Weighted Vest

Usually you don’t want to add an extra 10 or 20 pounds, but in this case it will help you more than it will hurt you.  Weighted vests have actually been around for more than 30 years.  Many of the original ones used cylindrical lead weight that fit into small pockets on canvas vests similar to a hunters vest for ammunition.  Many today are a nylon material and used small sandbags to adjust the weight of the vest.  Very handy and flexible depending on who is using it.  Let’s look at advantages and disadvantages to using a weighted vest versus dumbbells, kettlebells, weight belts, etc. 
Advantages- First off the nice thing about using a weighted vest is that it leaves your hands available instead of holding weight.  This allows many more exercises to be used with the vest.  Second, for those of us that like to use chain belts, they can be uncomfortable and awkward around your waist if you are not used to it.  Also, limits you to many exercises.  One of the disadvantages of weighted vests is that you are limited to weight on the vest.  The heaviest vest I have seen is around 50lbs and they are very expensive, and if you have to ship it, it can be even more expensive.  I have used a lot of 10-20lb vests and some together at the same time to get around 40lbs which is great for pull-ups or TRX work.

Exercises- (Almost any normal bodyweight exercises gets more intense).
Bodyweight-Push-ups, Pull-ups, lunges, crunches, sit-ups, squats.
Bosu Ball-squats, push-ups, crunches, twists.
TRX-almost every exercise they offer.
Plyometrics-squat jumps, broad jumps, box workouts.
Speed and Agility training-ladder training, cone training, treadmill hiking, running, sprinting.

…For more information and tips, check my website, www.chadamartin.com