Hotwired: Tailoring for geeks

By PAUL BRISLEN

You've probably got a cellphone and you're considering an iPod. You might have a pocket PC of some kind, a Palm or an iPaq, for work and maybe a pager if you're really unlucky. That's not to mention car keys, wallet, piece of string and other assorted bits and pieces that you cart around with you on a daily basis. All told, if you're like me you probably waddle around with more processing power at your behest than the Apollo astronauts had with them on their trip to the moon. And if, like me, you loathe and detest the idea of a belt clip for any of your devices then you're stuck with the most horrible idea of them all: a man bag.

Fortunately, help is at hand.

Scott Evest Version 3.0 Finetex Jacket

An American lawyer was so unhappy at having to schlep his techno junk with him everywhere that he set up a clothing company designed with geeks in mind. Scott Jordan's Scott eVest has become something of a status symbol in what's left of Silicon Valley with its 30-odd secret pockets each designed to hold your most prized possessions. The Scott eVest line-up has been extended to other forms of attire and best of all you can order them online and they'll deliver. Hey, if it's good enough for the US Secret Service, it's probably good enough for the likes of us. The pockets are specifically designed to keep devices apart, to hang properly when fully laden and even to hide expensive devices while still allowing access. The collar, for example, includes a small section to tuck your iPod earphones out of harm's way and a pocket on the front to tuck the earbuds themselves into. Out of sight yet easily accessible. Nice touch.

There's a nifty sports jacket, one without sleeves, a lightweight cotton number and several other variations.

Price: From US$199.99 to US$424.99

Hidden Cargo Pants

You'll need trousers - don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Cargo pants were, for a while there, the biggest thing in men's fashion since the comb-over. They were great, but the pockets bulged and sagged and generally you looked like some kind of bow-legged cowboy. These trousers have 11 pockets tucked away - all designed to lie flat. Now your biggest problem (aside from electromagnetic radiation levels and excess heat) is being able to sit down without doing yourself a mischief.

Price: US$109.99

Gadget Tie

The company's only one-pocket piece of apparel - the Gadget Tie - looks like your favourite geek's perfect Father's Day gift. It's a tie covered in pictures of little gadgets. But the fun doesn't stop there. The Gadget Tie has a pocket on the back designed to take a credit card, a driving licence or a small number of notes.

Price: US$29.99

Tec Hat

"The Greatest Hat Ever" shouts the company's website. Right. It's a baseball cap, but one that incorporates two pockets, one under the bill and one on the side, ideal for credit cards, cash, perhaps a small key and so on. This is pretty good for joggers but the news gets better. The hat has little drop-down ear loops that you can thread your earphones through to better corral wayward cords.

Price: US$19.99