What does a weighted vest do?

You might have seen people wearing interesting-looking vests in the gym, on top of their working-out attire, and wondered what the point of that was. These are called weighted vests. Let’s see what all the hype is about.

What is a weighted vest?

A type of wearable weight, like wrist or ankle weights, this vest adds additional mass to your own body weight for the purpose of the exercise. You wear it just like a normal vest but you’ll see it more often in gyms or on trails, as opposed to just walking around in the city. The weight is distributed evenly around your torso and weighed vests usually have pockets so you can add or remove extra weight as you need to. The additional weight ranges anywhere from 10 to 150 pounds! 

What does a weighted vest do?

A weighted vest increases the intensity of your workout, helps with resistance exercises, and generally makes your workout more efficient. Because of the added weight, your body has to work harder and you actually burn more calories! Studies also found that weighted vests improved blood flow in gym-goers, made them stronger, and activated muscles generally not used during the same workout. A weighted vest can also improve bone mineral density and help with endurance and stamina.

Are weighted vests worth it?

Yes! Start small and make sure you have the proper technique so you don’t injure yourself. It’s easy to get ahead of yourself with a bigger weight but you can run the risk of strain or pain because you are asking your body to work much harder than it is used to. There are multiple types of vests available on the market and the style varies based on fit and whether the person wearing the vest will be a man or a woman, which helps with a more comfortable experience.

How to use a weighted vest in a workout?

Start off with a smaller weight, put the vest on and make sure you are comfortable. To build strength, you can wear a weighted vest when doing push-ups or bench press exercises. For cardiovascular benefits, you can employ the vest for running or hiking. Weighted vests are also great for your explosive or interval training. When choosing your vest, consider what purpose you will be using it for — do you need an adjustable option for lighter running or will a sewn-in weight be suitable for strength training?