Jon Westfall
11-29-2006, 04:00 PM
<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/sevwinter-review-splash.jpg" /><br /><br /><b>Product Category:</b> Clothing for the Techie-Minded<br /><b>Manufacturer:</b> <a href="http://www.scottevest.com">SCOTTEVEST</a><br /><b>Where to Buy:</b> <a href="http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/40_Tactical.shtml">4.0 Tactical</a>, <a href="http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/40_hoodie.shtml">Ultimate Hoodie</a><br /><b>Price:</b> $229.99 USD (Tactical), $69.99 USD (Hoodie)<br /><b>System Requirements:</b> Body ranging in size from Small to XXXLarge<br /><br /><b>Pros:</b><br /><li>Excellent craftsmanship;<li>Stylish yet functional;<li>Ditch your briefcase!<br /><b>Cons:</b><br /><li>Price;<li>Limited color selection;<li>The more you carry, the bulkier / heavier it is!<br /><b>Summary:</b><br />A few months back I wrote a piece about spending a summer with SCOTTEVEST gear, doing outdoor-type activities in the harsh summer heat. Now that the weather has turned colder, and my work schedule has shot back up to five days a week of travel, SCOTTEVEST's winter lines get a workout. A lot of hype always surrounds these products, but are the extra features enough to justify the extra price?<br /><br />Read On And Find Out!<!><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>A Mobile Desk</b></span><br />To begin with, perhaps it would be a good idea to let you know what my average day is. I live in a very small community (700 full time residents) and commute to work in Toledo, 60 miles away. On a good day, my communte is 75 minutes, one way. A bad day, well, it goes up from there. Upon arriving at work, I have the (somewhat) dangerous task of parking and walking to my lab, which normally takes around 10 minutes (or an eternity if the weather is cold and the ground is slippery). Once indoors, I generally can shed my coat but still must scurry from office to office, lab to lab, like any graduate student. On my journeys I generally tote around a Pocket PC, pens, keys, and many items that constitute my mobile office. <br /><br />With that lifestyle in mind, I was leary about initially purchasing the SCOTTEVEST Tactical 4.0 last June. I knew I'd get some use out of it, but I also knew that I did have an office at work and sufficient gadget bags to tote whatever I needed back and forth. Would I really need a jacket with headphone loops and channels to listen to my iPod for just a handful of minutes here and there? Would I even want to use that many pockets on a daily basis? And once I got to work, I certainly wouldn't wear my coat around - so would it go to waste sitting in my office all day? Even though I was super-psyched to place my order, I still had nagging questions - would I really use this gadget clothing?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/westfall/sevwinter-tactical-overview.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 1: The SCOTTEVEST Tactical 4.0.</i><br /><br />As the weather started getting cooler this year, I started wearing my 4.0 Tactical jacket. The zip-off sleeves came in handy when the weather would turn warmer mid-day and the jacket could turn into a vest to keep me from sweltering. Initially I carried my gadget bag and kept just my keys in the coat pocket. I also put my wallet in the right breast pocket, so I wouldn't be sitting on it during the long drive home. I used the jacket a bit, but didn't bother to really explore all of the possibilities it had to offer. The farthest I'd explored was the excellent hood that can be unrolled while walking (and quickly pulled over the head) - I only decided to discover this when a rain storm snuck up on me!<br /><br />Then one day the weather got really nasty in a hurry, and I hadn't packed up my gadget bag after it was unpacked a few days prior for an out-of-town trip. I hastily grabbed what I needed and jammed it in my jacket. The large back pocket fit my folders and papers nicely, and the side pockets on the right and left were big enough to hold pretty much all I had to carry. One neat feature I found was the zip-out deep pockets, which were big enough to carry a small textbook!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/westfall/sevwinter-tactical-pocketful1.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/westfall/sevwinter-tactical-pocketful1-tn.jpg" /></a> <br /><i>Figure 2: Left-side interior pockets, with book (brightened to see detail). Click for larger image. (512KB)</i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/westfall/sevwinter-tactical-pocketful.