Remember the fanny pack? Men finally had their own version of a purse – a man purse that is. Although it wasn’t the most fashionable of accessories, it made things easier for men travelers and women who wanted to leave their purses at home. This once functional but very unfashionable accessory led the charge for purse-free travel, whether people were traveling to the store or through an airport. Unfortunately, the fanny pack isn’t dead – you can still find some of those original bulky atrocities still floating around. Thankfully, the ScotteVest travel vest was created to save us from our devices.
The limitations of the fanny pack extend beyond fashion nightmare. In today’s mobile world, it’s design is less functional. The ScotteVest travel vest takes care of the travelers need to carry a range of items, from multiple mobile devices to documents to water to tablets, and more. The vest is designed to distribute the weight of the items evenly across the body.
Last month, I attended the Travel and Adventure show in D.C. and interviewed ScotteVest owner and inventor, Scott Jordan. We talked shop about everything from why he got into the travel apparel business to his stint on Shark Tank. Check out this video of the Travel Channel’s Andrew Zimmern trying on his new vest and watching Scott demonstrate its functionality.
I appreciate his energy and passion for his business. As a mom who occasionally travels solo with kids, one who can get obsessed with luggage and packing techniques, I love what he’s invented.
The ScotteVest is this pack-rat’s dream.
I tried one on for size and went the day purse-free. Now let’s be clear – I love my pocketbooks. I’ve carried one just about every day of my life for the past 12+ years. Not carrying one for the day had me thinking that I had lost something. While I’m local, they don’t bother me. However, when I’m on the go, traveling on vacation with the kids, I can do without the extra hassle of the purse. And the ScotteVest travel vest is going to help me do just that.
I was surprised by how much I could fit into this vest. I wish I had ordered a larger size so that I could also carry my iPad in it (I highly recommend you order large and above). I made the mistake of ordering my exact size, therefore, once I started putting all my stuff into the strategically designed patented pockets, the vest became more snug and my items didn’t sit as flush in the pockets as they should have.
I neglected to remember that part of our interview where Scott told me that each size vest has different sized pockets. With standard fashion industry pocket design, the pocket sizes are generally the same. Scott mentioned, “there’s no real consideration as to what people are carrying.” Good point.
The features I love about my travel vest are:
- It has 17 pockets
- the Princess seams on it (although I won’t be eating any bagels wearing it)
- see-through pocket for my iPhone or iPod which I can also control through the pocket
- my extendable key holder (so cute!)
- lipstick pocket (always digging for that in my purse)
- the bud pocket and collar connect area to route my iPhone buds and hold them in place
The vest is a no-brainer for men. I’m so happy that my husband wants his own vest because now he can carry his own stuff and not look at my pocketbook as HIS pocketbook. But it’s also a great travel item for us women (moms especially), whether it’s too the grocery store or to the airport. Now my carry-on luggage has more room for important items like an extra pair of shoes because my sunglasses, my passport, my keys, my lipstick, my tablet, my phone, my digital camera, and whatever else I can sneak in those pockets, are housed in my vest, which I can seamlessly take off as I go through security. Everything is compartmentalized and easily accessible. Bam!
The women’s vest is well-made and worth the $125 price tag, in my opinion. The company makes hoodies, workout clothes, jackets, trench coats, and other technology enabled clothing. I was provided with a vest for this review but I’ll be looking to purchase either another vest in a different color or a different travel-functional article of clothing. All opinions are my own.
If you had a travel vest, what would you pack in yours? Stay tuned for a surprise!
UPDATE: CONGRATULATIONS TIANY! YOU ARE THE WINNER OF THE SURPRISE…YOUR VERY OWN SCOTTEVEST!
I need this in my life. I love it! For travel and for activities around the city for me. Like, this would rock my socks at the theme parks. I’m adding this to my Amazon universal wish list!
Unless, of course, you want to send me yours ;-).
oxoxox
You like the red one? Maybe Santa will send you an early Christmas present this year? Hmmm Hmmm… Yes!I agree, this would be an awesome thing to have at an amusement park.
We are traveling to Disney in December and this would be perfect! I have multiple illnesses and can see how handy it would be to have everything so easily accessible! I will definitely add one of these to my wish list!
Jamee, you will love this vest for that purpose. The one I have has 17 pockets – imagine all the stuff you could keep on you for easy accessibility? I think every mom should have one of these!https://momsguidetotravel.com/wp-admin/edit-comments.php#comments-form
I’ve seen these on HGTV before. I associated it more with men. So it’s good to see that it looks and feels good for women too. I’m sure being hands-free takes some getting used to, though ;-).
Nope, not only for men. They have really cute items for women besides just the vest. I’m loving the trench jackets and a couple of other jackets in addition to the hoodie and pullover. You know how we do – we’d totally rock out any of those items on a cute outfit. And yes, not having a purse does take getting used to. My purses are so cuuuute! LOL! 🙂
I have both the vest and the Lucy cardigan and I love them both. The Cardigan is quite comfy and though it doesn’t hold as much as the vest, it’s one of my go tos for every day.
