Bri3383691, I was referring more to the outer chest pockets. The one that zips and has a flap. The functionality of this pocket is confusing to me since it unzips, but isnt removable. Also the smaller pocket it covers seems to small to barely contain anything, let alone the small square of velcro that keeps it closed..

Chest pockets are useful for many things: in town, I use a chest pocket to hold my subway pass, outside of the city I use it to hold my binoculars, or sometimes I stash a trail map in it. I always carry some money, some hurricane matches, memory cards/batteries for my camera(batteries run down quickly in the cold and the chest pocket allows my body heat to keep the batteries useable). In other words, use the chest pocket for anything you want to keep secure. The zipper is one of those design features that make our lives easier. The zipper opens by pulling it *down*. This means that my keys, matches, money, and so on don't fall out. The flap over the zipper is there simply because you cannot make a zipper waterproof. The inner pocket may not look rugged, but it is tough enough to hold my cell phone, and for those who use them, MP3 players. When I'm camping in the winter, I use the inner pocket to hold a pair of clean socks -- I can change socks and thereby stay warmer or, if I lose a glove, hey, a sock makes an okay mitten. I hope that helps a bit.