working out with a weight vest

Pros:
It's cool. I bought one a couple of years back and did pullups, pushups, dips at home with it. If you are new to squats and lunges, it's cool to use until you get used to the motion/form then you can move to the barbell with weights.

Cons:
Be careful when you wash it. Put it in a pillowcase first. Can be hot.

I wouldn't say it's anything that I'd HAVE to have, but it's something that can help you if you like calisthenics and would like to step up your workouts without holding barbells. For me, it was more of a "crawl before you walk" type thing because I like working with freeweights/machines better than the vest.

I use my weight vest a lot. It is a great tool to change up your run. You can do the same mileage you are used to but with the vest it makes it a totally different work out.