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Men's travel jacket with inside pockets?

Any recommendations for a travel jacket with secure inside pockets (zippered, etc.) that won't break the bank? I'll be on the metro in Prague, Vienna and Budapest in October. I'm a New Yorker, so I know from crowded subway trains, but from my European travels it looks like pickpocketing is more widespread in Europe, especially if you seem to be a tourist. Thanks.

Posted by
5138 posts

Google Scottevest. They have jackets as well as vests. One of their vest is not that expensive and has plenty of pockets. You might also try Ex Officio. Magellens used to have one before they merged with Travel Smith, so you might want to take a look at them. An under the clothing money belt is used by many people, in addition to using a shirt / jacket with zippered pockets.

Posted by
5407 posts

Scottevest's are expensive , but they have frequent sales, altho still pricey. I have purchased several on eBay , many worn only once or twice. They do run snug, so check the measurements carefully. When is your trip? If in the spring or summer, look for the Feather weight vests. We own several styles and they do offer a level of welcome security. Safe travels!

Posted by
1626 posts

The OP's original post said he was going to be there in July.

Posted by
3249 posts

Use a money belt or pouch. One of the members of my group was on the vaparetto in Venice with his and his wife’s passports and cash secured in a zippered inside jacket pocket. Didn’t realize anything was missing until he returned to the hotel. Then spent a lot of time replacing the passports. Realize that pickpocketing is a career and they become artists. I got picked in Lisbon. They got an old wallet, 2 credit cards, my driver license and $2US. I knew immediately that it happened, cancelled the cards immediately and never got a charge. Most annoying thing was to pay $40 to replace the license.

Posted by
8817 posts

a good alterations place can add zippers to pockets in an existing jacket if need be. Safety pins work too, in a pinch.

Travelsmith also carries such clothes as well as Clothing Arts. But the "wont break the bank" criterion is hard to get around.

I like Scottevest too, and prefer their hoodies over the vests.

Posted by
2701 posts

I just this past week replaced an old TravelSmith gray travel blazer with the Eddie Bauer one mentioned above, in heathered gray.

My main goals were pockets and washing-machine safe, and both meet that; the TravelSmith had even more pockets than the EB and I was very happy with it, esp. for warm weather. The EB looks to be more weather-resistant, but the fabric is more obviously synthetic as well, kind of a tradeoff there. The TravelSmith one lasted a long time and could practically make a day bag unnecessary. Paired with the kind of LLBean collared shirts that are cut like dress shirts but made out of sports fabrics and you have outfits that will pass well enough for dinner and a show but have the durability to zip around in all day.

Posted by
4656 posts

I second considering an seamstress/tailor to adapt any jacket you like with hidden or zipped pockets. Consider a pocket in the back lining...no one is going to think of one there, unless it is too full or shows bulge when worn. Even then they can't get to it.

Posted by
19502 posts

The travel blazer also might come in handy if you want to go out someplace nice. I have used an Orvis travel blazer for at least 20 years. But they dont apear to be selling it any longer.

For the pick pockets, it can and does happen in Budapest. i say that mostly out of assumption. i ride, on average, 6 forms of public transportation a day and have yet to loose anything or even feel as though someone tried. I have only met one person in my life that got nicked in either Vienna or Budapest, and that was on a tram in Vienna. But he caught her and got his wallet back.

But I like the travel blazer idea because I dont have to pack it. I wear it on the plane and all of the inside pockets (in the Orvis one at least) are great for tickets and passports and cash, etc.)

Posted by
4 posts

Thanks, everyone. I think I might invest in a ScottEvest a little closer to my travel time in October. I'm in the process of dropping weight and should be lighter and a tad smaller by then. I searched and searched but couldn't find a good jacket with a secure inner pocket, zipped and not easily reachable by someone else.

Posted by
2701 posts

Now that I have lived with the EB heathered gray travel sportjacket for a few days I want to alert you all to a couple of clear faults with it, not just differences -- many travel sportcoats have a second secure/zipper pocket behind or inside the right outside flap pocket, and the EB does as well, but the zipper is above/outside the flap rather than below/behind the flap, such that it is still secure in the sense that it is zipped, but it is not at all hidden, because you can see the zipper. By contrast, the TravelSmith zippered pocket in same spot is under the flap where the zipper line cannot be seen. Unfortunately, like the Orvis version, the TravelSmith seems to not be available anymore.

The other flaw is that the interior pockets of the EB are trimmed with bright contrasting fabric, as though it was a ski jacket, rather than low-key matching materials. If you hold open the jacket or lift up your arms, the various zippers stand out rather than blend in.

Posted by
14758 posts

I am indeed a tourist , visitor and, as such, look it, and know the bad guys can spot me out a mile away but , then, so what?

Not concerned about getting picked, I use the hidden pocket and neck pouch , carry a wallet, wear a waist belt below the pants belt, up front and visible, sort daring any bad guy to get at it....they won't.

I wear a summer jacket with inside zipped pockets, three of which were the work of an excellent and skilled tailor. The jacket came with one inside left breast pocket. I had the tailor put in 3 more, all with a zipper.

Posted by
5 posts

I'd recommend Bluffworks. They make travel clothing with hidden zippered pockets (multiple styles of blazers, pants, etc.) and everything is machine-washable. A little pricey, but you can find used examples on eBay. I swear by their Ascender Chino pants.

Posted by
4 posts

Well, I finally pulled the trigger and bought a ScotteVest Epic jacket, their middle-priced option, with 15% off. I bought a size bigger since I'm in the middle of sizes, dropping weight and I figure I'll stuff quite a bit in it. One thing that concerns me is the sleeve length, and that they're snapped closures rather than fabric and elastic. But I can make it work. Once I get back from Prague, Vienna and Budapest I'll tell you how it worked. Thanks everyone!