I like a vest for the most part. An actual vest though. Not the fanny packs on roids that are marketed as vests. On warm days the backpack makes me hotter. My vest is mesh and cotton. I dont carry a slough of gear. 2-3 pots, 2-3 strikers, a box call, A water bottle, couple mouth calls in an old tobacco tin, license/tags, a pen, zip ties for tags. I keep a leatherman in my pants pocket. O yeah... a travel pack on wetones.
I am going to use a chair this year again. My back cant take the tree lean anymore. I removed the back padding and but cushion. Making the vest even more comfy, cooler, and lighter.