The best weighted vests work your muscles with minimal effort by adding a couple of extra kilograms to your body weight. You carry these around as you go about your daily life, from walking the dog to chores around the house. In just a few weeks, you’ll notice the difference.
Weighted vests are everywhere these days, with personalities like Davina McCall and Jessica Alba spotted sporting the gilet alongside leading doctors like menopause specialist, Dr Mary Claire Haver. Are they all they’re cracked up to be? Absolutely. Simply wearing a weighted vest for walking can help boost your strength, mobility, and flexibility almost as much as a set of dumbbells would.
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The best weighted vests for women
ProsourceFit
Exercise Weighted Training Vest – 10lb
Weight range: 6lb (2.7kg) to 20lb (9kg)
Adjustable weights? No
The ProsourceFit Weighted vest is the woman&home tried and tested favourite after Health Writer Kat Storr spent two weeks wearing the vest during her daily walks and around the house. At 10lb (4.5kg), it’s the perfect starting weight for beginners – though options go up to 20lb (9kg) for those with strength training experience.
Kat said: “The adjustable straps make for a snug fit without rubbing, and the pocket on the back is handy to store keys and other essentials.” She also noted that the vest has reflective strips, which can be handy for early-morning walks and adjustable straps on the front, making it a good option for those with a larger chest.
“However, perhaps an option with adjustable weights would have been better so I could build up gradually,” she notes.
Pros
- Good weight range
- Feels comfortable to wear
- Discreet appearance
- Double clips for support
- Reflective details for night walks
Weight range: 5lbs (2.3kg) to 30lbs (13.6kg)
Adjustable weights? No
When choosing a weighted vest for walking, my first suggestion would be to look for pockets. Many weighted vests are somewhat similar, so the pocket element is what makes one weighted vest better for walking workouts over another, especially in weather where you’re less likely to want to wear a coat and bag to store your phone and keys.
The BAGAIL Weighted Vest has a large mesh pocket at the back. I’d recommend using this one for storing non-valuable essentials, as it is see-through, and a removable pouch you can affix to the vest or your arm, where you can store valuable essentials, as it’s made from thick opaque foam.
The only minor downside is that it’s not adjustable. The 15lbs (6.8kg) option – a weight that’s suitable for most women weighing over 60kg – offers a challenge without being too much. To support you, the vest is padded, has adjustable straps, and the iron sand sits close to the chest, reducing the risk of lower back pain, even after many steps.
Pros
- Pockets
- Good weight range
- Multiple colourways available
- Reflective details for visibility
- Secure fit
Cons
- Single clip
- Weights not adjustable
HOMCOM
Adjustable Weighted Vest
Weight range: 10/20/30 kg
Adjustable weights? Yes
A weighted vest can be one of the easiest ways to gently level up your squat, lunge, or jumping workout. The design of the HOMCOM weighted vest means the weights are held tightly to your torso with two wrap-around straps and evenly distributed, which will likely feel more secure than other styles on this list.
Inside the vest, you’ll find almost 40 small weighted bags. These are removable as and when you like, and make this the most versatile weighted vest of the bunch as you can work your way up from two or three kilograms to the full 10 to 30kg, depending on the weight you’ve bought. It’s the best way for beginners to start wearing a weighted vest, as you shouldn’t start with more than five to 10 per cent of your body weight.
It’s also comfortable, with soft padding against the body that cuts the risk of any weights chafing your skin.
Pros
- Weights fully adjustable
- Secure for workouts
- Budget friendly for features
- Suitable for beginners
Cons
- May not be as comfortable for those with larger chests
Stepfowarder
Weighted Vest, 3 – 5kg
Weight range: 5kg
Adjustable weights? No
The Stepforwarder weighted vest has two padded and fully adjustable straps going across the body, which you can customise to suit your chest. This is unlike many other weighted vests from what I’ve seen, where lighter resistances (up to 10kg) will only have one strap going across the middle.
The two supportive straps are padded too and wider than average, helping to spread the weight evenly across the body.
While most of my chosen weighted vests would also work for those with larger chests – fitting into this category myself, I know what to look for – it’s best to avoid those that go over your head and tie around the waist,, as these can compress your chest uncomfortably. My top pick, the ProSourceFit weighted vest, would also work.
