|
|
|
|
Big_Boss
Level 0
Join date: Sep 2006
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 4624
|
|
Well..I ordered a MiR 50lb short weighted vest...should be here middle of next week. Anyways,I was curious to the experience of others who have(or currently) use weighted vests for conditioning. What kind of workouts do you use your vest for? Running/Walking? Bodyweight exercises? Etc??
I know Google could be my friend right now...but I want feedback. Thanks.
|
|
| Report Post |
|
|
 |
|
|
polo77j
Level 4
Join date: Nov 2005
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Posts: 3950
|
|
Big_Boss wrote:
Well..I ordered a MiR 50lb short weighted vest...should be here middle of next week. Anyways,I was curious to the experience of others who have(or currently) use weighted vests for conditioning. What kind of workouts do you use your vest for? Running/Walking? Bodyweight exercises? Etc??
I know Google could be my friend right now...but I want feedback. Thanks.
I use mine for GHR's and sprints and box jumps ... I'll put it on for some plyo stuff too. It's a great addition for my outside stuff. |
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
gainera2582
Level 1
Join date: Apr 2006
Location:
Posts: 360
|
|
It can be used for anything as long as you have an imagination. I would advise going less than 10% if you plan on running with the vest, otherwise, it can hamper your form!!!! |
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
Big_Boss
Level 0
Join date: Sep 2006
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 4624
|
|
gainera2582 wrote:
It can be used for anything as long as you have an imagination. I would advise going less than 10% if you plan on running with the vest, otherwise, it can hamper your form!!!!
Yeah..I'm already a big guy. I don't plan on running with it and putting more stress on my joints. I have considered walking hills...or even sprinting hills with it since that would be less stress than pounding pavement.
But I primarily will be using the vest for bodyweight exercises and maybe adding it to my deadlifting/front squatting. |
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FightinIrish26
Level 0
Join date: Feb 2005
Location: New Jersey, USA
Posts: 11048
|
|
Big_Boss wrote:
gainera2582 wrote:
It can be used for anything as long as you have an imagination. I would advise going less than 10% if you plan on running with the vest, otherwise, it can hamper your form!!!!
Yeah..I'm already a big guy. I don't plan on running with it and putting more stress on my joints. I have considered walking hills...or even sprinting hills with it since that would be less stress than pounding pavement.
But I primarily will be using the vest for bodyweight exercises and maybe adding it to my deadlifting/front squatting.
I would do pushups/pullups/bodyweight squats, and take it from there.
|
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
Big_Boss
Level 0
Join date: Sep 2006
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 4624
|
|
FightinIrish26 wrote:
Big_Boss wrote:
gainera2582 wrote:
It can be used for anything as long as you have an imagination. I would advise going less than 10% if you plan on running with the vest, otherwise, it can hamper your form!!!!
Yeah..I'm already a big guy. I don't plan on running with it and putting more stress on my joints. I have considered walking hills...or even sprinting hills with it since that would be less stress than pounding pavement.
But I primarily will be using the vest for bodyweight exercises and maybe adding it to my deadlifting/front squatting.
I would do pushups/pullups/bodyweight squats, and take it from there.
Yeah,I plan to start out simple.....although I don't know about using them for pullups just yet...I do good to get my own 300lbs bodyweight up..lol. Although if I use a jump stretch band..hmmm. |
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
derf
Level 4
Join date: Oct 2006
Location: Nevada, USA
Posts: 18
|
|
I've been using a backpack full of sand bags myself for the last 6 months. Use it to hike the mountains around town 2-3 times a week for 1 1/2 to 3 hours each. I have several routes of varying steepness. Has done wonders for both fat loss and conditoning. I just have to watch going down real steep areas, if I'm not careful my knees let me know the next day.
Started with 20#, now topped out at 50#. Good Stuff |
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
poophead
Level 4
Join date: Apr 2007
Location: New York, USA
Posts: 206
|
|
Big Boss, Jim Wendler wrote an article the exercises (strength & conditioning) he uses the weight vest for over at elitefts.com.
www.elitefts.com/documents/weight_vest.htm
I've got a 40 lb. X-Vest also but I won't run with one on. I'm 6'1" 240 lbs and my shins and ankles would rebel for days if not weeks. I have walked long distances and done stairs at the local stadium with it though. Hell of a workout.
|
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Big_Boss
Level 0
Join date: Sep 2006
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 4624
|
|
poophead wrote:
Big Boss, Jim Wendler wrote an article the exercises (strength & conditioning) he uses the weight vest for over at elitefts.com.
www.elitefts.com/documents/weight_vest.htm
I've got a 40 lb. X-Vest also but I won't run with one on. I'm 6'1" 240 lbs and my shins and ankles would rebel for days if not weeks. I have walked long distances and done stairs at the local stadium with it though. Hell of a workout.
