The Best Weight Vests For Home Fitness

Weight vests are a great way to increase the intensity of your workouts without having to spend a lot of money, and they don’t take up much storage space.

When I started researching weight vests I was surprised at how many different options there were. Fixed weight, adjustable weight, plate carriers, flat plates, ergonomic plates, the list goes on and on

I’ve done the research my friends, and now you can reap the benefits. Read on for my thoughts on the best weight vest options for home fitness.

I’ve structured this article to include the recommendations up front for easy decision making. The recommendations are included first, followed by the requirements I used to make my choices and full reviews for each option. 

Best weight vest options

Requirements

As I mentioned in my introduction, weight vests come in all kinds of varieties. To keep things simple, I limited my choices to vests that could hold at least 20lbs of weight.

I mainly chose 20lbs since it’s a popular weight for Hero WODs like Murph, but I also think it’s a good weight that hits the sweet spot between not-to-light and not-to-heavy for most people.

I also limited my choices to the most compact designs I could find, in order to reduce the impact on mobility. No sense wearing a weight vest if I can’t even do my regular workouts!

Here are the test subjects:

• Hyperwear Hyper Vest Elite
• Hyperwear Hyper Vest Pro
• CATI Armor Ergonomic Fitness Plates
• Fringe Sport Tactical Vest Weight Plates
• Rogue USA Cast Weight Vest Plates
• Condor Sentry Plate Carrier
• BCS Extreme Lightweight Plate Carrier
• MIR Air Flow Adjustable Weight Vest
• Fringe Sport WODmaster 20lb Weight Vest
• Hyperwear Flexible Adjustable Weight Plates
• Hyperwear Hypervest TAC Weight Vest

I’ve either bought, begged, or borrowed all of them and put each one to the test. Read on for full reviews of each option.

Full reviews

What follows is a full review for each of the vests, plate carriers, and weight plates I’ve tested. For reference, I tested all of these options doing workouts with my office kettlebell club, or at home in my home gym (a.k.a. the Fitness Test Lab).

All of our kettlebell club workouts are documented here in case you’re interested in some single-kettlebell complexes designed to be done in 30 minutes or less.

I also tested these weight vest options while running, both outside and indoors on a treadmill.

Hyperwear Hyper Vest Elite Review

The Hyperwear line of weight vests are quite possibly the most innovative designs on the market.

The original Hyper Vest Pro introduced a design utilizing many small weights distributed evenly in pockets all over the vest, instead of fewer larger weights or weight plates used by competing designs.

The result is a vest that provides an amazing amount of comfort and mobility, in a low profile form that can be worn under clothing. I’ve worn this vest to work a few times under a cashmere sweater and no one could really tell it was there.

Or, at least no one mentioned it to me. By now my coworkers are used to seeing me roam the halls with all sorts of strange looking gear, so they may have kept their comments to themselves.

The Hyper Vest Elite is the second-generation design of the Hyper Vest Pro, designed for more intense use.

Hyperwear Hyper Vest Elite fit – front, side, and back

The Hyper Vest Elite is made of Cordura, which is basically nylon with extremely high tensile strength. In non-nerdy terms, that means this fabric is tough.

Cordura may not be as stretchy as the material used in the Hyper Vest Pro, but unlike the Pro, there is pretty much zero chance of the fabric tearing through normal use.

I’ll just get this out of the way up front – this is the best weight vest option I’ve tested.

It’s comfortable, it offers unparalleled mobility, and the weight level and distribution can be customized exactly how you like them. It’s also very easy to put on and take off, thanks to the zippered front.

However, I do have some nits to pick. Nothing deal-breaking, just stuff you should be aware of.

First, adding and removing weights is tedious. The vest comes loaded with 10lbs, and each individual weight weighs 2.25oz.

This means loading the vest up to a full 20lbs requires adding seventy-two(!) additional weights to the vest. Even with the insertion tool included in every box of weights, adding or removing large increments of weight is not something you’ll want to do often.

Hyperwear vest weights and insertion tool

Second, the elastic cording on the sides of the Hyper Vest Elite are held tight using plastic spring clips, but the spring tension isn’t strong enough to hold the cords in place during exercise.

I found myself having to retighten the cords multiple times during a workout, until I remembered a suggestion made to me by an employee at Hyperwear to tie a simple knot in the cord below the spring clip. I had no problems with the cords after that.

It would be great if the spring clip was stronger, but once you find your fit and tie a knot under the clip you probably won’t need to mess with it again.

It ain’t purty but it works

Third, the fit is a bit long for people like myself with short torsos.

