What is a Weighted Vest?
To put it simply, a weighted vest is a piece of fitness equipment that is wearable and designed to add extra weight to your body during workouts. Wearing a weighted vest is incredibly effective when it comes to improving your endurance and strength gains because the additional resistance enhances your fitness routine by increasing the intensity of exercises.
What Makes a Good Weighted Vest?
There are five main features that distinguish the best weight vests from the rest: the weight must be adjustable, it must be made of comfortable material, and it must fit comfortably and snugly, and it must be well-designed with pockets. Before deciding on which vest to put on, it is important to consider each of these features.
i. Weight Adjustability
Look for vests that allow you to add or remove weights, enabling customization based on your fitness level and workout goals. If the vest has pockets pockets for adjustable weight plates or sandbags, that is an extra plus. Consider this Adjustable Weighted Vest from ZelusFitness.
The Zelus 20 lbs Adjustable Weight Vest
This workout equipment comes with 20 iron sandbags weighing 0.5 kg each that easily slide into the 20 pockets around your torso to add up to 10 kg to your workout.You can dial in the suitable intensity while you work with kettlebells, dumbbells, pull up bars, and more to build stronger core and supporting muscles.
- It has a max. circumference of 129 cm (51 in.)
- It supports up to a maximum load of 9 kg (20 lb.)
- Without the sandbags, the vest weighs 0.9 kg (2 lb.)
ii. Material and Comfort
To ensure comfort, choose a vest made from breathable, moisture-wicking materials. Padding and adjustable straps are also important for a good fit. Here is an example of a weighted vest with comfortable padding and top-quality materials: the Weighted Vest for Men and Women from Zelus.
This adjustable vest is specially designed for comfort and easy wearability. It evenly distributes its load even during intense workouts, and its hook-and-loop fasteners offer a snug fit for teens or adults.
iii. Fit and Adjustability
Ensure the vest fits snugly without restricting movement. If your weighted vest has adjustable straps, that can help achieve a secure fit. The Weight Vest for Running and Training Black Vest from Zelus is made of premium chloroprene rubber. This weighted vest stays super rigid, breathable, soft, and elastic even under extreme conditions, which is ideal for all sports lovers.
iv. Weight Capacity
Check the maximum weight the vest can hold. Common ranges are from 10 to 50 pounds, but some models can accommodate even more.
v. Design and Storage Space
Some vests are designed to be low-profile and sleek, while others may be bulkier. Choose one that fits your style and workout preferences.
Some weighted vests come with pockets for holding small items like keys, phones, or water bottles, adding convenience for outdoor workouts.
Benefits of Using a Weighted Vest
The main benefit of wearing a weighted vest is that it increases your workout intensity. Adding extra weight to your body weight elevates the difficulty of any exercise and makes your workouts more challenging and effective.
Another very important benefit of exercising with a weighted vest is that it helps with weight loss. The extra weight increases your heart rate, leading to greater calorie expenditure during workouts, aiding in weight loss.
Weighted vests can help build muscle strength and endurance by making bodyweight exercises more demanding.
Engaging in weight-bearing activities with a weighted vest can contribute to improved bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
Weighted vests are suitable for various activities, including walking, running, bodyweight exercises (like push-ups and squats), and high-intensity interval training (HIIT).
Wearing a weighted vest encourages better posture and engages your core muscles, providing stability and support during movement.
How to Use a Weighted Vest
Start SlowlyIf you’re new to using a weighted vest, start with a lighter weight to allow your body to adjust.
Incorporate into Workouts
Use the vest during bodyweight exercises, cardio sessions, or while doing everyday activities like walking or jogging.
Monitor Your Form
Ensure proper form during exercises to prevent injury, especially as the added weight can alter your body mechanics.
Gradually Increase Weight
As you become more comfortable, gradually increase the weight to continue challenging your muscles.
Get Going With Zelus
Recommended: Zelus Weighted Vests
1. Zelus’ 6lb Weighted Vest With Reflective Stripes
If you are at the beginning of your fitness journey and have never put on a vest before, Zelus’ 6lb Weight Vest with Reflective Stripes is the way to go. This weighted vest weighs a grand total of just 6 lbs. (2.7 kg), and it is precisely designed to be used by level-one beginners.
At a total length of 15 inches (38.1 cm), it comfortably fits 95% of people, and its stripes are adjustable, making it a unisex vest. Here are some main features of this vest.
Main Features
- Made of premium material: This vest is built to last with durable neoprene rubber fabric. Its double-stitching and weighted with iron sand ensure a perfect mix of comfort, durability, and effectiveness.
- The Features are Adjustable: The elastic straps and reflective stripes are all adjustable, which means you can go anywhere at any time. The elastic straps help you get a perfect fit, and the reflective stripes ensure that you remain visible and safe even in bad weather or low-light conditions.
- Even Weight Distribution: The vest is evenly filled with iron sand, which decreases the risk of injury while you work out. You can use this vest for circuit training, weightlifting, cardio, strength training, and beyond.
2. Zelus’ 10 lbs. Unisex Vest
This one-size-fits-most exercise vest for men and women by Zelus weighs 4 pounds by itself but can reach up to 10 pounds if you insert iron sandweight bags into all the pockets around its lower end.
It comes with six 1-pound iron sandweight bags, allowing you to vary the amount of resistance on the vest between 4 pounds and 10 pounds.
What is even more amazing about this vest is that it comes in two models. While this unit can take up to a maximum of 10 pounds, the 20lb Vest for Men and Women comes with 6 ironsand weight bags which all weigh 1.5 lbs each. So, if the first vest does not provide enough resistance, you can always opt for the second.
Both have exactly the same characteristics and properties, except the latter is twice as heavy as the former.
Like the above models, Zelus offers a variety of top-quality weighted vests to fit a wide range of workout enthusiasts. Zelus vests are made of durable materials, and they come with additional features to make your workout easy and safe. Visit Zelus to choose your size and the color that suits you best.
For more valuable information and important tips, including some safety tips, and also exercises to do with your weighted vest.