If you want to pump up your workouts but feel like you’ve tried just about anything, you need to look into using the best weighted training vest. The benefits of a weighted vest come down to resistance training.

In the military, they often do runs with their weighted bags on their backs, to help get them in shape. Weighted vests work to emulate this, albeit being a more comfortable so that you actually want to wear one.

As with most products, not every one is made with the same level of quality. That’s why we’ve done the research and scoured the market for the top weighted vests out there.

Best Women’s Weighted Training Vests

	Henkelion Weighted Vest For Women	Hyperwear Hyper Vest PRO Unisex	Pure Fitness Weighted Vest
Weights:	4, 6, 8 or 12 Pounds	12 Pounds	10 Pounds
Weight Adjustable:	No	No	Yes
Sizes:	One Size	One Size	S, M, L, XL, XXL
Colors:	5 Colors	Black, Blue	Black/Silver

For more of my workout gear recommendations, have a look through these popular Women’s Workout guide links: Adjustable Dumbbells, Kettlebells, Medicine Balls.

Quick Answer: The 7 Best Rated Weighted Vests For 2024

1. Henkelion Weighted Vest For Women
2. Tone Fitness Weighted Vest
3. Hyperwear Hyper Vest PRO Unisex
4. Pure Fitness Adjustable Weighted Vest
5. RUNFast/Max Pro Weighted Vest
6. Mir Air Flow Adjustable Weighted Vest
7. CROSS101 Adjustable Camouflage Weighted Vest

We’ve reviewed the top rated weighted vests, followed by a comparison table and buying guide to help you decide on vest that will work best for you.

Weighted Vest Reviews

#1 Henkelion Weighted Vest For Women

The problem with weighted vests, is that only a few really seem to work with women’s bodies. While plenty on here do the job well, we felt we should include one that is made specifically for the women out there.

The Henkelion Weighted Vest comes in either 4, 6, 8 or 12 pound versions. If you’d like to go up in weight, we highly recommend going with the Henkelion .

We liked that they used iron pellets instead of sand sewn into the vest like many cheap vests use.

The contoured x-shaped silhouette is perfect for womens’ bodies, and is made with soft and stretchy Lycra spandex.

In addition, you’ll find adjustable side straps to fit waist sizes anywhere from 24 to 48 inches, which covers most. They’ve added in a pocket with an elastic closure where you can hold your valuables safely.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t fit larger smartphones, but it works well for keys and IDs. The product works well in just about any type of training environment.

Running, cross-training, hiking, lifting weights – it can do it all. Reflective accents on both the front and back make sure you’re visible even in the dark of night. The Henkelion is our Editor’s Choice as the best weighted vest for running!

#2 Tone Fitness Weighted Vest

If you’re an absolute beginner to the weight vest game, you may feel a bit intimidated.

That’s not only okay, but perfectly normal. Some of the more advanced vests look and feel a bit elaborate and can turn you off from the idea.

However, the Tone Fitness Weighted Vest is here to help. It’s specifically designed with newbies & women in mind, giving you a good idea of how resistance training can greatly improve your physical fitness and strength.

Made with soft neoprene material, it’s one of the softest vests we experienced. It features a very minimal design which makes it easier to wear in more places, too.

The adjustable front belt helps give you a snug fit, and reflective strips make sure you’re visible in ay kind of lighting. Coming in either blue or black, they’re both quite attractive, too!

We also appreciated the smartphone holder on the upper chest – however, we were a bit disappointed that it didn’t fit many modern-day phones.

We felt this vest worked well for just about any type of exercising, but really excelled where agility and a higher range-of-motion was needed. Many competitor vests just cannot provide this due to their bulkiness.

Perhaps the biggest downfall for us was the fact that the weights are not removable, but if you’re looking for the best weighted vest for women, the Tone Fitness is a good choice!

#3 Hyperwear Hyper Vest PRO Unisex Weighted Vest

The Hyperwear Hyper Vest Pro is a truly unique weighted vest that stood out to us for a variety of reasons.

The professional-grade product features not only a patented design, but a patented fabric. The fabric is nice and stretchy, moisture-wicking, odor-resistant, and nice and cool – even on hot and muggy days.

The open sides not only look cool but provide a higher comfort level than we found in other designs, and gives supreme ventilation.

The unisex design’s side lacing gives you a more adjustable fit than any other we’ve seen, making it perfect for both men and women.

The thin profile allows you full range-of-motion, and lets you easily wear it under a t-shirt or jacket if you’d prefer. We used the vest in an array of different activities, such as cross-training, running, hiking, and more.

It can even be used for tactical training with police, fire, and the military. Coming with 10 pounds, it’s not too heavy, but it does have room for you to add more weights.

We loved that the weight slots go all the way up the length of the torso, for a more even and efficient weight load. It closes/opens with a zipper, too, so you don’t have to mess with annoying straps. The Hyperwear is our top pick as the best weighted vest for crossfit.

