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box weighted vest vs Rogue Echo plate carrier

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Oct 28, 2020 4:00:00 PM

box weighted vest vs Rogue Echo plate carrier

This is a comparison between the of the Box weighted vest and the Rogue Echo plate carrier including pros, cons, and alternatives. This was originally posted in which weighted vest to get from Rogue.

Overview and review of the Rogue Echo plate carrier

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

 

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Overview of the Rogue Plate carrier

Price $125 - $250
 
The Rogue plate carrier is the result of Rogue observing the weighted vest products which they are selling, taking the best of everything, and stripping it off any fat to save cost. The Rogue plate carrier does the job you need it to do for up to 40lb in resistance. It comes in three sizes and four color variations. It reliable and you will not be overcharged. In my opinion, this is the best vest to get from rogue to buy in bulk for your unit or gym to run classes. The full specifications are: 
 
  • Made In USA
  • Patent Pending Design - Co-Developed with Dave Castro
  • Material Type 1000D & 500D Cordura
  • Weight (Unloaded): 1.12 LB (Medium Size)
  • Size Options: Small, Medium, Large
  • Plate Pocket Width: 10.25" (outside width)
  • Height Plate Pocket: 12.25" (outside height)
  • Compatible with Rogue USA Cast Vest Plates and Rogue Echo Vest Plates
  • Color Options: Black / Ranger Green / Coyote Brown / Gray
  • Care Instructions: Hand Wash, Line Dry
  • USA Velcro fasteners and front/back loops for patches
This is a solid design where someone had a hard look at the Tactec vest and where to get rid of things that are not necessary for fitness training. 
 

Pros of the Rogue plate carrier

 
The pros of the Rogue plate carrier are:
 
  • Good value for money
  • Fast weight changes
  • Good mobility
This is a good value for money vest that goes up to 40lb. Compared to the box vest it leaves you with a little more mobility to run on an obstacle course or other cardio workouts. With the plate system, you can change weight quickly. You also get a few options for color and velcro to get patches on. With a set of 4 - 10 of these, you save quite a bit of money compared to the Tactec vest while still running a professional ship with some fun thrown in there. 
 

Cons of the Rogue plate carrier

 
Cons of the rogue plate carrier are:
 
  • No extra padding and loops
  • Limited maximum weight
  • Less sturdy
While the Rogue plate carrier is a very good option and better than most weighted vests offered on Amazon, it still has some shortcomings. In its price category, the MiR short vest offers more maximum weight in the same price category. Compared to the Tactec vest you will also get less material in the form of padding and therefore the lifetime will be shorter.
 

Alternatives to the Rogue plate carrier

 
Alternatives to the Rogue Plate carrier are:
 
 
The Rogue Tactec vest has a few more bells and whistles and is overall made from more material. The resistance options are the same, but if you are buying a weighted vest for yourself or a loved one, the extra money is worth it as you will not kill this vest. If you are buying for an occasional user, teenager, or in bulk, go for the Rogue Plate carrier as you save money and get nearly the same result. 
 
The MiR short vest is in the same price range when you have the same weight of about 50lbs. The extra option for the MiR vest is that it can scale up to 90lb which makes it an interesting budget option for hardcore freaks. Just keep in mind that the price for a fully equipped escalates to $289 and you end up in a bit of an apples and oranges situation when you compare it to the Rogue plate carrier. 
 
The women's box vest is a great alternative for women who do not like the vest designs which fully cover your chest. If that is what you are after then this vest is a great alternative that can go up to 25lb.
 

Conclusion for the Rogue Plate carrier

 
The Rogue plate carrier is probably the best weighted vest option in the Rogue store to buy in bulk. The quality is good and there thought put into what it is used for based on years of experience at CrossFit events, It is not the heaviest or most stylish vest you can get, but the best balance between dollars and outcome. without being cheap.

 

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.

 
 

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

 
The pros of the box weighted vest are:
 
  • 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

 
Cons of the box weighted vest are:
 
  • 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

 
Alternatives to the box weighted vest are:
 
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.