The Best 5 Weight Vests For Your Home Workout

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Improve your strength, endurance, and cardio with these sturdy weight vests, with options for adjusting the weight with weight plates or with removable weight blocks. test

Of all the varieties of home gym equipment you can buy, one of the great additional investments is no doubt the weighted vest. That’s because it can increase the intensity of an exercise, making it harder to perform.

While bodyweight workouts can be initially tough for beginners, our how-to start calisthenics guide (2022) will help you to develop the strength and endurance to crush these exercises within a month. Once you’ve mastered these basic progressions, you’ll build muscle in your arms, shoulders, back, core, and legs. When they feel easy, you can eventually add a weighted vest to your training. 

Research suggests that the use of a weighted vest as a training overload stimulus improves aerobic and anaerobic endurance, speed, flexibility, agility, and motor coordination. Read on to find out my top five weighted vest recommendations for your home workouts.

Best Weighted Vest For Calisthenics

Kensui EZ Vest Max V2

Price: $249.00

Product link: https://kensuifitness.com/pages/kensui-fitness-de

Specifications: Adjustable weighted vest, lightweight and portable (4lbs), removable and breathable leather lining

Max load: 300lbs

Pros:

• Perfect for running, weighted pull-ups, push-ups, rows, squats, dips, handstands, jumps, planks, and many more exercises
• Weight is adjustable by using weight plates
• Made of durable material for longevity 
• Lifetime warranty

Cons:

• It’s a bit expensive
• It can feel uncomfortable to wear when there’s a higher load
• Using a thick weight plate can reduce the maximum weight capacity due to the width

The Kensui EZ Vest Max V2 is a great vest that can accommodate a whooping 300lbs of weight, making it the indisputable heavyweight champion of all weighted vests. It allows you to up the intensity and gets more out of each rep. Easy to reload weight plates and comfortable to on and wear, this one will not cut into your skin. 

If you want an in-depth review of the pros and cons of this visit, check out the Kensui Vest Unboxing and Review to make an Informed buying decision.

Best Rogue Weight Vests

Rogue Fitness 5.11 Tactec Plate Carrier

Price: $215

Product link: https://www.roguefitness.com/5-11-tactical-vests

Specifications: Adjustable weighted vest, lightweight and portable (2.5lbs), the option to choose various colors 

Max load: 40lbs

Pros:

• Perfect for running, weighted pull-ups, push-ups, rows, squats, dips, handstands, jumps, planks, and many more exercises
• Highly customizable 
• Durable construction

Cons:

• It’s an expensive vest and you’ll have to purchase laser-cut plates separately 
• Military outlook features may be useless in a fitness context

As the official weight vest of CrossFit Games for several years running, you know that it’s going to be top-notch. The laser plates fitted inside the vest are thin and made to last. Everything is secure and you’ll hardly feel any bounce when working out. This vest will add extra resistance to those whose looking to build size and strength with bodyweight exercises. Additional plates come in 5lbs, 5.75lbs, 7.5lbs, 10lbs, and 20lbs. 

This vest has side pockets so you can carry your phone or keys in there while going for a run, hike, or workout. The ballistic plates are thin which is great for sustained comfort during your exercise routines.

Rogue Fitness Condor Sentry Plate Carrier

Price: $51.95

Product link: https://www.roguefitness.com/condor-sentry-plate-carrier

Specifications: Adjustable weighted vest, lightweight and portable (2.5lbs), the option to choose various colors 

Max load: 40lbs

Pros:

• Manufactured with military-grade material 
• Budget-friendly 
• Adjustable sizing covers a waist size range from 30” to 46”

Cons:

• The buckle closure on straps may not be as good as Velcro
• It may not be as durable and comfortable as other options
• Not ideal for smaller users
• Not compatible with Rogue laser cut plates

If you’re low on budget but want something that’s good quality, then the Condor Sentry Plate Carrier is what I would recommend. This may not be the cheapest option but it is great for taking your training up a level. It will stay close to the body when performing pull-ups, push-ups, dips, dips, running, and will give the full range of motion to these movements. Plate weight comes at 5lbs, 5.75lbs, 7.5lbs, 10lbs, and 20lbs. 

Best Weighted Vest For Running

Aduro Sport Weighted Vest

Price: $29.99-$129.99

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3BQakUi

Specifications: Increase strength and endurance, durability and comfort, a great addition to walks and hikes, different weight options from 4lbs-30lbs

Max load: 30lbs

Pros:

• Perfect for cardio, and weight training, and increases the intensity and efficiency of your workout
• Adjustable front belt and soft neoprene material for comfort
• Mesh pocket on the back to store your valuables when working out

Cons:

• Doesn’t fit all sizes. Some customer reviews say it’s not tight enough for them when they use it
• Fillings may leak out
• Not ideal if you want to lift heavy
• Weights cannot be added or removed

This weight vest is excellent for beginners to add some weight to their resistance training such as cardio, hiking, running, and core. It’s comfortable to wear and the neoprene material does its job of providing a comfortable fit for both men and women. The weight distribution of this weight is good and it doesn’t put pressure on the chest (female users highly appreciate this feature).

