Can You Tell I’m Wearing a Weighted Vest?
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If I’m being honest, there’s nothing subtle about wearing aweighted vest. Most of the ones designed for women are still pretty bulky, such as Hyperwear’s full front-and-back padding (reminds me of a kind of flak jacket), or have an outdoorsy harnesslike design featuring a sternum strap, likeGoRuck’s Spy Ruck. I wanted thebenefits of wearing a vestwhen going for a walk— there are too many to name but mainly a boosted metabolism and healthy bone-density support — but I couldn’t help feeling a tad silly in public. Then, I stumbled upon Aion, which looks like a lightweight layer you might find at the North Face. Finally, a design that doesn’t scream, “I’m wearing a weighted vest.”
I should preface this by saying this Aion vest, which launched last year, isconsidered a “walking vest,” so it’s not as heavy as other options on the market (which are usually in the 10-to-20-pound range) and meant to be used during daily activities, including regular errands, travel, and even at work. The brand says it adds about five to seven pounds of resistance, which is thanks to slim internal steel discs (no sand means no mess) placed between the stitching. I love that it’s so seamless and the subtle resistance is distributed very evenly throughout the entire vest.
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On my brisk neighborhood walks with our dogs, the vest never feels like it’s bouncing or overloading my joints. Instead, it actually has helped to improve my posture — I have a tendency to flare my ribs — by making me more aware of walking upright with my spine straight, shoulders back, and my core muscles engaged.
The fit is relaxed yet tailored, which allows me to layer it over T-shirts and thin sweaters in cooler weather or my daily uniform of exercise dresses in the summertime. Similar to a regular puffer vest, the Aion has small pockets on the outside and one internal chest pocket, which are all nice for stashing smaller items, including lip balm, my card case, or gum. I’ve never before tested a weighted vest with multiple pockets until the Aion, and I must say it’s a nice plus especially if you’re wearing this out and about. It feels less like a piece of workout gear and more like a spiffy layering piece (that’s secretly strengthening my muscles).
Because of its minimal design, the Aion vest is also exceptionally packable if you don’t mind adding a few extra pounds to your luggage. I’ve packed it inside my carry-on suitcase and brought it along for a weekend getaway where I knew we’d be doing some casual hikes. At $299, the price is obviously a large drawback, but the only other brand with a sleek, no-bounce option is the adjustablevest from Omorphoand it’s also $299; though the Omorpho is more form-fitting with its cinchable bungee sides and has a rugged construction. I’ve come to prefer the Aion vest since it works so well with everyday apparel and not just my gym clothes.
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