5 Best Weighted Vests of 2025 to Level Up Your Workout Routine

Functional training is increasingly all the rage, and adding one of the best weighted vests into the mix is a great way to add some extra difficulty to many of the exercises that are the base components of a functional workout program. If you can do more than 10 bodyweight pull-ups or dips unassisted, then adding even 20 pounds of weight will help you build strength by lowering your rep range (considering you go to failure during your set). Plus, when you take the vest off and go straight into bodyweight pull-ups, it’ll feel like you’re flying around those bars.

Throwing on a weighted vest while running or walking is another great way to boost cardio by adding an extra challenge. Start with a lighter weight at first, especially when running. I crank the treadmill incline up, set a decent walking pace, and get moving. The weight makes things noticeably harder, adding muscular engagement in your legs, while helping to build zone 2 cardio. You can squat, lunge, do push-ups—really anything where you are required to carry your own body weight. The vest holds the weight close to your chest and stays balanced.

The Best Weighted Vests, According to GQ

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The Best Overall

5.11 Tactical TacTec Trainer Weight Vest

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The Adjustable Pick

TRX Hexgrip Weighted Vest

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The Budget Pick

Aduro Sport Weighted Vest

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Best Weighted Vest Overall: 5.11 Tactical TACTEC Trainer Weight Vest

The Tactec Trainer Weight Vest from 5.11 Tactical is a versatile and reliable option. It uses a two-plate system with options ranging from 5.75 to 13.75 pounds per plate. The shoulder straps are adjustable, and breathable mesh padding is used throughout, promoting airflow to keep you cooler and more comfortable. The Tactec vest also offers great storage options, with two pockets built into the waist straps that are perfect for stashing keys, credit cards, and other essentials during your workout. 5.11 Tactical is also known for making high-quality, genuine plate carriers, the kind that stop bullets, and the trainer weight vest looks the most like one of any vest on this list. Overall, it is a great choice for a durable and comfortable weighted vest with built-in storage. Pro tip: add your dog for an extra challenge, and bonus points if they’re the same color as your vest.

Best Adjustable Weighted Vest: TRX Hexgrip Weighted Vest

If you want the ability to tailor the weight of your vest to the specific workout it is used for, then the TRX Dura-Ballistic Weight Vest is for you. Most vests either have the weight built-in or utilize two plates of a predetermined weight that can’t be adjusted (a single set of weight plates are pricey enough as it is). The TRX vest uses over a dozen weight bricks that can be easily removed or added to adjust the weight. Take a few out to minimize injury while weighted running, and easily add them back to build strength in your pull ups and dips. It also stays in place really well, with an overlapping velcro waist band system. One vest, fit for any occasion; one vest to rule them all.

Best Budget Weighted Vest: Aduro Sport

Weighted vests can get expensive, usually upwards of $250 including weight. The Aduro Sport weighted vest is a great way to access the same functional strength and cardio gains without burning a massive hole in your wallet. Its 20-pound option is just $90 and offers a low profile, contoured fit. It may not come in a host of colors or have the ability to be adjusted, but it will get you just as strong.

Best Low-Profile Weighted Vest: Omorpho G-Vest

Many weighted vests employ a two plate system that pretty seriously resembles the style of body armor used by law enforcement and the military to stop bullets (these weighted vests won’t, by the way, so don’t try it). Even those vests that don’t look like body armor can still be bulky and potentially constrict your movements.

The Omorpho G-Vest changes that. Instead of weight plates it uses a multitude of “G-Spheres” (tiny weighted balls that are built into and spread evenly around the vest). This creates a very balanced weighted vest that hugs close to the body and wont impede your movement. At 10 pounds, it is lighter than most while still providing an extra challenge, great for running, walking, or any manner of isometric exercises.

Most Comfortable Weighted Vest: GoRuck Training Weight Vest 2.0

It is no secret that GoRuck is making some of the highest quality gear out there right now, and their Training Weight Vest 2.0 is no exception. Like many of their rucks and kettlebells, it utilizes high-strength 1000D Cordura. They borrowed the heavily padded shoulder straps from their Rucker backpack to ensure it stays comfortable even at higher loads. The top corners of the front plate pocket are also curved to help the plates contour more closely to the body. The interior is lined with a less abrasive 210D Cordura that is soft enough to be worn shirtless while still retaining enough strength to hold up for years to come. The training weighted vest utilizes a two-plate system that is compatible with most standard weight plates and features two Velcro waist belt straps to hold it in a secure position. Like most of GoRuck’s gear, this weighted vest is paired down to the essentials and built to the highest standards of quality. Snag one and get moving.

What to Look for in a Weighted Vest

Comfort: You will likely be wearing the vest loaded with increasingly heavy weight for extended periods of time, so comfort is a big thing to look for. Keep an eye out for padded shoulders and ventilation.

Durability: You want your weighted vest to last you through years of intense use, so durability is important. Higher strength Cordura nylon will serve you well. Although some of the suggested vests are on the pricier side they offer a straightforward and durable product, devoid of gimmicks, that will help you achieve your fitness goals.