Weighted Vest?

[jeepfan]

I'm 55 and need to do a better job of staying in shape. I have a VA mountain hunt coming up in the fall. Lost 40lbs 2 years ago and 10 have slipped back on even though I still watch what I eat. I did however quit the elliptical because I grew to loath it. I am thinking about a weighted vest and walking/hiking and enjoying the outdoors. Good or bad idea? Who makes a good one that won't break the bank?

 

[MuleyFever]

I have to do a pack test once a year with a weighted vest. It is a workout. A few things I don’t like is it is really hard on the knees and all the weight is on your shoulders. Using a good pack with weight may be a lot better on the back.

 

[Luziana Feller]

+1 for weighted vests being terrible for your body. Unless you wear it for added weight doing upper body exercises. I used to run trail races and never contended with injuries until I started training with a weighted vest. Shin splints, ankle problems, patella, low back...worst thing i ever did for fitness.

 

[jeepfan]

I will only be hiking or walking. So still a no go with say under 20lbs in a vest for walking and hiking and maybe biking on rolling terrain? What about ankle weights? Just want to add a little more to normal activity.

 

[Coach Chris]

I have this vest and a couple other designs

Robot or human?

It's comfortable enough.
For hiking I prefer to ruck as opposed to a vest.

Stay away from ankle weights. They're hard on joints and screw up biomechanics

 

[Dragonfish]

Get a good pack

 

[jeepfan]

There are a bunch that are styled like this that don't look like they will be too hot. I'm probably only interested in 20lb.

Amazon.com : Aduro Sport Weighted Vest Workout Equipment, 20lbs (9.07 KG) Body Weight Vest for Men, Women, Kids : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Aduro Sport Weighted Vest Workout Equipment, 20lbs (9.07 KG) Body Weight Vest for Men, Women, Kids : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

 

[Luziana Feller]

If you want weights for walking/hiking get a weight belt...assuming you dont have a frame pack? I would start light no matter what. Maybe 10 lbs then work up

 

[*zap*]

camelback mule or similar pack with a few weight plates in it.

 

[Dirty-D]

good pack works, I use a weighted vest for other types of workouts Hyperwear makes the best one, pricy but it's good. I am running it with 15# right now, (about 10% of my body weight) it makes a big difference when running, pushups, situps, any ground based exercise since all the weight is in your upper body.

 

[jeepfan]

A frame pack is not going to work for me. Some of my hikes/walks are 2-3 miles at a time in the evening from my house down the road to the state land trail and back. I don't care to take a pack. For what I would put in a weighted vest I could put in a Kuiu 500 and bladder which would get me up to 7lbs when full. I could add another sandbag to get me up to 10 or more.