Simple yet effective, a weighted vest is one of easiest ways to level up your workouts. It enhances any exercise type or intensity, at any fitness level, and works for users of every age. However, with numerous options available, how do you determine which weighted vest is best for you? This guide will walk you through what to look for in a weighted vest and how to choose the best vest for your fitness journey.
Why Should I Wear A Weighted Vest?
Choosing the best weighted vest for you begins with understanding its intended purpose. Essentially, a weighted vest is a wearable form of resistance that comes pre-loaded with weights, keeping the resistance closer to your body than handheld weights. By keeping your hands free and distributing the added weight evenly across your torso, a weighted vest is one of the most natural and versatile ways to add resistance to your training.
Human biologist, biohacker, and longevity expert, Gary Brecka, on his experience with Aion’s weighted vests: “When I first started incorporating an Aion weighted vest into my workouts, the impact was immediate. I noticed improvements in my stamina, my energy levels, and my strength almost overnight.”
The benefits of adding a weighted vest to your fitness toolkit are:
- Strength and Endurance Boost - The added resistance makes even simple moves, such as push-ups, squats, or lunges, more challenging, helping you build muscle and stamina faster.
- Bone Health Support - The added weight also means more load on your bones, which is beneficial for building more bone cells. Multiple scientific studies prove that wearing a weighted vest is effective against osteoporosis by increasing your bone density.
- Increased Caloric Burn - With extra resistance, your body works harder, resulting in increased calorie expenditure during workouts and everyday activities, such as walking or hiking. For instance, in an Aion study, wearing the vest during a standardized walk led to an 18% higher caloric expenditure compared to the same walk without it, and a staggering 69% increase in HIIT workouts.
- Next-Level Athletic Performance - Athletes use weighted vests during workouts to develop explosive power, speed, and agility. Training with the added weight makes them feel lighter and faster on game day.
- Hands-Free Versatility - Handheld and strap-on weights limit your range of motion. You can use a weighted vest in a variety of workouts, be it strength training, cardio, or even during daily chores, and only the Aion vest features compression so you literally become one with the weight.
What to Look For: Guide to Buying a Weighted Vest
Now, the next step is to choose the weighted vest that best suits your needs and will provide the most benefits. The number of available choices may be overwhelming, but here are the essential criteria to look for:
1. Fractional Weight
Most weighted vests on the market follow a heavy-duty mindset inspired by military training, offering weights in large, overwhelming increments (20, 30, 40+ lbs). This approach is neither harmonious nor respectful to the body and can lead to injury.
A truly innovative and body-friendly weighted vest utilizes fractional loading, targeting 3-5% of your body weight.
- Why it Matters: A vest that is too heavy or adds weight unevenly can compromise your form, strain your joints and ligaments, and actually reduce your performance by throwing off your balance. A lightweight, fractional load provides sufficient resistance to trigger muscle adaptation and boost caloric burn without overloading your system.
- The Safety Factor: Heavy, adjustable vests encourage "overloading" or adding too much weight too soon, which increases the risk of injury. A fractional-weight vest, like Aion's, provides a safe and proportional weight that still delivers powerful results. You can read more about the cons of heavy weighted vests here.
- Our Pro Tip: If you want to further increase the intensity, stick to your fractional weighted vest and increase your workout intensity or frequency to level up the challenge.
2. Fit and Comfort
Look for a snug yet comfortable fit that prevents bouncing during dynamic movement. The closer the added weight is to your body, the more integrated the vest is and hence, the more comfortable and effective it is for you to wear. The resistance from the vest should feel like an extension of your body, not a burden that alters your form, strains your neck and shoulders, and overloads your joints.
The Compression Factor (Exclusive to Aion)
The ideal vest does more than just hold weights; it provides active compression. Aion is the only weighted vest on the market that integrates a form-fitting compression design and material directly into the vest itself. This integrated compression is key for athletes and everyday users because it:
- Enhances Blood Flow: The compression increases circulation to the working muscles, which is vital for improving muscular endurance during your workout and supporting faster tissue recovery afterward.
- Supports Core and Posture: By carrying the weight at your core, the snug, compression fit eliminates strain on your neck and shoulders, allowing you to perform dynamic movements with confidence.
- Allows for Full Range of Motion: Because the weight doesn’t bounce around during movement, even HIIT or running, Aion’s weighted vests support a full range of motion in every workout.
3. Gender-Specific Engineering
This is perhaps the most critical distinction between an Aion vest and every other vest on the market. For decades, the weighted vest industry relied on a “one style fits all” approach, which really meant that women were wearing heavy, bulky weighted vests designed for men. This results in poor fit, bouncing, restricted chest movement, and unnecessary strain.
- Engineered from the Ground Up: Aion rejects the one-style-fits-all model. We are the only weighted vest brand to design and engineer completely separate styles for men and women. This means every aspect of the design and weight placement is optimized for the specific anatomy of the wearer.