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/westfall/sevwinter-tactical-pocketful-tn.jpg" /></a> <br /><i>Figure 3: Left-side interior pockets, zipped up (the book can actually slide out the top if desired, as the top is held closed by magnets). Click for larger image. (512KB)</i><br /><br />On the aforementioned crummy weather day, I found that my SCOTTEVEST was truly all it was cracked up to be, so to speak. I was amazed just how much stuff I got in there, and it still let me sit comfortably in my car without restricting movement. The extra bulk did add more weight, something that cannot be avoided. SCOTTEVEST advertises that their jackets distribute weight efficiently, however when it comes down to it - the extra bulk is present. Even though the jacket doesn't bulge out (which is nice - you don't look like you're packing a grand piano under your jacket), the extra items in your pockets will weigh you down and cause the jacket to be a bit uneven. Subsequently, I've experimented with moving my stuff around so that I don't have these uneven spots (or sides of my jacket that could knock someone out if swung at high speed), and have found a pretty good mix.<br /><br />One might wonder, with the extra bulk adding weight, why I didn't just go back to my ultra-awesome Roadwired Megamedia bag? Well, a few reasons:<br /><br />1. I love my MegaMedia bag, but it is truly MEGA. It can easily weigh 20 pounds with all my gear in it, and my poor shoulders aren't too happy about that. Not to mention that shoulder straps in the winter tend to slide off my shoulder while wearing a jacket. The SCOTTEVEST Tactical does distribute weight a whole lot better than any bag ever could.<br /><br />2. I found that when I kept everything in my coat, it really sped up my packing & unpacking before leaving work or home. Just keeping my keys & wallet in the jacket, along with a few spare cables and chargers (plus an iPod) meant that I didn't have to gather these things up in the morning before I left. This saved me a lot of time (and allowed me to get more sleep!)<br /><br />3. I didn't have to worry about securing the pockets in the jacket due to their magnetic closures. Even on the best of gadget bags, I've always had an issue remembering to zip all the zippers, secure all the velcro, etc... Inevitably, I pick up the bag once when I think it's closed and find out the hard way that it isn't. With the jacket, I can come home, take it off, throw it on a chair, have it fall on the floor, pick it up, and still have everything in its place! <br /><br />The Tactical 4.0 Jacket has a number of features on its Web page, and it may be worth reviewing these features a bit. While SCOTTEVEST's site (newly renovated!) has a great glossary, some of these features are just too cool not to explore. Some features, however, aren't as amazing as they may sound!<br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Features Explained</b></span><br />Before I bought my first SCOTTEVEST, the list of features on their site seemed a bit daunting. However, once you've used some of them you can explain them a lot easier than the Website's glossary definitions let on. The following features are present on both the Tactical 4.0 as well as the Ultimate Hoodie I'll talk about in the next few pages. Whether you opt to go with a top-of-the-line vest, such as the Tactical, or something more relaxed, like the Hoodie, you'll be sure to enjoy some of these features.<br /><br /><i>Personal Area Network (PAN),</i><br />SCOTTEVEST uses this term to describe the mechanism that allows you to easily route wires through your garment and connect up various devices. Traditionally this would be headphones to a music player, but it could also be a wired headset for a cell phone, or (in the case of the optional Solar power accessory for the Tactical 4.0) power cables for your devices. On the Tactical 4.0, the PAN runs from the right outside pocket up the lining and exits through a small hole right at the neckline, as well as other small holes located in other pockets on the jacket. Since earphones are the primary use of the PAN, I'll explain how they wire up. On the picture below, you can see the thicker white part of the wires on the left side of the picture - this is that pesky little divider that separates the cord for right and left earphone channels. It's placed right above the opening of the PAN.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/westfall/sevwinter-tactical-earbud1.