(wind rushes)
- [Mr. Mobile] Winter.
It's cold, it's gray, and the ice of Boston,
as you may have heard,
is muddy.
But if there's one good thing to be said about winter,
it's this.
All those layers you have to wear make it a lot easier
to carry your gadgets around.
I'm Mr. Mobile, and these are the latest winter wearables
to help you do just that.
(lively music)
First, let's talk about the cornerstone of currency carrying
in America today, the humble wallet.
My summertime carry is this tiny number from Newbury Comics,
and, while I like its slim construction,
that also makes it easy for a careless guy like me to lose.
And it's too small to comfortably cram a tile into.
Enter the Walli Smart Wallet,
a conventional-looking billfold with a secret
hidden beneath its stitched leather exterior.
Fire up the companion app on your iPhone or Android device,
and you can connect to Walli's bluetooth module,
creating an invisible link between your phone and wallet.
If you leave your wallet behind accidentally,
or someone tries walking off with it,
your phone gives you a notification,
and the wallet can be set to emit a pretty loud alarm, too.
(wallet beeps)
Conversely, if you can't find your phone,
a double tap on the wallet will make it ring.
I want to love the Walli Smart Wallet,
but I think I like the concept better than the execution.
For one thing, the wallet itself is big.
If you don't have a lot of layers to hide it in,
it's a beast to carry in a pocket.
But the real problem with this thing is its tendency
to sound false alarms.
Some of these you'll learn to avoid,
like sitting down too sharply, it's often perceived
as a double tap, so there are settings to help with that.
But even just sitting there, the phone and wallet will
lose and reestablish connection several times an hour,
sounding off each time.
Presumably, this is why the app includes WiFi safe zones.
But that only helps when you're at home or the office.
Very quickly, all the false alarms convert
the number one reason you buy the Walli Smart Wallet
into the number one reason you want to stop using it.
It's possible I got a bad unit, or that later batches
will correct for this, but, as of now, I can't recommend it.
So here's another idea.
Strap your wallet right to your torso, like a sidearm.
The LDWest Original has been one of my favorite bits
of techno-fashion since it debuted a couple of years ago.
It's a suspender-mounted pair of holsters,
one for your wallet and one for your phone,
that takes the weight off your pockets
and makes you feel like some kind of tech detective
from the year 3000.
The Original comes in many different trims,
from cognac leather, to cool canvas, to
more exotic options.
You choose one of three pouch sizes to fit your phone,
and you don't have to worry about size matching your wallet,
because the Original comes with one.
It's a little small for American bills, but, otherwise,
it's just beautiful,
like the rest of this marvelous monster.
I've been wearing the Original on and off for a while,
mostly at trade shows.
Yes, I've gotten strange looks from folks on the street,
and I've trained myself not to suddenly lunge
for my phone or wallet in places like airports.
Obviously the LDWest Original isn't for everyone,
especially at its price point.
But, say what you will about the looks, it's practical.
It really does free up pocket space,
and makes it much easier to get at your phone or wallet
when you're crammed into a car, plane, or train seat.
You just need to be cool with taking your look
closer to the edge.
(gentle music)
If you're edgy enough to carry a Surface Book,
but not enough to pull off the LDWest Original,
then the Brenthaven Collins Vertical Messenger
might be the bag for you.
A fun fact, this wasn't even supposed to be in the video,
but I added it to the rundown after I had dinner with
Window Central's Daniel Rubino and couldn't take my eyes
off his bag the whole time.
Rubino compares it to an envelope, good for mailing a letter
but not a book.
And I think that analogy is right on.
This bag isn't big enough to comfortably accommodate
a big power brick or a Surface Dial,
but it's got everything you need for a quick day trip
down to the local coffee shop with your Surface Pro
or Surface Book,
including a mini pocket for an Arc mouse
and a dedicated slot for the Surface pen.
I love how well thought out this bag is,
and I adore its looks.
And, whether you get the cheap version on Amazon
or the pricier one from the Microsoft Store,
it's still the most affordable thing on this list.
If you have any of the portable Surface machines
and you don't need to cart your charger everywhere you go,
it may well be the bag for you.
Finally, no wearable video would be complete
without something from the folks at SCOTTeVEST.
The original name in pocket-packed pelts
provided yours truly with a version of its OTG Jacket
back in the fall, and I've been wearing it ever since.
The good stuff, it's got low-key color options
and a conventional cut,
but pronounced enough quilting to let me pretend
I'm wearing a field jacket from Star Trek Enterprise.
It's warm enough for a wintry walkabout,
if not a really biting blizzard.
It's lightweight,
treated for water and stain resistance,
and, of course, it's absolutely loaded with pockets.
In fact, you can fit nearly all the technology featured
in this video into the OTG Jacket,
with the exception of the Surface Book,
and still have room for more.
Of course, it gets awkward lugging around that much weight,
but it's nice to know the capacity is there if you need it.
If you've got a super-lightweight tablet or convertible,
like the Lenovo Yoga Book, it's totally doable.
The downsides, well, as with most things SCOTTeVEST,
this is an expensive garment,
and some of the conveniences you're paying for,
like the ability to keep a bottle of water upright
in your pocket with an elastic strap,
I find to be of dubious usefulness.
Also, after just a few months, the stitching is starting
to get pilly at points where I rub against
seat backs and such.
And some of the pocket zippers catch on their flaps,
an annoying problem I've encountered on other
SCOTTeVEST products.
So, while I like the OTG Jacket on the whole
and would absolutely buy it for myself
or a similarly gadget-loaded friend,
I'd wait until it came down a little in price to do so.
Fortunately, SCOTTeVEST is by no means allergic
to promotions.
That's it for this installment of winter wearables, folks.
Check the description for links to all the products you saw
in this video.
And, hey, I'm always on the lookout for new ways to carry
the umpteen gadgets that make my mobile life work,
so ping me in the comments with your suggestions
for cool carryalls, and maybe they'll make
the next installment of this series.
Until then, thanks for watching,
and stay mobile, my friends.
(rhythmic music)