What is a Weight Vest?
A weight vest is a type of body weight training that has been around for a while. Typically, the vest is worn over the shoulders which works to increase the load on the muscles. The weight vest usually weighs about 10-15% of a person’s bodyweight, but it can also vary depending on their fitness level and personal preference.
When we wear a weight vest, we are able to work our muscles and boost to the training session much more than if we were just doing traditional movements or doing running with no load. The weight vest forces us to use our entire core and stabilizing muscles when performing any exercise or task, which helps improve muscle strength and endurance. It also helps with cardiovascular fitness because it increases our heart rate and breathing capacity while working out.
Benefits of Wearing a Weight Vest
A few of the benefits of using a weight vest are:
- Increased training stimulus
- Increased muscle strength
- More muscle endurance
- Boost in overall cardio and conditioning
- Improved balance
Weight vests are primarily used for training purposes for athletes who are looking to increase strength power, explosive and endurance. They are also used by athletes looking to cut weight but do not want to endure the harshness of a strict diet.
Although they are used by advanced athletes, they are still very beneficial down to a basic level. For example if you want an extra load but not an intense session, the vests can be worn for simple activities like jogging, walking, moving around the house or doing other types of easy movements.
The weight vest can also be used as a tool for rehabilitation. Weight vests can be used to give athletes or anyone recovering from an injury the chance to gradually build strength up and rehab using just their body.
Conclusion: Use a Weight Vest to Boost Your Training
So you see that a weight vest is a simple, easy to use and highly adaptable tool that can benefit a variety of different people. From explosive athletic workouts to basic walking movements, wearing a vest can help support your goals!
If you're looking to advance your strength and conditioning and improve your overall bodyweight strength, then check out this program which includes one of our custom weight vests!