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 4: Earphones exiting the PAN</i><br /><br />The lining of the jacket that normally touches the back of your neck flips up (it is secured with Velcro) and the earphone wiring is easily threaded in the crease. Simply fold down the lining and press the Velcro together, and the earphones are secure. SCOTTEVEST also provides loops to loop earbuds through to keep them from falling into the middle of the jacket, and "bud buckets" (small pockets) that the earbuds can be placed in while not in use. The loops are a great idea, but the bud buckets generally don't hold for long if you're moving around. This is mildly annoying, but the loops stay put. Perhaps deeper bud buckets in the future would alleviate this problem.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/westfall/sevwinter-tactical-earbud2.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 5: Lining folded back into place.</i><br /><br /><i>Magnetic Pocket Closures</i><br />Small, very powerful magnets are dotted throughout the jacket in the openings for the pockets. These snap closed after you withdraw your hand to keep your gear from falling out. This feature is what allows me security when I casually put my coat down on my office chair or take it off in a hurry when I get home. While these are 100% goodness on the Tactical 4.0, on the Ultimate Hoodie they seem to be a bit too strong. The lighter fabric appears to dampen the magnetic strength less than on the Tactical, and thus, more strength is required to pull the pocket open. It doesn't require Superman's assistance, and is really only obtrusive on the zippered diagonal pocket at the top of the jacket.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/westfall/sevwinter-hoodie-pocket.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 6: Diagonal breast pocket on the Ultimate Hoodie. Both the Hoodie and Tactical 4.0 have this pocket, with a vertical zipper that is easy to use and helps prevent items from slipping out if you should bend over.</i><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><i>Zippered Pockets-In-Pockets (ZIP-PIP)</i><br />The ZIP-PIP is basically a pocket within a pocket. This comes in handy in a few situations that otherwise might be perilous for your devices. Ever have a shiny new device scratched up by your keys when you leave the two in a pocket together? Ever have your iPod or MP3 player turn on accidentally because something else smashed into it? Then the ZIP-PIP is for you. Upon placing your hand in the pocket, you'll feel a zipper about 3/4 of the way in. You can unzip it and place whatever you like behind it, or you can reach over it (the zipper runs about 3/4 of the way up the length of the pocket as well) and place an item in the pocket-within-a-pocket. I use this to keep my portable music player separate from my keys, as well as to store drinks if I want to make sure they don't fall out at night when I'm rummaging around in my pocket for a credit card or key fob.<br /><br /><i>Pen / Stylus Pockets</i><br />This is the sleeper gem that I love the most about my SCOTTEVEST products. It's ingeniously simple - just a loop and some lining near the zipper that is big enough to slip a pen into, yet tight enough to keep it from falling out. Awhile back I ordered some excellent (and cheap!) pens from Stylus Central that are 4-in-1 stylus/pencil/red ink/black ink combos - they fit wonderfully in the pen pocket and allow me to keep a pen with me wherever I go (a problem I've chronically had in the past). The other night, while at dinner, the waitresses' pen ran out of ink as I signed my charge slip. Amazed looks came from all around as I quickly pulled a pen from my zipper and signed the check! (it takes little to amuse and amaze me!)<br /><br /><i>Bottle Holders & Key Holders</i><br />Within one or two of the pockets (depending on make) SCOTTEVEST has provided an thick elastic band that can hold a drink. I've found them to be too small for some 16 or 20 oz drinks that vending machines near me dispense, but they are just big enough to stow a can of soda. They can also be used for any other cylindrical objects you may need to carry, including cans of compressed air, tubes, etc... SCOTTEVEST also builds key holders into the pockets of the Tactical 4.0 and the right pocket of the Ultimate Hoodie. I couple these with one of those quick-release type key chains (similar to <a href="http://www.brookstone.com/shop/product.asp?product_code=501817&world_code=4&category_code=41&subcategory_code=514&search_type=subcategory&cm_ven=Search&cm_cat=Froogle&cm_pla=Catalog&cm_ite=Datafeed">this</a>) to keep all of my keys secure and allow me to easily access whichever set of keys I need (car, house, office, etc...).