You may have heard that wearing a weighted vest is the best way to kick your workout into overdrive. But how do you go about choosing the best weighted vest? Do you pick a general purpose one or a running weighted vest?
With so many choices on the market, choosing one can be intimidating. You don’t want to throw your money away on a vest that’s uncomfortable or not suited to your body and workout style.
We’ll help you skip the guesswork by giving you the lowdown on our favorite weighted vests or you can check out our 2nd post on the best weighted vests for autism if you are looking for a vest to calm your child.
Choosing the Best Weighted Vest for Your Body Size
One of the first things to keep in mind as you research weighted vests is your body type. These vests typically don’t fit men and women the same, because women need to be able to fasten the vest more securely against their bodies to keep them from moving around.
Pay attention to reviews from small- and large-framed people, as well, to see which vest will best fit your body size.
Top Weighted Vests on The Market
| 45 Lb. V-FORCE Weight Vest | Our Reviews | Our Rating (5 / 5) |
| Hyperwear PRO Unisex Weighted Vest | Our Reviews | Our Rating (4.5 / 5) |
| MIR 50LBS Short Adjustable Weighted Vest | Our Reviews | Our Rating (4.7 / 5) |
ZFOsports 40LBs Adjustable Weighted Vest | Our Reviews | Our Rating (4.5 / 5) |
| Cross 101 Adjustable Weighted Vest | Our Reviews | Our Rating (4.5 / 5) |
| RUNmax 12lb-140lb Weighted Vest | Our Reviews | Our Rating (4.7 / 5) |
Match Your Weighted Vest to Your Style of Workout
The next factor to consider when looking for the best weighted vest is the kind of workout you’ll be doing while wearing it.
People who plan to walk or do squats and pull-ups while wearing a vest will have a different experience than those who wish to run or do plyometrics while wearing one. With exercises that keep your feet on the ground, the vest isn’t typically going to shift and jump around as you work through your routine.
Jumping and running exercises will require a vest that fits more securely. Working out is hard enough without having a weight vest popping up and flopping around as you move.
In my experience, there’s nothing more frustrating than trying to keep focused during a workout where your weight vest is continually slamming around on your body.
How Can I Use a Weighted Workout Vest?
If you’re new to the world of weighted vests, you may still be stumped on exactly how you’ll use your vest once you get it. Know that the options are endless.
Some people jog with running weighted vests in order to increase their strength and endurance. Others wear them during CrossFit to provide resistance.
You can even wear them while walking, doing housework or landscaping to turn everyday activities into a real workout.
Reviews of the Best Weighted Vests
45 Lb. V-FORCE Weight Vest. Coyote Tan with narrow shoulders
If you’d like to work out hard and look tough while doing it, the V-Force Weighted Vest is a solid choice. While it’s much higher-priced than other vests, it’s durable and made to hold up to any workout you can throw at it.
While some weighted vests are one-size-fits all, the V-Force Weighted Vest allows you to choose between a wide and a narrow design. This is important because if you workout with a weight vest that doesn’t fit, you’re going to struggle more than is necessary.
The V-Force Weighted Vest is heavy. It comes with 45 pounds of sweat-inducing weight, which most reviewers felt was plenty to suit their needs.
One of the best things about the V-Force Weighted Vest is its shortened design that keeps the lower weights from sitting over your stomach. This places them in an optimal position to work the core muscles you’d like to target and strengthen.
Reviewers found the weight to be very evenly distributed for a variety of workouts. The V-Force works well as a running weighted vest. Whether you use a lot of weight or a little, this is a great vest to wear for any type of workout. Just make sure you wear a shirt while jumping and squatting, as this vest will rub you raw, otherwise.
Durability is also a big concern with weighted vests. The V-Force has reinforced pocket backing so that you can load it down with as much weight as you like.
While it’s quite a bit more pricey than other weight vests on the market, this model is made to last. The durability, lifetime warranty, and the knowledge that the V-Force Weighted Vest is made in the USA was enough to cause one reviewer to happily choose this one over lesser-priced vests.
| Things We Liked • Durable and well-made • Holds enough weight for even the most strenuous of workouts • Extremely comfortable • Perfect weight distribution • Military-style look | Things We Didn't Like • Vest sticks out a bit, making it hard to do push-ups • No Rambo-style shirtless workouts; users need to wear a shirt underneath to prevent uncomfortable rubbing • It’s a bit difficult to learn how to put the vest on properly at first |
Hyperwear Hyper Vest PRO Unisex Weighted Vest
This vest has great adjustability and contours, making it a great fit for those looking for a woman weighted vest. One of the things we love best about this vest is its profile, which allows for a greater range of motion than some of the bulkier, military-style weight vests on the market.