I use a medium sized Hyper Vest Elite and the bottom row on the back of the vest extends down below my waistline. The weight in that bottom row kept forcing my shorts down during workouts, and I kept having to pull them up. Not cool!

This annoyed the heck out of me, till I tried removing the weights from the bottom row and redistributing them to other pockets. Problem solved!

So yeah, the Hyperwear Hyper Vest Elite does have some quirks.

However, it’s still the best weight vest option I could find for CrossFit or general weight vest training.

Summary

Hyperwear Hyper Vest Pro Review

As I stated in the review for the Hyper Vest Elite, the Hyperwear line of weight vests quite possibly the most innovative designs on the market.

The Hyper Vest Pro introduced a design utilizing many small weights distributed evenly in pockets all over the vest, instead of fewer larger weights or weight plates used by competing designs.

The result is a vest that provides an amazing amount of comfort and mobility, in a low profile form that can be worn under clothing.

The Hyper Vest Pro is very similar in design to the Hyper Vest Elite I covered above, so rather than rehash many of the same points I’m just going to focus on the differences.

Hyperwear Hyper Vest Pro fit – front, side, and back

The Hyper Vest Pro is made of a stretchy odor-resistant wicking fabric that is extremely comfortable to wear, even more comfortable than the Elite.

The downside of this material is that it isn’t as durable as Cordura. If you read enough online reviews for the Pro, you’ll eventually come across someone complaining about tears in the weight pockets.

I can’t speak to all of these complaints, but from what I’ve read they typically happen to people who consistently train hard with a full 20lbs of loaded weight.

To be perfectly clear, the Hyper Vest Pro is very durable and will hold up to intense use.

But, even the toughest fabric breaks down over time with consistent hard use and let’s face it – some people are just more intense than others. You know who you are, you animals!

I like this vest a lot – the Hyper Vest Pro is the most comfortable option I tested, mainly because of the stretchy nature of the Pro’s fabric. This vest feels more like a heavy article of clothing than a piece of fitness gear, and is even less noticeable under loose clothing than the Hyper Vest Elite.

Summary

Hyperwear Flexible Adjustable Weight Vest Plates Review

As I previously mentioned in my review of the Hyper Vest Elite, Hyperwear is making some of the most innovative and comfortable weight vests on the market.

They have continued that trend by introducing adjustable weight plates, the first of their kind.

Or, at least the first I’m aware of.

Hyperwear’s new line of adjustable weight plates are designed to work with tactical plate carriers like the  Wolf Tactical Weight Vest.

The Hyperwear Flexible Adjustable Weight Plates are made of a flexible material with a somewhat rigid set of five interior columns.

Each of those columns holds a stack of small plastic bricks filled with steel shot. Adding or removing bricks allows you to change total the amount of plate weight in half pound increments.

Each plate is loaded with 18 bricks, for a total of 9 lbs per plate. The bricks are held inside by a Velcro closure that is secure, but easy to undo.

With two plates and a weight vest, you could use these plates for Murph WODs.

The plates are comfortable and the design allows for some flex while you move. The ability to adjust the weight to my exact preference is a huge plus.

I was initially concerned that removing some of the weight bricks would cause others to bounce around in the empty space while running. However, that hasn’t been a problem. The pressure of the plate carrier fitting snug against my body provides enough compression force to keep them in place.

Adjustable in half pound increments

My only gripe with the Hyperwear adjustable weight plates is their size – these plates are much larger than steel plates and therefore they don’t work with my favorite plate carrier, the Condor Sentry.

Given their size, there are a limited number of plate carriers that will hold these plates. They will work with the TacTec 5.11 plate carrier that is popular among CrossFitters, as well as the Wolf Tactical vest, which is roughly the same as a TacTec 5.11 but at half the cost.

If you have an existing plate carrier that snugly holds standard plates, make sure it can hold plates with dimensions of 10.25in wide, 12.25in tall, 0.75in depth before buying the Hyperwear adjustable weight plates. Otherwise you’ll also have to buy yourself a new plate carrier.

I still recommend the Hyper Vest Elite over any plate carrier, but if you prefer a plate carrier and want the benefit of adjustable weights, the Hyperwear adjustable weight plates are a no brainer.

Summary

Hyperwear Hyper Vest TAC Vest Review

As I previously mentioned in my review of the Hyper Vest Elite, Hyperwear is making some of the most innovative and comfortable weight vests on the market.

Not content with just introducing adjustable weight plates, they’ve also introduced their own adjustable plate carrier!

