I researched several vests before purchasing the Spartan Shadow 40 lb weighted vest. I am a larger, older woman. I was looking for a vest that was adjustable to fit my body type, adjustable weight, but compact enough to be comfortable with a heavier weight load. This vest fits my needs perfectly. The quality of the material, weights and velcro is excellent. It was easy to put together (you literally velcro the belt to the back, connect the tightening straps/buckle to the main velcro strap and you're ready to throw it on). When wearing it, the velcro and straps stay tight and I don't have any issues with any "rubbing". I would definitely recommend the vest to anyone looking for a vest that has the capability to have a heavy weight load. Read more
Comfortable fit (even as a short woman), easily adjustable for weight, the rings on the shoulders make it easy to attach hydro pack or other essentials. I unload and toss it in the wash every few weeks to keep it fresh, and it air dries quickly. My only criticisms are that there's no pocket to carry my phone, and the Velcro straps often tear up my shirts a bit. Good price point, especially compared to some other popular rucking vests/sacks. Read more
I got this 40 pound weighted vest because I wanted to get more exercise value out of the time I put in exercising (walking) by having extra weight to carry. It was a struggle to get the box into the house after prime delivered it since the box has no handles. Once opened I hefted the vest out and realized it had all the weights already in place. Since I wanted to gradually work up to as many pounds as I can feel comfortable with-maybe 40 pounds at the end-I took every weight out of its pocket. The 16 weights altogether were equally distributed top and bottom front and back; four in the front top, four in the front bottom, four in the back top and four in the back bottom. The empty vest weighs about 2.4 pounds (1089 g) (about the same as one of the weights!) by itself and the 16 weights vary from 1051 g to 1124 g, with an average of 1087 g. The difference of 7% from smallest to largest weight is not bad at all. And if I thought it was important I could easily mix-and-match so that each group of four was within a few grams of each other. But I plan to start with the empty vest and then add individual weights one at a time. All the weights together weigh 38.3 pounds and with the empty vest weighing 2.4 pounds the total would be 40.7 pounds which is good. Although there is a video of the vest as part of the Amazon description, this vest differs slightly in design and is actually better than the earlier version. It has a detachable belt with Velcro at both ends that attaches to the bottom back of the vest and comes around to attach in the front with a metal snap buckle. It fits snugly over my head (I have to take my glasses off) but fits well over my shoulders and around my corpulent middle as well. The shoulder pads are very wide and well padded (3.0 cm equals 1.2 inches thick and 8 cm equals 3 inches wide). Now there is a sport/outdoor activity called Rucking which uses a backpack (Rucksack) and weights that are put in the back so it seems to be somewhat similar to this weighted vest. The main difference is the weights go only in back and the weights are plates, the smallest being 5 pounds but most people use 10 pound increments: 10 pounds 20 pounds 30 pounds 40 pounds with 20 pounds and 30 pounds being common event weights; yes they have group/team building events in this walking sport. The advantage with this weighted vest is that you can adjust the weight in much smaller increments and put them in front and back so you are better balanced. Or put them in back to simulate a rucksack. I think you would be able to use this weight vest in a Rucking event; they don't seem to be actually a competition but rather a fun thing to do as a group/"tribe". Check with the local Goruck groups; you would just have to use the appropriate weight in the vest based on your own body weight and the event requirements. This is something I would consider doing if I can work up to that level. The vest itself is very nicely and strongly constructed and the weights fit snugly in their individual pouches with Velcro closure. The Spartan Shadow logo on the front is small and inconspicuous. In conclusion: highly recommend for your own get off the couch program. Read more
When my wife tried to bring this inside, she asked what in the world I ordered. When I told her, she asked who would wear something that heavy all of the time. A short time later, I could answer, me. This really is comfortable, for how much weight is on it. I've wore it for a couple of hours at a time, and only felt the soreness anyone who's not used to wearing 40 lbs would feel. But incredibly, the areas you would think would hurt, like your shoulders, just felt like they had a bit of a workout. I enjoy wearing mine, not just to add a little bit to a workout or walk. But I like to wear mine around the house when I'm at home with the kids (a toddler and an infant will cut into a lot of your workout time), so that simple things like getting their meals ready, or just getting up to do something has an added bonus. This misses a star for me because for one, it's very bulky. The weighted material is like a rocky cement, and while it weighs the right amount, it definitely shows. The other reason is I occasionally find myself annoyed with the straps. While that stuff is something to be noted, it is still a very good vest, and worth your time. Read more
Robust construction, balanced weight distribution and fully adjustable. This is a great option to increase resistance gradually by adding 2 to 16 iron bars for 5-40 lbs of added body weight. I have previously trained for backpacking at altitude by speed hiking with a 70 liter backpack fully loaded. This did work, but the weight was all on the back and shoulders, not the ideal distribution. This Spartan Shadow vest allows you to balance the weight between front and back, much better for the spine and posture in general. Plus the ability to increment the weight gradually, and the fact that the weight stays close to your center of gravity are tremendous advantages. Unlike a backpack, the load isn't going to shift and throw you off balance- all the iron blocks are secured where you put them. Overall, I love (hate) this vest, and I will wear out long before it does. Read more
