SCOTTeVEST Best Travel Vest Review: Is It Worth The Money?

I made it to my 30s without owning a travel vest, but now that I have one of the best ones by none other than SCOTTeVEST, I need to shout from the top of a mountain about how I’ve just leveled up in my travel game. BIG. TIME.

I, for one, have experienced my fair share of airport struggles. You know what I’m talking about — you’ve just gotten your ID checked by the security agent. It’s time to get everything out of your pockets, dump them into the plastic bin, and go through the X-ray machine.

There are tons of people behind you, so you need to rush your way through and collect your belongings before you cause a massive backup on the conveyor belt. Does this whole frantic process stress anyone else out??

In a couple of instances, I’ve forgotten my phone in the plastic bins because it was tucked in a corner of the bin that I couldn’t see. The TSA agents must have thought I was a ditz, so embarrassing!

Then there was that other time when I was stressed and frantic about carrying so much stuff in my hands and on my back that I forgot to grab my entire carry-on suitcase at Hong Kong International Airport security, only to realize that I had forgotten it after I had already gone past the area. It was a whole ordeal to get it back — phone calls were made, papers were signed… whoops!

But my struggles don’t end there.

After I get to my destinations, I’m CONSTANTLY forgetting where I put my hotel room keycards (usually hidden in some random pocket of my day bag), constantly stressed about getting pickpocketed while I’m on subways/trains, and constantly worried about my phone getting snatched out of my back pocket.

I’m a vigilant traveler, don’t get me wrong. But I don’t think I was setting myself up for success with the clothes I was wearing.

Hoodies and jeans equate to what — like, 4 super exposed and vulnerable pockets? And my other favorite airplane outfit — a sweater and leggings — has a whopping total of ZERO pockets. (I always kicked myself in the butt when I realize this too late.)

Well, today I’m happy to announce my noob ways are over with because I am a proud owner of a SCOTTeVEST travel vest!

I could not be more happy with my SCOTTeVEST Best Travel Vest! It’s truly changed the way I travel by making me more organized and less stressed while I travel.

And if you’re on this post, you’re probably wondering if this is the right travel vest for you too. With so many options out there, how do you pick just one??

In this post, I’m going to show you all the things I love about this travel vest, as well as a few things that I don’t. This review is hopefully going to give you some clarity on whether the SCOTTeVEST Best Travel Vest is the way to go!

I received The Best Travel Vest from SCOTTeVEST in order to do this review. You’ll get nothing but honest thoughts here! All opinions expressed here are my own. This post may also contain affiliate links. You won’t be paying a cent more, but in the event of a sale, the small affiliate commission I receive will help keep this blog running/pumping out useful and free content.

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WHAT IS A TRAVEL VEST?

Let’s start with the basics here so that we’re all on the same page.

Travel vests are practical and functional articles of clothing made to carry all your essentials, making your life so much easier when you’re on a trip.

Travel vests are not meant to be a fashion statement piece — because fashion pieces are often quite useless in the ‘functional’ department.

Unlike regular vests that typically have two main pockets, travel vests are equipped with LOTS of pockets, compartments, and unique design elements that make them practical for carrying everything you need while on the go.

A good travel vest can even eliminate the need to carry any additional bags or backpacks while you’re out and exploring!

They are especially popular among savvy travelers who want to streamline their travel experience, have easy access to all their important items, maintain a sense of security throughout their adventures, and reduce all that unnecessary mental load that comes with worrying about your stuff.

Key features of travel vests often include:

Multiple Pockets

They’re usually strategically placed to provide easy access to essentials such as passports, boarding passes, phones, keys, wallets, etc.

Concealed Pockets

For added security, allowing you to store valuable items like passports and money more securely.

Specialized Compartments

Some pockets are designed for specific purposes, such as dedicated pockets for electronic devices, pens, sunglasses, or even built-in cable management systems.

RFID Blocking

To ward off high-tech hackers/thieves! RFID-blocking technology protects sensitive information stored on credit cards and passports from electronic theft.

Convertible Features

Some travel vests have convertible features like zip-on/zip-off sleeves, allowing them to adapt to changing weather conditions. (The Essential 2.0 Jacket is this exactly!)