#4 Pure Fitness 20lb Adjustable Weighted Vest

If your budget is a little bit tight this season but you still want one of the best weighted vests around, then you may just like the Pure Fitness 20 Pound Adjustable Weighted Vest.

It comes with 16 sand-filled weights that are adjustable in .88-pound increments. The maximum possible weight is 20 pounds, although you can opt for the 40-pound version if you’d like.

The adjustable design is another one that’s great for various types of workouts.

Aerobics, high-intensity interval training, military training, and much more. The Pure Fitness vest is one of the ones we’re partial to when it comes to comfort.

It works well with both men and women, and the adjustable closures make it available to a wider range of users. The addition of the reflective trim across the upper body is something else we loved – making sure you’re visible in any kind of lighting.

There were a couple of complaints we had, though. Number one, was the fact that it uses sandbags, which are just a bit of a hassle to use. Number two, we felt it could use some additional padding in the shoulder areas.

This goes double if you’re a woman and don’t have trapezius muscles that can help prop up the straps to avoid digging into your bones.

#5 RUNFast/Max Pro Weighted Vest

The RUNFast/Max Pro Weighted Vest is an excellent option if you’re going to be using it with you, and a person of the opposite gender.

Why? Due to the fact that in our experience, it fits both men and women extremely well.

Most other vests seem to work better with one or the other, but this one does it all. Available in weights of 12, 20, 40, 50, or 60 pounds you have quite a few options to choose from.

Another factor that went into us choosing this vest as one of our top selections, was that it actually comes with the weights. You’d be surprised how many require you to purchase these separately!

With that being said, the vest is quite the deal. If you’re shopping on a budget, this could be a wonderful option for you. You get everything all in one package and don’t have to spend more on any other accessories.

The Velcro straps are well-designed and durable, and are made to securely wrap around your torso and shoulders. The vest worked well for jogging, hiking, and the best gym vest on our list.

However, we always recommend going with a weight load that works best for your athletic level and state of health. You can always work up to heavier weights, and when you do, you will only need to purchase the weights!

#6 Mir Air Flow Adjustable Weighted Vest

The Mir Air Flow Adjustable Weighted Vest is so good, Rich Froning Jr., 4x Crossfit Game Champion, swears it’s the best on the market today.

We can definitely say it’s best adjustable weighted vest we’ve tried. If you’re a woman or have a smaller frame, you may want to go with another option, as this one fits those with a broader build best.

It doesn’t wrap around the torso entirely, but rather focuses on the upper chest and abdomen. This is in an effort to provide you with the best range of motion possible; allowing your abdomen to twist freely, and your arms to move with ease.

The vest comes with various straps to give you the perfect form and fit to your body, while giving you proper air flow. The design is very attractive, coming in a brushed grey with black accents.

You get the option of choosing either 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 pounds so you have room to improve. The solid iron weights come included, and they’re also removable so you never have to buy another weighted vest again!

We preferred using these on hikes, and during weight training. Running on flat ground in the vest seemed to be a bit painful – especially after 40 pounds was added on.

#7 CROSS101 Adjustable Camouflage Weighted Vest

The makers of the CROSS 101 Camouflage Weighted Vest have gone completely military-style here, with either a desert camo or artic camo pattern.

It doesn’t look cheesy, though – rather like you mean business. With flexible weight options and some thoughtful extras, this was one of our favorites.

It is one size fits most, but Velcro straps help to give you the best possible fit.

You can start all the way at 12 pounds, all the way up to a whopping 80 at 20-pound increments. You can easily remove or add on more weight, depending on the routine and your fitness level.

Instead of iron weights, however, this one uses sandbags which some don’t like. To really stand out in an oversaturated market, a vest needs to have more than just the ability to adjust the weights.

This one also has additional pockets, perfect for keeping your smartphone, water bottle, and other valuables handy. Instead of keeping a belt or backpack on you, you can just keep your card, keys, phone, etc. in your vest.

The only big downside for us, was the lack of included shoulder pads. They actually make you pay more for them, which is something we felt should’ve been included.

Weighted Vest Comparison Table

How to Choose the Best Weight Vest – Buying Guide

While the point of wearing a weighted vest is to improve your physical fitness, know that having the wrong one for you can actually be detrimental. That’s why we have taken it upon ourselves to create this buying guide, to make sure you’re 100% confident in the product you’re purchasing.

Design/Style

As you saw above, there are a ton of different style and design options out there. Which one is the best one for you? Let’s take a look.

X-Style

This one typically works best for women, but it’s not a rule. The reason why this one works well is because it jives with the curves of a woman’s body, rather than working against it like many full-coverage vests tend to do.

Short

This style is best for men – particularly men with broad shoulders or a very muscular frame. The reason why it tends not to work as well for smaller men and women, is because the straps move around more and may even slide off.

However, if it does work for your body type, there are plenty of advantages that go along with it. The biggest ones are improved air flow, and range-of-motion. Your arms, shoulders, and torso are completely free and unrestrained.

