Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Police Product Test: ScottEVest Brad Thor Alpha Jacket

On the outside, the Brad Thor Alpha is a very sleek and stylish medium-weight jacket. Now for the fun part. The Alpha features 35 different pockets. That isn't including the zippered sleeves and side panels for access to belt-mounted gear.

October 31, 2014
Police Product Test: ScottEVest Brad Thor Alpha Jacket

Photo: ScottEVest

3 min to read


ScottEVest has done what might seem impossible to some: taken something as simple as a jacket and made it almost inconceivably yet delightfully complicated. The brainchild of founder Scott Jordan, ScottEVest was founded on the reality that we, as a society, carry a lot more stuff than we used to and the clothing industry has yet to catch on to our need for more pockets. What started as a traveler's vest has evolved into an extensive line of jackets, shirts, hoodies, and accessories all designed to carry a maximum load. The company sent me one of its flagship jackets, the Brad Thor Alpha, and seemingly challenged me to find and fill all of the pockets.

On the outside, the Brad Thor Alpha is a very sleek and stylish medium-weight jacket. The clean lines and superb stitching of the 100% poly shell doesn't scream "tactical" but includes small Velcro panels for a few small patches plus an IR treatment for a reduced heat signature. The weight of the jacket itself was very warm yet much more comfortable and provided a much greater range of motion than a heavy parka.

Ad Loading...

Now for the fun part. The Alpha features 35 different pockets. Yeah, you read that right, 35. That isn't including the zippered sleeves and side panels for access to belt-mounted gear. Finding all of them is a challenge; figuring out what each one is for really isn't. First, almost all of them are marked with a small icon that gives you a hint of what the pocket was designed to carry. From sunglasses to iPads, everything has a place in the Alpha. To sweeten the deal, each pocket has a distinctly different design with various linings and closures so every item is secure and safe.

I wore mine for a couple of weeks; barely long enough to check out all of the Alpha's features. My first mission was to test the performance of the Alpha as a jacket; that is, whether it would keep me warm and comfortable. Check and check; it did very well on both fronts.

Next, I did my best to load it up with everything I carried along with me on a normal day. A pistol, two magazines, pen, keys, iPhone, wallet, flat badge, and a knife rounded out the list. Even with all of this the Alpha felt great and wore about the same as it did empty. The location coupled with the specific design of each pocket distributed the weight exceptionally well.

Just for grins I decided to get ridiculous and added two AR-15 magazines, an iPad, handcuffs, an ASP, my portable radio, and a second pistol. The jacket was notably heavier but still well balanced and comfortable and held everything securely in its place. Believe it or not I still had several empty pockets.

The Brad Thor Alpha was a home run with me and is one piece of gear I'll have around for a very long time. If you're like me and find yourself with a lot more gear than pockets, you'll likely be just as impressed with this jacket as I am. ScottEVest's Brad Thor Alpha retails for $200, which is just shy of $6 per pocket, and comes with a two-year warranty.

Ad Loading...

ScottEvest Brad Thor Alpha Jacket Specs:

Stealth Exterior: Quiet softshell in black, IR-signature-reducing matte finish

Covert Styling: Exterior pockets and panels designed to be subtle, removable exterior branding

Rapid Access Panels: RAPs provide access to a mid-layer of pocketing without needing to unzip the jacket

Sleeve Dagger Pockets: Long, narrow, tricot-lined pockets concealed on inner wrist of each sleeve to hold a sleeve dagger or pen

Ad Loading...

Hidden Tech Features: Interior clear touch cell phone pocket, all pockets include Personal Area Network (PAN) to route wires between pockets

RFID-blocking Pocket: One secure travel documents pocket with a color-coded large locking zipper

Water-repellence: Water resistant

Price: $200

Subscribe to our newsletter

More Patrol

POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips video series graphic featuring a Garmont Tactical Contact Collection duty boot against a police vehicle with flashing lights. Includes “Watch Now” callout for the video series.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJuly 9, 2026

Garmont Tactical Contact Collection: New Duty Boots for Law Enforcement

Choosing the right duty boot can make a significant difference during long shifts. In this video overview, Kyle Ferdyn, of Garmont Tactical, introduces the new Contact Collection, designed specifically for law enforcement professionals seeking comfort, traction, and durability.

