SCOTTeVEST Rodeo TEC Jacket Review

The SCOTTeVEST Rodeo is yet another in the 4.0 line from our favorite gadget clothing company. We have been testing out the rodeo for the past couple of weeks, and have found it to be as versatile as it is functional. It has 39 pockets of various shapes and sizes for all your gear, and has a microsuede finish. Check out the full review after the jump.

DESCRIPTION

• Specialized pockets: earbud pocket, pen/stylus pockets, and bottle holder.
• Some pockets can be combined to form larger ones by unzipping the pocket separators.
• Walnut-colored microsuede finish
• Huge back pocket is great for magazines, files, and even a small laptop computer.

 

The SCOTTeVEST Rodeo is a yet another piece in the SCOTTeVEST 4.0 collection. The Rodeo, like all other SCOTTeVEST products, doesn’t shy away from giving us a myriad of options for storing your portable gear with 39 pockets. If you need help on what to store where, the company includes business card-sized notes in each pocket giving examples of what can be stored where. Looking at the interior, you’ll find a host of pockets, some with mesh finishes and individual zippers.  The see-through mesh helps you in finding the item you need, which could range from flash memory cards, styli, or headphones. Other pockets are less obvious, keeping more expensive items hidden from view whether you have your jacket zipped up or not. A few pockets near the lower portion of the vest can open up to larger sizes via a Velcro strip.

There are some other nice touches, too.  You’ll find a few long pen pockets in the middle interior, along the line of the main zipper.  Some of the other interior compartments are small enough to hold spare change.  There’s also a stretchable spiral-cord with a key-clip inside one of the hand pockets.  On the exterior there are two pockets at chest level that could work for easy access to your cell phone and MP3 player—items we use more frequently.  The chest pockets are also two of the storage area that use the Personal Area Network, which we will look at next.

PERSONAL AREA NETWORK

It wouldn’t be a SeV product without their patented PAN (Personal Area Network) wire system.  This system allows you to string the cords for your devices inside the lining of the jacket in order to avoid entanglement.  You can run a headphone cord from a rubber clip near the collar of the jacket to the bottom interior pocket.  That way you can keep your iPod or cell phone in an interior pocket with the cord hidden, rather than flapping around in the wind while you walk.  If you switch often between audio-capable devices you’ll need to make sure the cord is long enough to accommodate it though, especially if you want to pull out a gadget to use it.  It may take you a little time to find the holes where you thread the cord through, but they’re there.  We found the interior pockets that contain the PAN holes to be a little on the large side; perhaps more suited to store a magazine than a portable music player.  Then again, devices come in all shapes and sizes and user preferences will vary.

The Rodeo also boasts a weight management system which distributes weight evenly across your shoulders. The problem here is that, even though it’s even, it’s still heavy after adding just a few items. Although there are 39 pockets, we wouldn’t recommend stuffing them all with gadgets - however, you now have the option of having a dedicated pocket for all your wallet, receipts, change, pack of tissues, mints, etc. Don’t think of it as strictly a gadget jacket. The placement of the pockets allows for great personal customization - there is no way you will use them all at once, however, each person will use the choices given to them differently.

FINAL VERDICT

For those looking for a stylish jacket to port their gadgets in, the SCOTTeVEST Rodeo is a great option for those who can’t - or don’t want to - spend the money on the SCOTTeVEST Milan. Our only gripe, which isn’t really a SCOTTeVEST problem as much as it’s a material problem, is that microsuede isn’t the best thing to wear if you aren’t sure what the weather might be. That being said, if you aren’t in Seattle like we are, go for it. Remember that we have a coupon code for 20% off all SCOTTeVEST orders through December 25th, 2005. If you spring for the Rodeo, that will get you $40 off with free shipping. Just head on over to the Rodeo product page to pick one out, and use coupon code “GEARLIVE” during checkout to get your discount.

Product: SCOTTeVEST Rodeo
Price: $199 - $159 using coupon code GEARLIVE