ScottEVest Apparel

Hidden Cargo Pants

Rating: (4.5 / 5)

I tested the hidden cargos and really put them through a lot. For starters they really do have some pretty deep pockets and I just love the magnet closures. The pants are designed to be stylish and comfortable in a business environment where you couldn’t ordinarily wear cargos. In this respect the pants hold up to their end of the bargain. They’re really good –looking pants and quite comfortable. They’ve also got a light Teflon coating so they’re resistant to spills. I tested this and it worked just fine. However, they can’t really take a lot of liquid or it’ll start to get through, but for normal spillage you won’t be disappointed. However, they’re not stain guarded and my pair stained pretty easily under a variety of normal conditions. I was initially upset that I leaned on something simple and now I have a black spot on the back that I can’t get out, but that’s shadowed by the other miscellaneous stains that have popped up here and there that also won’t come out.

They’re also not wrinkle guarded in the least. These pants wrinkle so easily, and the wrinkles are deep and are hard to get out even with an iron. I found that I wrinkled more just by sitting and normal wear with these than I typically do with other types like Dockers and the like. Perhaps some starch would help, but I really don’t want to have to starch my pants all the time.

The zipper is nice and sturdy and has a really smooth action. I actually sat there watching TV one night with the pants in my lap just moving the zipper up and down for around 20 minutes and it didn’t skip or hang one time. The clasp is really sturdy as well and is really easy to get on and off while still staying clasped when you want it to.

I think it’s pretty funny that on the tag on the back of the pants it warns you to “Wash Gold separately”. I guess they want you cleaning your jewelry by itself. Here’s a pic just cause I think it’s funny.

All of this said, this is overall the best pair of pants I’ve had in a long time. I wish they were more stain resistant and definitely more wrinkle-free, but other than that, I love them. They’re great for conferences where you tend you fill your pockets up with brochures, business cards, and swag. The pockets are also nice and deep to prevent stuff from falling out when you sit down.

The one thing I really regret though is that I can’t wear them to work anymore. They’ve just got too many little stains on them to look professional. Perhaps if I ever get any more I’ll get one of the darker colors (I got beige this time) to help hide the minor imperfections. And at $60/ea that’ll be important. But I really do highly recommend them.

They’re without a doubt the most comfortable pants have had in a long time. I might also add that these are specialty pants. And I’m harping on a lot of what seem to be insignificant details because other specialty pants I’ve seen are poorly made. They’re made for the sole purpose of having the novelty. However, these pants are made with quality first. That’s really why I harped on the quality of the zipper and the fasteners, et al.

Here’s a quick update on the stains. As it turns out the tag recommends washing them in cold, and that’s what I did. But in talking to the company they recommended washing in hot to remove the stains. That worked for the most part, but I fear the stains had already been set by several washings so they didn’t come completely out. ScottEVest takes their customer satisfaction pretty seriously. So after hearing about the problems I had with the stains they replaced them for free. I’m not saying they’ll do this in every instance, but they did it for me. Now I know what you’re thinking… maybe they’re just kissing up to a reviewer. And that thought had crossed my mind too. But I know 2 other people who have bought ScottEVest products and luckily enough one of them had problems with a jacket he bought and it was replaced too. So the verdict as I can tell is that ScottEVest really does care about their reputation and if you have a problem with something you get from them they’ll make it right. Also, after some considered effort by my wife, she managed to get the stains out of the original pair. She had to soak them in Shout overnight and then wash them in another specialty cleaner like 3 times before they came all the way out. And again, looking back, I think that was more of a problem with the original care instructions than it was the pants themselves. So the original comment I made about the stains has to be retracted, but I’m leaving them in this review because it builds drama in the story.

Ultimate Hoodie Microfleece

Rating: (4.5 / 5)

I got the black hoodie and frankly I just love it. It’s got pockets just where I need them and just like the pants, the zipper is really smooth. The hoodie is made of a really soft material and just feels great to the touch. That’s important when it comes time to put the hood on because those can be really scratchy sometimes and you just don’t have that problem here. Like most of the ScottEVest stuff it’s got the hidden cord system for your MP3 player. There are only two things I don’t like about this hoodie. First, the material may be soft, but it also sheds. When wearing it with my beige hidden cargos it typically shed all over them and I had to break out the scotch tape a couple times a day to keep it under control. However, giving it a couple washings by itself seemed to clear that up, so if I were you I’d wash it right away when I get it. Second, the inside breast pocket is of a different material and the zipper isn’t as smooth as the one used on the front or on the pants so it’s just a little bit harder to work with one hand while getting my phone in and out. I used this jacket quite a bit in Seattle and day to day in Dallas and had just a little bit of trouble with the breast pocket zipper sticking.

The hoodie also has the magnetic closures on the pockets and even a strap inside one of the pockets that you can use to anchor your phone inside the pocket so it doesn’t fall out. I really do love the magnetic enclosures. They’re incredibly convenient to open and close and strong enough that stuff doesn’t just go flying out. It always takes me by surprise when I hang the jacket over my chair because the magnetic closures stick to the chair arm and I always think the jacket got caught on something until I realize what it is. And sometimes when I’m talking to someone in my office with the jacket unzipped, the magnet will slowly suck itself onto a metal cube wall beside me. It makes for interesting conversation. It’s actually pretty fun.

The cord system takes a little effort to setup because you have to feed the cords up through it but that’s to be expected. Once you get them in though, it’s great… just perfect for joggers or bike riders.

In short, this hoodie is stylish, soft, extremely functional, and durable. And it doesn’t make you look like a college student who just left a football game.

The Essential Travel Jacket

Rating: (5 / 5)

I think this is one of those products that just got done right from start to finish. The jacket is sturdy, soft, and handles wrinkles well. For starters, I’m not sure how many pockets it has. I’ve lost count. It really is a travel jacket though. It’s got special pockets for passports, plane tickets, and even magazines. That’s right… it’s got a huge pocket for a magazine.

The pockets are not only plentiful, but also thoughtful. There are little picture tags by each one of them that shows the suggested use. I thought that was really cool. Also I just went to the website and read that it has 19 pockets. I still don’t think I’ve found them all. There really is a place to put almost anything you’d want to travel with.

The sleeves have an actual wristband, but it’s covered up by the sleeve so you can’t see it. That’s a nice blend of function and fashion. And remember the magnetic closures from the other two items? Well, this one has those and zippers so you have 2 ways to close your pockets. This jacket is also fond of pockets within pockets. There are small change pockets inside the larger pockets so your change doesn’t fall out just because you take your jacket off and toss it on the floor at a party. These small change pockets also have their own closures so your stuff only comes out when you want it.

There’s not much else to say really. There are tons of pockets ranging from huge to small, and it has the signature cord system found in the rest of the line. If any jacket is primed for you to put a $20 bill in one of the pockets and find it 5yrs later, it’s this one. I’ve been able to carry things with me that I just don’t use very often and they don’t get in the way. But now they’re there when I need them.

The Bottom Line: The only thing I can say about this jacket that’s even slightly a negative is all the cards that come in the pockets when you get it. The cards give you the suggested use of the pockets, so that’s really thoughtful, but having to make sure you get them all out before you wash it is kind of a pain. But if that’s the only thing that’s even vaguely negative about this jacket then you’ve got nothing to worry about. I’d say this jacket is well worth the $120 I would’ve paid for it had I not been a world famous media star.