Read More →
Benchmade Bailout folding knife with a bronze tanto blade, taiga green handle, and orange accents displayed open against a textured black background, highlighting its lightweight tactical design.
PatrolJuly 9, 2026

Benchmade Launches Taiga Green Bailout

Benchmade has launched its Taiga Green Bailout, which features an anodized aluminum handle, S90V stainless steel, and Burnt Copper hardware accents.

Read More →
Composite image of ADEPT's Nova Titanium tactical helmet, showing front and side views alongside a soldier wearing the helmet in the field, highlighting lightweight ballistic protection for military and tactical applications.
PatrolJuly 9, 2026

Adept Armor Launches the Nova Titanium Combat Helmet: A Metal Ballistic Helmet at Composite-Helmet Weight

Adept Armor said its new Nova Titanium combat helmet delivers rated 9mm protection at 920 grams all-in, low backface deformation, edge-to-edge coverage, and an indefinite shelf life at roughly a quarter the price of premium polyethylene helmets.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Two healthcare professionals model 5.11 medical scrubs—one in gray and one in blue—against a blurred hospital background, highlighting the brand’s professional apparel for medical workers.
PatrolJuly 2, 2026

5.11 Expands Professional Services Line with Premium, Performance-Driven Scrubs Designed for Healthcare Professionals

The launch of high-performance medical scrubs marks another major expansion of 5.11’s growing Professional Services category, enabling hospitals and healthcare systems to outfit a wide range of roles.

Read More →
Close-up of a black SOG Seal FX knife featuring a commemorative 250th anniversary engraving on the blade, displayed on an American flag to honor the United States' semiquincentennial.
PatrolJuly 2, 2026

SOG Knives Unveils 250th Anniversary Limited Edition Fixed Blade

SOG Knives has debuted its 250th Anniversary Limited Edition SEAL FX Fixed Blade, and only 250 are available. It features an advanced 4.3-inch S35VN steel blade and a tough glass-reinforced nylon handle.

Read More →
Close-up of a slim black Streamlight Wedge SL flashlight resting on an olive tactical vest with a black-and-gray American flag patch, its LED illuminated to showcase the compact everyday carry design.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJune 25, 2026

POLICE Product Test: Streamlight Wedge SL

The Streamlight Wedge SL is a high-performance light for inspection or administrative tasks that features USB-C charging and an output up to 500 lumens in a compact package.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic recognizing Officer Michael Jaycox of the San Jose (CA) Police Department as Officer of the Month for May 2026, featuring his uniformed portrait beside a badge-and-rose emblem.
PatrolJune 25, 2026

NLEOMF Officer of the Month Saved Child from Burning Vehicle

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund named Officer Michael Jaycox of the San Jose Police Department (California) as the Officer of the Month for May 2026. Read more about Jaycox’s heroic actions.

Read More →
Promotional image for Garmont Tactical’s Contact Collection featuring black tactical boots displayed in front of a police vehicle with flashing red and blue emergency lights. Text announces the new collection and notes it is now available.
PatrolJune 24, 2026

Garmont Tactical Introduces the Contact Collection for LE

Garmont Tactical has launched its Contact Collection, a new lineup of law-enforcement duty boots featuring 4-inch and 6-inch options, including waterproof models.

Read More →
Graphic celebrating 1,613 Folds of Honor graduates, featuring graduation books, a diploma, a mortarboard cap, the Folds of Honor logo, and an inset photo of a graduate standing in front of a campus building.
PatrolJune 11, 2026

Folds of Honor Celebrates Graduation Season as 1,613 Military and First Responder Family Scholars Earn Their Degrees

Every Folds of Honor scholar graduating in the Class of 2026 carries a story starting with sacrifice. Folds of Honor ensures it doesn’t end there. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 73,000 educational scholarships to military and first responder families.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic for a POLICE Magazine article on Tennessee’s new deadly force law, featuring Lady Justice, handcuffs, a Tennessee map with Nashville highlighted, and the headline “Impact of New Deadly Force Law.”
Patrolby David StephensJune 4, 2026

Why Tennessee’s New Deadly Force Law Matters Beyond Tennessee

Tennessee’s new deadly force law is more limited than many may realize. Effective July 1, 2026, the law applies to a person who is not engaged in conduct that would constitute a felony or a Class A misdemeanor and who is in a place where the person lawfully resides. But it could have far-reaching influence.

Read More →