Top 9 Women-specific weight vests

If you don't know how to increase your workout's effectiveness, a weighted vest can be the answer. This lets you increase the resistance of almost any bodyweight training.

Weighted training is often used in the military and with great success. It increases the resistance of the training leading to more endurance, strength, and weight loss. A weighted vest lets you get the same benefits but a lot more comfortable.

Not every weighted vest is made with the same quality or fit. Many weighted vests designed for men don't provide a good fit for women.

A good fit is crucial for comfort and freedom of movement during the exercises.

So, we have listed the best weighted vests for women based on our experience and research.

The Best Weight vest for women

1. Aduro Sport Weighted Vest Workout Equipment

The #1 best weighted vest for women, the Aduro Sport Weighted Vest Workout Equipment, has a wide range of weight options to choose from. The vests come in six, twelve, sixteen, twenty, twenty-five, and thirty-pound weight choices.

Regardless of your fitness level, you will be able to find a good weight for you. All variants are great for cardio workouts, weight training, and resistance training.

This model is highly adjustable to fit different body types. The front belt latches across the chest with a high-quality buckle and is easy to access.

You will find this weighted vest's neoprene material to be soft and comfortable on the skin, even during long use and while sweating. It's also extremely durable and will last for many years.

While the Arduro is on top of our list of best weighted vests for almost every weighted workout, it's not the best option for running. So if you are looking for a women's weight vest to do mostly running, we recommend our next option on the list.

The Aduro comes with mesh pockets stitched onto the back to provide a way to add extra weight. They can also hold items such as your ID or your keys. With durable construction and a lifetime limited warranty, you won't have to worry about reliability. Check price here

2. Tone Fitness 8lb Weighted Vest

The next product on our list of best weighted vests is the Tone Fitness 8lb. It's made of soft and comfortable neoprene fabric and fits snugly around the shoulders and torso.

The big difference between this and our top choice is that the weight is very much centered. You will really enjoy the centered layout if you're using it for running. This model comes in only one size and has adjustable straps on the sides.

The buckles are made of durable plastic and are easy to adjust. If you have a very abnormal body size, you will need to check the fit. Since this vest comes in only one size, it can be too tight for athletes with enormous shoulders.

With a stylish black color and reflective strips, this is the best weighted vest for running, jogging, and walking. Check price here

3. Empower Weighted Vest for Women

The Empower Weighted Vest for Women comes in four and eight-pound weight options. The vest makes it easy to add resistance to your exercises and activities. The X-shaped model was designed specifically to fit a woman's chest.

This weighted vest uses sand to make it heavy. While it doesn't allow for very large weights, the sand creates an even distribution of weight or across the chest.

The Empower Vest is made of Lycra and spandex materials to help it fit securely to your body. The vest fits snugly with buckles on the back that are adjustable to fit waist sizes twenty-four to forty-eight inches.

The vest stays in place while you move and does not impede your movements as long as you are not too small. Due to the X-shape design, this weighted vest can move around if you have a small chest and shoulders. In that case, you will be better off with numbers one and two in this list.

The vest has reflective strips on the vest to ensure your front and back are visible for nighttime exercises. The X-shaped vest includes elastic pockets to hold your ID, money, or keys while you exercise. Check price here

4. Henkelion Running Weight Vest

The Henkelion Running Weight Vest comes in four, six, eight, and twelve-pound weight options. The ergonomic design of the vest distributes the weight at the top of your back and shoulders. This high weight distribution prevents back problems and makes it easier to keep a good posture.

The design makes it ideal for running as it curves out of the way of your body and any swinging limbs. The weights are premium quality iron pellets and metal rocks to help with balance. They also help eliminate the slipping and sliding of the weight during exercising. You must adjust this fast, so it doesn't slip because we did find it to rub when loose.

This weight vest for women is made of strong, soft neoprene fabric with mesh pockets sewed onto the back to provide you with a place to put your keys or other important items. You can adjust the training vest across the chest area for a great fit.

