If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best weight vest for adding strength training to cardio workouts, then I’d recommend the RUNFast/Max 12lbs-140lbs Adjustable Weighted Vest as the best one.
We’ve all seen that guy in the gym. The one wearing a weighted vest while he hoots and hollers between box jumps and lunges.
It’s hard not to think of a weighted vest as beneficial when that’s the regular example. But the truth is: lots of people use weighted vests to enhance their workouts.
They can be especially great for cardio! So let’s talk a moment about the benefits of using weighted vests to give your cardio routine that extra edge.
If you’re interested in the perks, check out our list below to find the best weight vest for you!
Here are the top weight vests we’ll be reviewing:
- Hyperwear Hyper Vest PRO
- RUNFast/Max 12lbs-140lbs Adjustable Weighted Vest
- Aduro Sport Weighted Vest
- CROSS101 Weighted Vest
- RUNFast/Max Pro Weighted Vest
What are the Advantages of Using a Weighted Vest During Cardio Training?
The jury is still out on whether adding a weighted vest to any workout is beneficial.
Some studies suggest training with weight vests can improve speed, strength, and time to exhaustion.
To be fair, other studies indicate that a weight vest doesn’t add much benefit at all. But these findings don’t mean weight vests can’t improve your cardio workout.
Turns out, professional trainers love strapping weight vests onto their clients. Why? Two reasons.
First, because loading up a weighted vest applies increased weight to your shoulders and upper body.
This helps tax your respiratory muscles (most notably, the diaphragm). Essentially, this makes it harder to breathe.
Adding this extra stress causes your heartrate to elevate faster than normal, meaning you’ll decrease the amount of time (and energy) it takes to reach higher aerobic levels.
If you can fight off the initial fight-or-flight response that comes with a quickly-elevated heartrate, your cardio won’t need to be as intense in order to get the best results.
That could mean no more wind sprints! (Because really… no one likes wind sprints.)
Weight vests can also be handy with bodyweight exercises you might use in your cardio routine– things like box jumps and burpees.
Some people like to perform these types of exercises while holding additional weights.
But there’s a problem with that technique.
Holding dumbbells when performing these sorts of explosive exercises can lead to serious arm and shoulder injuries. (Not to mention it’s pretty easy to drop a weight on your own foot!)
Free-holding weights during these types of exercises also shifts your center of gravity and throws off your body’s weight distribution, which can lead to both poor technique and an incomplete workout.
Throwing on a weight vest keeps the added weight closer to your natural center of gravity, offering the benefits of increased weight without the nasty, dangerous side-effects.
Are There Disadvantages to Using a Weight Vest for my Cardio Workouts?
There’s a disadvantage to everything when it comes to personal fitness. The greatest danger posed by any addition to your routine is bad preparation.
If you add a weight vest to your cardio workouts without properly educating yourself on their use, or if you haven’t mastered the basics of the exercises you already perform, then adding weight of any kind is bound to lead to injury.
Weight vests can do wonders for your strength, speed, and stamina. But if you aren’t doing your exercises properly without a vest, then adding a vest is only going to complicate things for you.
Luckily, you’re halfway there! You’re reading this article and getting smart about how to use a weighted vest appropriately!
The next piece of the puzzle, of course, is finding the best weight vest. Of course, that can be a challenge.
There are a lot of products out there. Sifting through them can be a real weight on your shoulders. (See what we did there?) But don’t worry.
We’ve got you covered. We’ve compiled a list of the 5 best weight vests for adding strength training to cardio workouts.
If you’re looking for the best weight vest, then going through this list will definitely help you find your perfect match.
The 5 Best Weight Vests to Enhance Your Cardio Routine
Hyperwear Hyper Vest PRO
The Hyperwear Hyper Vest PRO is professional-grade and extra durable. It comes ready-loaded with 10 pounds of high-density steel weights, but it also has space to add more.
It keeps a low profile as well, meaning you can wear it underneath your shirt if you’d like.
The base fabric is stretchy, which allows a wide range of body sizes, and the side lacing is very adjustable.
This vest is also very breathy. The moisture-wicking fabric and open sides allow for plenty of ventilation. (That’s good, because this vest is going to make you sweat!)
The biggest con to this particular vest is in the weight pocket durability.
The corners of the pockets are prone to tearing if you’re performing especially vigorous activity in the vest, so always make sure to inspect your vest before a workout!
Pros:
- Professional-grade and durable
- Low profile
- Very breathable and very adjustable
Cons:
- Weight pockets can tear at the corners
RUNFast/Max 12lbs-140lbs Adjustable Weighted Vest
The RUNFast/Max 12lbs-140lbs Adjustable Weighted Vest is built for the weight-vest aficionado! It comes with a wide range of weight options– from 12 pounds all the way up to 140 pounds!
The base vest is one-size-fits-most, and it is adjustable. A shoulder-pad attachment is also available for purchase that helps reduce digging into the shoulders.
