Wearable luggage hack - photographer's vest?
Jun 13, 19, 12:11 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 127
Wearable luggage hack - photographer's vest?
There are plenty of ways to get around restrictive carry-on weight restrictions - including custom-built "luggage jackets." My current preference is a pair of cargo pants and a jacket with decent sized pockets, but cargo pants need a belt, which means delays at the security checkpoint.
So, I've been theorising about using a photographer's vest for my next trip: something like this
Pros
- Heaps of pockets
- Easy to get on/off
- Pockets big enough for paperbacks
Cons
- Geeky
- Suspicious to security?
Anybody have experience using a photographer's vest?
So, I've been theorising about using a photographer's vest for my next trip: something like this
Pros
- Heaps of pockets
- Easy to get on/off
- Pockets big enough for paperbacks
Cons
- Geeky
- Suspicious to security?
Anybody have experience using a photographer's vest?
Jun 13, 19, 4:59 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MSP
Programs: DL Gold, DL MM 8/22/16!
Posts: 2,529
One of my grandsons likes all the pockets in a vest, but also likes the sweatshirt hoodies for warmth. We found a really cheap vest on Amazon - $7 or $8. Cut the back away, reversed the front sections, and sewed them into an old hoodie. He loves it. Wears it for lots more than just flights.
Jun 13, 19, 9:46 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 31,404
Originally Posted by STVA
This is a "thing" already and is popular here. Check out SCOTTeVEST.
Jun 14, 19, 1:13 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Home:HKG formerly YYZ Business: ATL, PVG, PEK, CAN, SZX, MNL, SIN, KUL
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Originally Posted by PackingIt
A little OT but there are plenty of good nylon belts with sturdy plastic buckles that wouldn't cause delays at security checkpoints.
Jun 14, 19, 1:19 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Home:HKG formerly YYZ Business: ATL, PVG, PEK, CAN, SZX, MNL, SIN, KUL
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Posts: 9,593
Originally Posted by STVA
This is a "thing" already and is popular here. Check out SCOTTeVEST.
Originally Posted by Loren Pechtel
A photographers vest will hold more than a ScotteVest because the latter is built to look decent, not like a cargo garment.
Unlike a properly designed, load carrying photographer vest it does not distribute the load well. Some or Tolley are the two brands that I have used and recommend. A better photo gear carrying solution is the LowePro system. That might be too professional looking.
For cargo carrying you can't beat the combination of photography vest and CARGO pants, shorts or trousers.
Last edited by tentseller; Jun 14, 19 at 1:25 am
Jun 14, 19, 7:53 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 397
Interesting. I have one specifically for travel. I've never been stopped because of it even once. Through many trips and countries. Message me if you want a link to it.
Originally Posted by tentseller
That might not work as the scanner works on density not metal detection. I was told that a few times when I mentioned my buckle was plastic and scanner detected something and I was then subjected to a complimentary massage.
Jun 14, 19, 6:25 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 127
Originally Posted by PackingIt
A little OT but there are plenty of good nylon belts with sturdy plastic buckles that wouldn't cause delays at security checkpoints.
Jun 14, 19, 6:26 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 127
Originally Posted by camjr
I've got an ExOfficio travel vest that serves me very well, and it's at a great price point as well when compared to some of the others.
Jun 14, 19, 7:57 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: On the road or up in the air.
Programs: Hilton Diamond. American Airlines Platinum, Mariott: Gold. Delta: Gold
Posts: 138
Actually....the pockets in a Scottie vest are quite large.
In my Scottie vest I have carried alll at once: An ipad mini (im sure I could Do it a my 10.8 ipad pro also) a 14 inch laptop. A bottle of water. A G37x bridge camera. A 10,000 mah battery, full sized Sony head over ear headphones, cables, snacks, chap stick, cleaning cloth, glasses, and tissue.
No problem at all. I treated my vest till it's 100% water proof so it doubles as a rain coat (which gives it a second purpose during the trip) and the Tropophormer has zip off sleeves which extends its usable life to 3 full seasons.
If its a long enough flight I've successfully situated everything in the seat back and the Scottie folds inside itself to make a handy pillow to put against the bulkhead and lean on, giving it a third use.
The only con is you are definitely going to look ridiculous doing this. However you do look much less ridiculous than you look wearing the aforementioned true photo vest so there is that....(frankly I've tried it and it isn't for me unless im desperate).
Then again...i've grown tired of lugging luggage through airports and am considering going back to checking at least 1 bag and carrying a much lighter carry on so what do i know?
TSA however could not care less about it one way or another in my experience.
For a belt I always travel with a sturdy paracord belt that way I have ample paracord on me if heaven forbid an emergency were to happen there are lots of very helpful uses of paracord rope.
In my Scottie vest I have carried alll at once: An ipad mini (im sure I could Do it a my 10.8 ipad pro also) a 14 inch laptop. A bottle of water. A G37x bridge camera. A 10,000 mah battery, full sized Sony head over ear headphones, cables, snacks, chap stick, cleaning cloth, glasses, and tissue.
No problem at all. I treated my vest till it's 100% water proof so it doubles as a rain coat (which gives it a second purpose during the trip) and the Tropophormer has zip off sleeves which extends its usable life to 3 full seasons.
If its a long enough flight I've successfully situated everything in the seat back and the Scottie folds inside itself to make a handy pillow to put against the bulkhead and lean on, giving it a third use.
The only con is you are definitely going to look ridiculous doing this. However you do look much less ridiculous than you look wearing the aforementioned true photo vest so there is that....(frankly I've tried it and it isn't for me unless im desperate).
Then again...i've grown tired of lugging luggage through airports and am considering going back to checking at least 1 bag and carrying a much lighter carry on so what do i know?
TSA however could not care less about it one way or another in my experience.
For a belt I always travel with a sturdy paracord belt that way I have ample paracord on me if heaven forbid an emergency were to happen there are lots of very helpful uses of paracord rope.
Last edited by Allentown; Jun 14, 19 at 8:05 pm
Jun 15, 19, 9:02 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: On the road or up in the air.
Programs: Hilton Diamond. American Airlines Platinum, Mariott: Gold. Delta: Gold
Posts: 138
Originally Posted by Badenoch
Wearing a photo vest on a plane or any type of "travellers" vest is the equivalent to wearing a sign that says, "Look at me I'm a Kettle!"