Quick-Drying Materials

A good travel vest is made with quick-drying fabrics that repel water and stains, both of which are commonly encountered when traveling.

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WHY TRAVEL VESTS ARE A MUST-HAVE FOR TRAVELERS

OMG. Having experienced a life with a travel vest, I can think of so many reasons why travel vests should be part of every traveler’s wardrobe.

They are essential for organization, functionality, having peace of mind about your belongings, and decreasing overall stress. (Trips are supposed to relieve stress, not cause them!)

Here are some all too common struggles we travelers face. And guess what? All of these issues can be solved with a travel vest.

TSA checkpoint chaos: Not having enough pockets during TSA security checks leads to stressed-out fumbling to locate your boarding pass, phone, and ID/passport. Not fun.

The dilemma of lost keys: Have you ever tucked keys away in a backpack, only to forget the exact pocket they’re stored in? Then you have to do that frustrating search when you’re in front of your car and need them.

The missing hotel room key: Similar to the key situation, forgetting the specific purse/backpack pocket where your hotel room key card is stashed is just too annoying. I hate the confusion whenever I return to the hotel room!

The hassle of finding a place to stash coins: Dealing with loose change and currency without designated pockets causes delays when trying to make quick purchases or pay for services. Do you feel that cashier glaring at you? They probably are.

Document struggles while boarding planes or checking into hotels: Trying to manage boarding passes, ID, hotel confirmations, and other travel documents with limited pocket space results in a flurry of papers and potential delays that can stress you out.

Where to store your snacks: Have you ever bought snacks at the airport and struggled to find a suitable place to keep them easily accessible without risking crushing or spillage? I have (I’m looking at you, Starbucks banana bread)!

Receipt and ticket scramble: If you’ve ever struggled to find an easily accessible pocket for storing receipts, parking tickets, and train tickets, you know what I’m talking about. It causes both delays and stress! This seems to ALWAYS happen to me with train tickets when I’m about to exit the train… ugh.

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MY FAVORITE TRAVEL VEST BRAND: SCOTTeVEST

SCOTTeVEST travel vests are changing the travel game by solving some of the most common problems people have when traveling. Basically, all the problems that I mentioned above can literally be eradicated with one of their travel vests!

For over 20 years, SCOTTeVEST has designed super-functional clothing with tons of innovative pockets and unique features. With any one of their travel vests, you’ll gain peace of mind knowing your gadgets and essentials will always be organized and within reach.

Their innovative and functional vests feature lots of pockets. But not just randomly placed pockets. These pockets are all strategically placed to enhance organization, security, and overall functionality.

Here are some staple pocket types you can find on many of SCOTTeVEST’s travel vests:

• Exterior pockets
• Interior pockets
• RFID blocking pocket
• Cell phone pocket
• Tablet pocket
• Travel documents pocket
• Glasses pocket
• Key holder

As you can see, there’s a dedicated pocket for almost everything you’ll be carrying around with you! Utter genius-ness.

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SCOTTeVEST TRAVEL VESTS: DIFFERENT VEST TYPES

Going with a SCOTTeVEST is already a good choice (because I honestly don’t see very many competitors out there with anything close to what this brand offers) — but in order to choose the travel vest that suits your lifestyle best, you’re going to need to understand how all the vests differ.

How much variation can there be with a travel vest? I thought the same when I was first researching them. Apparently, A LOT! Not all travel vests are made the same!

SCOTTeVEST offers six different vest types, all of which are available for men and women.

Some have fewer pockets, others have endless amounts of pockets. Some are more suitable for warmer weather while others are better for cold weather.

Below is a breakdown of what each vest offers and how they differ:

Best Travel Vest

This is the newest product of the SCOTTeVEST product line and the one that I’ll be reviewing in this post.

This versatile travel vest has 24 pockets and incorporates everything the team has learned designing top-selling travel vests for over two decades… and takes it to the next level.

• Pocket Count: 24 Pockets
• Material: Dobby Pongee 100% Polyester with Teflon™ Treatment
• Good for: Summer, Spring, Fall
• Available for: Men and women
• Price: $199

RFID Travel Vest

This is one of their best-selling vests with 18 pockets, including a built-in RFID-blocking pocket to ward off hackers. This breathable, lightweight vest ensures functionality and security.

