What Are The Best Weighted Vests? We Look At Box Weighted Vests, Weighted Vests For Women, And More

Best Weighted Vests At A Glance

We all want to get our beach bodies in shape and look our best for the summer. If you’re searching for something extra to add to your cardio sessions to increase the intensity– or even a way to burn more calories throughout the day– weighted vests may be just the cardio hack you’re looking for.

Just like the name implies, weighted vests are vests with weights sewn or placed into them. The idea is to spread the weight equally, and those extra pounds should help people kick their workouts up a notch and improve body strength.

Read on to see our reviews of top-rated weighted vests on the market as well as find out how weighted vests work and learn how you can use weighted vests for exercise.

How We Chose The Best Weighted Vests

When building this review, we selected as many products as possible that met the following criteria:

• Several Options for Weight – Most of the vests in our review are available in several weight options. Several of them range in size from 20 lbs up to 140 lbs and can be chosen in increments of roughly 20 lbs. We also made sure to include a mix of lightweight and heavyweight vests to provide a better range of options.
• Comfort – We found the most comfortable weight vests possible based on consumer reviews. Keep in mind that the weight will be pressing down on your shoulders, so you want shoulder pads that safely cushion the weight and spread it evenly. It is easily overlooked by so many people, as they focus mostly on the total weight of the vest. Remember, 30 pounds spread over 12 square inches will feel better than 10 pounds spread over 3 square inches. For runners, the vest must be adjustable so that they can tighten it around the torso. Loose vests will slap against you while running, and that isn’t fun.
• Special Features – Each vest has its own special features like a back mesh pocket, a phone or water bottle holder, shoulder pads, and reflective stripes.
• Highly Rated – All of the vests are rated as 4 stars or greater based on thousands of consumer reviews.
• Affordability – The majority of weight vests in our review are under $100, with several only costing $25-$65. While some options do get a bit expensive once you exceed 100 lbs for added weight, practically every vest can be purchased at an affordable price assuming you choose a standard weight.

Top Weighted Vests: Weighted Vests Reviews

If you are looking to buy weighted vests online, we have some suggestions for you. 

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Benefits Of Weighted Vests

There are plenty of benefits associated with the use of weighted vests while training. Let’s take a closer look at how they help for walking, running, and other aspects of health and athleticism.

Weighted Vests for Walking

Regular walking leads to better cardiovascular health and reduced chances of developing heart disease. It can help control hypertension, improve cholesterol levels, reduce tension and anxiety, slow down osteoporosis, and support weight loss.

Studies show that using weighted walking vests can increase the intensity of this activity and the stimulus for muscle and bone building. That means more calories burned, which is vital if you want to lose some fat and prepare for the summer.

This study used vests that weighed as much as 20% of body weight. That’s 34 pounds for a 170-pound walker. Using heavier vests produced greater benefits.  However, those heavy weighted vests (20% of body weight) may not be practical for everyday use, as they can be uncomfortable when worn for long periods of time, and will make you fatigue faster. 

Weighted Vests for Running

Wearing weighted vests while running can help activate the upper part of our body since the weight applies to shoulders and spine, in addition to legs. That can help you burn more calories and slim down while building a little more muscle. 

However, athletes usually look for the best weighted vests for running to improve their performance, not lose weight. But, do weighted vests work for that?

Just like we mentioned in the section about weighted training vests and working out, wearing them during daily activities could help improve running performance. The simple logic behind this is that our bodies adjust to a higher weight load, and then when we take the vest off, we feel lighter and run faster.

Similarly, wearing top-weighted vests during a warm-up session could help athletes achieve better subsequent running performance. In fact, doing so can lead to an increase in peak speed, better running economy (less oxygen needed), and improved leg stiffness (parameters that describe leg function while running).

However, competitive athletes probably should ditch the weighted vest as the date of their race nears. You still want to follow the principle of training the same way you compete. 

Weighted Vests for Women

Research has shown that exercising with weighted vests can improve bone mass and strength in postmenopausal women. These findings are very important, as older women often have problems with muscle and bone mass loss, and using weighted vests seems to improve those parameters significantly.

It’s probable that women can benefit from weighted vests more than men, or from using lighter vests for longer periods. For instance, women’s skeletal muscles and fiber composition are more geared towards endurance-based activities, so they’ll likely benefit the most from wearing weighted vests during everyday activities, walks, or jogs. 

In comparison, men may benefit more from wearing heavier vests for a shorter time during intensive bouts of exercise.

Some weighted vests are also designed specifically for women, using various strap designs in the front so that the weight goes around and between, but not over, the breasts.  This necessarily limits the weight that can be used, however.

Weighted Vest Exercise Resources

Need some ideas for training with your weighted vest? Here are 2 videos to help! The first video reviews the top exercises to do while training with a weighted vest and the second video provides a quick, full-body, HIIT workout.

TOP 10 Weighted Vest Exercises

Weighted Vest HIIT Workout

FAQs About Weighted Vests

What Does A Weighted Vest Do?

Weighted vests are designed to be worn during training in order to increase the intensity of your workout. They help build strength and endurance while also promoting fat loss by increasing how many calories you burn per session through their thermal effect and due to the extra resistance you have to carry. They’re typically worn while completing bodyweight-based exercises as well as aerobic activities.

How Much Does A Weighted Vest Cost?

Typically, the cost of a weighted vest increases as the weight gets heavier. Most lightweight options cost anywhere from $25-$75, whereas heavier vests cost anywhere from $100-$400.

How Heavy Should A Weighted Vest Be?

This depends on factors such as a person’s level of athleticism and strength, age, and fitness goals. When first starting out, it’s generally best for most women to start out with no more than 20 lbs and for men no more than 40-60 lbs. Individuals who have more experience with resistance training may be able to start out with a heavier weight than those who are beginners, but they should still gradually increase the weight of their vest over the course of several weeks.

If you’re trying to add a bit of resistance while performing light aerobic activities, then a weight range of 4-20 lbs should do the job. If you’re training for something slightly more intense, however, then you should pick a weight that’s challenging but allows you to still complete movements with proper form.

Finally, if you’re training for a career that requires you to take on heavy loads such as firefighting or the military, then you may be one of the lucky few who gets to experiment with weighted vests that are 100 lbs +, depending on the tasks your job requires. Most people, however, tend to wear weighted vests that are 40 lbs or less.

Can You Lose Weight Wearing A Weighted Vest?

Absolutely! But, you’ll need to pair your training with a clean diet, live in a caloric deficit, and get enough recovery to maximize results. Wearing a weighted vest certainly enables people to burn more calories than they normally would, but, as with any type of training, you need to have all your ducks in a row.

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Editor’s note: we are regularly updating this review. If you see any problems, weird interpretations of the data, or just want to say hi, please reach out to hello@the-unwinder.com.

Photo by Natalie Runnerstrom on Unsplash