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5 Benefits of Weight Vest Training

A weighted vest is simply a fitted vest that is loaded with on-target amounts of weight, so that you feel the immediate addition of carrying extra weight when you put it on. It is a tool for a specific kind of fitness workout that focuses on burning a lot of calories. The weighted vest can help give more work to the muscles involved in diverse activities from running to lunges, squats and more.

If you have never worn a weighted vest while exercising before, a quick read through of this article may just change the way you do things. Here are a few benefits of weight vest training.

1. Increased Fitness Level

As you start your new experience with weight vest training, you can build up your fitness level little by little as your body adjusts to its comfort zone. You should pay attention to your body before adding extra weights in your vest. As you continue training, your body will adjust to the new intensity.

2. Better Balance and Posture

Another benefit that you can get from using a weighted vest during any sort of exercise routine is that it helps you to enhance balance and posture. Using a weighted vest helps increase your body’s ability to balance because of the extra amount of weight on your upper body. When you move your upper body in any given direction, gravity pulls you toward the ground, thus forcing your body to drive the accurate balance.

Having good posture is really important because always having a bent back and being slouched over can lead to some seriously painful back problems, especially as you get up there in age.

weighted vest

3. Improved Bone Strength

Wearing a weighted vest helps increase the strength and density of your bones. For this to be a benefit, there are a few reminders: you need to wear the weighted vest during workouts that are known as weight bearing exercises, as well as exercises where you put a load on your bones, such as squats, running, push-ups and anything else where you are forced to hold up your own weight.

4. Intensity of Variable

One big benefit you get from using a weighted vest is that you can easily change the intensity of any given routine, because most weighted vests are adjustable in nature. You can take out or add weights to suit your particular needs.

rope climbs in weighted vest

5. Losing Body Fat

As it increases the intensity and requires you to do more work, wearing a weighted vest is a great way to increase the weight loss effects of any workout.

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Review – HumanX Weight Vest

HUMANX WEIGHT VEST REVIEW THANKS TO JOELXFIT AMRAP

20lb Weight Vest

The best weight vest that I’ve used. Why?  Because it FITS.

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All the other weight vests that I’ve used prior to this were always too clunky and cumbersome to wear for me to even want to bother with them.  The HumanX weight vest just never feels like it’s in the way while its on.  Adjustable in 1lb increments up to 20lbs using sand cartridges fitted into pockets in the inner lining of the vest.  Weighted muscle-ups (see my IG for video) and pull-ups are as easy as weighted muscle-ups and pull-ups could be, with 20 extra pounds on. The HumanX vest contours to your body and fits snugly without being uncomfortable to wear.  Honestly, I could walk around with this thing on all day, if I wanted to walk around with 20 extra pounds on me, that is (I really should).  I really dig the look of the vest too.  Take notes manufacturers, a little style to go with that utility never hurt anyone.

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While the weight is somewhat limited, I haven’t found any workout needing anything heavier than 20lbs.  The HumanX vest should be your number 1 choice when it comes to weight vests for crossfit or whatever activities you do that require you to be somewhat agile.  A weight vest is a pretty simple thing, right?  They should just FIT, like the HumanX one does.

These are available at The WOD Life for $119.95 >>> HERE

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Review – wodLIFTS

wodLIFTS Review thanks to JoelXFIT Amrap

“Nano’s…or Oly shoes…what a dilemma.”

I know we’ve all thought this to ourselves while the coach writes the WOD on the white board.  You hope to never see some kind of heavy Oly lift or overhead squats paired with box jumps, double unders and maybe a run.  Hell, it could be “Nancy”.  But in reality, this kind of WOD happens all the damn time and you’ve got to pick and either sacrifice ankle stability/power delivery or foot mobility.

This is where wodLIFTS comes to save the day, kinda.

