Box 100 lb straitjacket vs Hyper vest Pro

This is a comparison between the of the Box 100lb straitjacket and the Hyper vest pro including pros, cons, and alternatives. This was originally posted in which weighted vest to get from Rogue.

Overview and review of the Hyper Vest Pro

This is an overview of the Hyper Vest Pro including pros, cons, and alternatives. This was originally posted in which weighted vest to get from Rogue.

Overview of the Hyper vest Pro

Price: $199.99

The hyper vest pro was the first generation of the new design from hyper vest aimed at a good fit weighted vest with an evenly distributed load. The design was a success while it had some issues with durability on the fabric and for the straps on the side. This is a good vest if you want to maximize weight with a snug fit. Compared to the Hyper vest elite you have more weight options, but poorer execution on the materials.

Pros of the Hyper vest Pro

The pros of the Hyper vest pro are:

Design
Even distribution
Price

The design of the hyper vest pro is great compared to more traditional vests, which usually have the weight unevenly distributed on your body or restrict body movement quite a bit. This was the intent of the design, which it successfully delivers. Compared to the Hyper Vest elite the pro is also slightly cheaper and offers more options to add resistance.

Cons of the Hyper vest Pro

The cons of the Hyper vest pro are:

Durability
No reflective fabric
Low maximum resistance

While the new corset-like design was a great idea for a weighted vest, the first iteration of the Hyper vest did not great on the selection of material for production. This vest has a higher likelihood to come apart at the seams or for the straps to lose elasticity and make the vest not work the right way. This does not always happen, but these design flaws have been addressed and improved on for the Hyper vest elite, which is not that much more expensive. The Hyper vest pro is also limited to 48lb maximum resistance which can be gotten more of or more robustly with other vests.

Alternatives to the hyper vest pro

Alternatives to the hyper vest pro are:

The 100lb straightjacket is the option for the maniac who wants to strap the equivalent of a small woman to their body to do exercises. This is the maximum weight you can get from a vest. If you want more you usually need chains, carabiners or other heavy-duty equipment to make it happen which severely hampers mobility. While this is not the greatest vest to move around in, it is best to add maximum weight to your body.

The Tactec plate carrier is the best all-around weighted vest fir all situations from Rogue. This vest has many color options, weight options, and withstands almost anything. If you have $200 to spend on a weighted vest and you do not mind military design and only use it fr sprints rather than gymnastics and long-distance running, than this is home.

If you want a weighted vest that is well made, balanced, and does not make you look like a stormtrooper, then the Hyper vest elite is the right choice for you. Some of the design flaws from the pro have been addressed and improved on with this vest. The only downsides are that it is only available in black and only goes up to 20lbs in weight. In return, you have a balanced vest that you can use for gymnastics or long- distance runs.

Conclusion for the Hyper vest Pro

A Hyper vest pro is a good option if you can get it at a sale or just can't bring yourself to spend more than $200 on a weighted vest that does not look like you are about to go to war. However, if you can get past the $200 and want a well-balanced vest for running, then the Hyper vest Elite is the better option as it addresses these needs in a superior way with not a lot of extra money to left on the table. If you do not want to use the vest for long-distance runs, then get the Tactec instead.

Overview and review of the Box 100 lb straitjacket

This is an overview of the Rogue Box 100 lb straightjacket including pros, cons, and alternatives. This was originally posted in which weighted vest to get from Rogue.

Overview of the Box 100lb Straitjacket vest

Price: $292.99

The Box 100lb Straightjacket is the most expensive vest which Rogue currently stocks. In return, you also get the heaviest vest you can get. The design expands on the base box vest by having 50lb as an underlayer and adding another 50lb on top of this. Think about this one as two box vests on top of each other, were the vendor thought about how to attach them properly. The full specifications of the 100lb Straightjacket are:

Made in the USA
Adjustable by 2.5LB increments up to 100LB
Short length for better range of motion
Durable, tear-resistant nylon exterior
Double-padded shoulder base
Reliable, military-grade fasteners
Color: Black

This is a great tool for anyone who wants to maximize resistance on Crossfit exercises which involve short term sprints, pull-ups, and sit-ups. Still, this is an extreme option optimized for weight, not for fit and comfort.

Pros of the Box 100lb Straitjacket

The pros of the Box 100lb are:

100lb in total weight
Short design
Good pouches

This product does what it says on the tin. You get a military-grade vest that can take the 100lb as advertised. The short design is also a bonus compared to other vests that have 100lb. Rather than restricting your torso, you can still turn and bend. Other vests that go that high in weight often use a full torse approach where mobility suffers. You get what pay for with an excellent product that has been battle-tested in many gyms all over the country and in the CrossFit games.

The cons of the 100lb Straitjacket

The cons of the 100lb straightjacket are:

Misleading advertisement
Uneven weight distribution
Mobility constraints

This vest is a one size fits all approach so that you can get all of the 100lb somewhere on to our body. This means that for anyone who does not have the standard male model sizes, this vest will be a nightmare to wear. If you are 185cm tall and weigh 90kg, great. If you are bigger or smaller than that, you will not have a snug fit. So that you can still somewhat move, the design doubles up to around the shoulders and back. This leads to uneven weight distribution and makes this vest hard to work with on long-distance runs rows or prolonged rope skipping. On top of that, the advertising is a bit misleading. If you buy this vest you buy it for its maximum capacity. The full price is then roughly $380 rather than just below $300. This has a reason as the weighted vest market has a drop-off point at around $300 when people say "Are you insane".

Alternatives to the 100lb Straitjacket

Alternatives to the 100lb straightjacket are:

The MiR pro weighted vest is the only vest in Rogue's shop that goes over the 100lb of the straightjacket. The maximum weight option is 120lbs. For this, you will get a vest that severely constraints your movement as this is achieved with multiple straps and extra length instead of a double layer of weights like in the Box 100lb vest.

If you are only looking to add weight to your pull-ups and dips, then a dip belt might be the better option. It is a lot cheaper and can go to a lot more weight than 100lb. The only downside is that kipping pull-ups and any kind of sprinting/changing of exercises within the workout will demand that you take the dip belt on and off and lose the resistance. A dip belt is not a vest that you can just simply put on but is a lot easier to manage and cheaper if adding weight is all you want to do.

The Hyper Vest Pro would be the best alternative if you still want a heavy vest. This vest goes up to 42lb in its XL version as it is longer than the smaller versions. This provides extra space for plates. This vest has mainly been designed to have a snug fit and therefor be great for long time cardio workouts. It still only has half the capacity of the 100lb straight jacket.

The load trainer is the best option for maximum load, as you can simply put plates on your back like a donkey. This will feel a lot more like a rucksack and is especially good if you want to train to march long distances with a heavyweight, but do not necessarily carry weapons halfway through town. Pull-ups, sprints, and dips are also possible, but not at speed.

The original box vest is half the size of the straightjacket and goes up to 50lb. You get the same design and robustness, while the fit is not as snug as with the Hyper range. This model is more than enough for most mere mortals and also a lot more affordable.

Conclusion for the 100lb straitjacket

A 100lb straightjacket is a great tool for Crossfitters who have exhausted their options with the Original Box vest and want to push beyond the 50lb resistance. In my personal opinion, the market for that is very slim. If you are torn between the original box vest and the straightjacket, get the box vest. It will take a couple of years to grow into this resistance training if you are not already jumping up and down with no problem in a 50lbs vest. If you want to do long-distance running with a vest or acrobatics, the box vests are not the best choice.