Thanks,man.....I thought about the X-Vest,but that damn thing is expensive...you must of received a pretty good deal on one. And I figured it would have hindered my movement for certain things I plan on using the vest for. |
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
PB-Crawl
Level 1
Join date: May 2008
Location: California, USA
Posts: 665
|
|
ive got a cheapo 40lb vest i use with sledge work, box jumps, tire flippin and my diy sled/prowler. It will really make you hate yourself for doing it, but it helps a lot.
i got my vest on liquidation so i wasnt worried but next time around i'll def spend more on higher quality vest. |
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
Big_Boss
Level 0
Join date: Sep 2006
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 4624
|
|
Well my vest came in...let the fun begin. I'm gonna have to lighten it up for a while..this bitch is heavy. At least to me...I'm a weighted-vest virgin. |
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
Rasslore
Level 4
Join date: Jun 2007
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 110
|
|
Hey Boss. I love working out with a weighted vest. I customarily run keep-it-simple-stupid style workouts with it on. Such as Deadlift > Dips > Chins or Squat > Horizontal Row > Push-ups, performed in circuit fashion. Nothing to write home about, but pretty effective to run every other day. |
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
jd_dd
Level 4
Join date: Oct 2005
Location: Louisiana, USA
Posts: 221
|
|
My son and I used our 20 lb vests for everything from sprints to 1-on-1 basketball games to plyo stuff (box jumps, etc).
We also do bodyweight circuits with them with including everything from pull-ups, push-ups, bw squats, walking planks (walking on your hands and feet in the up part of the push-up position), and yes, even burpees. :) |
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
john2009
Level 3
Join date: Sep 2006
Location:
Posts: 240
|
|
All good suggestions. I throw mine on when cutting the grass and walking the dog. |
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
Big_Boss
Level 0
Join date: Sep 2006
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 4624
|
|
jd_dd wrote:
My son and I used our 20 lb vests for everything from sprints to 1-on-1 basketball games to plyo stuff (box jumps, etc).
We also do bodyweight circuits with them with including everything from pull-ups, push-ups, bw squats, walking planks (walking on your hands and feet in the up part of the push-up position), and yes, even burpees. :)
I will be giving the burpees a try tomorrow. If you don't see a response from me in a few days,you'll know why. I dead. |
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
1000rippedbuff
Level 0
Join date: Jul 2008
Location:
Posts: 220
|
|
I use one all the time. I'm looking to buy one that weighs 100lbs and work up to much heavier weights on the bodyweight exercise circuits. |
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
jj-dude
Level 1
Join date: Jul 2006
Location: Illinois, USA
Posts: 386
|
|
Big_Boss wrote:
Well..I ordered a MiR 50lb short weighted vest...should be here middle of next week. Anyways,I was curious to the experience of others who have(or currently) use weighted vests for conditioning. What kind of workouts do you use your vest for? Running/Walking? Bodyweight exercises? Etc??
I know Google could be my friend right now...but I want feedback. Thanks.
Things a vest is good for:
* pushups (dive bombers rock), dips, pullups, rows (put a barbell low, lie underneath it and pull yourself up) and squats (there are lots of these, probably more variations than any other exercise). Single-legged squats work better since the vest balances the free leg. Single-legged deads are pretty good too, but be able to do them without a load first.
* whole body exercises, like burps (a burpee is where you stand up, a burp is where you stay on all 4's and just contract/expand), jump squats, jumping jacks and the like.
* some types of plyo leg work, e.g. box jumps, hops. Plyo upper body work is a no-no with a vest on, e.g., hand-clap pushups (Boxers and MA-ers love these because they make your hand fast.) The higher load means your hands have to be in a very specific location and being off a bit can be very bad for you, as in faceplant + shoulder dislocation.
* tabatas! I love squat tabatas with a vest on, as well as pullup or pushup tabatas. Be seriously prepared to toss your cookies the first time through if you've never done tabatas before.
* walking. Very good for walking. Backpacks put the load in the wrong place for a longer walk, so a vest is better.
Things I would not use a vest for
* Anything that requires genuine agility, e.g., footwork drills. My direct experience with doing a whole bunch of these with my Xvest topped out at 40 lbs. is that they threw my timing way off. I certainly felt more powerful, but agility has a timing component and if you mistrain this it is very bad. Same reason I don't practice punching with weights. Your body learns to put the foot down to support the weight, so when the weight comes off, the floor effectively can avoid you. Argh!
* Swimming. (Srsly!) Maybe if I was more dedicated, but...
* Biking. In the case of biking, just stick stuff on the frame. All I found was that my palms got sore and I got a backache because, again, I had to support a load that was not in an anatomically good position.
* Running. Sprints with one on would be great as a total body exercise, as long as you make sure you have a very nice, straight level place to do it, because with the load higher on your body, what would be a minor mis-step can end up putting you down hard with a faceplant. I tried jogging with it lightly loaded and definitely noticed ankle and knee pain. So endurance cardio is a no-no. Treadmill sprints are not a viable substitute since you posterior chain mostly shuts off as the belt pulls you through the motion.
