The Best Piece of Running Gear You Haven't Heard About: Weighted Vests for Running

If you're looking for a way to reinvigorate your training regimen, running with a weighted vest is a great potential solution. We will give you the down-low on weighted vest benefits along with an intro to the world of running vests in general.

There are many options when it comes to a  weighted running vest. You can find them in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. 

We strongly believe that a weighted vest filled with sand is better than a traditional plate carrier because of the weight distribution and how much more comfortable it is. It conforms to your body while you run. Conversely, plate carriers are very uncomfortable and make you feel like you can't breathe.

But first, let's start with an intro of what a weighted vest is and what does a weight vest do.

Weighted vest for running

What are weighted vests?

A weighted vest is a piece of clothing that you wear to add resistance or weight to your body. This can be in the form of weights, sand, or water.

There are many reasons why someone might want to use a weighted vest. Some people use them for fitness purposes, while tactical athletes might use them for training. People use weighted vests for higher level fitness reasons for an extra challenge and improve their overall strength and conditioning.

People who use weighted vests for tactical training typically do so in order to improve their speed, agility, and power. 

Why would I use a weighted vest for running?

People use weighted vests for running because they want to increase the difficulty of their run and improve endurance. If you're looking for a weight vest for running, we recommend using one filled with sand. Using plates can feel like running with body armor. Some weighted vest benefits include:

  • More efficient calorie burn because running with weight forces you to work harder, increasing perspiration and heart rate.
  • Increases endurance over time by forcing your body to adapt to running while adding resistance
  • Running with weight is actually recommended by physical therapists for anyone who has had an injury or surgery. Wearing a weighted vest will help you maintain fitness while recovering from an injury without the risk of re-injury caused by overtraining.
  • Weighted vests are also great for warming up before running because they get your body ready for a workout. The added weight helps increase blood flow to your muscles and gets them ready for running!
  • The best weighted vests are also great because they can be used in non-running workouts as well, such as plyometric exercises or weighted calisthenics movements like pushups, pull ups, squats etc.

What qualities should I look for in a good weight vest for running?

Some of the best running vests on the market are filled with sand, and we think you should know why. Weighted runners have been around for a long time, but many people don't understand how they work or what they do.

The weight distribution in a plate carrier is not even and can be very uncomfortable while running. A weighted vest filled with sand conforms much more to your body's shape and supports breathing easier while running.

When looking for a weighted vest, make sure that it is adjustable so you can find the perfect fit. It's also important to find one with high-quality construction because you don't want it to break on you when you're in the middle of your run.

We recommend finding a vest that has pockets on the side so you can easily store your belongings. This is a great feature if you're running long distances and don't want to carry a lot of extra weight with you.

Finally, make sure to find a vest that is comfortable! You'll be wearing it for extended periods of time, so it's important that it feels good against your skin.

The best weighted vest is the one that gets the results you want.

A weighted vest workout is a great addition to any workout routine, but it's important that you find the right weighted vest for your body and your fitness goals. If you're looking for a weighted running vest specifically, we recommend using one filled with sand rather than weight plates because it's much more comfortable, you'll wear it longer, and you'll be more likely to get out and exercise.

As you probably already know, sand is our specialty. In addition to weighted vests, we carry a full line of workout sandbags and kettlebells. If you haven't already joined our community, we urge you to get started with one of our training programs to learn about the power of working out with sand now.