Weighted Vest For Women {Buyers Guide} Important

When you hear the term weighted vest for women it’s usually a generic term, most weighted vests are unisex and not made specifically for a woman or man, most of these are perfectly acceptable for all genders as long as you can adjust the weights.

Most women have the goal in mind to tone their bodies more than build muscle mass, so women tend to use less weight than men.

This makes it essential to be able to add and decrease how much the vest weighs, this means you need to look for a weight vest that allows you to change out the amount of weight in it(don’t worry about this the vast majority of them allow you to do this)

The only types of vests that did have the unique shape of a woman in mind were the x-style vests; these fit the upper body of a woman more naturally. That’s why you see a couple of these on the list above.

In A Hurry Here Are The Top 3 Weighted Vests For Women

Which Weighted Vests Are Best For Women

What Should A Woman Look For In A Weight Vest

When buying a weighted vest, there are factors you need to take into consideration to make the right choice. And just like any clothes that are designed for women, there are positives in selecting a vest created for women.

Here are the more critical points to consider:

The Design Of The Weight Vest

As stated earlier, most vests are unisex and can work perfectly fine for a man or woman, but some are designed with a females body in mind.

These are the x-style vests and fit around a women’s upper body easier than the unisex versions.

Does it have adjustable straps to fit your body type, shoulder pads, adjustable belt, or additional padding?

Make sure that you put adjustability, material, and durability ahead of this, though.

Weight Capacity

You can buy a weight vest that is a single weight and can’t be changed, or you can buy vests that allow you to change the weights so that you can use lighter or more massive amounts.

I always tell people to buy a weight vest that you can change out the weights.

Even if you only plan on using it to walk with, over time, you’re going to want to up the weight to keep the exercise challenging.

Short Style Weight Vest

These tend to be the most popular with men who have thick upper bodies and will sometimes move around more than you want on smaller men and women.

If you do have the body type for a shorter vest, it will allow you a greater range of motion since your arms and shoulders aren’t restricted like other types.

Full-length Weight Vests 

The majority of weight vests on the market are full length, and they can give you the evenest distribution of weight to make it safer to move in. 

You can also find more features in these types like pockets or clips for water bottles, cell phone pockets, and slots where you can put keys or wallets.

Adjusting the Amount Of Weight

This is an essential factor you need to consider when purchasing a weight vest.

Think of a weight vest as a piece of equipment you’re going to have years to come, and if you stay vigilant to your fitness routine over time, you’re going to become stronger and need to add different amounts of weight to your workouts.

You also want the option to be able to change the weight depending on the exercise you’re doing.

I love to wear my vest around the house while doing chores, but I’m going to want to change the weight if I’m doing burpees, push-ups, pull-ups, jumping jacks, running, walking, or whichever activity you’re doing at the time.

Plus, if you’ve never used a weighted vest before, there is no way you know how much weight you’re going to need at first.

The key here is always to be able to give yourself a choice so that you can continue to workout at a challenging enough pace to be still getting stronger and faster but staying safe at the same time.

Material Durability

The same way that clothing comes in different types of fabrics and material that can make some more durable than others weighted vests are no different. It would be best if you looked to buy one that is made from a durable material.

Some are made of Teflon, heavy-duty fabric, and some are even made of plastic or just a bunch of pockets that you stick sandbags or steel bars in.

Do not cheap out on a weighted vest; when you’re doing workouts, you won’t exactly be taking it easy on it, and they can become frayed, damaged, and uncomfortable if they’re not made well.

You want to stay away from a vest that is made from stretch fabric. You’re not buying a sports bra.

Price

Money is always a factor when looking to buy something, and sometimes you can get away with being frugal and buying a brand that isn’t as expensive.

There are other times when you should look to spend a little more to make sure that you are receiving a product that is quality made.

You want a weighted vest that has a lifetime warranty that can hold a maximum weight capacity without fear of it breaking. And it is going to last.

My dad once told me that cheap people pay twice; this means that if you buy an affordable version of a weight vest, you’ll probably be purchasing another one in a year or two. In the end, you’ll save more money by buying the more expensive version than the cheaper version twice.

Can You wash Your Weighted Vest

All vests come with directions on how to maintain and keep them clean.

Most vests will tell you to clean them by hand and not to put them in a washing machine, but some will ask you to put them in the machine.

I tend only to buy Teflon vests, and they are effortless to scrub by hand; it doesn’t take long, and they dry very fast, especially outside on a warm day.

What Will Weighted Vests Do For Women

Before you buy a weighted vest, you need to know what kind of application you have in mind for it. This can have a significant impact on the model and weight you end up going for. 

Some women may be looking to up the intensity of their running workouts, increase speed or endurance for a sporting event.

 Others might want to make their cardio routine at home a little more challenging and know that adding a little resistance will give them better results in the long run.  

You may be focused on toning your muscles and burning fat to change your body shape. Weighted vests will add resistance to pull-ups, squats, and push-ups to produce strength gains and muscle definition. 

You can also increase your stamina while doing everyday activities, like walking, chores around the house, or yard work.  

How Heavy Should A Weighted Vest Be

If you’re serious about weighted vest workouts, you need to make sure your vest is adjustable. 

You should buy the heaviest vest you can and work your way up to that max weight. You should start with 10% of your total body weight, and increase the weight as your fitness level increases.

If you plan to only walk or jog with your vest, you could go with a weight vest that is 15% to 20% of your total body weight.

If you’re planning on running or doing a more intense exercise, you should aim for 10% to 15% of your body weight.