- A Focus on the Female Form: For women, this commitment to fit is exemplified by the two unique vest designs—the standard Women's Workout Vest and the innovative Women's Workout Crop, providing maximum comfort and effectiveness without restricting the chest or compromising core mechanics.
- Why It Matters: An anatomically correct fit ensures the weight is distributed properly, eliminating strain on the neck and shoulders. When your vest fits perfectly, you can focus entirely on your movement and maximize the power of resistance training.
4. Weight Distribution
Getting the right weight is essential, but so is having the right weight placement. A weighted vest with properly distributed weight makes a big difference in protecting your back and shoulders from harmful strain and injury.
- Trunk-Centric Design: Look for a weighted workout vest with strategically placed weights that are evenly distributed and hug your center of gravity (your “trunk”). Even an ounce of weight, if placed too low, too high, or too far from your torso, can shift your center of gravity and impede your natural movements.
- The Aion Difference: Aion's Dynamic Resistance™ is designed with even weight distribution throughout the trunk, which is sufficient to challenge you without compromising your movement quality, eroding your posture, or causing the discomfort common with other vests. This posture-friendly, movement-friendly design is key to long-term, injury-free training.
5. Material and Durability
Like any other fitness tool, you need a high-quality weighted vest that is effective, long-lasting, and safe. It has to keep up with your daily movements as well as your most intense workouts.
- The Right Fabrics: Look for a vest with comfortable yet durable materials that resist the chemical effects of sweat. These features make a big difference, especially if you’re training outdoors or using your vest frequently.
- Form-Fitting and Resilient: Your vest should maintain its shape and fit from the first use to the last. You don't need a vest that becomes lumpy or saggy after only a few uses. Aion's vests are built with high-quality, performance-grade materials and a form-fitting compression design that retains its shape, keeps the weight secure, and even helps trap heat against the skin, promoting a healthy sweat and improved blood flow.
- Ease of Implementation: A superior material choice should also equate to a vest that offers ease of implementation into your daily life. The most effective weighted vest is the one that you wear!
6. Functional Style
While you may not buy a weighted vest based solely on aesthetics, how you look and feel while wearing it can make a significant difference. A sleek and attractive vest design doesn’t just look good; it can make you feel confident and motivated to use it.
- The Aesthetic: The ideal vest should be so low-profile and thoughtfully designed that it can be worn as a discreet layer. Look for materials and silhouettes that blend into your everyday athletic or casual wear, rather than the bulky, tactical look of traditional vests.
- The All-Day Advantage: A truly modern weighted vest turns your daily movements into active training. Aion's vest options allow you to wear a weighted vest from your morning workout all the way through your day—whether you're running errands, standing at a desk, or taking a casual walk. This effortless gym-to-errand versatility ensures you are building strength, boosting your metabolism, and challenging your posture, even when you're not officially "working out."
- The Ultimate Goal: Choose a stylish vest that fits seamlessly into your lifestyle. When your vest looks great and feels comfortable, you'll use it regularly, and consistency is the single most powerful factor for achieving long-term results.
Which Weighted Vest is Best for You?
Everyone has a different fitness journey. So, even when a weighted vest meets all the criteria you’re looking for, it still needs to fit your goals, body type, and lifestyle. Here’s how to match your vest choice with your needs:
For Walking and Bone Health
For these purposes, the ideal weighted vest is comfortable enough to wear for long periods. We recommend a fractional weighted vest that adds just enough resistance to strengthen bones and muscles without overloading your joints.
Our picks:
For Light to Medium Exercises
If you plan to use your vest for bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, planks, or other types of strength training, choose a vest built for the gym and full range of motion. These vests are perfect for fitness enthusiasts who want more toned muscles, improved balance, and increased endurance.
Our picks:
For High-Intensity Exercises
If you’re into HIIT circuits, plyometrics, or agility drills, a vest with a compression fit is crucial to maintaining form throughout quick movements. Strategic weight distribution on your body can make every jump, sprint, and dynamic movement more demanding, helping you build more explosive power and stamina.
Our picks:
For Everyday or All-Day Wear
One of the benefits of weighted vests today is that they are no longer reserved solely for workouts. Aion offers vests for both men and women, designed to be worn during daily activities such as walking the dog, running errands, or even at work, as well as on post-workout recovery days. You can turn ordinary movements into micro-workouts and detoxing moments. A comfortable fractional load can gently boost calorie burn and strength without disrupting your day-to-day rhythm.
Our picks:
Choose the Best Weighted Vest
Finding the perfect weighted vest can be overwhelming, given all the criteria to consider. But if there’s one thing you can count on, it's that Aion vests check all the boxes. Whether you’re walking for bone strength, doing light workouts, powering through HIIT sessions, or just adding resistance to daily activities, Aion gives you the edge you need.
So if you’re asking yourself, “Which weighted vest is best for me?” Look no further. Choose the best weighted vest. Shop the Aion collection today!
Disclaimer: Always consult a doctor before doing any type of exercise.