Want more support? Our guide on the best sports bras for larger busts has options covered up to an H cup.
Pros
- Comfortable fit for larger chests
- Double clip for support
- Larger back panel
- Multiple colour options
- Reflective strips for visibility
Gravity Fitness
Adjustable Weight Vest
Weight range: 10/20/30kg
Adjustable weights? Yes
Whenever I write about weighted vests, I always find myself recommending this one from Gravity Fitness. It blends two designs in this guide: the running vest style with the clips across the chest (like our overall top pick) and the over-the-head design of the HOMCOM vest.
Sliding it over your head, the Gravity Fitness vest doesn’t have the same limitations as the HOMCOM around the waist, making it more of a crowd-pleaser for wearing around the house, walking, and stretch workouts. Some may find it less constrictive.
Each of the weights, up to 30kg, in this vest is fully removable, so you can work your way up as you get stronger. This is essential if you’re new to weighted workouts, but you want to continue doing bodyweight exercises.
Pros
- Design suitable for most
- Comfortable
- Less restrictive than others
- Fully adjustable weights
- Free support on the Gravity Fitness Calisthenics app
Cons
- Nylon material not as comfortable as neoprene
Davina McCall
Weighted Vest
Weight range: 3kg
Adjustable weights? No
Any weighted vest on my list is suitable for women over 50, as you should choose one based on the kind of workout you want to do, your fitness experience, and what you want to achieve, rather than your age, as everyone is different. However, there does seem to be a favourite among women who wear their weighted vests often – including Davina McCall herself and Liz Earle.
Liz took to Instagram last year wearing a vest very similar to Davina’s, sold exclusively at Argos. It’s made of neoprene, so it offers a little more comfort, and it’s relatively slimline, so it fits discreetly under any jumper or jacket. And, at 3kg, it’s most suitable for those looking to walk with their weighted vest or work out at home.
Pros
- Celebrity approved
- Comfortable to wear
- Great for beginners
- Lightweight
Are weighted vests worth it?
- Improves your strength: A weighted vest works much like weights and resistance bands, offering extra pressure to move against during your workout, challenging the muscles and so improving your strength. This is the “beauty of using a weighted vest”, says Laura Blease, a personal trainer with Ultimate Performance. “It can engage every major muscle group simultaneously, turning even the simplest bodyweight exercises into challenging, metabolism-boosting movements.”
- Boosts bone density: As much as a weighted vest can help boost your strength, it can help improve your bone density as well, which is key for those going through perimenopause, when bone density naturally starts to decline.
- Versatile: “You can perform familiar bodyweight exercises, such as squats, lunges, push-ups, or even walking or jogging, while intensifying your workouts in a way that effectively builds muscle and boosts your metabolism,” says Blease.
- Low effort required: While a weighted vest can intensify yoga mat workouts, you can just wear one around the house or out on an early morning walk and feel the benefit. It’s an easy way to seamlessly fit strength training, which is one of the best exercises for longevity, into your daily routine.
- Great for limited grip strength: If you have limited grip strength, you’ll likely prefer a weighted vest over dumbbells, says Blease. “Using a weighted vest can effectively add resistance to bodyweight exercises without taxing the grip. This allows for progressive overload and muscle development while minimising reliance on grip strength,” she says.
Disadvantages of using a weighted vest
- Storage: While the best resistance bands, dumbbells, and other weights are relatively easy to store, you’ll likely have to think about where to put your weighted vest. Even the lighter options are relatively bulky.
- Cleaning: Neoprene weighted vests are sometimes harder to clean than those with a plastic covering, so be sure to check whether your weighted vest can be machine-washed before buying.
- Best for beginners: A weighted vest is ideal for those new to strength training and looking to improve strength without much extra effort. However, you’ll need to make sure your vest is heavy enough if you’ve been working out for a few years.
What weighted vest should I buy?
In general, the best weighted vests for women are 10% of your body weight. So, for example, someone weighing 60kg may find that a 6kg weighted vest is the best option for them. However, if you’re new to weighted training, then you may want to opt for one just 5% of your body weight or even less.
From here, if you have an adjustable vest, you can build up to more resistance.
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