A fitness vest is a trusty, wearable device that offers a low impact option to effectively boost your fitness level. By adding extra weight when performing even the simplest routines such as walking and agility exercises, you can increase the intensity of your workouts, making it harder to perform but with the benefit of added speed, endurance, strength, and explosiveness.

Before you start browsing for the best weighted vest in Australia, here are things that every beginner should know about them:

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1. You don’t need to be an athlete to wear a weighted vest.

Most professional athletes use weighted vests during their trainings. But this doesn’t mean that average people can’t use them as well. If you want to up the ante and fully optimise time spent on exercise, a weighted vest is an excellent option.
In fact, you can wear a weighted vest while doing chores around the house.

The extra weight placed on your body will certainly help shed unwanted calories and increased bone density to boot. You can always start with a light weight and work your way up once your body gets used to the added weight.

2. It’s a great tool to break through a weight loss plateau.

Losing weight can be frustrating especially when you reach a plateau. You may be counting calories, sleeping right, and working out twice as hard, but those last few kilos simply won’t go away. To realise your weight loss goal once and for all, you should try using a weighted vest to implement the same workout routines for weight loss.

The extra weight from the vest will help increase muscle stone, stamina, and overall strength. Wearing a weighted vest will increase the intensity of your weight loss workouts resulting in greater calorie burn.

Weighted vest workouts are also perfect for individuals with intermediate fitness level. The additional intensity offered by a weighted vest will make workout routines more challenging – not too easy nor too difficult.

3. A weighted vest comes in various fabrics or materials.

One of the biggest considerations when shopping for weighted vest is the material or fabric. It’s smart to invest in a weighted vest made from durable fabrics. Since you will be wearing it regularly and close to your body, it’s best to choose a water or moisture resistant weighted vest.

Since you are definitely going to sweat, and in some cases, cry, during intense workouts, you want a vest that does not absorb excessive moisture or water. A good quality weighted vest should also be easy to clean or disinfect for convenience and ensure you can use it on a regular basis.

It is unavoidable that the vest will accumulate bacteria due to perspiration and external factors. Make sure to choose one that you can easily wipe clean and disinfect in between workouts to prevent skin irritation and allergies.

Pick a weighted vest for training that allows full range of motion to prevent it from getting damaged. You want to choose a vest that facilitates optimal chest expansion to ensure you are getting enough oxygen into the lungs during workouts.

Ideally, choose a weighted vest made from moisture-wicking materials ensuring optimal breathability and comfort. Moisture wick fabrics are excellent at preventing sweat from getting in contact with your skin.

4. You can build bigger muscles using a weighted vest.

The added weight from a weighted vest is proven to in increase bone mass, connective tissue, and a stronger musculoskeletal system. You will notice an increase in muscle mass after a few weeks of regular use. If you want to further speed up muscle growth, you need to add more weights into your vest.

5. There is a limit to the weight you can carry while wearing a weighted vest.

A weighted vest should not weigh more than 10 percent of your total body weight. Regardless of your fitness level, experts recommend using this guideline to ensure a safe workout, free from accidents and injuries.

If you want to make the most bang for your buck, it is recommended to purchase a weighted best that allows you to add more weight over time. Start working out wearing a vest weighing five to ten pounds and work your way up as your overall fitness level improves.

6. You cannot wear a weighted vest for extended periods.

One of the major selling points of a weighted vest is that it can feel extremely comfortable to wear once you get used to using it for workouts. Although effective in making your workouts exciting and effective, it is contraindicated to wear them all day or for extended periods. You want your body to recover not only from the workouts but also the added the weight on your body.

Remove it immediately after workouts to give your body time to rest and recover. Prolonged wearing of the vest can result in muscle soreness and strain that can affect your performance during subsequent workouts.