If you’re thinking about buying a weighted vest to max out your workouts, look no more because we’ve curated an epic list of the best-weighted vests for all kinds of exercises and budget.
Check out our top picks below!
1. TNT Pro Series Weighted Vest
Okay, newcomers first! This is a nice beginner’s level 11 LB vest that is filled up with not sand, but iron pellets.
So, you are basically becoming Iron Man when you use this. (Okay, that was lame, sorry).
The vest is constructed in a way that distributes it evenly across the back and chest, so you do not feel pain from the vest while working out, just the added weight and resistance.
Those of you who want a little color will like that you can get a yellow or pink logo on the vest (which is itself black on all models).
What we liked about this particular vest was the water bottle holder.
Yes, you really can hold a water bottle that is 16 oz or less!
How handy is that? You can also enjoy the nice headphone pocket on the front for those that like to use wired headphones.
Depending on how hard you want to push yourself, you can get this vest in a 20, 40, 60 or 80 lb. size.
It’s going to be “absolutely brutal” according to one user, and that’s how we like it!
One thing we noted was that the sandbags seemed a little iffy on the stitching.
Other users seemed pretty happy about their purchase but when testing it out on a run, we noted one of the bags began to leak. Granted there was no huge hole, but we noticed grains in our work area.
Okay ladies, it’s your time to shine! Check out this cool vest and rejoice in the variety of sizes-you can enjoy a 4, 8 or 16 lb. vest that goes easily over the head and spreads evenly across your upper body.
The weight is distributed oh so well with this vest. Your daily walks or runs will become much more intense, and your squats-well, let’s just say you’re gonna get that peach booty you have been wishing for!
In all seriousness, this is a great vest that is designed to fit women especially. There is even a small pocket just right for keys, money or even a small mp3 player. It’s adjustable to 48 inches to fit ladies of all sizes and you will be working out like a pro in no time.
There are even reflective strips for added safety while you walk around.
Available in two great colors, this vest is a nice beginner’s vest and comes in at 12 lbs for the weight.
This will really add a new level of intensity to your workouts and you can work your way up to a bigger vest if you like.
We know this vest will suit anybody, but the design is especially great for women, as the chest area is not obstructed.
You just put this vest on as you would a backpack, and you are ready to go.
There is even a nice chest strap to make it snug.
The neoprene material breathes nice and easy and dries up quickly after those really sweaty workouts. It distributes the weight evenly across the back.
We noted you cannot remove the weights from the vest, so if 12lbs is too much for right now, perhaps consider a different product.
Wearing this vest made us all feel like some baddies, because it reminded us of bulletproof vests our local police use in their everyday duties.
We definitely felt like superheroes putting this vest on. It fits easily over the head and your arms move freely on the sides with no annoying sleeves.
The weight packets in this particular vest are removable.
You can take out or add in the weight bags as you wish to make your workout as intense as you like.
If you enjoy running with a parachute, there are even anchor hooks for that!
Now this is a vest for experienced athletes only. The sizes go from 40 LBS to 150 LBS. So, we recommend this only if you want a VERY challenging workout.
The material this vest is created from is nylon. This is a great, tough material, but not as breathable as some neoprene versions we’ve seen.
Here is another nice over the back vest that is not too intrusive-especially for the ladies. When we tried it out, it reminded us of wearing one of those CamelBak hydration packs. You can get this one in a variety of sizes.
You can buy it ranging anywhere from 4 pounds if you want a light workout or 20 lbs. if you want a challenging workout. There is also nice pocket on the back that’s perfect for storing a phone or other small item while you do your workout.
The material is nice and soft neoprene. We also noted the adjustable front straps. Youths interested in amping their training up will be able to fit this vest well.
It distributes the weight evenly across the back, so you do not feel strained when wearing the vest. The material breathes well so even when you sweat, it won’t stink too much!
This is a vest that is great for men, women and even young teens who want to add more to their workouts. We liked the adjustable buckle strap that was placed in front of the chest that allows the fit to be just right for you.
The Neoprene material is revolutionary for this particular accessory.
It holds in the sand fillings oh so well, so you can really go hard with this vest and not worry about it poking out of the material. You won’t worry about sand spilling all over the place.
This vest comes in at a grand total of 20LBS, so it’s great for those of you that want a challenging workout but not so hard that you can’t complete it.
It’s great for intermediate athletes as the 20lbs presents a good and honest challenge.
And lastly, there is a nice little pocket for storing your belongings so in case you carry a phone or mp3 player with you while you work out, you can store it safely. Great design!
There is really no strict answer to this particular question. You should be shopping for a vest based upon your ability level instead of body type-so shop by weight.
That being said, we do encourage the use of the over the head models or the “backpack” styles for women.
The reason being is that the chest area may become irritated if you are working out with straps rubbing against this area.
Those of you that have a smaller body type will do well with a vest that can be adjusted to suit your frame-consider one of our vests that has a side or chest strap that can be taken in so it stays on you snugly while you work.
How Do I Clean These Vests?
One user reported that he wiped his vest with Clorox antibacterial wipes each week.
We cleaned our vest by removing the sandbags. Then, we filled up the tub using lukewarm water.
Alternatively, you can do this in your laundry room sink, or take a tote outside with some warm water in it.
Then, we took a clean kitchen sponge and scrubbed down the vest thoroughly.
We then rinsed it off with fresh water and hang it up to dry. The neoprene and nylon will dry fast for you.
Are Weighted Vests Good for Losing Weight?
Yes!
Weighted vests not only add more resistance which increases calorie burn, but they also get you stronger and help you build more muscle.
The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn…and the leaner you get.
In Closing
Have fun choosing a weighted vest that is just for you. No matter your choice, you will definitely feel the burn and see the results!