Overview and review 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.

 

 

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.