Only having a one-size-fits-all option creates a source of frustration for many weighted vest users. The Hyperwear Hyper Vest PRO comes in sizes from small XX-Large, allowing users with different physiques to find the perfect fit.
It’s a great weight vest for those who are just beginning to add weight into their fitness routine. It comes with 10 pounds of weights and has the capacity to add on more as your fitness level improves. Unlike some of the heavier vest designs, the Hyperwear design is light. The fabric is breathable, keeping sweaty workouts more dry and cool.
One smaller-framed reviewer was excited to finally find a weight vest that actually fit. They settled on the Hyperwear Vest after trying three other uncomfortable women weighted vests.
Others praised its fit, but were upset at its lack of durability. Sadly, the Hyperwear Vest seems to be unable to hold up to everyday use.
One person warned that over time, the weights will begin to wear through the pockets. This is a problem for a product that’s at the higher end of the women weighted vest price range.
| Things We Liked • Vest gives users the ability to start light and add more weight as they go • Unisex design is perfect for women • Fabric is stretchy and breathable | Things We Didn’t Like • Users can only add about 15 pounds of additional weight • Pockets begin to fray and weights begin to poke through after months of use • Lack of durability is unacceptable for the price |
MIR 50LBS Short Adjustable Weighted Vest
The MIR Weighted Vest is an incredibly compact design that holds a shocking 60 pounds worth of weight. This is well above the capacity of its bulkier counterparts. Despite its high price, the MIR is a powerhouse. It’s only 11 inches long, making it one of the smallest designs we’ve reviewed.
The MIR Weighted Vest is cut short, keeping the weight centered above the chest muscles. We like this vest because despite it’s compact design, it can hold a lot of weight.
It comes with 50 pounds of weight, which is a pretty hefty amount. Users who want to bump it up a notch can slip in an additional 10 pounds, bringing the total to 60.
This vest was made to be durable, and reviewers agree. One user was pleased that despite several months of heavy, sweaty workouts, their vest looks as good as new. The design is snug and comfortable. Users don’t complain about it rubbing and chafing the way other vests do.
The only major complaints were from users who found the side straps difficult to connect or who felt that the vest moved around too much when doing certain exercises.
Its biggest flaw is that it tends to move around during running and jumping kinds of workouts. It’s not an ideal vest for female users, as there is no way for them to properly secure it.
| Things We Liked • A hefty 50 pounds of weight included, with the potential to add 10 more • Comfortable padding throughout • Compact vest doesn’t hinder motion • Extremely durable | Things We Didn’t Like • Vest design is not ideal for women, as it bounces around • Even male users complained that vest bounces and shifts during certain movements • Snug fit design makes vest uncomfortably narrow in the shoulders for some users |
ZFOsports 40LBs Adjustable Weighted Vest
We found the ZFOsports is the one of the best weighted vest designs for those who can’t stand vests that tend to shift or flop around during certain exercises. It’s also a great choice if you’re shopping on a budget, as it falls at the lower end of the price range.
There’s no guesswork involved in the sizing of the ZFOsports Adjustable Weighted Vest, as it’s one-size-fits-most. Users adjust the straps until the vest feels snug and comfortable.
Unlike some other weighted vests, both men and women can successfully workout in this design.
Some reviewers laughed that the fully-loaded vest made them look like bank robbers or SWAT team members. However, they were so pleased with the results they were seeing that this didn’t dampen their enthusiasm for the vest.
For those shopping for a high-quality weight vest on a budget, the ZFO is great. It comes with its full maximum capacity of 40 pounds of weight, so you’re getting a great deal of weight for your buck. This maxes out its holding capacity, but users can lighten their load by removing the weight in 2.5-lb. increments.
Despite its bulky appearance, the vest works well for small-framed individuals. One reviewer who is 5’6” and 120 lbs. found this style to be a comfortable way to intensify their workouts.
It’s very versatile and works great as a running weighted vest or for use while doing pull-ups or working your abs.