Best Weighted Vest For Walking

RUNMan Adjustable Weighted Vest

Price: $36.99-$200

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3dn1ggv

Specifications: Increase strength and endurance, durability and comfort, a great addition to walks and hikes, different weight options from 12lbs-140lbs

Max load: 140lbs

Pros:

• Perfect for cardio, and weight training, and increases the intensity and efficiency of your workout
• Removable weights
• Shoulder pads option available for extra comfort

Cons:

• It can be uncomfortable on the shoulders without the pads option
• Can be bulky for certain users

If you’re someone who works out a lot and wants to add weight to your training then this vest is a great idea. The RUNMan Vest focuses on comfort and function, it comes with velcro straps for a highly adjustable fit. This vest is great for hiking, running, and calisthenics. Weights can be removed anytime, providing everything you need from light to heavy workouts. You can also stick your phone in your pocket and go on a run.

Weighted Vest Buyer’s Guide

Here’s a quick overview of some of the most important considerations to bear in mind when shopping for the best-weighted vest.

1. Workout Goals

Consider your workout goals. If your goal is to develop muscular endurance or cardiovascular endurance, then a lighter vest is good. I suggest you get one that weighs 10% of your body weight. If your goal is to build muscle, a heavier vest is a good idea. A 2022 study emphasized that weighted vests can impact your speed and power development. 

2. Material and Design

The material of the vest is very important. It should be breathable, tear-resistant, and sweat-resistant, and have comfortable padding around your shoulders so that the vest doesn’t pinch into your skin. Also, Lookout for the straps used when putting the vest on, I prefer slide and release buckle and the velcro strap options.

3. Weight-Filling Material

There are various types of weighted vests from sandbag vests, iron block vests, plate carriers, and EZ-Vests. They all give different loading options, some may distribute weight differently which could affect your training. If you want an adjustable weight vest that avoids imbalances you might want to get the plate carriers and EZ-vests. 

On the other hand, fixed-weight vests are good if you want to add little resistance to your walks or runs, they tend to be less bulky and are generally less expensive. 

Men’s Health states that wearing a weighted vest will increase the intensity and efficiency of your training session, advance muscle growth, and burn a greater number of calories in a shorter amount of time. 

4. Budget 

An adjustable weighted vest has the obvious benefit of changing the weight which is highly versatile for users to start with lightweight and gradually apply progressive overload (increase reps, sets, and weight) as they get stronger. This option is more expensive and usually will cost between $100-$250. 

Fixed weight vests are cheaper than adjustable weight options, however, they will limit your options for workouts. For instance, a lightweight vest of 20-30lbs will not be sufficient weight to unlock your full potential for exercises like pull-ups, push-ups, or squats. 

Weight Vest Workout

Take your bodyweight training to the next level with a weighted vest and these workouts. According to Men’s Health, wearing a weighted vest is great for strengthening tendons and joints, while providing more resistance to your movements that is more natural than when lifting dumbbells.

The workout below is a format that you can follow while using a weighted vest. Feel free to change the number of reps for each exercise to accommodate your fitness level. Here are three weighted vest workouts:

Workout 1

Do this for time:

• 50 pull-ups
• 50 push-ups 
• 50 sit-ups
• 50 squats

Partition reps are essential. For example. Do 5 rounds of 10 pull-ups, 10 push-ups, 10, sit-ups, and 10 squats. If you can’t do pull-ups you can regress to doing Australian pull-ups, and if you can’t do push-ups you can regress to doing knee push-ups.

Workout 2

Do this for time:

• 1-mile run
• 50 Australian pull-ups
• 50 bench dips
• 50 push-ups
• 100 lunges

Check out the full tutorial for lunges, bench dips, and push-ups to learn to correct technique, benefits, and exercise variations.

Workout 3

As many rounds as possible in 20 minutes 

• 400-meter run
• 5 chin-ups
• 10 push-ups
• 30 seconds plank

I have created a comprehensive tutorial for chin-ups and planks where I cover their benefits, correct form, and different variations. Check out this chin-ups tutorial and plank tutorial to improve your knowledge of these calisthenics fundamental exercises.

The Takeaways: Best Weighted Vest For Your Home Workout

The overall winner of the best-weighted vest has got to the Kensui EZ Vest Max V2 because it is convenient to use, easy to put on or take off, and the weight is adjustable so that you can start with low weight and scale it up as you get stronger.

Weighted vests are a great addition to your training and can be used for various workouts. They can crank your training to another level on the running train, in your living room, or the garage gym. If you’re looking to develop strength and endurance and increase your cardiovascular fitness, then weighted vests will help you do that. 

Think about what your goals are before buying a weighted vest, and ask yourself what kind of activities you’re going to do with them. You don’t need to buy the heaviest in the market to make improvements to your health and physique.