<br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Indoors: In Style, In Touch, In Hoodie</b></span><br />A SCOTTEVEST jacket is the perfect outdoor partner for the techie-on-the-go, but it isn't all that perfect indoors. Sure, you can unzip the sleeves and make it into a vest, which is an option - but it still can be a bit heavy. For that reason, I was very interested when SCOTTEVEST announced the availability of the Ultimate Hoodie several months back. While I've never owned a hoodie during my adult life, I figured that it may be time to diversify my wardrobe and to test out just how ultimate this ultimate hoodie was.<br /><br />Upon receiving my hoodie, I found that the biggest turn-off that I had to the product when considering it was actually not that big of an issue. The turn-off being the presence of a gigantic SCOTTEVEST logo on the back of the hoodie! While I enjoy telling my friends about my SCOTTEVEST wear when asked, I have never been a big fan of logo-emblazoned clothing. Small logos, such as the one visible in Figure 6 are OK, but large ones have always scared me away. It didn't help that the pictures of the hoodie on SCOTTEVEST's site led me to believe it was much more bright and vibrant than it really is. The picture below even exaggerates the brightness a bit, despite my best efforts. The logo is actually very tasteful, and has a slightly faded look to it. I don't feel like I'm giving away free advertising by wearing the hoodie, which is what I was afraid of. Additionally, while painfully obvious, the logo is on your <i>back</i>, so there is very little chance that you'll actually look at it much!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/westfall/sevwinter-hoodie-back.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 7: SCOTTEVEST Logo on back of the Ultimate Hoodie.</i><br /><br />The hoodie itself is very comfortable to wear. The cuffs around the wrist are loose enough to roll up to the elbow, and the fabric is very soft. The front pockets both contain drink holders, which are nice - but a bit odd on this style of hoodie. When I put a bottle of water in one of them, it jutted up out of the fabric and made me look like... well... like I was carrying a bottle of water in my pocket. Perhaps if this hoodie was one that didn't feature a zipper all of the way down the front (one that is a pull-over hoodie), the bottle would have been more concealed. I also question the reason for having magentic closures on the pockets. It's nice that they are held closed, but the fabric around the magnet is so thin, that they feel really noticable and can be quite strong. I shouldn't have to push my hand into the pocket to break through the magnet, and I found myself doing this frequently on the hoodie.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/westfall/sevwinter-hoodie-xray.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 8: The Ultimate Hoodie revealed.</i><br /><br />Despite some of the odd design choices, the hoodie did excel in a few areas. It went perfect under my Tactical 4.0 jacket, and allowed me to avoid freezing while putting my Tactical 4.0 in the back seat of the car before a long drive. The pen holders on the inside of the hoodie were also an excellent addition - I had a pen stealthily hidden away and available right when I needed (which is always different than when I think I'll need it!). Overall I wasn't blown away by the hoodie, but I wasn't disappointed either. I'm sure it will come in handy this winter while I'm at my in-laws house (which can get cold in some spots, overly warm in others), and will keep me looking stylish as well.<br /><br /><span><b>Conclusions</b></span><br />SCOTTEVEST makes some interesting products, and in the winter, this level of ingenuity can be extremely helpful while traveling the country or traveling to work. The Tactical 4.0, while priced higher than most like to pay for a jacket, is worth the extra dough if you're mobile on the go (horrible rhyme, I know). The hoodie is a great entry-level jacket that can help you get tech mobile on a budget.<br /><br /><i>Jon Westfall is an amazing wealth of odd and trivial information. He lives with his wife, cat, and pet rock in Marblehead, Ohio, and posts his daily exploits (More than you want to know) at <a href="http://www.jonwestfall.com">JonWestfall.Com</a></i>