The only thing that keeps the ZFOsports model from being rated as the best weighted vest is the lack of shoulder padding and instructions. Many users had to improvise shoulder padding in order to comfortably workout while wearing it.
| Things We Liked • Great weighted vest for both men and women • Comfortable enough to be used as a running weighted vest or for a variety of other exercises • Vest includes a nice amount of weight, even though you can’t add more Durable throughout long-term use | Things We Didn’t Like • Instructions for wearing the vest are confusing, at first • Shoulder straps need more padding • Vest looks incredibly bulky • Clothing must be worn underneath to avoid chafing |
Cross 101 Adjustable Weighted Vest, 40 lbs (Camouflage)
If you don’t want to fuss with a network of adjustable straps, you’ll like the one-piece design of the Cross 101 weighted vest. Simply slip it on over your head, tighten the velcro belts at your waist and you’re ready to work out.
The Cross 101 definitely has a heavy, military look about it, but it manages to be more sleek in its overall design. This is because it ditches the straps and D-rings used on so many other weighted vests in favor of a one-piece design.
It’s really easy to use. Simply adjust it using the straps around the waist. The vest works well for men and women and it’s great for running, as well. Users noted that the waist belts must be very tightly secured to make sure the vest doesn’t move during jogging and jumping exercises.
When we first saw the way this belt works, we didn’t think it was possible for it to be comfortable for a variety of different body types. First, it’s one-size fits all, which can be a disaster for people who are smaller or larger than average.
Next, it has no adjustments around the neck or shoulders. The only way to tighten it is with the waist belts.
Still, reviewers of all shapes and sizes love it. From small women to bodybuilders, the simplicity of this design simply works.
It does tend to rub the shoulders a bit, so wearing clothing underneath the Cross 101 is a must. Users love that it’s easy to put on and take off.
The Cross 101 comes with 40 pounds of removable weights, which is the maximum amount it can hold. Its comfort, ease of use, decent amount of weight and relatively low price make it one of our absolute favorites in the search for the best weighted vest.
| Things We Liked • One-piece design makes putting the vest on and adjusting it a breeze • Let’s face it: camouflage makes you look tough • Vest is great for men and women • Vest can accommodate a variety of exercises | Things We Didn’t Like • It tends to rub and dig at the shoulders • Rather than metal plates, the included weights are iron ore pellets inside small bags • Belt must be thoroughly tightened for vest to stay snug enough for running |
RUNmax 12lb-140lb Weighted Vest (with Shoulder Pads, 40lb)
If you’re a runner, it’s worth it to consider a running weighted vest. In our hunt for the best weighted vest, we found multiple complaints from runners who were sick of their vests bouncing around as they went about their daily jog.
The RUNFast/Max Pro was designed as a running weighted vest, but it’s also versatile enough to use while doing physical therapy, playing racquetball, working through a CrossFit workout or anytime you want to add a bit more resistance.
The RUNFast/Max Pro provides a lot of options. For a slight increase in price, you can get it with shoulder pads included.
You can also choose a range of weight capacities from 12 to 60 pounds. Even maxed out at the 60-pound capacity with shoulder pads included, the RUNFast is one of the more affordable weighted vests in our lineup.
The vest is one-size-fits-all and easily adjustable. While the size was great for most, one reviewer who is 6’ 2” and 260 lbs. found that the fit wasn’t right for him.
| Things We Liked • Extremely durable • Velcro fastening system is easy to use • Snug fit works great for running and fast-paced workouts • Weights are perfectly balanced | Things We Didn’t Like • The one-size-fits-all design doesn’t work for those with large body frames • Weights come in the form of bags filled with iron ore pellets, rather than metal plates • Shoulder pads come separately; some users were confused as to how to attach them |
And the Winner Is…
There’s a lot to consider when choosing the best weighted vest. We put a lot of thought into picking our top 6 and even more thought into choosing our absolute favorite.
After weighing the pros and cons of all of them, we have to go with the RUNFast/Max Pro Weighted Vest as our top pick for best weighted vest. For starters, it’s one of the most affordable options in our lineup, coming in at less than half the price of the most expensive vests.
Users of other vests complained about unintuitive strap designs and lack of shoulder padding. They also didn’t like it when their weighted vests moved as they ran and jumped.
The RUNFast demonstrates that it’s the best weighted vest with its one-piece, easy-fasten design and optional shoulder pads. It’s also our top pick for those who need a running weighted vest or an all-around weight vest to intensify their workout routine and take it over the top.
