Logically, there are 4 types of trail vests fishing.

1. Low-temperature fishing vest. It’s a vest you wouldn’t want to wear in winter. At the same time, those vests are somewhat universal, and you can wear them in any situation. But just like any generic solution, it’s not very good compared to any specialized product. But that does not mean low-temperature vests do not have their own niche. On the contrary, they are ideal for spring, early fall, and early summer. It doesn’t matter what kind of fish you want to get and how to plan to do that, this kind of vest will do its part for you.
2. Hot weather vests. That’s definitely self-explanatory, but let’s dive into all that a little deeper. First, I’m not talking about hot and dry climates. Those tend to be incompatible with fishing entirety.  Hot-weather vests for anglers should be built for high humidity — and they are. It’s easy to tell them apart from other vests, as they tend to be made of mesh. Even when they are not, they are at the very least padded with mesh. Moisture wicking is not just a marketing trick when it comes to those vests, as they need to provide excellent breathability or even ventilation. What’s the point of using a vest when all it does is provide ventilation? Let’s just say it’s all about other features, one that I’m yet to bring up, but you can have a hint: the real worth of a fishing vest is how handy it is for keeping all your equipment and supplies on you. We’ll get to that later in detail.
3. Cold weather vests. You probably won’t want to wear this kind of fishing vest standing in water knee deep. Not because of how the vest works, but because of the conditions that would require you to wear it. Perhaps, you wouldn’t even be able to get to the water before breaking the ice first. That’s right. Cold weather vests are meant for frosts and ice-fishing mostly, although nobody can stop you from using one when you feel unusually cold. As a rule, such vests are well-insulated and keep you warm no matter how cold it’s out there. Aside from extra insulation, such fishing vests are less suitable for fishing, and it would be more correct to refer to them as winter clothes. But they still have a few features that firmly puts them into the fishing vests category.
4. Life jackets. Some of the fishing vests double as floatation devices. It makes little sense for a trail vest, as the ability to save your life is not their primary feature. Should you buy one of them? Probably not, because you could invest in a genuine dedicated life jacket to keep yourself safe. Leave life-saving to life jackets and use trail vests for convenience and comfort.

Pockets

Comfort

How to Tell You’re Buying a  Quality Fishing Vest?

1. The material must be robust and durable. You’re not choosing a jacket for a social event. Fishing can be hard, and your vest is going to be exposed to the elements, sooner rather than later.
2. The seams are just as important as the fabric. You can buy a vest made from the toughest fabric around, but even it’s sewn with poorly made threads, it’s going to fall apart before you can say “shuttle.” The quality of the seams in the pockets is crucial because the pockets are often loaded. 
3. At least one of the pockets is watertight. Too nad few vests meet that criteria.
4. Check out the fasteners. The most convenient way to close and open a pocket is to use velcro fasteners. Unlike zippers, they don’t jam at the most inconvenient time. Buttons are okay, at the same time, they are not very good.