Weight vests are available in different designs. This model is fastened over the shoulders and around the waist with adjustable straps and has an inside pocket that is fastened with sturdy Velcro to hold iron or steel plates. Gabby Landsverk
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I tried different workouts like running, calisthenics and HIIT in a weight vest for a month.
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I noticed big improvements in fitness, especially in my stamina and core strength.
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I would recommend it to experienced athletes, but make sure you have the right fit for best results.
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It’s not an exaggeration to say that purchasing a weight vest was one of the best fitness investments of my life, no pun intended.
I kept my eye on weighted vests for months, researching different styles and prices, and finally grabbed the opportunity when my top picks from Rogue Fitness went on sale.
The vest is modeled on armored plate carriers in the military style. The plates come separately and are sold in pairs, ranging from five pounds to 20 pounds each. I chose to carry 14 pound plates.
I wore it with three different training styles: running, standard bodyweight movements like squats, pull-ups and pushups, and HIIT circles.
After exercising with it for over a month, I’ve seen huge improvements in my speed, endurance, and core strength without making any other changes to my routine.
I embellished my vest with some patches that I got online as I wanted to avoid scaring the neighbors and thinking that the world’s smallest SWAT team had arrived. Gabby Landsverk
It is not for beginners
First, I wouldn’t recommend investing in a weight vest unless you are already fairly fit.
If the thought of running a few miles and doing dozens of burpees, push-ups, and pull-ups in a single workout intimidates you, a weight vest is likely too difficult to use consistently or you may need a lighter model.
My speed and endurance have improved noticeably
Fourteen pounds might not sound like a lot, but it quickly puts a strain on your entire body.
When I ran at my usual pace, I was breathing much harder than usual. Exercises that I don’t normally consider cardio, like squats and push-ups, also got my heart racing.
That meant I had plenty of workout options specifically designed to maximize my cardio capacity, with lots of jumping squats and lunges (like this one from personal trainer Jay T. Maryniak, whose Instagram workouts are great ).
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As a result, I got significantly better at maintaining explosive power or keeping a good pace even when I was tired.
Pictured: The reporter is having a wonderful time and is not suffering at all. Gabby Landsverk
Even better, I noticed that my running pace improved as I took off the vest. Without consciously trying to increase my pace, after a few weeks of regular use of the vest, I shortened my casual mile time by about 30 seconds.
My core and shoulders got extra workouts every time I wore it
Although I did research on vests before buying, one of the biggest perks was in none of the reviews I read.
No matter what you do while wearing it, the vest activates your core, shoulder and back muscles. This makes it an amazing way to turn even simple exercises into a full body workout.
Push-ups like descents became a new challenge in a weight vest. Gabby Landsverk
With the weight vest, I was able to concentrate on larger muscle groups and still take advantage of a rock-solid core.
It can be difficult to carry with certain movements
Despite what I love about my weight vest, my only complaint is that it doesn’t fit as tightly as I would like it to be. I’m a short person (5’2 “) and the vest hangs fairly loosely around my waist and shoulders, although I try very hard to fit it, which makes it prone to bounce and bump when I move .
For most exercises, this is easily solved by simply holding onto the vest with one or both hands to stabilize it.
Jumping movements are a great leg workout in a weight vest, but sometimes I had to hold on to it so it wouldn’t rumble uncomfortably. Gabby Landsverk
Burpees in particular were a challenge as the back plate would crouch up when jumping off a plank and hit the back of my head if I wasn’t careful.
If you’re a smaller person too, read the specifications carefully to get a vest that will work well for you.
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