Scottevest

Frank, I can't help you, but was really glad to see your post and learn about Scottevest's products, as I have been considering a vest myself. After checking out their products, I think I would lean toward their travel vest and continue to pack my rain jacket, as the two jackets you are interested in don't appear to be water proof. Everything is a compromise though and I suppose I would lean toward the Evolution as it apppears to be more water resistant than the Essentials. I think I've found something to add to my wishlist, and I thank you for that. I'll look forward to your post about which jacket you decide on and how it functions for you.

Sorry I can't help either, since I haven't tried their jackets, but I was reminded of when my husband and I bought their vests so that we could travel without a checked bag on Ryan Air a few years back. Putting a vest full of goodies through the security line was a hoot, not to mention wearing probably five pounds of miscellany! I felt like a smuggler, trying to look nonchalant while wearing half of my packed possessions.

The biggest problem with the products is that there are actually too many pockets--it's hard to remember where you put what, so you find yourself opening a dozen pockets before you hit on what you were after. The pockets each come with a helpful little card suggesting what kind of item goes in that pocket, but no way to remember the sequence once the pockets are full. I suppose if you used the vests/jackets a lot, you'd develop a patterned system of packing them. But I recall vividly having my cell phone ringing and opening pocket after pocket in a vain attempt to locate the darned thing.

PS The vests run small. You might guess larger than usual on the jacket size.