Ruck this way: What are the best weighted vests for women?
This year I turned 40, learned all about perimenopause (the hard way), and went on a big health kick. I started walking with a weighted vest as part of my new regimen and got hooked. It’s honestly been the most enjoyable thing about adjusting to my new “midlife” routine.
You might have come across the Instagram reels joking about wearing baggy-ass jeans that teenagers told you were cool. Trying to eat protein and creatine like it’s a job, and strapping on a weighted vest for bone density. And while that’s all funny, it’s no joke.
I’ve gone deep researching women’s health and longevity (like reading clinical trials on PubMed, crushing hundreds of hours of podcasts, and ordering the clinician’s guidebook from the Menopause Society). A consistent finding has stood out in terms of how we can live in good health, for longer.
We need to focus on being strong, not skinny
Only 19% of women are meeting the recommended strength training guidelines outlined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The bar set is pretty low at just two strength training sessions per week.
The evidence supporting the benefits of muscle mass for women 35+ is overwhelming, and walking with a weighted vest is a great place to start.
What are the benefits of walking with a weighted vest (aka “rucking”)?
- Builds muscle mass, bone density, and can even reverse bone loss. 50% of women over 50 will suffer a fracture due to osteoporosis (thanks, menopause).
- Burns more calories than regular walking. Carrying 10% of your body weight increases your caloric burn by 2x–3x.
- Easier on your joints. You are three times more likely to get injured running and twice as likely to get injured weightlifting than you are by walking while carrying weight.
- Improves cardiovascular health — which is the leading cause of death for women living in the United States.
- Enhances glucose metabolism and can improve posture, form, and balance.
- And maybe most importantly, walking with a weighted vest is FUN. I love that it encourages me to get outside and connect with others.
5 things to consider when buying a weighted vest
When it comes to choosing a weighted vest, I found these things to be the most important:
- Comfort. Can you stand wearing this thing for 30–90 minutes? Can you get it on and off easily? Can you breathe well in it? It is hard to build a habit if any of these are a “no”.
- Weight capacity. Can the vest be loaded to at least 10% of your ideal body weight? If not, it wasn’t designed to deliver on all of the benefits listed in the previous section.
- Adjustability. Can you increase and decrease the weight in the vest? Or are you stuck with a single weight and forced to buy a whole other vest to carry a heavier load (you will get stronger within 2-3 months and be ready for more – I promise!)
- Washability. How can you wash it, and are you ok with that?
- Sustainability. What materials is it made out of? Will it be durable? How does it impact the environment? Will you feel comfortable putting it directly on your skin?
My honest review of the top weighted vests for women
Omorpho G-Vest
$279 U.S. MSRP
This is a micro-loaded vest built for high-intensity dynamic strength training. Think of your sprint intervals, box jumps, burpees, pull-ups, etc. It was made for athletes looking to increase the intensity of their already intense workouts, and get that little bit of an edge.
Comfort: The distributed weight feels comfortable — no bouncing. The fabric feels good on the skin. The cropped silhouette fits shorter torsos well and the curved hem is thoughtful, but I still found that the bottom was cutting into my waist during mat workouts.
Weight capacity: This vest only goes up to 5 pounds, so it’s not going to give you those muscle-building and bone-building benefits of the heavier vests on your walks (unless you weigh 50 pounds).
Adjustability: This vest features adjustable shoulder straps and side cinches, but you cannot increase the weight. The zip closure can be a bit of a boob squisher, but can be zipped down a bit to give your ladies some breathing room.
Washability: Spot clean or hand wash in cold water / hang to dry. I found this one to get the most dirty as I’ve been wearing it with just a sports bra under — so the deodorant marks and wear have been showing more than the other vests in my collection.
Sustainability: It’s made with 100% laminated polyester and synthetic rubber — which makes it moisture wicking, but not the most breathable, nor eco-friendly. And because you can’t adjust the weight, you will need to buy another vest once you are ready to go heavier.
With a price point of $279, I find this vest hard to justify for the majority of women given the narrow use case of throwing it on for HIIT workouts. But it is the most stylish vest I’ve found and can be a fun tool in your toolbox.
Hyperwear – Hyper Vest Elite
$273 U.S. MSRP
Buy on Amazon
Hyperwear’s range of vests for women include the Elite, Pro, and Fit. I chose the Elite as it is made with more durable fabric than the Pro and it can be loaded up to 20 lb of weight.