In the back, blue, grey, and pink colors, the Henkelion is another great option for weighted running training. Check price here.

5. ATIVAFIT Sport Weighted Vest

Our next recommendation is the Ativafit Sport Weighted Vest and comes in eight and twelve-pound weights. It's filled with premium iron pellets and free of harmful chemicals.

The Ativafit is made of a stretchy material that forms around a woman's body and always stays tight. Additionally, the adjustable buckle straps at the sides help to keep the weight close to the body in any situation.

The ergonomic design is non-slip to prevent movement and rotation during exercise further. And even though it's not very straightforward to remove the weights, we appreciate how close and controlled the weighted vest fits.

The vest also has handy Velcro storage pockets at the front of the best, so you can carry your phone, ID, keys, and other valuables with you on your workouts. Reflective strips run up and down the shoulders and back to make you visible during night time workouts. Check price here

6. ZELUS Weighted Vest

The Zelus Weighted Vest for women comes in three different colors, including black, blue, and gray. You can only get it for twelve pounds except for the black vest, which also comes for twenty pounds.

The material is premium chloroprene rubber that is double stitched for added strength. The chloroprene rubber is filled with sand that is chemical-free and distributed evenly around your back and chest.

The vest has an adjustable buckle strap that latches at the front and has reflective strips. The vest fits tightly across a bust of thirty-five to forty-five inches. Elastic bands on the sides provide added flexibility while you move and exercise.

The vest has built-in pockets at the front to hold keys, cell phones, or other items during workouts. The design of this vest makes it less suitable for running. There are better options if you want to do weighted running training. It's also important to know that this vest requires handwashing and cannot be cleaned in a washing machine. Check price here

7. Harbinger Women's Adjustable Weight Vest

The Harbinger Women's Adjustable Weight Vest weighs ten pounds and wraps around you to help hold it secure. The design is shaped specifically for a women's body and curves.

This adjustable weighted vest offers half-pound increments to accommodate any fitness program

The vest has dual padding and cushions around the crucial shoulder and chest areas. The extra-wide neoprene belt secures the vest well without causing any rubbing or abrasion.

You can easily wash the Harbinger in a washing machine and don't need to bother with handwashing. Check price here

8. RitFit Adjustable Weighted Vest

The RitFit Adjustable Weighted Vest comes in eight, ten, fifteen, and twelve-pound weights. The vest is made of breathable neoprene fabric and filled with soft iron sand that is free of chemicals and scent.

The vest has double stitching with mesh pockets fitted into the front to hold your keys and cell phone.

You also get an adjustable elastic front and side straps to help it fit snuggly to your body as you move. The straps are Velcro, so you can easily adjust them if they become too loose while you workout. The adjustable side straps can help accommodate multiple shapes and help the vest adjust to you as your fitness increases.

While this vest is highly adjustable, it's less suited for a woman with an extra small frame.

The vest has reflective strips and edge protectors along the seams of the best to make you stand out at night and provides an added anchor for the double stitching, which holds the sand in their specially designed pouches. Check price here

9. Challenge Weighted Workoutwear

The Challenge Weighted Workoutwear is made of ninety percent polyester and ten percent spandex. The vest covers the full length of the upper body and comes with four-pound weights. The light-weight, free-floating material construction helps you move flexibly and functionally.

While it's more expensive, you get a high-quality product made 100% in the USA. The vest design focuses on the female form for complete comfort without being bulky or heavy-duty.

This women's weighted vest helps prevent rubbing or chaffing with a great fit and is often used by people with autism or osteoporosis. Check price here

Benefits of Using a Weighted vest for women

Women can benefit just as much from weighted training as men. Here are some of the biggest benefits.

Improve Cardiovascular Function

When you use a weight vest during your normal cardio exercises, your heart and lungs will have to work harder. This increases the effectiveness of the workout and provides a greater training stimulus.

Cardiovascular health is vital for a good circulation of blood around the body. It also reduces the chance of blood clots and other circulation problems.

Many experts also attribute better brain function in women to improvements in cardiovascular health.

