Weighted vests are a simple but powerful way to add resistance to your workouts. By increasing the load your body carries, they help you burn more calories, build strength, improve stamina and make everyday movements more challenging. Whether you're walking, training with bodyweight exercises, or enhancing your HIIT sessions, a good weighted vest can take your fitness further.
Below, we break down how weighted vests work, how to choose the right one for your goals, and how to use them effectively with examples of the weighted vests available from.
What Is a Weighted Vest?
A weighted vest is exactly what it sounds like - a vest you wear that has added weight built in or attached. This extra load forces your muscles to work harder, whether you're doing bodyweight movements like squats and lunges, walking, running, or performing pull-ups. By increasing the effort required with every step or repetition, you elevate both strength and cardio training.
Why Use a Weighted Vest?
Using a vest adds resistance to movements without the need for extra equipment or complex setups. Adding weight closer to your body’s centre helps increase calorie burn, improves bone density and can build muscular endurance. It also makes familiar exercises feel more challenging, which can accelerate progress.
Weighted vest training is used by athletes, fitness enthusiasts and anyone who wants to push their bodyweight training to the next level, whether that’s during walking, jogging, HIIT, calisthenics or strength circuits.
How to Choose the Right Vest
When deciding which weighted vest is right for you, consider:
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Adjustability: Being able to add or remove weight means the vest grows with your fitness.
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Fit and comfort: A snug, secure fit stops bouncing and helps you move naturally.
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Training goals: Lighter vests are great for conditioning and cardio; heavier or adjustable vests are better for strength work.
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Durability: Look for robust materials that withstand sweat, movement and regular use.
Weighted Vests
Here are some of the weighted vest options you can pair with your home workouts:
Armortech Adjustable Weighted Vest (10kg / 20kg / 30kg)
A versatile vest that lets you choose how much load you want, with options from 10kg up to 30kg. It’s perfect if you want to progress your training over time by adding more plates as you get stronger.
Armortech Tactical Weight Vest
Built to challenge your limits, this heavy-duty vest pushes calories burned and muscular engagement. Its durable design is excellent for intense strength and conditioning workouts.
Armortech Quick Clip Weight Vest
This model uses a quick-clip system that makes putting the vest on or taking it off fast and easy, it's ideal for circuits, HIIT, or switching between weighted and bodyweight work without fuss.
Armortech Tactical Weight Vest
This vest is designed to push your physical limits and accelerate your fitness goals. Crafted from high-quality, durable materials, this lightweight vest offers unparalleled comfort and flexibility.
How Heavy Should Your Weighted Vest Be?
Weighted vests come in different capacities. Our vests range from light loads to heavier plate-adjustable systems you can scale up as your fitness improves. A common guideline is to start with a weight that feels challenging but doesn’t compromise your form, typically 10–20% of your bodyweight for general training.
Beginners may start on the lighter side and increase weight gradually, while more advanced athletes might use heavier loads for strength and conditioning. Always prioritise good movement patterns over simply adding more weight.
How to Use a Weighted Vest Safely
To get the most out of your weighted vest while minimising risk:
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Warm up before training to prepare your joints and muscles.
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Ensure the vest fits snugly; excessive bounce can affect posture and increase risk of injury.
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Progress weight gradually and listen to your body.
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Add the vest to movements like walking, step-ups, bodyweight squats, lunges, pull-ups and push-ups for added resistance.
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Avoid weighted running or plyometrics until you’ve built foundational strength and stability.
Weighted vests are most effective when used 2–3 times per week alongside your regular workouts. Overuse without recovery can increase fatigue or stress on joints.
What Weight Vest Should I Get?
At Flex, weighted vests are available in multiple sizes and levels of adjustability, so you can match your choice to your fitness goals and experience. If you’re new to weighted training, a lighter vest with the option to add weight plates is a good starting point. More experienced trainers may prefer a heavier or tactical style for advanced resistance.
Bringing Your Training Together
A weight vest can transform routine exercises into progressive resistance training. It’s especially effective when combined with bodyweight movements like pull-ups, squats and lunges, or can be added to cardio work like walking and stair climbing to increase intensity.
Whether you’re chasing increased muscle endurance, higher calorie burn or just a new challenge, weighted vests are a versatile addition to your home gym. Explore the range at Flex Fitness Equipment to find the vest that helps you hit your goals.
Need help? Drop us a message or visit us in-store. We’ll help you choose the right weight vest and build a setup that fits your space, your goals and your life, or check out our ready-to-go Home Gym Packages to get training straight away.