• Pocket Count: 18 Pockets
• Material: 100% Polyester, treated for water and stain repellency
• Good for: Spring, Summer, Fall
• Available for: Men and women
• Price: $184

Q.U.E.S.T. Vest

If you’re looking for a vest with the maximum amount of pockets, this is the one. Boasting an impressive 42 pockets, this vest is perfect for tech lovers and gadget freaks who go crazy for optimum utility.

• Pocket Count: 42 Pockets
• Material: 65% Cotton, 35% Nylon
• Good for: Spring, Fall, Winter
• Available for: Men and women
• Price: $224

Fireside Fleece Vest

This cozy fleece vest comes equipped with 15 pockets, perfect for cooler temperatures. If you’re looking for something that’s both functional and will keep you comfortable and toasty on cold days, this is the one.

• Pocket Count: 15 Pockets
• Material: 100% Polyester Fleece
• Good for: Spring, Fall, Winter
• Available for: Men and women
• Price: $144

Featherweight Vest

The lightest weight vest in the collection, the Featherweight features 16 pockets. This one is great for warmer weather travel or for everyday wear.

• Pocket Count: 16 Pockets
• Material: 100% Polyester featherTEC
• Good for: Spring, Summer
• Available for: Men and women
• Price: $174

The 101 Vest

An entry-level vest with 9 pockets, bringing you back to the basics. Great for people who don’t need THAT many pockets, but would still like a functional vest!

• Pocket Count: 9 Pockets
• Material: 70% Cotton, 30% Nylon
• Good for: Spring, Summer, Fall
• Available for: Men and women
• Price: $129

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SCOTTeVEST BEST TRAVEL VEST: MY REVIEW

In this section, I want to share all my thoughts about SCOTTeVEST’s newest offering — the Best Travel Vest!

The Best Travel Vest incorporates everything the SCOTTeVEST team has learned in designing top-selling travel vests for over two decades… and takes it to the next level.

With this being my very first travel vest ever, I don’t fully know what other travel vests lack, but I can tell you that this vest comes equipped with more pockets than things I carry with me when traveling!

Features of The Best Travel Vest

The Best Travel Vest has all your favorite travel-friendly features: 24 easy access pockets (10 exterior, 14 interior), an RFID blocking pocket, glasses/screen cleaning chamois, water and stain repellency, weight-balancing technology (so the weight of the vest is balanced evenly across your shoulders), and more!

There are too many pockets to talk about one by one, but a few that were really cool to find were:

• the hidden pocket on the backside of the vest
• the mesh phone pocket on the interior of the vest (so you could still see the time and your notifications without taking your phone out)
• the exterior pocket with the key holder and the magnetic closure (so losing your keys is next to impossible)

What about some features that are unique to this vest?

Unlike other SCOTTeVEST vest models, this one’s got new features like side-seam zippers so you can sit comfortably while the vest is zipped up and full of stuff.

It’s also the only vest to be made with Tech-Dobby fabric, a luxury fabric with the added benefit of durability from the extra texture in the cloth. I love doing things outdoors when I travel, so the fact that this vest was built to be durable was a feature I was really happy about.

The material is meant to be water repellent, stain repellent, looks good, AND feels good too. (For those of you wondering, I have not gotten itchy at all from the fabric/material.)

The Best Travel Vest also comes in lots more colors than other versions of their vests! At the time of writing, you can get the Best Travel Vest in these color combinations:

• Black + Carbon – the one I’m wearing in the photos!
• Black + Jam
• Midnight Blue + Splash
• Fossil Gray + Pop
• Blackberry + Dove
• Slate Blue + Grape

The one I have is Black + Carbon. Boring, I know. But I chose the most simple color combo so that I could match the vest with literally anything I could think of. This way, it can be considered a true closet staple!

Okay, let’s talk about function now. I honestly cannot think of a single fault when it comes to the pockets on this thing. It’s like they’ve accounted for problems that I didn’t even know I had!

There are a whopping 24 pockets. I know what you’re thinking, how can you possibly fill up 24 pockets???

