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.

 

 

The pros of the box weighted vest are:

 

 

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 are:

 

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 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. 

 

 

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. 

 

 

Price $219-$283

 

The Hyper vest elite is the next generation of the Hyper Vest Pro. Compared to the Hyper vest pro this vest comes pre-packed and with less resistance. In return, you get a better system to get a tight fit, better finish, and reflective parts. This vest was aimed at runners who want to add resistance to their workouts but did not find the right model with other vendors. The full specifications are:

 

Specifications

• Unisex patented design for exceptional comfort
• Breathable, odor-resistant, wicking Cordura® fabric
• Open side panels provide superior ventilation
• Thin profile allows for full range of motion
• Reflective, flexible side lacing for highly-adjustable fit
• Small available in 10LB or 15LB - M,L, and XL available in 10LB or 20LB

The Hyper vest elite is the right model for you if you want to run fast, change directions often or even want to do gymnastics or acrobatics with added weight. 

 

 

The pros of the Hyper vest elite are:

 

This vest excels in having a design that is all about fitting onto your body like a glove. For this, you have straps at the sides to make the vest tighter. Think of it like a corset that has weight woven into it. With the reflective design, you can go out at nights and wear this vest over your usual dym clothes to be seen when on the road. The weight plates for this model also have been designed with the goal of even distribution in mind, rather than maximizing weight. This gives the vest a great feel, but not the maximum resistance compared to other vests on the market. 

 

 

The cons of the Hyper vest elite are:

 

The cons of the Hyper vest elite are the limited option of weight ranges, the only color it is available in, and, most importantly, that it is prone to error. While the design is great for being snug it has two main weak points which are the straps at the sides. This is great for getting a tight fit that gives you maximum freedom to move, but if you lose or damage one of these elastic bands, the vest doe not work anymore. This vest has not been designed for scenarios where you crawl through the mud, run through the underbrush or other challenging scenarios. It was designed for controlled indoor or outdoor scenarios without a lot of dirt and rubbing. 

 

 

Alternatives to the hyper vest elite are:

 

 

The 100lb straightjacket is the ultimate weight option for weighted vests. If you still want to wear a vest and have a maximum of weight on your body, this is the option to get. What you gain in weight, you lose in mobility. You do not want to do gymnastics in a vest that has two layers of mini weights in it. 

 

The hyper vest pro is the original hyper vest product. You will save on money and also gain more flexibility in weight options. The downside is that the design is not reflective, the straps are even more prone to error, as they are of lower quality and that the seams on the weights are not as good as with the elite.

 

The 5.11 Tactec Plate carrier vest is a great versatile option, offers a lot of mobility, and is slightly cheaper than the hyper vest pro. You have many weight configurations to choose from and also can choose from eight different color options. This design will also hold when used under extreme conditions outdoor. The design might not be to everyone's liking as it is very military, where the hyper vest elite has more of a fitness/gym look about it. 

 

 

The hyper vest elite is probably the best choice in the market for runners, acrobats, and martial artists. It adds a reasonable weight to your exercises to make you go the full length, while still providing that extra resistance. It has not been designed with military applications in mind and will suffer a great deal when dragged through the mud or over an obstacle course. The resistance is also low compared to other models.