Comfort
This vest is the longest I’ve tested at 20 inches from shoulder seam to bottom trim on a size small. At 5-foot-8, this wasn’t a problem for me, but was a problem for my 5-foot-4 business partner. It features a zipper closure and cinches tight to the body evenly distributing the weight and minimizing bounce for those high intensity dynamic strength training workouts.
The CORDURA fabric is stretchy, but feels restrictive, particularly around the chest. The neckline is high and tight as are armholes – which I found to be uncomfortable and make the vest more cumbersome to take on and off. I recommend sizing up to minimize this.
Weight capacity
This vest comes loaded with a base of 10 pounds and the ability to add more 2.25 ounces galvanized steel weight bars into the little pockets to double that load. You can fit two bars in each pocket, but it is a tedious process to get them in and out.
Adjustability
The shoulders are not adjustable, but it does feature bungee cords on the sides. This is a nice feature as I’ve worn it over layers now that the weather in the Pacific Northwest is getting cold.
Washability
You can remove all of those tiny weights and throw this baby in the washing machine. This is a standout feature, but I can’t imagine doing that more than once every couple months just because removing the weight is so cumbersome. Spot clean with soap and water until you feel like it really needs that wash.
Sustainability
The shell is 100% polyester, so not exactly sustainable — but pretty durable. I’ve seen some reports of people finding white rust corrosion on the galvanized steel bars when they remove them, so beware of that. I’m baffled that there isn’t a better coating on these to prevent that.
At $273 for 15 pounds, the Hyperwear Elite is a better value than the Omorpho and more versatile, but still in that premium price category (and without that premium design aesthetic).
Zelus Weighted Vest
$30–$80 U.S. MSRP
Buy on Amazon
This vest is a top seller on Amazon and features iron sand sewn into a neoprene shell. There are several of this style of weighted vest on the market – they are all pretty much the same.
Comfort
With wide arm holes and a simple clasp front closure, this vest is very easy to get on and off — slip it on as you would a backpack. The sand conforms to your body, and is easier to breathe in as you don’t have a plate pressing down on your chest or a snug zipper closure.
Weight capacity
The weight in this vest is not adjustable, so you have to buy it loaded with the specific weight you want. The options range from 6 pounds to 30 pounds. Shoot for something that’s at least 5%–10% of your body weight to start.
Adjustability
You cannot cinch the sides tight on this one, which can cause the weight to flop around on the sides of the body on more petite frames.This also makes it a bad option for using it with other workouts as you cannot secure it tightly to your body across multiple touchpoints. Walking and squats is pretty much where it’s at with these.
Washability
The Zelus vest is not machine washable, so all you can do is spot clean with water and soap. The neoprene will let moisture into the sand layer, which is problematic — because the iron sand rusts.
Sustainability
This is the least sustainable vest on the market. Neoprene is a toxic material to produce and can be toxic for your skin too. Many people with these vests complain about the strong chemical smell off the bat. Patagonia stopped using neoprene in 2016. And since there is no waterproofing layer between the neoprene and the iron sand, the sand will rust and start staining your clothes. Something I discovered after just two months of ownership.
At a price point that ranges from just $30–$80, is the most affordable option on the market. But it also comes with significant drawbacks. My circles are starting to call this model and others like it “disposable” because of the limited time they can wear it before it starts degrading, and because they find they need to increase their weight after a couple of months.
Zelus – Adjustable Weighted Vest (11–20 pounds)
This vest combines a neoprene iron sand filled body with six additional pockets to allow adding and removing additional sand packets in 1.5-pound increments. I wanted to try this one after seeing Molly Sims looking like a total baddie wearing it during a workout she posted.
Comfort
The vest I found to be pretty comfortable, but cumbersome to get on and off as you have to lift it over your head. The straps and buckles can grab long hair, and be problematic for women dealing with frozen shoulder or other injuries. Some women also find the weight on the chest to be uncomfortable, and the “X” design can be a little awkward for larger chests.
Adjustability
I love that you can choose multiple weight capacity options — 4–10 pounds / 11–20 pounds / 20–32 pounds — and progressively increase weight without buying a whole new vest. It also can be cinched tight to the waist with straps and buckles on each side for gym workouts.
