Weighted vests are all the rage in women’s fitness. Do they live up to the hype?

August 21, 2025

Fitness trainer Kalli Youngstrom thinks weighted vests can be a great tool for fitting exercise into your daily routine — as long as you don’t mind looking like a Navy SEAL on the school run.

That bulky flak-jacket look is in part because of the many pockets for adding or removing weights from the vest, which sells from $25 to $200.

Youngstrom wears one to raise her heart rate and increase the intensity when she exercises. She recommends them to her clients, in particular busy mothers who don’t have time for a full workout. Strapping it on can upgrade an everyday task like walking the dog or taking the stroller to the park, she said.

The workout accessory has increased in popularity over the past year, with fitness influencers extolling a wide range of benefits from improved cardiovascular fitness to better bone density. cbc