One great thing about this vest: there’s a headphone cord sleeve built in that allows for wearing the vest without worrying about your headphones getting ripped out during exercise.
The vest’s weights are a fixed 8 pounds.
As you add weight, you’ll need to add to the front and back in order to keep balanced, which means you can really only increase/decrease in 16-pound increments.
Keep that in mind and this vest will treat you well!
Pros:
- Wide range of weight options
- Headphone sleeve
- Weights are easy to add/remove
Cons:
- Weight can only be increased/decreased by 16-pound increments
Aduro Sport Weighted Vest
The Aduro Sport Weighted Vest is a harness-type, meaning it won’t wrap around your whole upper torso.
That features makes it incredibly comfortable and breathable. This is enhanced by the comfy neoprene material it uses.
To add to comfort, there’s also a soft mesh pocket on the back of the vest to store loose items, which is great!
No need to worry about your phone or keys bouncing around in your pockets while you work out.
There are plenty of weight options (from 4 to 25 pounds), but the weight is fixed and non-adjustable.
It’s built for comfort, but really vigorous activity can tear open the outer stitching, which can cause the sand inside to leak out.
Great news, though: Aduro Sport has phenomenal customer service, so any problems with this vest can be easily resolved!
Pros:
- Small and comfortable
- Pocket for holding loose items
- Very breathable
Cons:
- Weight is not adjustable; you get what you buy
- Outer stitching can tear, leading to leaks
CROSS101 Weighted Vest
The CROSS101 Weighted Vest is a weight-adjustable, fits-most, full-torso vest available in various patterns. Shoulder pads are an optional attachment.
This vest can hold between 12 and 140 pounds, which is great for people looking to slowly increase their weight.
It comes with a built-in pocket for your phone or music devices (and it might even fit a little more, too).
Interestingly, this vest also comes with a water bottle holder sized to bottles 16 ounces and smaller.
Be careful when using that water bottle holder, though, as it can throw off the weight balance of the vest.
Some users have reported the vest being a little bulky, and if bought in the camouflage can appear… let’s say dangerous.
So perhaps consider sporting the black version.
Pros:
- Weight is easily adjustable
- Built-in pocket for phone/music device/loose items
- Water bottle holder (sizes 16 oz. and smaller)
Cons:
- Water bottle holder can throw off weight balance
- Vest is bulky
- Camouflage model can appear “dangerous” from a distance
RUNFast/Max Pro Weighted Vest
The RUNmax Pro Weighted Vest comes in 12- to 60-pound models. The 20-, 40-, 50-, and 60-pound models come with weights that can be removed.
The 12-pound model’s weights are fixed and cannot be removed. The vest is smaller than most, which makes it ride high on the torso.
That can be great for freedom of movement, but it can also lead to irritation around the abdomen.
The shoulder pads on this model have also been known to dampen — but not altogether eliminate — the strain and pressure this vest can put on your shoulders.
Some customers have also mentioned the nylon smell of the vest being distracting.
Pros:
- Lots of options
- Small — doesn’t take up whole torso
- High freedom of movement
Cons:
- Shoulder pads don’t fully help with shoulder pressure
- Can’t add/remove weight on 12-pound model
- Small size can irritate torso
- Nylon smell
Final Thoughts
Adding a weight vest to your cardio routine can be incredibly beneficial. Wearing weight vests for cardio routines increases strength, speed, and stamina.
Weight vests also help you reach higher cardiovascular activity with lower workout intensity.
Adding this equipment to your routine can really enhance your workout and give you the most out of every session.
But you get what you’re ready for.
Our favorite of the great choices above is the Hyperwear Hyper Vest PRO.
We love this best because of the range of weight adjustments you can make to the vest, allowing you to scale your weights the more you progress in your strength training.
It’s great for non-athletes who are just getting started and are working their way up!
Make sure to do your own thorough research and be sure your form is correct before you start adding weight to your routine.
It’s always smart to start low and work high instead of vice versa. If weight is too low, you can always slowly add to get more out of your workout.
Starting at high weights might mean risking injury.
It’s also important to find the best weight vest for you. Not all weight vests are made equal.
Some models will seem perfect for other people, but body type, weight distribution, and small things like padding placement can play a big factor.
Don’t worry if you don’t get it right on the first try! Though, hopefully, we’ve provided a list that will help you find the best weight vest for your personal needs.
It’s always smart to consult your doctor, physical therapist, or primary care provider any time you’re considering a major change to your routine.
This is especially true if you experience cardiovascular, joint, organ, skeletal, or other medical issues.
Always search to get more out of your workouts, but never do so at the expense of your overall health!
We hope this article has been informative and that the information we’ve provided helps you find the best weight vest for your needs!
You’ve done well to seek information before making this addition to your routine, which says a lot about your commitment to great health!
Good luck in your search.
Here’s to finding the best weight vest for you and establishing a rewarding, weighted cardio routine!
