Travel vest thoughts

I’m not tempted but I did have a tour mate that wore one on my Village Italy tour. It was fairly sleek in appearance, not showing lumpy pockets here and there. Hers was red and she really liked it.

If the weather merited a vest, and if there were some that weren't so ugly, I'd be game.

I couldn't help but notice that the author is 1) a man, who 2) doesn't care about his appearance. I am 1) a woman, who 2) cares minimally about her appearance, but 3) is shaped in a way that discourages the wearing of a vest, as it tends to emphasize my largest feature (gut), making me look like a potato with four toothpicks sticking out of it. In other words, not for me.

Throughly love my Amazon zip up puffer vest. Wear it in LA and on London sojourns. Rolls up into its own bag. Inside pockets easily hold wallet, keys, and phone and if I’m traveling with it my ancient mini iPad. Outside pockets usually hold a packet of Kleenex and chapstick.

I’m not tempted either. To me, the vest would be uncomfortable for a long flight. I don’t think it would be flattering to those of us on the more busty side. I like minimal storage pockets in my travel bags, so definitely don’t want to have to search through 20+ pockets to find things.

I have a Scottevest jacket. I haven't worn it for awhile.

The only problem I had with it was that it had so many pockets I forgot where I put things.

If you are flying European budget airlines and don't want to have to pay for extra luggage, they are good to add a few "extras" without problem as no airline prohibits people wearing jackets.

They also make jackets/vests specifically for women.

Frank, it’s funny you mentioned forgetting where everything was. I read one review and one of the purchasers said he/she actually created a map to show items’ placements and was going to use it until learning about where their “home” was. That’s….dedication…I guess?

One of the past forum contributors who cared about appearance (I think she had a packing blog) didn’t like the pockets because items located at the bra area were both uncomfortable & bunched up. It’s probably more for a body type that’s not me, but I carry an almost empty crossbody purse so don’t have a need for it.

I know some people like them, but I’m laughing at the photo, imagining having an iPad and laptop around my waist & trying to buckle the plane seatbelt, plus feel comfortable for 9 hours.

It seems an efficient way to carry those extras you can't do without as you are walking round. It would also probably not end hurting my lower back as a purse sometimes does (I should learn to carry less.) However, I just don't like the look. I'd probably end up looking like a lumpy pack animal. I remember a long rain jacket I wore until it literally fell apart It had two outside zipped pockets, an inside zip pocket and an inside 'vest type' pocket for things like a small map. I loved wearing it and not having to take a purse. I haven't found a replacement and I've LOOKED!

I think that if I were to make use of such a thing, I'd have it as an option, and wouldn't necessarily chose it for every day on my trips. I do change what I bring daily during our trips. Some days I need a crossbody purse, sometimes just my camera, and and sometimes just a small fanny pack or whatever we are calling them these days.

Jetstar in Australia is quite picky on weight and we had three internal flights on Jetstar. We knew we were close to the maximim, so I put some heavier items in my raincoat pockets and wore it. Like portable chargers, granola bars, camera, etc.

I recently returned from a three week trip to Ireland. I had purchased a Scottevest on eBay and this was my first opportunity to try it. On each side of my vest I have one large pocket outside and one smaller pocket higher on the vest, a large pocket inside, a place for a pen or mechanical pencil, plus places for smaller things like ear buds that I did not use. There is no pocket for a laptop. The color is fossil gray. The color worked well with all my clothes which were mostly black slacks and some shirts and pink shirts. I wasn't sure if this is a man's or lady's vest. I just checked. I think it is a lady's.

Was I concerned about how to remember where things were? Yes, I was. Was it humorous at times searching around for where I put things? Yup! However, I figured by the end of three weeks I would have refined and learned my system. And I did for the most part. I put all the important stuff in the larger inside pockets, one of which had a RFID pouch which is where I put my passport, credit cards, some money, etc. In the other big inside pocket I put money (Euros) and minimal toiletries, a hair brush, etc. Anyway, I found a place for everything. I wanted something I could wear on planes. This worked pretty well. I did refine the system as I discovered the seats on the American Airlines economy plus made it too tight to get to the big inside pockets, so things like small packets of Kleenex, hairbrush, lip balm and a few other things had to move to the outside pocket. By the end of the three weeks I had pretty well memorized what went where with a couple exceptions, like my folding hairbrush. I felt like I had too much stuff in the pockets but I haven't figured what I didn't need and can leave out next trip.

