have been built that make this a truly great tool. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/adrian/evest1b.jpg" /><br /><br />The pockets on the front of the eVEST™ seem unassuming enough. The "A" and "B" regions each sport a zippered handwarmer pocket with a long zippered pocket below. The lower pockets are just the right shape for holding sunglasses, cell phones and other small items. <br /><br />The handwarmer pockets, though, offer several surprises. The right pocket has a sturdy, 6-inch long key ring fob firmly stitched into it, offering an easy way to keep track of everything from a pocket knife to, well, keys. Inside each of the pockets is also a strip of Velcro™ that effectively partitions the pocket into two smaller compartments. This offers a great way to carry a couple of toys, like a Pocket PC and a digital phone, without them banging around against each other.<br /><br />If you put your hands into the large handwarmer pockets and reach up into them, you discover that the eVEST™ has a completely open interior. This is a simple design feature, but one that is surprisingly utilitarian. It means that you can place a Pocket PC, CD player or phone into the pocket and thread a headphone wire up through the open interior and out through a conveniently located oversized button hole near the eVEST™'s collar. Thus, you can completely "prewire" the eVEST™ with whatever headphone, cables or connectors you want, and leave them in place for use.<br /><br />This concept of providing easy access to the eVEST™'s interior is also carried through in the upper front pockets in regions "C" and "D." Each of these surprisingly large, zippered pockets has a large button hole that provides access to the open interior. In fact, virtually every pocket in the eVEST™ offers access to the interior, making it possible to connect any pocket to just about any other pocket. For example, I was able to very easily carry my Pocket PC in one of the handwarmer pockets while connected to a portable battery pack located in one of the upper pockets, while listening to music through headphone wires that remained largely hidden in the eVEST™.<br /><br />And, remember, all of these features are duplicated on the other side of the eVEST™, too.<br /><br />The back of the eVEST™ sports a HUGE zippered pocket, which, not too surprisingly, also opens into the interior. While it is literally large enough to carry a notebook computer, many people might find it just as useful to carry something like a Camelback or Dromedary water bladder and thread the drinking tube out through the front of the eVEST™ for easy access.<br /><br />Not to be forgotten, the inside panels of the eVEST™ also sport a variety of intelligently-built pockets.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/adrian/evest2b.jpg" /><br /><br />I especially like the mesh pockets with the zipper closure in the lower region. This tends to be the perfect spot to store small items like CF cards and CF accessories for my Pocket PCs. And, the Velcro™-closed pockets just above are huge - large enough to carry a full-sized legal pad or magazine.<br /><br />Running along the zipper on both sides of the interior are several flaps that also fasten with Velcro™ (see the arrows). They include slots for pencils, pens and styli and can be used to hold any additional wires or cables firmly in place. And, the inside of the eVEST™ is filled with hidden button holes that provide access to the other pockets.<br /><br />The inside surface on the back of the eVEST™ and collar are made of a light nylon mesh. This helps make the eVEST™ cool and light, even in the hottest weather. And, the shoulder regions of the eVEST™ are firmly reinforced and double-stitched so that the load from the many pockets is evenly distributed and easily carried.<br /><br /><span><b>Gotchas</b></span><br /><br />In case you haven't noticed, I have found very little about the eVEST™ that I don't like; it is well made and very intelligently designed. I might like to see some small pockets built into the sleeves for holding things like a pen and notepad, but that's a minor point.<br /><br />The only thing that might keep some people from buying it is the price. At this writing, the Sport eVEST™ (Version 2.0) normally sells for $139.99, but can often be purchased at a reduced price of $109.99; the Regular eVEST™ usually sells for $159.99 but is often on sale for $129.99 at the <a href="www.scottevest.com">www.scottevest.com</a> Web site. On the other hand, several years ago I spent over $200.00 for a photographer's vest that is not nearly as functional as the eVEST™, so I consider the price of the eVEST™ very fair.<br /><br /><span><b>Conclusions</b></span><br /><br />At the risk of sounding like a dyed-in-the-wool, card-carrying, hopeless super-geek, I have to say that the eVEST™ is quickly becoming one of my most cherished accessories. It is stylish enough to wear with any casual sportswear and allows me to discretely carry my favorite electronic toys with me wherever I go. I think you'll seldom see me without it.<br /><br /><b>UPDATE:</b> Great news! Scott has authorized an additional discount for any Pocket PC Thoughts reader wanting to purchase an eVEST™ before August 20. To receive an additional $20 off the already discounted price of any Regular or Sport eVEST™, simple enter the code POCKETPCTHOUGHTS during final check-out. Remember, since this is not done through an affiliate link, you must enter the code to receive the discount.<br /><br />Thanks, Scott!