Weighted vests hold a special place in my heart. They look both cool and silly, and can be used to incredible effect in workouts, or be used incorrectly and lead to unnecessary injuries. Owning one of these seems like a sort of rite of passage—because if you own one, that means you’re seriously into calisthenics—or at least aiming to be. In this review, we’ll take a look at the RUNmax Pro Weighted Vest 12lbs/ 20lbs/ 40lbs/ 50lbs/ 60lbs with Shoulder Pads Option.
That name just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?
The Good:
I purchased the 40 pound option with shoulder pads. My first impressions were that it is well made, if not military grade, and surprisingly comfortable, as well as much less bulky than I expected. The weights can be slid easily in and out of their pouches on the vest to achieve perfect balance. Because these weights are sandbags and not solid weights, the vest remains fairly comfortable at any weight. However, I definitely recommend the shoulder pads. Without them, the vest could dig into the shoulder and cause some pain.
Going through a variety of exercises, the vest staid well in place. I had no issues with weights falling out, the vest sliding around, or any other discomfort(besides the burning in my muscles!)
The Bad:
This is sort of an old school military style flak jacket, and because there aren’t any low, internal straps around the waist, your shoulders are bearing most of the weight. Also, you might run into problems if you have a small frame. You really don’t want a weight vest banging around as you run, and if you’re on the smaller side, that could be an issue.
Recommended?
This is Amazon’s Choice for weighted vests for a reason. It’s affordable, durable, and aesthetically solid. The shoulder pads are a must, and it’s important to pay attention to sizing, but despite a couple of minor issues, this is a great product.
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