Did I look good in it? Not really. The weather was chilly and sometimes rainy or drizzly so I wore a raincoat with a hood over it. In all the outside pictures taken I look lumpy. Inside with the vest on I looked okay but still lumpy. Does that bother me? Not much. It was so worth it to have my hands free the whole trip.

The ability to take it off and put it in a bin to go through the TSA scanner was okay. I did keep a watchful eye on it. In the past I've worn a small waist pack I put into my underseat backpack going through security which felt a more secure. But the freedom to have my important stuff on my person the whole trip great. There was no way that vest was going to fit in the backpack. I tried! Wishful thinking.

I'm glad I purchased the vest. When I got home I removed the key holder and the RFID pouch before laundering it. I washed it on delicate and let it line dry on a hanger. It came out fine.

I'm looking forward to wearing it on my trip to Bavaria in October. I am hoping I don't have to wear a coat over it much of the time. We frequently travel to Bavaria and/or Switzerland in October and there have been many days where no coat was needed. The vest is lightweight. I don't think it will be too warm. I attend a big airshow in Wisconsin every July. I do think the vest will be way to warm most days there. But I'll take it along just in case.

I would say if you are concerned about looking lumpy this may not work for you. Or you may find you don't "need" as much stuff as I think I "need". As I said, the lumpy look doesn't bother me enough to give it up.

Happy adventures to all!

Traveler Girl

I have worn a rain jacket that has lots of pockets and put a list in my phone of what was in each pocket. But I also do that with my carryon and personal items to try to discipline myself to return items to their assigned location.

I have a women's Scottvest that I won at a AAA store grand opening. It is not bulky looking, is comfortable and I do like it and the ease of having things I know I will need stored in pockets vs digging through a backpack on a plane. Doubt I would ever put an iPad in there but easy to store small items and I like they are easy to retrieve and put back.

I have had one for several years and have used it for foreign and domestic travel. I would never consider it as a substitute for a piece of luggage. Nor do I wear it every day of a trip. I use it to get through security by putting all the things I normally have in my trouser and shirt pockets (phone, passport, boarding passes, wallets, keys, tissues, etc.,) and taking it off and through security. Then it has all the stuff I want to keep close during the flight. Mine has a pocket (on the back) where you could fit a laptop or e-reader. Yes you could stuff a whole bunch of things in there, but you don't have to.

While on the ground, I might wear it when in transit (like on the bus or train) but it's still not a substitute for my carryon. I also have one of their hoodies which I think is also useful as a substitute for a sweater, but with less pockets than the vest.

I have 2 sweater vests in two separate colors that I got at L.L. Bean. It's not really like a Scottevest because it only has two pockets on either side. It's nice, though, because I can wear it when it's chilly out, when I don't really want to wear a jacket as the sleeves cam be cumbersome. It goes with just about anything, and it is nice to have larger pockets to put in phones and so on that zip up. I've bought them in the past at Orvis.

I've been at this long enough that I used to wear sport coats when I was travelling, it was nice having all the pockets and I looked pretty sharp I must say. Obviously doesn't work in hot weather, it always clashed with my shorts.

If you think you might like one of these types of vests, there's an online company run by Lauren Sanchez that sells less expensive versions you can try out, and return if necessary.

I can certainly see this as a way to get around the size and weight limits of the stingier airlines, but why on earth would you continue to wear it once you got on the plane??? For me, one of the pockets would absolutely be dedicated to a foldable tote bag that I could put all that stuff, vest included, into once I got on the plane.

If the weather is cooler, I wear a Uniqlo Ultra light puffer vest. They are quite sleek, but am still able to put all manner of stuff in it without it being bulky. They have zip pockets and inside pockets as well and as I have a bad neck, I can usually avoid hauling a bag around during the day when sightseeing
However, looking at the travel vest featured, I honestly don’t know how anyone could wear one without looking as if they had just nicked half of the duty free shops

Personally, very personally. --- I think they look dorky and really tags you as a tourist. I know, I know, you cannot avoid looking like a tourist. But the vest guarantee the look.

Not my style at all. I carry all my essentials in a very small crossbody bag.
I do have vests but I use them as a warmer layer and not to hold things.
However, I do have a few pants with side pockets with zippers that I usually wear on the plane and to explore. These are great for hiking/walking a lot and dry fast. Link to pants on Amazon .
And this is my travel/pane pants also with zipper side pocket Target pants. That's where I usually keep my passport and phone if I need to store my crossbody in my backpack during boarding (to consolidate into one pack). Or where I keep a transportation ticket that I can easily grab without opening my purse.

My husband has a men's version of pants with zippered pockets - he is not a vest type of guy.