Okay, I’m jealous I don’t have a cardigan. Did you have either of them on in London last November and I just didn’t notice? Ok, travel buddy, you gotta clue me in on these things a little earlier! LOL! What color are your vest and cardigan?
I really like this. It is stylish and very functional. Nice!
Ok so I am just so in love with this vest right now. I am a sporty Mom on-the-go, who packs all of her stuff (and my five year old son) in a backpack. I absolutely hate purses unless its a cute clutch. So with that said this vest sounds perfect for me! This vest would give me easy access to all of my things without having to search through my backpack.
Yeah, it’s very functional for all those little things that we have floating around our backpacks, clutches, and purses. I’m big on compartmentalization!!
Is this the same guy I saw on “Shark Tank” with something called Technology Enabled Clothing (TEC)? Wonder if he ever got an investor. He was very rude on the show.
The vest looks very stylish and convient all in one. I could definitely use that in my everyday life.
Love the vest! Very stylish and practical. Is it available in sizes for the fuller figured moms?
Yes, JJ they do have larger sized vests. The women’s goes up to XXL and I’m not sure what the men’s vests go up to.
Actually I would be really excited if my 8 year old had one for all of his crap. I mean “treasures”.
Great post, I saw this on Shark Tank and fell in love with it!! Super useful, especially for moms who really need free hands to deal with the littles! The possibilities with this type of garment our endless!
Yes, that’s what I say…endless possibilities. Just think about slipping one on in the summer time with all your stuff in it over a cute tank. See, now I’m thinking fashion over function. LOL!
Um, hello. So fabulous!
I love this. This is great for International travelers for sure. I wish I had one when I studied abroad in Guatemala and in Spain. They encourage you to have your passport on you at all times and to keep your belongings tucked away, but then they say font carry a purse. (((What??))) I’m like women don’t have a punch if places other than a bra (grandma’s pocket) to store stuff. This vest is the solution. Like the man in the video, I would get two also!
Chrysula and Tonia, yeah it is kinda cool isn’t it? Tonia, yes, I know what you mean about the passport thing. I hate carrying mine with me at all times in a pusre when I’m abroad. Having the vest will make it easier.
This is awesome! Your a great writer. I had something similar twice, but, this one looks a much more fashion forward and low key. As such I would wear it. I’d like to brand these with our CWF logo and sell on our fundraising e-commerce site.
Thanks Jeff! Yeah, I think you’d like this one as well. It is very unassuming. I think CWF’s logo on it would be VERY cool and a great fundraiser item! A kindle would fit very easily into one of these as well.
Wow! This product is amazing…it’s like a built-in purse. It seems to be TSA friendly. Do you know if it has been tested at an airport?
Hi Nina, yes, the vest has been tested at the airport and is TSA friendly. From what I’ve read, all you have to do is take it off and put it through the x-ray machine and leave all of your items in the vest/jacket.
Hi! Where do I go to purchase one? I hope they offer a variety of colors?
You can purchase them through the website scottevest.com. The 17-pocket vest that I have has a nice variety of colors, the 12 has fewer. And the men’s vest also comes in a variety as well.
I like the jacket better than the vest. The variety of jackets are good but can be better. The only problem that I see is that IF you are in a high risk area of the world and you get into an accident or robbed you lose everything! Chances of that happening are slim though.
Thanks for the great review and article! We appreciate you sharing and love to hear how you wear your SCOTTEVEST.
I love love love my vest and enjoyed testing it out for myself. Looking forward to that next trip!
I’ve been wearing Scottevest clothing for several years. Their women’s items are very practical and surprisingly stylish for “many-pockets clothing.” Do order up a size to have room to fit all your stuff. I love being bag free on shopping excursions and any kind of travel. The scottevest.com website is comprehensive and each item has videos, multiple photos, an x-ray view of the pockets, reviews, etc. If you have questions, on sizing for example, their customer service reps are really helpful – both on instant chat or by phone. Scottevest makes nice clothing for both women and men.
Yes, I wish I had realized that I should order up a size. Maybe I’ll lose enough weight such that the one I have will work better. LOL! Or, I guess I can just gift it to a friend.
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This is perfect! I was doing a search for a good fashionable vest and found your blog. I just placed my order and look forward to trying out on as soon as it arrives!
That’s awesome Daphne! I believe you will love it. The hands-free aspect of it where you can store much on your body while you travel is unbeatable. Check back in and let me know how it fits and works for ya! Thanks for stopping by.
Awful.
They basically have NO return policy, similar to what you would be used to with any other clothing retailer. If you take the tags off, and wear the item, and find that you don’t like it (which you probably won’t because the jackets are meant to be worn over bullet proof vests or some other nonsense) they WILL NOT take it back. You need to be 100% sure you want some weird, overpriced windbreaker with bulky pockets and no sense of style before you fork over your 175$.
And, if you suggest that their return policy is unrealistic, Maggie, their customer service rep, treats you in a condescending manner, and tells you to reread their “policy”.
Terrible product, terrible company. Avoid at all costs.