Hyperwear’s new TAC adjustable weight vest is a unique combination of a plate carrier with adjustable weights in the style of their signature vest, the Hyperwear Hyper Vest Elite.

The Hyperwear Hypervest TAC Weight Vest contains two plates made of a flexible material with a somewhat rigid set of five interior columns.

Each of those columns holds a stack of small plastic bricks filled with steel shot. Adding or removing bricks allows you to change total the amount of plate weight in half pound increments. It’s possible to stack plates within the carrier, for a total of 40 lbs if you really want to get your beast mode on.

Each plate is loaded with 20 bricks, for a total of 10 lbs per plate. The bricks are held inside by a Velcro closure that is secure, but easy to undo.

The plates are comfortable and the design allows for some flex while you move. The ability to adjust the weight to my exact preference is a huge plus. Adjusting the weight is as simple as removing some of the weight bricks from each plate, and keeping the weight vest snug against your body keeps the bricks in place while exercising.

These plates are the exact same design as the Hyperwear Flexible Adjustable Weight Plates described above, except these are square shaped and designed to work specifically with the Hyperwear TAC vest carrier. The plates and carrier come as a set.

The front of theHyperwear Hypervest TAC Weight Vest is lined with velcro in case you want to add patches to the vest. There is also a fairly deep pocket in front, which could be used to hold a phone while working out with the vest.

Given that this vest essentially works the same way as the Hyperwear Flexible Adjustable Weight Plates, the question then becomes, which option is better?

It basically comes down to preference, and whether or not you already own a plate carrier. If you already own a plate carrier similar to the TacTec 5.11 that can hold large plates, buy the adjustable weight plates.

If you don’t already own a plate carrier, buy the TAC vest. You won’t regret it either way. 

Summary

Fringe Sport WODmaster 20lb Weight Vest Review

The Fringe Sport WODmaster weight vest is the first weight vest I tried when looking at weight vest options. It’s a simple design and relatively affordable, what’s not to like?

The WODmaster comes in two sizes and has three points of adjustment – two straps in front and one on each side below the armpits.

Fringe Sport WODMaster weighted vest fit – front, side, and back

The fit is very much like a backpack or rucksack, which is good and bad.

Good, because the WODmaster is easy to put on and secure. Bad, because like a backpack, I was never able to secure it well enough to stay put during running or jumping movements. There just isn’t enough velcro on the adjustment straps under the arms to tighten the fit the way I want.

Granted, larger people might be able to secure the straps well enough to where it won’t move. However, I tested the smaller of the two available sizes, and at 5’8″, 180lbs I could never get the vest tight enough to avoid bouncing during runs or jumping movements.

Another drawback to being unable to securely tighten the vest was having all the weight supported by my shoulders instead of partially supported by my torso.

Have you ever had to run with a heavy backpack on your shoulders? The feeling of running with the WODmaster is very similar, although the weight is better distributed than a backpack.

The WODmaster is a decent option for adding weight to your daily routine, but I don’t think it’s suitable for running or exercises involving jumping movements, at least not for smaller people.

Summary

MIR Air Flow Adjustable Weighted Vest Review

The MIR Air Flow Adjustable Weighted Vest makes use of a weight “brick” design similar to vests from several other companies.

The MIR stands out by being machine washable, which makes this vest easier to keep clean than some of the other options I tested.

The MIR has two rows for bricks on the front and back, and each brick weighs 3lbs. It doesn’t take many bricks to get to 20lbs, so there are plenty of extra pockets left over to increase the weight up to 60lbs if desired.

The fit is good overall, but the torso straps design needs a rethink. The velcro for tightening the torso straps runs from front to back, which makes them difficult to tighten fully without another person pulling them behind you.

The MIR vest works well for WODs in general, although I’m not a fan of this vest for running.

The bricks have a tendency to bounce left to right while running, which as a man is very unpleasant and the closest I ever intend to come to needing a sports bra!

As for mobility, this vest always felt kind of bulky and awkward to me.

The bricks are as big as bars of soap, and since it doesn’t take very many of them to reach 20lbs it’s hard to distribute them in a way that feels natural.

None of the other adjustable options I tested had this issue.

MIR Air Flow Weight Vest fit – front, side, and back

I also think the MIR Air Flow vest was one of the less breathable options I’ve tested, despite having “Air Flow” in the product name.

I don’t know what material the MIR is constructed from, but it feels like a thick nylon, close to denim in density. Whatever it is, it absorbs sweat and gets hot quickly.

The MIR Air Flow Adjustable Weighted Vest would not be my first choice for a weight vest, but it does the job and can be loaded all the way up to 60lbs if needed.

