Used mine all last year and loved it. All I do to let the seat down is to unbuckle the front strap (which I did with my longbeard vest, too.) I carried a 2L waterbladder in the game bag of mine and the chest strap didn' t give me a problem.

But, hey, if you like to wear your seat down while walking get another vest. It' s not for everybody. That' s why there are so many others to choose from out there. [:-]