{"id":157790,"date":"2025-09-15T06:12:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T06:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/157790\/"},"modified":"2025-09-15T06:12:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T06:12:08","slug":"i-added-a-weighted-vest-from-amazon-to-my-workouts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/157790\/","title":{"rendered":"I Added a Weighted Vest From Amazon to My Workouts"},"content":{"rendered":"

No matter where you are in your fitness journey, it’s inevitable that workouts start to feel like a chore. And just like any chore, I\u2019m always looking to get more done in less time. Enter: weighted vests. You\u2019ve probably seen them pop up on your social media (including on Real Simple\u2019s Instagram page<\/a>) and wondered what\u2014if anything\u2014they really add to a workout. (I did, too!) So I did what I always do when I have a fitness question and talked to my trainer Miriam Fried<\/a>, founder and head trainer of MF Strong<\/a>.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Thankfully, for me (since I\u2019d already bought this 12-pound option<\/a> to try), Fried is a fan of weighted vests. \u201cOne of the reasons I love a weighted vest is that it can be a fantastic addition to workouts you\u2019re likely already doing!\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Zelus Weighted Vest with Reflective Stripes <\/p>\n

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Amazon<\/p>\n

According to Fried, as long as you\u2019re \u201ceasing into the weight and intensity,\u201d a weighted vest can be a suitable addition to your workout routine<\/a>. \u201cYou can increase cardiovascular intensity by wearing it on walks, add additional load to strength movements like lunges, push-ups, or pull-ups, as well as offer a solution if you have an injury that prevents you from gripping dumbbells or heavy weights,\u201d she shared.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

I\u2019m a huge fan of the benefits to walking as a form of exercise<\/a>, so when I heard that weighted vests were a good way to get even more cardio benefits out of my walks, I was sold. \u201cLike any form of exercise, starting slow and increasing weight and intensity over time is key,\u201d says Fried. Keeping that in mind, I opted to wear my new vest<\/a> for a quick 30-minute walk around the neighborhood with coffee to get a sense of how it would feel before I committed to a full workout.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

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Kate Geraghty<\/p>\n

The vest itself is incredibly comfortable and easy to wear. The armholes are nice and roomy so it doesn\u2019t rub uncomfortably, and the weight is nicely distributed, so it didn\u2019t feel like the weight was digging into my shoulders at all. It\u2019s low-profile enough that I can wear it under my sweatshirt, too. It also doesn\u2019t shift around or make any noise as I move, so much so that the first time I wore it out, I almost forgot I had it on.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

I expected it to feel like the vest was weighing me down and wearing me out, but it was more subtle than that\u2014kind of like increasing your treadmill speed by just 0.1 mile per hour. I usually feel more mental benefits than physical benefits from a short walk, but this time I had worked up a bit more of a sweat than usual thanks to that boost in cardiovascular intensity from the extra weight I was wearing.\n<\/p>\n

A few days later, I went on a walk in the park to see what a longer workout would be like. I set out with a goal of 10,000 steps, which comes out to about 5 miles. This time out, I definitely didn\u2019t forget I had the vest on, especially when it came time to climb a couple of big hills along my walk. Compared to walks without my vest, I got to the top of the hill more out of breath with my heart pumping just a little harder\u2014a sign I was getting those increased cardio benefits I wanted.\n<\/p>\n

Now that I\u2019ve had the vest for a few weeks, I can see it becoming a staple in my workout routine. In addition to taking it out on walks, I\u2019ve used it for an extra challenge during bodyweight exercises like planks. Once the weather gets cold, I\u2019m even planning to bring it to the gym with me to get more out of my 12-3-30 treadmill workouts<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re thinking about grabbing a weighted vest for yourself, Fried recommends choosing a pick with plenty of adjustability. \u201cIdeally, I\u2019d recommend a vest that allows you to add or reduce the weight as needed,\u201d she shared, adding, \u201cThis way, you can start lighter and progressively increase load over time.\u201d You\u2019ll also want to keep an eye out for one that can adjust to fit your body; most have adjustable chest straps to make sure it stays in place without feeling uncomfortable.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Ready to give this trend a try for yourself? Check out other weighted vests with different designs and weight options from Amazon to start boosting your walks and workouts.\n<\/p>\n

Zelus Weighted Vest with 6 Ironsand Weights <\/p>\n

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Amazon<\/p>\n

Fuff Adjustable Weighted Vest <\/p>\n

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Amazon<\/p>\n

Cap Barbell Adjustable Weighted Vest <\/p>\n

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Amazon<\/p>\n

Heikeen Weighted Vest with LED Reflective Belt and Outdoor Headlight <\/p>\n

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Amazon<\/p>\n