Summary

Condor Sentry Plate Carrier Review

The CATI Armor Ergonomic Fitness Plates is 100% designed for tactical use by law enforcement and military, but the relatively low cost and wide availability have made it a popular option for use in weight vest training.

The fit can be adjusted in four places to accommodate most body shapes, but smaller people might have a problem getting a good fit.

The panels should be worn as high as possible to avoid sagging, but the shoulder pads could potentially limit the amount of adjustment that can be done to the panels. I had no issues, but I could see where short people might have to remove the padding to get a better fit.

I found that it took some trial and error to get the shoulders adjusted just right for me, but once I got it dialed in I never had to mess with it again. The sides are secured with quick release buckles, so it’s very easy to quickly tighten or remove this vest.

The shoulder straps and inside panels of the carriers are padded with a cushy mesh material, allowing for a very comfortable fit. I also like that there are velcro strips across the front and back that can be used for customizing the vest with hook-and-loop patches.

The Condor Sentry stays very secure during movements, including running and jumping. The shoulder padding does inhibit overhead movement somewhat, but otherwise mobility in this vest is very good.

Incidentally, this is a great weight vest to use for a WOD like Murph.

Condor Sentry fit, loaded with CATI Armor plates – Planet Express patch not included

I really like the Condor Sentry, I just wish it didn’t look so…tactical.

I’m an engineer, not a veteran or a first responder, so I can’t help but feel like a bit of a poser when I wear it, more tacti-cool than tacti-cal.

However, some people can really rock a tactical vest and look like a total badass, so if you’re one of those people, kudos to you!

How I feel when I’m wearing a tactical vest

Discounting the funny looks from people as I run around my neighborhood in a tactical plate carrier, this is an awesome vest.

When combined with the CATI Armor Ergonomic Plates (covered below), the Condor Sentry Plate Carrier is second favorite weight vest option and my top pick for a budget weight vest.

Summary

BCS Extreme Lightweight Plate Carrier Review

The BCS Extreme Lightweight Plate Carrier (ELPC for short) is designed to be a lightweight and low profile carrier, and I would say they’ve hit their mark.

The ELPC is indeed light, and slim enough to be worn under loose clothing.

BCS Ultimate Concealable Plate Carrier, loaded with CATI Armor plates

The fit on the ELPC is adjusted using elastic straps and velcro. There’s literally only four pieces that make up the entire vest, so it’s fairly easy to make changes to get the fit just right.

The elastic holds well, and the vest stays in place pretty well during runs and jumping exercises.

This vest is very snug when used with ergonomic plates like the ones from CATI armor I cover below, and mobility is very good.

Simple no-frills design – lightweight, but no padding anywhere

The biggest downside to the BCS Extreme Lightweight Plate Carrier is a complete lack of padding.

There’s no padding in the shoulders or on the panels, which keeps the carrier light and low profile, but can be hard on the shoulders and torso during intense exercise.

If you do happen to buy this vest, you might consider buying some trauma pads to go inside the pockets with the plates.

Not strictly necessary, but they do make this vest more comfortable to wear with heavy plates.

BCS ELPC loaded with Rogue Cast Plates and CATI trauma pads

Summary

CATI Armor Ergonomic Fitness Plates Review

CATI Armor Ergonomic Fitness Plates came onto my radar when I was researching options for this article.

Unlike companies who are primarily fitness gear providers, CATI makes ballistic armor designed to be worn close to the body for long periods of time.

As a result, they have lots of experience with ergonomics, so developing an ergonomic fitness plate was a natural extension.

**CATI Armor discount code: Use code ‘FITNESSTESTLAB’ for a 5% discount on your purchase!

Use code ‘FITNESSTESTLAB’ for a 5% discount on your purchase

You might be wondering what I mean by an ‘ergonomic’ plate. Until very recently, most weight plates designed for fitness were flat slabs of metal (like the Fringe Sport plates covered below).

Flat plates work okay for fitness purposes, but since they don’t conform to the body they tend to limit mobility of the wearer.

The CATI Ergonomic Fitness Plates are different in that they are curved in multiple places to conform to your body, resulting in a more secure and snug fit. Take a look at the writeup I did for the Condor Sentry above for pictures of how they fit.

Combined with the swimmer’s cut, these plates are hands down the best plate option for adding weight without restricting mobility.

These plates are so good that I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before the broader fitness industry moves away from flat plates entirely and toward multi-curved plates.