These are only guidelines to start with, and you should always start with minimal weight and increase if you’re able to.

Please don’t overload your body past its limits for the sake of hitting a new PR. Work yourself up to new weights slowly and methodically. That is the only healthy way to go about doing this. 

Is It Safe for Women To Wear Weighted Vests

Weighted vests are like any piece of exercise equipment, if used correctly, it is safe to use, but if you try to do too much too soon, it can lead to injury.

The proper precautions need to be considered for a safer, more effective training experience.

How the vest fits you is crucial, you don’t want the vest moving around and causing you an injury when you’re running, jumping, or push-ups during strength training.

Even If you’re planning on doing less intense exercises like walking, you need to make sure it is snug and fits you correctly.

You may be inclined to start with heavier weights, but if you have never used a weighted vest before, it is smarter to start light and work your way up to extra weight.

If you put too much stress on your body, it can cause all sorts of injuries. If You’re laid up on your couch nursing an injury, you won’t be getting any closer to your goals. 

If you have ever been diagnosed with ailments like osteoporosis, arthritis, or fibromyalgia, you should speak with your Dr before doing any strenuous activities.

Do Weighted Vests Help You Lose Weight?

People like to make weight loss difficult when, in reality, it’s straightforward.

All you have to do is burn more calories during the day than you consume. The more of a differential between the two, the more weight you will lose over time.

The easiest way to achieve this goal is by eating a diet consuming of fresh whole foods containing fewer calories than you need to function daily. (this is called a calorie deficit)

You can increase the calorie deficit by performing challenging, intense exercises that will make you burn even more calories.

Wearing a weight vest increases the intensity of any activity, no matter if it’s walking, jogging, or just doing chores in your house. 

This increased intensity means your muscles and cardiovascular system have to work harder and use more calories.

So, yes, wearing a weighted vest can indeed help you lose weight, providing you aren’t celebrating your workout with a full tub of Ben and Jerry’s!

How Much Weight Should You Use When using A Weighted Vest

This depends on what activity you’re doing while wearing it, and how well your vest fits.

I know this sounds like a no brainer, but you would be surprised how many people I see that are wearing vests that are too big for them.

All of these weights are guidelines, and there is no one size fits all method.

You should always start with the lowest weight and increase as needed.

Strength Training

If you’re doing push-ups or pull-ups, you’ll want to start with 10 to 15% of your body weight and then decrease or increase depending on your fitness and strength levels. 

Running

If you’re running, you can use up to 15 to 20% of your body weight, again this will change depending on your current strength and stamina.

Walking

If you’re only walking, you can add 15 to 20% of your body weight,  

Is It Safe To Walk Jog Or Run With A Weighted Vest

Weighted vests are just like any other piece of workout equipment.

If it’s used correctly, it can be very effective at accelerating your progress, but if you don’t use it properly, it can increase the chances of you getting hurt.

Using weighted vests with cardiovascular exercises have been done for decades with excellent results. 

Studies have shown that weighted vests can be useful in increasing aerobic stamina, endurance, and strength while doing the simplest of activities such as walking, jogging, and running.

Too much of a good thing can always be harmful, and you need to listen to your body and know when to take a break or decrease the amount of weight.

Is It Okay to Run With Weights

Running in a weighted vest should only be done if you’re an experienced runner, If you are a novice, I wouldn’t put on a weighted vest and go for a run until you built up your strength and endurance.

If you’re not used to the extra stress, you’ll most likely be doing more harm than good by adding weight vest.

You especially have to be leary if you have ever been diagnosed with any pre-existing knee, lower back, or foot injuries.

The additional weight on your joints creates more impact and wear and tear on your body.

That extra load creates more impact when you’re running, so if you already have injuries, they will only be exasperated and will cause you even more problems in the future.

If you’re an experienced runner looking for a way to increase your core, lower-body, and cardiovascular strength, wearing a weighted vest while running is the perfect tool to achieve this.

Be smart and do it slowly, maybe at first only wearing the vest twice a week and them gradually doing it more so that your body gets used to wearing it.

Is Training With A Weighted Vest Better Than Training With A Backpack

The old cliche “you need the right tool for the job” is very real.

When you wear a weighted backpack, all of the weight and stress is put on your shoulders, neck, and back.

This is the last thing you want to happen, especially if it’s bouncing up and down while you run or if you’re doing exercises that require you to jump or move around a lot.

A weighted vest is a perfect tool for the job since it will fit snug, won’t move around, and, most importantly, the weight evenly distributed throughout your body so that it’s easier for you to move around.

Are Weighted Vests Bad

Weighted vests are only bad if they are improperly used if you’re smart and gradually add them into your routine and use a light amount of weight at first until you determine if you can add more then they are a great way to bring a higher intensity to your workout effectively.

Tips On How To Start Using a Weighted Vest

• Please start at the minimum weight and gradually increase it
• Use a lighter amount of weight when running until you become comfortable with it
• Make sure the weight is adequately distributed throughout the vest
• Buy a vest that will fit snug by utilizing adjustable straps, shoulder pads, and belts
• If you’re using it outside for running, walking or jogging by one that has a reflective strip

Conclusion

One of my favorite pieces of equipment is my weighted vest, it makes bodyweight exercises a lot more fun, and you’ll see the results in no time. A weighted vest for women will do the same and aren’t specific to gender.

Just like anything else in life, though, you need to make sure you do your research and find the weighted vest that will fit your body type and your goals.