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wodLIFTS are an insert that you put under (or on top) of the insole of your favorite cross training shoes.  Designed to be used with minimalist shoes, i.e. crossfit shoes; such as Reebok Crossfit Nano’s and Inov-8’s.  The inserts are made of a solid, hard plastic and add about a half inch to your shoe’s heel height, landing you at about .75? depending on what shoes you’re putting them into.  They offer 3 different sized inserts, ranging all the way from women’s size 5 shoe, to mens 10.5+ (mine are medium).  As far as weight goes, mediums weigh 4.5 ounces (128 grams).  wodLIFT’s retail at $49.95 for a single pair.

Installation is easy enough.  If you’re using Reebok Nano’s (any of them), you’re going to need to peel off the insole and slide the wodLIFTS in.  For Inov-8’s, just take out the removable insole, put the wodLIFT in and replace the insole.  The shoes I used for my testing are Nano 3.0’s and Inov-8 252’s (Both 9mm heel height, Nano’s = 4mm drop, 252 = 3mm).

Alright, now that all that technical mumbo jumbo/intro is out of the way.  Let’s talk about the important stuff, how they fit, feel and most of all, work.

The feel upon putting your feet into your shoes with the wodLIFTS in them is…surprising?  Feeling the more solid raised heel on a flexible trainer feels interesting.  Honestly, you quickly forget about this and almost forget you have the inserts in at all.  I had no problems of comfort coaching multiple classes in either shoe.  Then again, I’m also used to walking around and doing things in Oly shoes, but never do shoes with the wodLIFTS in become uncomfortable.  One of the instructions given while using wodLIFTS is to make sure that your shoes are laced all the way up and tight like you would Oly shoes.  Follow this!!!  It’s going to feel like your heel wants to come out of your shoes when you walk otherwise.  The mediums fit like advertised, they go from my heel all the way to the middle of my foot almost about where the balls of my feet are.

To those of you that have limited ankle mobility but don’t want to dish out for a pair of Oly shoes, I think you’ve found the solution right here.  Your shoes are going to feel like a more forgiving Oly shoe, with the extra heel height and a bit of rigidity, but retain the better part of the flexibility of your trainers.  If you’ve got an issue with squatting below parallel and keeping your torso upright, wodLIFTS are going to be a great solution to achieving that depth as your mobility gets better.  That extra bit of firmness to the heel is nice to have for Oly lifting.  Not having to worry about what shoes I’m going to need to wear for WOD’s that combine Oly lifting and movements that require me to be more agile is great.  I usually try to always use my trainers for WOD’s anyways, and these just make the decision a lot easier.  To my surprise, wodLIFTS actually work!

For those of you looking to get serious about Oly lifting or for really heavy squatting; this isn’t a real option.  You have to remember that wodLIFTS are still just an insert that increases heel height.  Sure it’s going to be easier to achieve that depth, but you’re still limited to your shoe’s materials.  In pretty much every case, your trainer’s insoles and heels are going to be way more softer and compressible than any Oly shoe.  Oly shoes are meant to have a non-compressible heel for maximum power delivery, meaning they’re not very flexible and comfortable for a reason.  Also, you’re looking to add in some weight to your current shoes.  Putting wodLIFTS in the 252’s makes them heavier than Inov-8 Fastlifts 335 and if you’re putting them into Nano 3.0’s (266g.) you’re almost at the weight of Reebok’s Lifters (14.1 ounces/400 grams).

The main purpose of wodLIFTS is in the name, it’s meant to give you a great alternative to actually slapping some cumbersome Oly shoes on for the WOD.  Honestly, before receiving my wodLIFTS, I saw them and thought they were a gimmick.  My mind has actually been blown away by how well they work, and despite not being an alternative to TRUE weightlifting shoes, I believe that EVERYONE that does crossfit would benefit from owning a pair of them.  Affiliates looking to help their clients improve performance should look into having a few sets around the gym due to their easy installation and sanitization.

These are available at The WOD Life for $49.95 >>> HERE