In fact, it’s already started – Rogue Fitness recently introduced their own curved plates (covered below), but they aren’t nearly as good as these CATI plates.

If you happen to buy these plates, I suggest picking up a couple of trauma pads as well.

CATI Armor swimmers cut Trauma Pads

Trauma pads are basically extra padding that sits between the plate and the inside of your plate carrier, adding an extra layer of cushion.

CATI plate & trauma pad, more cushin’ for the pushin’ (of weights!)

When these plates were originally introduced, they were only offered in a single weight – 8.75lb per plate.

This is a useful weight, but not necessarily the right weight for everyone. CATI Armor has recently introduced an additional three sizes of weight plates, for a total of four different options!

The weights are: 3.75lb, 5.75lb, 8.75lb, and 13.75lbs.

Note that these weights are for individual plates, and each weight is sold in pairs.

Four weight sizes to choose from

I took the time to weigh each plate set, and I found that three out of four were true to the stated weights.

The 13.75lb plates were heavier than listed, weighing in at 14.25lb per plate. These plates are for you monsters out there that like to go full on beast mode in your workouts

The CATI Ergonomic Fitness Plates are hands down my favorite plates for use with a plate carrier.

Combined with the Condor Sentry, these plates are my top pick for a budget weight vest option and the size is perfect for CrossFit WODs like Murph.

Summary

Rogue USA Cast Weight Vest Plates Review

The Rogue USA Cast Weight Plates are Rogue’s answer to a long standing problem with fitness plates – flat plates that get the job done but aren’t comfortable and inhibit mobility.

Rogue’s new line of multi-curved Weight Plates are definitely a step in the right direction.

Rogue Fitness Cast Weight Vest Plates

The Rogue USA Cast Weight Plates provide enough curve to be more comfortable than flat plates, and mobility in these plates is decent.

My biggest grip with these plates is the sizing – for some reason Rogue made them smaller than a standard 10×12 size, which means they don’t fit snugly in either of the plate carriers I tested.

This causes them to shift around inside the plate carrier sometimes during running or jumping movements.

Rogue USA Cast Weight Plates fit – front, side, and back

Despite their odd size and tendency to shift, they are still more comfortable than flat plates.

The Rogue USA Cast Weight Plates are a couple steps below the CATI Ergonomic Plates I covered above in terms of comfort and mobility, but I’m sure Rogue is still going to sell several boatloads of them.

Summary

Fringe Sport Tactical Vest Weight Plates Review

No review of weight vest options would be complete without a discussion of flat plates.

Several companies offer flat weight vest plates, I just so happened to test the Tactical Weight Vest Plates from Fringe Sport for this article.

Flat plates have been the standard option for use with plate carriers for weight vest training for many years, and for good reason. They’re cheap(ish), durable, and they get the job done.

However, getting the job done sometimes isn’t enough.

Wearing the Fringe Sport Tactical Vest Weight Plates in a plate carrier feels like wearing a metal box, with about as much mobility as you’d expect from wearing a metal box.

Fringe Sport Weight Plates for Tactical Vest fit – front, side, and back

Movement in the Fringe Sport Weight Plates is just awkward, especially after having tested the more ergonomic options from CATI and Rogue.

There’s only a few points of contact between your body and these plates, so it’s tricky to get a fit that stays secure during even moderate exercise. I found that my plate carrier had a tendency to shift around quite a bit when I was using these plates.

I know people exercise with flat plates every day, it’s just hard to get excited about these when I know there are better options available.

And I’m not trying to pick on Fringe Sport here, they just happened to be the flat plate option I tested.  These points apply to any flat plate regardless of vendor.

Summary

Other options considered

The list below documents other weight vest options I considered for inclusion, but ultimately decided against for various reasons.

5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier

The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is the standard for the CrossFit games and I’m sure it can stand up to abuse, but it’s also 4x the price of the Condor Sentry with very little benefit added for fitness purposes. I do plan to review this carrier at some point, I just had to draw the line somewhere to cut down on expenses for this article. 

RUNmax Pro Weighted Vest

BOX Weighted Vest

Wrap up

Like I said at the beginning of this article, a weight vest is a great way to amp up your training without a huge investment in cash or storage space. There are a lot of different options available, but only a few are truly versatile enough to be used for every kind of workout. 

Whether you end up buying one of the options I tested or something else, make sure you know how you plan to use your vest and do as much research as possible before making a purchase. It’s the only way to be sure you don’t get stuck with a vest that doesn’t suit your needs. 

Do you have any questions I didn’t cover or suggestions for other vests you’d like to see tested? Drop me a line in the comments below!