My answer is — I don’t think you need to. Through trial and error, I’ve found a handful of pockets that I like best. These were the ones that I seemed to always gravitate towards when it came time to stow things away.

I found that when I was going through airports and onto flights, I used the exterior pockets more. And when I was exploring new destinations that required me to take buses/trains and be among larger crowds, I favored the interior pockets more.

Makes sense, because of how anxious I get about potentially getting pickpocketed!

Features that I loved most

After using my travel vest a handful of times, some of the coolest features that stuck out to me are:

• The built-in magnetic closures in some of the exterior pockets — this is a lifesaver if you ever forget to zip up an external pocket! The magnet acts as a backup measure to make sure your things don’t start falling out of your pockets. A+ for that extra level of thoughtfulness!
• The built-in glasses wipe (glasses chamois) — this feature falls under the category of cool and functional things that I never thought I needed in a vest. I am too used to cleaning my glasses with my shirts, which is a big no-no. Love this little extra!
• The velcro-closure RFID blocking pocket is QUITE secure: if it takes me about 5-7 seconds to get this pocket open while looking right at it, it’ll definitely be a major challenge for a pickpocket to access this pocket without me noticing!
• Little icons to remind you of what goes where: not sure where your point-and-shoot camera, sunglasses, or iPad will fit? The vest will tell you exactly which pockets are meant for those items should you need a little reminder.
• The completely hidden back pocket: who would think to put a pocket on the back of the vest? The pocket is big enough to fit a tablet too!

Using the vest for long-haul flights

For long-haul flights, where you’ll probably need to carry the most amount of stuff (like passports, iPad, glasses, eye mask, etc.), this vest is more than enough.

On long-haul flights, I typically carry things like:

• passport
• wallet
• phone
• keys
• iPad / Kindle
• headphones
• eye mask / ear plugs
• chapstick
• glasses case / contacts case
• hand lotion

Just to prove to you exactly how much this vest can hold, I’ve stuffed it with ALL of these items just to see how it would feel and look.

This is what the vest looks like after I’ve stuffed everything I need for a typical long-haul flight in it (basically everything from the list above):

The vest doesn’t look bulky AT ALL while unzipped — great news! But I did have pregnant woman vibes after zipping it up, thanks to bulkier items I added in there like the extra glasses case and water bottle.

Weight-wise, it all felt fine until I added the iPad in there. After the iPad was in along with all the other stuff, I found it to be quite bulky-feeling and quite heavy with both an iPad and a mini water bottle in there.

But in reality, I don’t think I would ever walk around for more than 10 minutes with an iPad, and a phone, and a water bottle on my person. I’d most definitely have some sort of extra backpack/sling bag to carry these heavier items!

👉 Pro Tip: I purposely sized up (from a small to a medium) to account for how the vest feels on me when stuffed up with things. Some people might not want to feel like the vest is too snug / restricted-feeling when sitting down, which is very possible when the vest is loaded up with things and zipped up.

Using the vest while exploring the city

While exploring a new destination, the amount of stuff I carry on me drops significantly. I’ll usually just carry around the following:

• wallet
• phone
• hotel keycard
• chapstick
• water bottle
• hand lotion

The Best Travel Vest excelled here too! It definitely felt a lot more freeing to not have to be bogged down with the weight of an iPad on my body.

And while you could totally roam around with a small water bottle in the vest pocket, I personally don’t like the weight that the water bottle adds to the vest.

I’ll typically bring another crossbody to carry that (plus any snacks, souvenirs, and other non-valuables). That way, even if my bag gets snatched by thieves/pickpocketers, they’ll only come up on random things like snacks and water, ha!

Potential drawbacks of this vest

I use the word “potential” here because these things didn’t actually bother me, but I wanted to call out some things that you or others might have questions/concerns about.

Too many pockets

While it didn’t cause any issues for me personally, I could see how having 24 pockets and very few belongings could be overkill for some — and even confusing when it comes to finding items.

If this is something that you see as a potential issue for you, there are two things you could do:

• be mindful and remember which pocket you place things in — once you establish a system of where you like things to go, it’s hard to misplace things inside the vest
• choose another one of their travel vests with fewer pockets, like the Featherweight Vest (16 pockets) or The 101 Vest (9 pockets)

Not warm enough

The Best Travel Vest was made for three main seasons: summer, spring, and fall. You’ll notice that winter is not listed, and that’s because the vest is thinner in nature.

