Box 100 lb straitjacket vs box weighted vest
This is a comparison between the of the Box 100lb straitjacket and the bix weighted vest including pros, cons, and alternatives. This was originally posted in which weighted vest to get from Rogue.
Overview and review of the box weighted vest
This is an overview of the Box weighted vest including pros, cons, and alternatives. This was originally posted in which weighted vest to get from Rogue.
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Overview of the Box weighted vest
Price $125 - $195
The
box weighted vest is where it all started for
Rogue. This was one of the first weighted vests on their website and the go-to vest in the Crossfit community for a considerable time. Since
Rogue is working closely with the military for product ideas other products have gained in popularity and have overtaken the
box weighted vest in numbers sold. Still, this is a very solid vest that goes up to 45lb in load. It is easy to get on and off and will take a beating. The full specifications are:
- Made in the USA
- Weighted Tac Vest (for Gym Use / Resistance Bodyweight Training only)
- One Size Fits All: Compact design with natural contouring (Dimensions: 10.5" width x 8.5" length x 2.5" depth)
- Narrow 3.25” wide shoulders for a greater range of motion
- Fully Padded body and shoulders
- Moisture-Resistant
- Weight Available in 2.5LB increments (4.25" x 1.875" x 1.5" dimensions)
- Max Weight Capacity: 45LB
- Unloaded Vest Weight: 2.815LBS
- Easy-adjust kipping-proof BOX belt system with military-grade webbing and hook-and-loop attachment
- All weights and belts are removable
- Durable military-grade construction backed by Lifetime Warranty against defects in materials and workmanship
- Applications: Resistance weighted vest training - Pull-ups, Climbing, CrossFit exercises, Dragging, Chopping, Punching, Crawling, etc.
- Color: Black
This is a great budget option for a vest that can be loaded in 2.5lbs increments. If that is what you are looking for than the Box weighted vest is your best bet.
Pros of the box weighted vest
- Price
- Made in America
- Robust design
This vest has a great price point and a robust design that will not break. The one size fits all approach helps to come up with a structure that is hard to break. For $125 this vest is also at the lower end of vests which are decent and still loadable in 2.5 lbs increments. There is a reason for the
box was popular for so long before everything went a bit more down the military design lane.
Cons of the box weighted vest
- Quick changes in weight are hard
- One size fits all
- Only available in black
The plate carrier designs are easier to manage when you want to change weights quickly. While they deliver fewer increments, you only have to change two or even one plate to get a completely different experience. One size fits all can also be a problem as this usually ends up being one size fits the norm. If you are too tall, small, broad or thin, the
box vest will shave more. The last point that in our age of individualization and customization you might think that black as the only option is a bit boring for something that you wear regularly when you work out.
Alternatives to the box weighted vest
The
Rogue plate carrier vest comes in at the same price as the
box vest and delivers more mobility and easier change of weight at a slightly lower maximum weight. The
Rogue plate carrier scales up to 30lb compared to the 45lb of the
Box vest. In return, you get a design you can customize with batches and lends itself to more mobility.
The
women's box vest has been adjusted to give women a bit more freedom around the chest to make the vest more comfortable to wear. This is the right choice when you are worried about the one size fits all approach of the
original box vest.
The
MiR short vest is a small powerhouse that packs up to 90lb in a short vest design. If you go for the full enchilada it is fair to see that the price $289 and therefore not fully comparable to the $195 upper end of the
box vest. In return, you get double the weight in almost the same amount of vest.
Conclusion for the box weighted vest
The
box weighted vest is classic and no-nonsense design. If you want a robust vest that can carry up to 45lbs this is the one to get a good price point. Overall, it might have outlived its best days as a product and needs a revisit for color options and quicker loading/reloading.
Overview and review of the Box 100 lb straitjacket
This is an overview of the Rogue Box 100 lb straitjacket 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
- 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
- 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
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.