Muscle Growth

If you want to grow or tone your muscles, you need to do two things: stimulate your muscles with training and give them rest and nutrition to recover.

Wearing a weighted vest, you can push your muscles harder during your normal bodyweight exercises. This leads to a stronger signal for your body and faster results.

A workout routine with weightlifting also increases the load on your muscles. The problem is that it's hard to simulate the movements you are training for.

For example, if you want to become a stronger runner, you could do squats and leg presses. However, you will find that only a small part of this strength carries over to actual running. It might even take time to adjust to real running again after doing a lot of isolated exercises.

If you run with a weighted vest, you train the exact movement patterns but with an increased weight. Your progress carries over completely to the activity that you train for. And when you remove the weight, you will be running faster and longer.

What Styles Of Weighted vests are Available For Women?

Short

While the short shape is usually found in the best weighted vests for men, this variant can help a woman with a fuller figure find a fitting weighted vest. This type fits broader shoulders and a bigger chest. The straps securing the vest to a chest tend to slide around on women and men with smaller bodies.

The short vest helps to provide more airflow as you exercise. With an even distribution of weight around the chest area, the vest also strengthens your range of motion as you move through your activities.

The short vest will make your workout more intense but also safer.

X-Style

The X-Style vest is one that most women prefer for their workouts. The X-style vest fits around the natural curves of a woman and offers a full range of motion as she exercises. This vest type does not bunch up around a woman's body like other vests, which benefits smaller body types.

Full-Coverage

A full-coverage vest is the most common vest for both men and women. The style of the vest evenly distributes weight around your body in a safe way. The vest hugs your entire body so your shoulders, chest, and core can have a full workout. The large shape allows for add-ons such as pockets to hold your keys, cell phone, or water bottle.

Weight Capacity

Your vest's weight capacity will determine how much extra load is added to your muscles and the extent of the workouts you can do. The amount of weight will help you determine the variety of exercises you can use the weighted vest for.

The weight on the vest will play a big role in how fast you can progress. But it's not just about using the heaviest vest you can find.

Going too heavy will actually slow down progression. This is a trap that many aspiring men and women fall into. If you use a too heavy vest, you will not complete enough reps with good form.

If your training volume is too low, your progress will be very slow to none indeed. You might feel a lot of pain while exercising and be sore the next day, but your level will be pretty much the same after weeks or months of training. It took me years to realize this, funnily enough. I focused on performing the perfect rep at the heaviest weight that I forgot to achieve enough training. And after many months, my level would still be almost the same.

So, don't make the same mistake. Choose a weighted vest that allows you to perform enough reps with perfect form.

Another reason not to go to heavy is that it greatly increases your risk of injury. Many women who start training with weighted vests run into some injury. If you plan to use it for running, make sure to slowly build up the distance and intensity. And if you are using an adjustable weighted vest, start with the lowest setting in the weight range. Your knees will thank you.

Durability

As with any purchase you make, you want it to last through multiple workouts and exercises. When you are looking for the best women's weighted vests, you should look at the materials along with the stitching. The pockets have to hold the iron or sand weights and can tear during strong repealed movements.

High quality weighted vests for women are made of neoprene and often come with long-term plans for maintenance and care. Double stitching will hold the shape together and keep the weights from sliding around. High-quality buckles and straps ensure everything stays in place during your exercising.

Fit

Of course, the vest you select will have to fit your body comfortably and be adjustable. Plus, not all vests fit the same, and you will want it to be as comfortable as possible while you exercise.

The best weighted vests are snug for stability but not so tight that they inhibit your freedom of movement. The vest should not move around while you exercise and disturb your balance as you move. You should also be able to readjust it as needed easily.

Final Thoughts

The best weighted vest for women is the one the fits your body and your workouts. All the products on our list are well-designed and made with high-quality materials.

That being said, for anyone but women with petite frames, the Aduro Weighted Vest is the best option for strength training. For running training and women with small frames, the Tone Fitness 8lb is our top recommendation.