I live in California and don’t typically do much winter travel, and if I do travel during the winter, it’s probably to somewhere warm. This is why the Best Travel Vest is a really good fit for me and my lifestyle.

But I get that’s not everyone! Some people live in colder parts of the USA and/or enjoy traveling to the snowier parts of the world during the winter season.

👉 Pro Tip: If you live in cold destinations or like traveling to colder destinations, you might want to go with a warmer travel vest, such as The Fireside Fleece Vest!

The vest is on the heavier side

Compared to your average vest with 2-3 pockets, the extra material that’s used to make all the pockets IS going to make this vest feel “heavier” than what you’re used to.

My first thought when it arrived was just this — “wow, it’s heavier than I thought”. But honestly, as soon as you put it on, it doesn’t feel heavy AT ALL.

I think this is due to their patented weight management system, making it so that the weight of the vest is barely noticeable once it’s on.

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SCOTTeVEST BEST TRAVEL VEST: FINAL THOUGHTS

I’m a big fan of SCOTTeVEST because of how much “Pocket Science” went into creating their functional pieces. I’m currently loving the Best Travel Vest and am eyeing the Essential 2.0 Jacket as my next travel wardrobe staple.

I’m not gonna beat around the bush here — SCOTTeVEST travel vests are pricier than the average fisherman-style vest you’ll find across the web. But there’s a really good reason for it.

They’ve done decades of research and testing to figure out how to make the PERFECT vest — and it really shows in their products!

The price can easily be justified by considering just how much peace of mind (and less stress) you’ll get by traveling with this trusty and functional piece by your side.

I’m a huge fan of my Best Travel Vest and wouldn’t trade it for any other brand whatsoever. Really, there’s not much to dislike about this thing!

My only personal critique is that the color combos that the Women’s Best Travel Vest comes in could be better. If they had more earth-tone colors (like what’s offered for the Essential 2.0 Jacket or Best Travel Vest for men), I would have gone with something like Tan or Olive.

Either way, that’s one of the only things I “dislike” about this vest. I love everything else and I hope you find the same benefits from it as I do!

Ultimately, the Best Travel Vest is for you if…

• You love to stay organized and appreciate having a designated place for everything you need during travel – from passports and boarding passes to gadgets and accessories.
• You value security/safety and prefer to keep valuable items such as passports, credit cards, or keys in concealed pockets.
• If you don’t mind the look of a vest!
• You’re a frequent flyer that needs to navigate through airports regularly. The convenience of having all your travel essentials within easy reach is going to make those airport days way better.
• If you’re looking to eliminate the need to carry additional bags/backpacks. As I’ve proved above, these vests allow you to consolidate and carry everything you need on your person. No bags needed!
• You value both style and functionality. SCOTTeVEST vests are way less “nerdy” or “tourist”-looking than some of the other travel vests I’ve found on the market!

If there’s something you dislike about this vest specifically, chances are SCOTTeVEST has got something else in their product line that can be your answer.

• For something warmer, go with: The Fireside Fleece Vest – 15 pockets
• For something that can also convert into a jacket, go with: The Essential 2.0 Jacket – 24 pockets
• If 24 pockets is just too many pockets for you, go with: The 101 Vest – 9 pockets, good for spring, summer, and fall.

If the vest vibe just isn’t working for you, they’ve got loads of really minimalist-style jackets too. You can check out their entire jacket collection here for women and here for men.

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I’ve given you a lot of other options to round out this travel vest review, but ultimately, if you’re looking to upgrade the way you travel, SCOTTeVEST is truly the way to go!

Looking for more tips on travel gear? You may also like:

• 10 Best Women’s Travel Vests For Style, Safety And Smarter Travel
• 10 Best Anti-Theft Travel Bags For Your Next Vacation
• 10 Best Carry-On Travel Bags For Your Next Trip
• 25 Top Travel Gadgets That Will Make Your Next Trip So Much Better
• 10 Best Walking Shoes For Travel (That Are Actually Cute)

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