* Rolling and falling (I am a martial artist). Oh doing it with a plate held at the hip is good training, but with a vest on, *ouch* on rolling over the weights. Got nicely black and blue first 9and only) time I tried it.
-- jj |
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
Nanan
Level 3
Join date: May 2008
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 183
|
|
I have a 50lb vest that I wear for a few things...
Vest + 3L Camelbak bag + 25 mile bicycle rides avg ~15mph
burpees
narrow/wide pushup's
narrow/wide arm pullups
24" jumps(onto concrete curb)
sprints, short distance across tennis courts
walking lunges, ""
running up stairs, 3 flights(I live on 3rd floor)
This vest came from a local fitness supply store, not the best quality, it is starting to rip in a few places from general use. I plan on replacing it with a better quality vest of 75lb or maybe 100lb variable. |
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
tiggersdesire
Level 4
Join date: Jun 2007
Location: New York, USA
Posts: 17
|
|
My experience with my x-vest is good for push-ups, chins, and stuff like box jumps. My advice is to be careful when doing a box jump and then jumping down off the box/wall. I screwed my back up jumping down. Instead step down instead of jumping down. Obviously the more weight the more careful you need to be. I have 50lb's in the vest now and it can hold 84lb's. It is very difficult to carry. I bought a piece of wood 2x2 to slide through the arm loops to carry it. The best way to carry it is to wear it. People look at me very strange, why is this scary man wearing a bullet proof vest. |
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
Big_Boss
Level 0
Join date: Sep 2006
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 4624
|
|
jj-dude wrote:
Big_Boss wrote:
Well..I ordered a MiR 50lb short weighted vest...should be here middle of next week. Anyways,I was curious to the experience of others who have(or currently) use weighted vests for conditioning. What kind of workouts do you use your vest for? Running/Walking? Bodyweight exercises? Etc??
I know Google could be my friend right now...but I want feedback. Thanks.
Things a vest is good for:
* pushups (dive bombers rock), dips, pullups, rows (put a barbell low, lie underneath it and pull yourself up) and squats (there are lots of these, probably more variations than any other exercise). Single-legged squats work better since the vest balances the free leg. Single-legged deads are pretty good too, but be able to do them without a load first.
* whole body exercises, like burps (a burpee is where you stand up, a burp is where you stay on all 4's and just contract/expand), jump squats, jumping jacks and the like.
* some types of plyo leg work, e.g. box jumps, hops. Plyo upper body work is a no-no with a vest on, e.g., hand-clap pushups (Boxers and MA-ers love these because they make your hand fast.) The higher load means your hands have to be in a very specific location and being off a bit can be very bad for you, as in faceplant + shoulder dislocation.
* tabatas! I love squat tabatas with a vest on, as well as pullup or pushup tabatas. Be seriously prepared to toss your cookies the first time through if you've never done tabatas before.
* walking. Very good for walking. Backpacks put the load in the wrong place for a longer walk, so a vest is better.
Things I would not use a vest for
* Anything that requires genuine agility, e.g., footwork drills. My direct experience with doing a whole bunch of these with my Xvest topped out at 40 lbs. is that they threw my timing way off. I certainly felt more powerful, but agility has a timing component and if you mistrain this it is very bad. Same reason I don't practice punching with weights. Your body learns to put the foot down to support the weight, so when the weight comes off, the floor effectively can avoid you. Argh!
* Swimming. (Srsly!) Maybe if I was more dedicated, but...
* Biking. In the case of biking, just stick stuff on the frame. All I found was that my palms got sore and I got a backache because, again, I had to support a load that was not in an anatomically good position.
* Running. Sprints with one on would be great as a total body exercise, as long as you make sure you have a very nice, straight level place to do it, because with the load higher on your body, what would be a minor mis-step can end up putting you down hard with a faceplant. I tried jogging with it lightly loaded and definitely noticed ankle and knee pain. So endurance cardio is a no-no. Treadmill sprints are not a viable substitute since you posterior chain mostly shuts off as the belt pulls you through the motion.
* Rolling and falling (I am a martial artist). Oh doing it with a plate held at the hip is good training, but with a vest on, *ouch* on rolling over the weights. Got nicely black and blue first 9and only) time I tried it.
-- jj
Good stuff...thanks. Yeah,I've pretty much found out on my own what the vest is not best for. I definitely don't use it during my technique-oriented stuff(muay thai)...only for conditioning aspects...as I intended.
|
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
mistabreeze
Level 4
Join date: Dec 2005
Location: North Carolina, USA
Posts: 19
|
|
JJ hit it on the head, just be careful doing any sprinting or jogging whether it be outside or on a treadmill. The impact on the lower back, hips, knees, and ankles is , IMO, not worth the trade off related to the possibility of injury. I use a Mir that adjusts to 80lb, I got it while training for the firefighter agility test, and I continue to use it still. It is a great training tool. Best of luck. |
|
| Report Post |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Article Discussions
