Best Weighted Vests

One thing we can be sure of is that weighted vests are only growing in popularity—and it’s time to put them to the test. CR enlisted the help of five male and female testers with different body sizes to test six popular weighted vests. We wore each vest while running, walking, and performing exercises such as squats, reverse lunges, planks, and shoulder presses. No two vests are designed the same way, and depending on your body type and the activity you plan to use them for, one vest type might be better suited for you than another. 

CR also asked Rahul Shah, MD, a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon at Premier Orthopaedic Associates, about the results you can expect from a weighted vest (and how to prevent injuries when using one). His responses can be found after our test results. 

One note: Initially, our sixth tester—a plus-size fitness enthusiast—offered to try the vests and report on her experiences. We were disappointed to learn that, even when a manufacturer claimed its vest was adjustable to fit everyone, that wasn’t true. We hope to see more inclusive sizes in the future.