The Best Weighted Vests for Making All Kinds of Exercise Much Harder

To be honest, one of the best things about the RUNfast weighted vest from RUNmax is the fact that it costs half as much as many comparable products yet works just as well as most weighted training hardware out there. It can be loaded with as much as 60 pounds of weight, with steps down to 50, 40, 20, and 12 pounds as well. With 20 pounds in the vest, my midrange three- or four-mile runs become more of a challenge but much more productive, especially the uphill slogs. (The built-in water-bottle straps are much appreciated there.) And with 40 or more pounds in the vest, push-ups, lunges, and other calisthenic exercises become true strength training.

If you try to do serious circuit training wearing a bulky, heavy weighted vest, you’re going to have a bad time. Traditional weighted vests that use a handful of solid weights are great for jogs or hiking or for some basic exercises, but they are too restrictive and will throw you too far off-balance for all the jumping, sprinting, up-and-downs, and other high-velocity movement of a cross-training workout. The Hyperwear Hyper Vest PRO distributes its ten pounds of weight evenly across your chest and back, and the highly flexible vest can be tightened and adjusted at multiple points to create a snug, customized fit. You’ll hardly notice that you’ve strapped on an extra ten pounds of weight until you try the same exercises with the vest off and find yourself excelling.

The JBM Weighted Vest adds 12 pounds onto your frame, which might not sound like much, but it adds up over time, in a good way — if you routinely run with this vest, you’ll add stamina and muscle without discomfort. The vest is primarily made from soft, flexible neoprene, and the weight comes in the form of evenly distributed sand, so your range of motion isn’t restricted and your balance remains centered. Also, note the extra features that distance runners will love, such as a mesh pocket that can be used to stash snacks, a small water bottle, or your phone and keys, and the reflective strips that make night running safer.

“I have used the vest for a couple of weeks, jogging for 45 minutes to an hour each use. I find it very comfortable. The straps allow for as snug a fit as you’d like. They can tend to loosen as you jog. I tried tying them, which didn’t work. I found that leaving them loose and then simply tugging on one while jogging instantly tightens it up. Not a big issue. I have had no issue with leaking sand, and the vest appears sturdy enough. The only downside to this vest is that there’s no option to increase the weight but at this price point that is reasonable. This vest has been a great addition to my cardio workouts. It has contributed positively to my fitness, and I hope to use it for some time before upgrading to a heavier vest.”

“I am just under five feet tall and was worried that this would be too large. All the adjustability makes it fit just fine, and the added shoulder padding is great. I bought this to help with osteopenia and hope the walls and housekeeping while wearing it strengthens my bones. I also like that the weight can be tapered down for days that I am not up for the full 20 pounds.”