Washability
Just like most other vests out there it is not machine washable, so all you can do is spot clean. Here again the neoprene will let the moisture from your sweat, washing, and any rain you might get caught in into the sand layer. This is problematic due to the rust factor.
Sustainability
This vest has all those same issues with the neoprene & iron sand listed above. But I do like that it has adjustable weight and is more versatile because it can grow with you as you get stronger.
With a price point ranging from $50–$80 depending on the weight you choose, this is a low-cost option that will be able to last a bit longer. Beware of that iron sand ruining your tops and opt for dark colors underneath if you go with this one.
Rogue Echo Weight Vest (10 pounds)
$200
“Plate carriers” are a category of weighted vest that features front and back pockets to hold metal plates of various sizes. Historically, the target audience for these is mostly men and crossfit babes as the weight load is hefty vs. incremental. The GoRuck Training Weight Vest 2.0 $345 (20 pounds) is another top choice in this category.
Comfort
I’ve started referring to this one as the “titty crusher 3,000” as the weight plates sit directly on your chest. The plates are ergonomically curved and were inspired by the armor used in bulletproof vests — which is definitely the vibe. The straps are padded, and the fabric feels decent on the skin. I just couldn’t get used to the front load cinched to my bits for long walks. With this one, you also need to lift it over your head to get it on, so beware of that if you have shoulder issues.
Weight Capacity
For those that like to go heavy, this will get you there. The weight range includes 5-pound, 10-pound, and 20-pound plates, giving a total capacity of up to 40 pounds when loading one in front and one in back.
Adjustability
The Rogue weight vest has adjustable shoulder straps in addition to adjustable weight options and can cinch tight in the front with two velcro straps. I found the velcro to be problematic as the straps stick out the sides on smaller frames and can snag your clothes easily when taking on and off.
Washability
Machine washing the shell is not recommended, so you’ll need to spot clean with soap and water. With the larger arm holes I found this one needing less washing than the Hyperwear or Omorpho models.
Sustainability
This product is also made with CORDURA fabric and will last you a long time, making it a sustainable option. The E-Coat finish on the plates gives them corrosion resistance and green benefits – standing up to water, sunlight, and cleaners. The coating is also compliant with environmental safety standards of the RoHS, OSHA, and EPA.
For a price point of $200 (10 pounds) this is a good value in a premium quality vest. The aesthetic is more militaristic / extreme, but it gets the job done and won’t get tossed into your garbage can after a couple of months. If you like the idea of this vest but have a larger chest or just aren’t keen on the front plate, I’d recommend trying a plate carrier backpack like the GoRuck Ruck Plate Carrier. The weight will be loaded just on your back, but can provide all the same benefits.
Why I’m launching my own line of weighted vests
After testing many weighted vests, I didn’t find anything I absolutely loved. None of the products nailed everything that was important to me — and what was important to the dozens of midlife women I’ve gotten feedback from over the past several months. So I’m making a better one.
The vest I’m designing is comfortable, fashionable, features adjustable weight, is machine-washable, more sustainable, and versatile enough to be a companion on my long walks and my gym workouts. I helped launch several hardware products during my time at Microsoft, and am grateful to be able to use that experience to bring a differentiated product to market in this space.
I’m craving the connection of a fitness brand that reflects where I’m at in life. A brand that recognizes I don’t have to be extreme to be healthy. One that acknowledges and values what I’m balancing as a mom, professional, and someone who is managing the long metamorphosis into menopause with as much swagger as possible.
If this speaks to you, you can follow me and my co-founder Cortney Bigelow on Instagram at @thecarry.co. We’ll keep you updated as we progress toward a target launch in 2025. You can also drop us a line at hello@thecarry.co for inquiries and investment opportunities.
I can’t wait to wear a weighted vest that was made so purposefully for women in midlife, and look forward to sharing more with you soon!
Sources
• Long-term exercise using weighted vests prevents hip bone loss in postmenopausal women – PubMed
• Opinion | No One Tells You What Happens to Your Muscles in Your 40s – The New York Times
• Rucking vs. Running | 7 Exciting Reasons To Get Active Today – GORUCK
• A Deep Dive Into Rucking by Michael Easter – GORUCK Blog Archive
