When it comes to fitness, women are up against unique challenges. Society’s unrealistic beauty standards have long encouraged women to pursue thinness rather than wellness and strength. This “skinny over strong” mindset has led many women to favor low-calorie diets and quick-fix weight loss solutions over sustainable fitness habits like strength training and functional movement.
On average, women are 5% less physically active than men, and only 1 in 5 women in the US participates in strength or resistance training. However, it has been reported that women gain more benefits than men when they exercise. When it comes to strength training, in particular, women saw a 30% decrease in the risk of cardiovascular-related deaths compared to 11% for men.
Clearly, strength training plays a vital role in women’s long-term health, supporting everything from heart health to bone density and energy levels. But fitness isn’t one-size-fits-all. Whether your goals include building strength, improving endurance, supporting mobility, or simply feeling better in your body—resistance training can help. And it doesn’t have to mean heavy weights or intense gym sessions.
One of the most accessible and effective ways to add resistance to your routine is with a weighted vest. In this post, we’ll explore how women can use functional strength training as a foundation for long-term wellness—and how the Aion Weighted Vest is uniquely designed to support that journey by meeting women where they are and enhancing the movement they already do.
Weighted Vest for Women Benefits
How can a weighted vest support this mindset shift? A weighted vest, preferably one as versatile and functional as Aion, allows women to add resistance to their workouts without complicated gym equipment. By wearing a weighted vest, everyday movements become strength-building exercises, helping women:
1. Builds Strength in Every Workout, Not Just Through Lifting Weights
For years, many women avoided strength training for fear of “getting bulky” and going against the standards of what a female “should” look like. This means there is a greater population of women who still won’t lift weights or don’t know how to. Whether you want to lift weights or not, a weighted vest naturally adds resistance to every workout, from walking to pilates.
2. Improves Bone Health
As women age, the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures increases significantly. Weight-bearing exercises are among the most effective ways to maintain and even build bone density. Wearing a weighted vest like Aion during walking, workouts, or daily activities applies gentle, natural resistance that stimulates bone-forming cells and supports bone regeneration. Over time, this added load can help increase bone mineral density and reduce the likelihood of fractures—making it an easy, preventative step toward stronger, healthier bones.
3. Enhances Cardiovascular Health
The cardiovascular system can benefit greatly from the increased resistance of a weighted vest. Adding extra weight forces the heart to work harder and more efficiently, leading to improved blood circulation and lower blood pressure. At the same time, this also increases the calories burned by the body, aiding in weight management, which is key for reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
4. Boost Metabolism & Fat Loss
Extreme dieting often causes imbalances in the metabolism, leading to unsustainable weight loss, i.e., when you lose weight but can’t seem to keep it off. Strength-based workouts or simply wearing a weighted vest during normal physical activities results in a natural boost in metabolism and increased heart rate and oxygen consumption. This can help support fat loss over time. Furthermore, if you can burn calories more efficiently, even at rest, without restrictive diets, you’re on your way to sustainable weight loss.
A recent study completed with the Aion weight vest found that participants who wore the vest while walking burned 18% more calories (548 calories burned with the vest vs. 463 without). They also spent 56% of their walk in the fat-burning Zone 2 range compared to only 26% of the time in Zone 2 without the vest. Plus, the impact increases with higher-intensity exercise: Participants who wore an Aion vest for a HIIT session burned 69% more calories than without the vest!
5. Increase Functional Strength for Everyday Life
Functional strength refers to the ability to perform daily activities with ease, such as lifting groceries, climbing stairs, carrying children, or even maintaining good posture throughout the day. Wearing a weighted vest is the easiest way to build functional strength without changing your daily routine. By adding controlled resistance to natural movements, a weighted vest can improve posture, balance, and core stability, making everyday tasks feel easier and safer over time.
Renowned human biologist, biohacker, and longevity expert Gary Brecka swears by his Aion weighted vest (and can be seen wearing it nearly all the time for workouts and everyday activities):
“For me, it’s all about how seamlessly it fits into my routine. Whether I’m strength training or just walking, I feel stronger, more balanced, and more energized. The Aion vest has become a staple in my routine.” - Gary Brecka
Ways Women Can Use A Weighted Vest
With a flexible weighted vest like Aion’s women’s line, you can easily elevate your daily activities and current workout routines into effective workouts:
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Walking or Hiking - Walking is already one of the most accessible forms of low-impact exercise, but adding a weighted vest like Aion transforms a casual stroll into a full-body strength and cardio workout. Whether you're power-walking through the neighborhood or hiking on a trail, the additional resistance boosts heart rate, strengthens your legs and core, and increases calorie burn—all while maintaining joint-friendly movement.
