Why not get both? Seriously though, it depends on how long you like to ride, and how much you like to carry. If you're a person who rides with just a phone, keys, and granola bar, then a hip pack is the way to go. If you like to always bring at least 2L of water, a jacket, several snacks, a first aid kit, and tools and spares for all of your unprepared friends, then we'd recommend the vest pack. For those of us at High Above, it generally comes down to water - if we need to carry more than one bottle, then we'll go with the vest.