Best Weight Vests for Men

Just about anything can be considered “exercise”. From running and playing basketball to lifting weights or even a Sunday stroll. But when you get into the details about all these activities, there’s one thing they all have in common.

Resistance.

It’s the central concept behind any form of exercise. It’s how you burn calories. It’s how you build muscle. It’s how you keep your heart and lungs in shape.

When you walk or run, you’re pushing against the resistance of gravity to move your bodyweight. When you lift weights, you’re pushing or pulling against the weights. Push-ups, plyometrics, climbing stairs, carrying a baby, any activity that’s strenuous is because there’s resistance that you have to work against.

Related Reading: What Does A Weight Vest Do To Your Body?

Wearing a weighted vest during any activity adds extra resistance to the movements that you’re performing.

If you’re a runner, it adds to the resistance you get from gravity. Your body has to work harder to move and that means you burn more calories. Bodyweight exercises like push-ups, pull-ups, and squats become more challenging by forcing your muscles to move more weight, building bigger, stronger muscles in the process.

Your heart and lungs also get their exercise by having to work harder to pump more oxygen-rich blood to those hard working muscles.

Cardio is certainly important for overall health and wellness and should not be ignored. But if you aren’t strength training, you need to start now. Adding lean mass to your frame, aka building muscle, not only looks good, it improves your entire quality of life. Yes, really. You’ll be stronger, more confident, and less stressed out.

Lean mass actually burns more calories than fatty tissue even at rest. The more muscle you build, the higher your metabolism becomes, making it even easier to burn fat and lean out.

The best weight vests for men are the ones that are adjustable (meaning you can add weight to the vest as you get stronger) built to last, and hold a lot of weight. To build a strong, healthy body, you want as much resistance as possible. You can lose as much weight as you want, but if you don’t have a decent amount of muscle under that fat, you’re going to look basically the same. Just a smaller, weaker version of your former self.

Related Reading: Best Weighted Vest Workouts

Stick to exercises like push-ups, pull-ups, squats, and lunges. Use the weighted vest to continuously add more weight as you get stronger. These are our three best weighted vests for men.

1. MIR Pro Weighted Vest

The MIR Pro Weighted Vest is a fully adjustable vest (you can add or remove weight from the vest) that can hold up to 60lbs. It’s available in two options – closed or zipper front. It’s comfortable, durable, and even machine washable.

• Weighs 3lbs and includes removable 3lb weights (you can choose how many at time of purchase)
• Uses small iron bars instead of sand to add weight
• Comfortable padding and fit
• Easy to adjust straps
• Solid or zipper front options
• Iron weights do not hold odor that sandbags can
• Fits well with the help of adjustable straps
• Weights stay in place well, allowing you to move freely without any distraction
• Even weight distribution
• Machine washable
• Fully adjustable – all weights are removable
• Great for both beginners or those more experienced

Cons

• Higher end of the price spectrum

2. Cross101 Adjustable Weighted Vest

The Cross101 Adjustable Weight Vest is a great looking, well designed vest that includes a manufacturer’s warranty. It’s available in a number of different weight capacities as well as two prints – arctic or desert camo. It covers your chest, back, and upper abdomen with adjustable straps and an easy to use Velcro belt design. The weight is adjustable in 4lb increments and comes in the form of metal bars.

• Weight is adjustable in 4lb increments
• Comes with Velcro strap that wraps securely around your body
• Uses metal weights instead of sandbags
• Dimensions: 13 inches width x 15 inches length
• Provides plenty of shoulder room for easy movement.
• Includes pocket for your phone with headphone port
• The Velcro belt can hold a water bottle
• Weight is evenly distributed on the front and back

Cons

• Slightly larger than some other weighted vests
• Does not include any washing instructions

3. RUNFast Pro Weighted Vest

The RUNFast vest is our top-rated overall vest at STE.

RUNFast is a well-known and trusted brand. The Max Pro Weighted Vest is another of their well-built products. It’s available in models that hold up to 140lbs and comes loaded with plenty of extra features:

• Available in a variety of weight classes from 20 – 140 lbs.
• Includes shoulder padding for added comfort
• Adjustable straps that make it an easy fit for most sizes
• Constructed of sturdy, durable ballistic nylon.
• Features a front pocket for phone and headphone outlet
• Features pocket/strap for water bottle
• Flexible and easy to move in.
• Durable
• Fits snugly to your body and stays in place during workouts
• Use of sandbags as weight instead of metal plates which can be uncomfortable

Cons

• Sandbags as weight carry the risk of holding odor

Summary

A weighted vest is a great alternative to paying for a monthly gym membership. Building muscle doesn’t have to be complicated, you can work all the major muscle groups in the body with basic bodyweight exercises. An adjustable weighted vest allows you to continually add more weight to the vest as you get stronger, and build bigger muscles along the way.