Prometheus Design Werx, also called PDW, is no stranger to producing amazing outdoor gear and apparel. Founded by Patrick Ma, the founder of Triple Aught Design, Patrick has a long history designing and producing some of the most highly favored apparel and equipment used by professionals all across the world. Based in San Francisco, PDW has always kept a keen eye to the past, taking from it design influence and quality craftsmanship that pays homage to the since extinct attention to detail we struggle to find in our gear in recent years.
PDW introduced the Solo Jacket in March for their spring release and I immediately had my eye on it since I live in the ever so perfect climate of San Diego. To my inconvenience, PDW bases a lot of their product line around the climate of the Pacific North West so most of the time down here, I’m left with no reason to purchase some of the gear. Made out of a work-wear type 10 oz, 100% cotton canvas, with a DWR finish, the Solo jacket is easily the best thing I’ve found to curb the bite from the cool ocean breeze without looking like I’m about to conduct military operations.
The jacket feels indestructible; virtually tear free from anything anyone can throw at it outside of a motorcycle crash (but maybe). With over 9 pockets tastefully sewn in on the interior, it truly has as much space as anyone needs to carry the daily essentials or ‘EDC’. What I love the most about the pocket placement is it doesn’t feel overwhelming and give you the feeling you could forget a twenty-dollar bill in some dark crevice, although there is a pocket just for that! When most people think denim, they think rough, scratchy and heavy. Well, PDW thought about that and added a brushed poly trim on the inside up around the neck and shoulders as well as on the inside of the front. This particular placement keeps the jacket comfortable, yet rugged; it easily transitions from field to street.
The added features of this jacket set it apart from most. The “Bi-Swing back” is essentially a gusset on the shoulders, allowing for more freedom of movement and the ability to draw from IWB/OWB carry and shoot in a weaver stance. This is something many companies fail to realize is a necessity for their customer base. Also added are the “aviation style” pockets up on the bicep where you can hold a pen, tire pressure gauge or MRE spoon. Just under those slots are two bicep zippered pockets on either arm that have an added denim overlay that hides the zipper from sight.
What may be the coolest pocket on the jacket, and one that finds a common thread among many PDW designs is the hidden stash pocket on the inside back waistband. This pocket’s intended use is for anyone that needs to conceal a lockpick, hand-cuff key, spare bills, etc for anyone that’s working in austere locations or on travel where pick-pocketing is frequent. This added measure of security just solidifies to me that the attention to detail behind the designs at PDW is second to none. I wear this jacket to dinner, on my motorcycle and layered with a sweatshirt in really cold locals. It is universal in nature, yet satisfies all of our fundamental requirements in a solid piece of clothing designed and manufactured in California.
