The weighted vest is essential for adding weight or resistance during any type of physical exercise. It is one of the main accessories to have if you want to continue to progress and develop your muscle mass with bodyweight exercises.
Indeed, when you have been training with bodyweight for a while, weight training exercises become easy for your body and the weighted vest remains the best way to increase the difficulty by its maneuverability and adaptability. But how to choose the best? This article will guide you in order not to regret your purchase and to opt for the best weighted vest.
The advantages of the weighted vest in bodybuilding
Used mainly for running, pull-ups and dips, the weighted vest can actually be used during any exercise based on body weight such as squats, burpees, push-ups , box jumps,... The advantages of this sports accessory are numerous.
An article to read also: Bicep push-ups: 3 variations that will strengthen your arms
Increase muscle strength and endurance
This is the most logical advantage. Using a weight vest during your bodyweight exercises will require your muscles to mobilize more force and energy.
It's exactly the same principle when you increase the weight at the machine or when you use elastic resistance bands. This extra weight will help your muscles grow more.
To know: How to develop muscle strength effectively?
Improve your cardiovascular system
Faced with a high demand for energy, your muscles will demand more oxygen from your cardiovascular system.
Working out in a weighted vest is therefore good for strengthening your lungs and increasing your body's ability to consume oxygen.
Keep your hands free
Thanks to the weighted vest, you remain free of all movements. You will no longer need to have your hands loaded with weights or machines or need to ask for help to place the weight on your back for push-ups or sheathing.
Also read: Lumbar support: put an end to back pain!
Distribute the load to be carried
For pull-ups and dips, you can always opt for the older version of the belt + hook + disc or attached kettlebell to add weight. But we must admit that it is much less practical.
With the weighted vest, there are fewer risks for the back and especially the lower back. The weights on the vest are distributed over the entire trunk. It also allows you not to be unbalanced during the exercises.
Vary your exercises and gain explosiveness
The sensations with a weighted vest on your usual exercises will be different, the sets more difficult, which will allow you to give more variety to your workouts. For example, you can start on traction series by alternating repetitions with a weighted vest and repetitions without.
On certain exercises requiring endurance such as burpees or box jumps, the movements will certainly be more difficult, but you will gain a lot in explosiveness.
Find out more: 5 best techniques to improve muscular endurance
Increase bone density
Using an additional load such as a weighted vest generally stimulates the cells called osteoblasts, which are at the origin of bone construction
How is a weighted vest used?
Nothing is easier than using a weighted vest! Like a normal jacket, it slips on around the torso and has evenly distributed weights, whether on the front or the back. To be put on, several methods exist: the most elaborate have a zip on the front which makes them very practical to put on and take off quickly, while the others opt for the chasuble method, that is to say that they go through the head.
However, they all have one or more methods of tightening and adjustment, so that the vest is as close to the body as possible, so that it does not interfere during movement. The weighted vest is therefore generally found with Velcro straps which allow them to adapt to all body types and all types of athletes because very often, the weighted vest is one size.
However, since the additional weight requirements are not the same for all athletes, the weighted vest is available with several different weights, generally between 5 kg and 30 kg. Even better, it often even consists of pockets inside which are small removable bags filled with sand or steel pellets.
These little sachets can be left in the vest or removed at will, so that this vest then takes exactly the weight that you want to give it. The weighted vest is therefore very simple to use and since it is fully adjustable, it puts the odds on its side to attract as many athletes as possible.
Also read: Running with a weighted vest: Benefits and tips for use
Precautions to take before using the weighted vest
Weighted work has obvious advantages, but it must be carried out with perfectly mastered gestures, trying as much as possible to work on maximum amplitudes. Indeed, by increasing the difficulty, the posture of the body can change and you will be tempted to help yourself to lift yourself using other muscles. There is therefore an additional risk of injury due to an imbalance and poorly executed movement.
For crossfit and endurance exercises in general, it is advisable to adapt the load of the vest according to your level and not to exceed 10% of the weight from the body. If you practice crossfit and weigh 80 kg, add 8 kg no more. You must be able to be mobile without being weighed down. You will see that with extra weight fatigue will set in much faster than usual.
In a classic weight training session, there are no weight restrictions. Start by trying to add 10 kg to pull-ups, dips and push-ups for example and the more you progress, the more you can increase the load.
To know everything about loads: Progressive overload: All about this method in bodybuilding
How to choose the best weighted vest?
The weight
The weight of weighted vests generally varies between 5 and 50 kg. They are adjustable, which means you can remove weight to lessen the load and adjust to your abilities.To start, a 10 kg vest is already a good option, but you will not be able to increase
Who can do more can do less, by taking a 20 kg weighted vest you can remove weights to have 10 kg and later increase the load according to your abilities and objectives.
Quality
Comfort is important, you must be able to move freely without feeling any discomfort. You have to pay attention to the seams too, especially at the shoulders.
It is not recommended to choose low-end weighted vests whose seams fail quickly under the weight of the weight.
The price
Of course, price is an important factor. But it's not worth spending an astronomical sum on this purchase.
Do not aim for the cheapest, but gauge the best value for money weighted vests you will see.
To find out more: TOP 7 exercises to do with a weighted vest to build muscle
The best weighted vest in super-human fit
Fit super-human offers the best military-style weighted vest that can add up to 50 kg more. Thanks to its strong fabric and its integral velcro system, the weighted vest of super-human fit is easy to wear during your workouts, whether they are focused on cardio or strength training. The fabric of this weighted vest is breathable, ideal for the comfort of athletes who sweat a lot.
Adaptable to morphologies, you can easily adjust it to your build. It contains 12 pockets in which you can place the available weights. This is how you can increase your load from 0 to 50 kg in your bodyweight exercises. To go even further, you will easily find places to add other weights with sand for example.
Worthy of American military training, the seams of this weighted vest have been tested over time. All your efforts will be even more intense during your sessions and you will still be free to move, with the additional load distributed over your body.
Users of the super-human fit military weight vest themselves recognize that it is the best on the market. Positive reviews are clearly visible on the website. What are you waiting for to fall for the best weighted vest?
For more information: The different morphologies that exist in men and women
In summary
The weighted vest is the accessory essential to buy if you want to progress in your bodyweight training. It is very practical, because it will not limit you in the choice of exercises, but it will be necessary to know how to use it at the right time. Do not rush and master the movement beforehand. Using the weighted vest is simple, within everyone's reach to increase the load during your sessions.
Remember to take into account all the technical characteristics before choosing your weighted vest. The best weighted vest is offered by fit super-human with loads from 0 to 50 kg, fully adjustable and modular for top sports training!
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