Bluffworks Blazer Review

Since it’s inception in 2009,  Kickstarter has become the hotbed for new travel gear.

While not all travel products launched are hits (most aren’t), there is a decent track record:

• “The World’s Best TRAVEL JACKET” which raised over $9m
• The NOMATIC Travel Bag just recently raised a little over $1.7m
• The Everyday Backpack, Tote, and Sling by Peak Design raised over $6.5m
• The list goes on…

One brand, Bluffworks, has launched 3 Kickstarter campaigns for innovative travel apparel. Founded by Stefan Lobel, a software guy turned travel product designer, Bluffworks’ ethos is making gear for “adventure and life”. (Stefan also has personally backed 216 Kickstarter projects so far. 216!)

Primarily known for their travel pants, Bluffworks is branching out, having just launched a travel oriented blazer.

Pros

• Wrinkle resistant
• Lots of pockets for securely holding
• Lightly lined
• Machine washable
• Versatile
• Comfortable, with a bit of stretch
• Easy to alter (the sleeve buttons are decorative)

I’m not a style expert – although an improving enthusiast – and I think blazer looks great with chinos, dark jeans, or even some dress pants. The blazer is easy to be dressed up or down.

Pockets

When I stopped by my local tailor in New York City, the first thing he mentioned was how the blazer had so many pockets. He claimed he had “never heard of Bluffworks” and therefore couldn’t gauge the blazer’s quality, then went on to tell a story about how he once charged a jewelry dealer $200 to make hidden pockets inside of the dealer’s blazer.

There are a lot of pockets on this blazer. Bluffworks states that there are 10 in total, but there are 8 main ones:

1. Left inside hip pocket – there’s a smaller pocket inside this pocket
2. Right inside hip pocket – large enough to hold a book, or an iPad Mini
3. Left outside hip pocket – takes up the same space area as the inside pocket
4. Right outside hip pocket – identical to it’s left sided counterpart
5. Breast pocket – perfect for a pocket square
6. Pocket for cash or tickets in the inside lower middle of the back of the blazer – hidden and good for holding paper things
7. Left inside chest pocket – this has a loop closure, perfect for holding a passport and pen
8. Right inside chest pocket – this is zippered and can hold an iPhone 6s

There is some tack stitching across the breast pocket and a few of the other pockets. You’ll want to carefully cut it so you can use those pockets.

Here’s a list of items you (quite comfortably) could hold in the blazer all at once:

• Pen
• iPhone 6s Plus with case
• Passport
• Tickets
• Cash, or a slim wallet
• A book (this isn’t very comfortable)

When you’re filling the pockets, just make sure most of your items are relatively flat. If not, it’ll bulge.

Here’s a picture of the blazer with an iPhone 6s Plus with a case in the left side pocket. The blazer bulges slightly, but it’s not that obvious.

Fit

The Bluffworks blazer comes in sizes 36 to 48 with the fit options of either regular or slim and length options of regular or long. Originally Bluffworks did not offer a size 36, but after backer requests, they introduced the size.

As with all off the rack blazers, if you want a truly perfect fit, you’ll probably have to stop by your local tailor to make some alterations. Every body is different, so it’s hard for a brand to make a blazer that automatically fits everyone. The sleeve length was about 2 inches too long, however I stopped by the tailor and $25 later, got the problem fixed.

Cons

This is slightly nitpicky, but it would be nice if the blazer were made from real wool. From afar, the blazer looks like wool, but up close, it’s noticeable that it’s just the heathered pattern.

I understand the material is polyester for wrinkle resistance and for the practicality benefits (i.e. machine washability). When you use more technical materials and emphasize practicality, the traditional aspects are frequently aren’t as emphasized.

The Verdict

There’s a trend that many start-up and established brands are picking up on. Brands like Ministry, Ralpha, Nau, and others are making ‘formal’ clothes smarter, combining technical materials to make presentable yet low maintenance pieces. With the easy yet stylish blazer, Bluffworks cements itself in this category.

The Bluffworks Blazer comes in two colors, charcoal heather and navy heather and will retail for $295. At the moment, since the Kickstarter campaign is still running, you can back the campaign and get the blazer at a pre-order price of $245.

Where To Get It

• Back the Bluffworks Blazer campaign on Kickstarter.com
• Once the Kickstarter campaign is completed, the travel blazer will be sold on shop.bluffworks.com

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment below.

The Bluffworks Travel Blazer was provided for this review. As always, this Bluffworks Blazer review contains only my honest views and opinions. 🙂 Find out more about me and this site here.