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Running - Aion’s compressive fit keeps the vest securely in place with no bounce, making it the only weighted vest truly suited for running. Add just the right amount of resistance to challenge your pace, improve stamina, and boost calorie burn—without compromising comfort.
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Bodyweight Strength Training - If you're doing bodyweight workouts, such as squats, lunges, push-ups, or planks, the Aion vest can make those movements even more effective. The added weight challenges your muscles more deeply, increases time under tension, and accelerates strength gains—without needing extra gym equipment. Plus, Aion’s snug fit ensures unrestricted movement and comfort, letting you flow through reps with confidence.
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High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) - Amp up the intensity of your intervals by strapping on the Aion vest. Whether you're doing jump squats, burpees, or sprint circuits, the vest increases resistance without getting in the way of dynamic movement. The compression fit supports your core and improves posture throughout fast-paced sessions, helping you build strength, burn more calories, and improve endurance all at once.
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Yoga & Pilates - Yoga and Pilates are powerful practices for core strength, balance, and mobility. Wearing the Aion vest during these workouts adds gentle resistance that activates deeper muscles and promotes better body awareness. Because the vest hugs your frame securely without shifting, you can move freely through poses and transitions while reaping additional strength and stability benefits.
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While Doing Daily Activities - With the added resistance from a weighted vest, housework, running errands, or playing with your children or grandchildren can be turned into a functional strength-building workout!
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Gardening - In Blue Zones, where more people live to 100, daily physical activity like gardening is linked to long-term health. Wearing your Aion vest while gardening can gently amplify this already beneficial activity, turning weeding and planting into strength-building, endurance-enhancing movements.
Aion is the Top-Rated Weighted Vest for Women
The majority of weighted vests on the market are bulky, uncomfortable, and impractical weighted vests designed for men. Aion offers the first weighted vest made specifically for women, with both a full-length and a cropped option. The comfortable compression and fractional weight support every fitness level and have made it the 2025 top-rated weighted vest for women.
Hear from Dr. Jaime Seeman, a Women’s Health Expert, About Why Aion is the Best Women’s Weight Vest
Dr. Jaime Seeman, also known as Dr. Fit and Fabulous, a board-certified OB-GYN and surgeon, and a strong advocate for women incorporating strength training into their lives, believes that the Aion Weighted Vest is the best option for women, and here’s why:
“The best weighted vest is the one you’ll actually wear!”
Many vests are too bulky and uncomfortable for women, but Aion is designed to fit the female body while staying snug and stylish. Fashion meets function, indeed!
"Aion’s design accommodates a woman’s needs and physiology.”
Unlike traditional vests that are oversized and restrict mobility and range of motion, Aion is designed specifically for a woman’s body and allows full mobility no matter what workout you’re doing. Plus, the cropped version offers even more range of motion for dynamic movements in yoga or pilates!
"Compression is an essential component of the Aion Vest that nobody else offers.”
The built-in compressive fit design provides a secure, comfortable fit without bouncing or shifting, providing benefits before, during, and after the workout. The vest hugs your body, supports good posture, activates your core, and generates heat for active recovery.
"The addition of the Aion Vest to a regular routine allows you to get more out of the activity!"
Aion’s fractional loading adds weight to the body without overloading it, allowing you to remain functional while providing resistance that strengthens your body.
Hear from Dr. Tyna Moore on How Aion Supports Strength at Every Stage
Dr. Tyna Moore is a trusted voice in women’s health, known for her expertise in hormones, muscle, and metabolic health—especially during midlife. With over 30 years in the medical field, she’s a dual-licensed Naturopathic Physician and Chiropractor who brings a holistic, no-nonsense approach to building strength and resilience through all seasons of life. Her take on the Aion weighted vest for women:
“If you’re serious about getting fit in 2025, you really have to try a weighted vest, and I think this is the finest one on the market.”
As someone who has tried multiple vests from Amazon, Dr. Tyna shares why Aion stands out in both comfort and functionality. In this video, she explains how the design and compression of the Aion vest make it her top pick—not just for training but for better back health.
Why Aion is More Than a Weighted Vest—It's a Wellness Tool.
Aion isn’t just a piece of fitness equipment—it’s a tool for transformation. In a culture that too often equates health with appearance, Aion offers women a new path: one that prioritizes function over form, strength over scale, and longevity over short-term gains. Whether you’re walking the dog, doing yoga, or planting tomatoes in your garden, Aion helps you turn everyday moments into intentional, empowering fitness.
If you’re ready to shift your focus to overall wellness, Aion is here to support you every step of the way—literally. Strong is not just something you become; it’s something you build, moment by moment, rep by rep. Shop our collection and redefine what fitness means for you.
