Margaret: Welcome to MelioGuide.
Today what we're going to do is do an evaluation of different weighted vests.
For this evaluation, I've asked two of my clients, both of different statures to come
and join me in evaluating which they thought was their favorite or least favorite, or at
least to give me their opinion on the vests.
So here goes.
Aline: This is my favorite, my most favorite vest.
It feels comfortable.
I like the distribution of the weight all around my hips.
I can wear clothes under, and I can even wear my winter coat on top.
So it's really very flexible and I can adjust it.
I just loosen the belt a little when I wear a little jacket.
If I just wear a T-shirt in the summer I just tighten it.
I can wear this in the winter or the colder weather, I've had another jacket on and it's
very comfortable.
I like the looks.
I like it!
Farida: Okay there are four or five vests that we've been trying on and off.
Not that any of them is my least or favorite because I can find positive and negative qualities
in each of them.
This particular one, the positive thing about it is that the weights feel comfortable on
this one around the hips.
However, the fit for me with a shorter frame is actually not a good one.
I feel as if it's hanging a little bit too much down below my waist.
If I were taller it would actually fit more comfortably.
One negative aspect is this little tie or rather closure that is a distraction.
However, it's not an issue necessarily if you like the rest of it.
That's right, it can be cut off.
As far as appearance is concerned, it's very attractive but again, if you're also looking
for fit, it's way too big for me.
Margaret: The Walkvest is the least favorite of mine but not by a lot.
The two key reasons that it is the least favorite for my stature being five foot two, the small
is just really big.
So even with making the belts as tight as possible, I still find it a very loose fitting
vest.
I'm not a huge fan of cotton.
The buttons, it does bother me when I invest a lot of money in a vest that the buttons
start to fall off.
Although it doesn't affect the function, it's just an indication of quality for me.
Lastly, I really don't like being a walking billboard.
The WV on the front and on the back, although it has a nice reflective quality to it, I
would rather it just be a stripe.
Farida: This vest is probably along with the other red vest my favorite vest.
It feels comfortable.
I do like the texture of this too.
It's not quilted or heavy looking either.
I think in terms of appearance it looks good.
The weights around my waist feel very comfortable.
This vest accommodates four pounds normally.
There are these flat plates of which we don't know the material.
However, they're a little bit sharp on the edges, and if you try to double up, I think
you might stress the material of the vest itself.
However, they are flat, and they do feel less bulky around your waist than some of the other
vests do because of the fact that they're flat.
If you knew that you were going to go with 8 or 12 pounds or increase the weight in your
vest beyond the capacity of this one, then it probably won't be the vest for you.
But really it is a very comfortable, good looking vest.
Aline: Well, of all the vests that I've tried this is my least favorite.
The main reason is where the weights sit on my hips.
I find that it's too heavy on my hip bones.
Also, the beanbags don't spread the weight properly.
It's dragging me down.
With regards to the look of the vest, I really wouldn't mind wearing it.
I think it's fine.
What's more important to me is how it feels while I use it.
Farida: This vest is one that I consider a proper fit for my height, weight or shape.
The fact that the weights are down here is a good feeling.
My preference would be for weights higher up.
However, this is a very snug fit.
It fits well so appearance wise it's something that I would wear very readily with just a
T-shirt.
Again, this does allow for putting on a jacket in the winter.
I think it's actually quite versatile in that respect.
The fabric is a nice one.
It doesn't really feel as thick as a couple of the other vests which give you that heavier
look.
In that sense it's more attractive.
This vest is probably the most unique looking one of the collection that we have today.
However, there are many pros and cons for me particularly as a small-statured person.
I find it extremely bulky.
I don't really like the idea of having this much girth.
I also think that the weights for me are not on my waist and they're not on my chest, so
they're a little bit in between.
I'm very conscious of the weights as opposed to being able to walk or not.
The heaviness of it.
Margaret: This is my favorite vest for two reasons.
The first reason is that I can start low.
Each weight is three pounds.
It can then build up to 32 pounds which for the majority of you listening to this is far
more than you'll ever need.
In my case, I have a husband and a son that like to work out.
All of a sudden, if I'm going to invest in a vest, invest in a weighted vest, it's really
nice to invest in one that they can also use.
My 15 year old thought it was great and he had it on working out last night.
Certainly he can comfortably wear it up to 32 pounds for his training when doing his
squats and lunges, whereas I am going to be more comfortable keeping it to the 15 to 21
pound range.
That's one of the reasons.
The second reason is it's very very durable and I know it will last a lifetime.
The investment is well made.
It has a lot of adjustments in terms of the belts, the fit as well.
So I guess there's three reasons.
I do like the fact that the weight sits close to the shoulder blades, where you could start
it here and then lower down because that does help with the alignment.
Those are the reasons that I've chosen this vest, the MIR as my favorite vest.
Farida: This is a very interesting vest because I find that it looks quite different from
the ones that we've been looking at in the collection.
It's lighter in many respects in terms of the fabric.
I think that it accommodates the weights for me more comfortably because they're higher.
There's nothing that's adding girth to begin with, but also fitting tightly around the
waist.
If you're worried about that, it might not be the one for you.
The negative aspect of this though, the more negative aspect, is in terms of the fit, it's
very loose.
In terms of the fabric, I think it's probably the least durable.
It does look quite untraditional and may appeal to many women.
In fact it does appeal in terms of a different kind of style because I think it shows a little
bit of the sides which also allows for walking more comfortably.
The weights as I was saying are the positive things about this vest.
I think I would buy this primarily because I feel the most comfortable walking in this.
I'm not conscious that I have on a vest walking down the street if I choose to wear it outdoors.
Margaret: As you've noticed, different individuals based on what body part they are either wanting
to accentuate or to hide, their stature, their height, how much body fat they have, in terms
of the weights being hard and sitting on their pelvis and they're feeling the weights.
All of those things play a role in choosing the vest that you feel is the best vest for
you.
Although I'd like to make a recommendation for each of you, I can't do that.
This is the closest I've come to giving you an answer to the many questions that came
my way after I wrote the article on the weighted vest.
Hopefully it allows you to choose the best vest for you.