Regular/Full-Coverage

These vests work for the vast majority of people and are the most common style. The full coverage style typically gives a very even weight distribution which makes workouts more efficient, and also safer. They often feature extras, such as pockets for water bottles and valuables.

Weight Capacity

This is a huge one, and quite possibly the most important, along with fit. Think about what your fitness goals are, and what you want to accomplish by adding in a weighted vest to your routines.

Do you want to improve your cardiovascular fitness? Are you just looking to bulk up quicker? Do you want to improve your strength? If you’re looking to bulk up, keep in mind that you’ll probably require a weight 40 pounds or higher.

This is because, to grow muscle, working muscles to exhaustion is the best way to go about it. It will be more difficult to do this with a lower amount of weight.

On the other side of the coin, you must be realistic with yourself and the level of physical fitness you currently possess. Wearing a vest that is too heavy for you can not only cause you discomfort, but even injury.

This goes double if you’re going to be using the vest while running, as running already causes stress on the joints.

Adjustability

You’ll want something that you can adjust to your liking. While all vests are “one size fits most”, most will also come with straps of some type so that you can create a better fit towards your individual body.

You’ll want the vest to be snug, without being so tight that it’s uncomfortable. Keeping the vest tight against your body is a must, as it can really throw off your balance if it’s waving around.

In addition, if you and someone else are both going to be using it, you want it to work well for both of you.

Durability

Many weighted vests can go all the way up to 60 pounds, and even more. With that being said, you need a vest that can not only handle all of that weight, but also take a beating.

If you’re going to be using it for cross-training, military training, or other high-intensity activity this is important. You may be crawling on the ground or mat, brushing up against things, exercise ropes, etc. and they’re all going to be rubbing against the fabric.

You should select a product that has ultra-durable material that isn’t going to develop rips or holes easily. Even if it’s a bit more expensive, you will typically be receiving a much higher level of quality that’s worth it in the end.

Price

That brings us to our next point, which is pricing. As we just mentioned, even if you’re on a budget, it’s really worth it with these products to spend a bit more.

In the end, you’ll probably end up saving money. Why? The cheaper vests are consequently made of cheaper products. Many of them only have 90-day guarantees, if that, which attests to the level of quality.

You want something that’s going to last you throughout all kinds of workouts, and for ideally years to come. You’ll definitely receive that with some of the more expensive products.

FAQs For Weighted Training Vests

Q: How much weight should I use?

A: Once again, this is going to depend on what your fitness goals are. However, a good rule of thumb is to use about 20% of your bodyweight.

Q: Can I wash my weighted vest?

A: Yes, in fact, you should wash it at least every few uses.

Q: Can I machine wash my vest?

A: No. We recommend only washing it by hand, unless the manufacturer indicates otherwise.

Q: Can I use one if I don’t work out?

A: We recommend at least having a few months of weight training experience before using a weighted vest. This is to get the best results possible, while also ensuring your safety.

Tips For Using Your Weight Vest

Tip #1: Always start your first few workouts with the minimum amount of weight

Your body has to get used to this extra weight that you’ve put on. Shocking your body with a full weighted load is actually going to do more harm than good, and can seriously hurt your joints if you’re not careful.

Tip #2. If you’re going to be running at all, make sure to use a lighter amount of weight

Again, it can negatively affect your body is you have too much weight on while running or jogging. It can stress your bones and joints that can ultimately lead to an injury. Secondly, when you run with a heavy vest, it can actually alter your natural stride and running technique.

Tip #3: Understand the speed-and-power-to-weight ratio

Take into consideration the direction of forces, and how velocity interacts with weighted vests. They’re great for early developers with very low strength levels, but highly-trained athletes who have a greater power-to-weight ratio are going to have a small percentage of their weight be less of a factor. This is because they tend to be bigger and have a larger ratio from long-term acclimations.

Tip #4: Always distribute the weight as evenly as you can

This only really works for those who have vests with removable weights. Try to load the body evenly near the center of mass. This improves efficiency and lowers the risk of injury.

Final Thoughts

So, which one of these weighted vests will be accompanying you during your next workouts? No matter which one you select, know that you’ll be receiving one of the best ones out there.

Keep in mind that it’s important to select the best one for you, personally. We hope that this guide has helped you out, and we look forward to seeing you back again, soon!

How We Researched

To come up with the top weighted vests, we researched a variety of sources for reviews such as Best Buy, Walmart, Target and Sears along with our own personal experience.

The authors consulted sources such as online magazines for research and reviews unbiased information.

By using Fakespot.com we tried to eliminate fake reviews and use only genuine ones.

With so many options available, the authors narrowed down the selections by using products they felt were the best value for the money.

The staff authors have a wide and varied background as fitness trainers, yoga instructors and runners. The authors have decades of experience and are eager to share their knowledge with readers.

In order to narrow down the options, we used personal experiences plus recommendations from other trainers and instructors.

Sources