Hi All, I know a lot of people have talked about using weighted vests for exercising to help strengthen the spine. I have looked before and found then to be expensive for what they are, today I saw this weeks Aldi specials had one for £17.99. Of course at that price I had to get one. Anyone interested, act now to grab a bargain! I can’t say what the quality is like as I haven’t unpacked it yet but it certainly has plenty of weights in it, I nearly did myself an injury lifting it! Ironic or what. Here’s what it looks like.
Will be interested to know if anyone else gets one. Must go now, off for a run with my new toy.
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ianwoowoo
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As long as the weights are removable so you can build up slowly it looks like a deal. The one I have has weights which are about 2 ounces each, and the fit adjusts to conform closely to your body, no hanging off your shoulders. But the brand is Hypervest.
I also have a hypervest, it was quite expensive but I do like it, especially the adjustable fit, the fact it comes down to my waist and the weights are removable. I haven’t got to the point of using all the weights at once, it is quite heavy using only half of the weights. I am very cautious when wearing it, I wouldn’t like to trip and fall with so much weight on my upper body. I fractured to spinal vertebrae in a car accident, albeit 2 yrs ago, but this has made me a little anxious about wearing it too often now. Has yours helped to improve your spinal bone density and how often do you wear it.
The secret is to wear it quite a lot so the bones respond and get stronger. If you are nervous and it feels heavy, stay a long time with the weights you are now. Start by wearing it a little while around your home every day or so. Then wear it longer. Eventually, go out for a while with it on. You should not feel insecure when it's on. I'll see if I can find the web page where this was described.
Thank you for your advice, I was doing exactly as you suggest until the car accident then became more wary. I even used to walk the dog wearing it, not with the full quota of weights, but enough to have an impact. You have encouraged me to wear it again but maybe with fewer weights so I can build them up again. I do like the snug fit and it feels very comfortable. I went into Aldi today and whilst I thought the weighted vest they are currently selling was a real bargain, I felt happier with the design of the hypervest.
If I remember correctly when I first read about the weighted vest the writer said she would build up her weights to a certain maximum. And then stop wearing the vest for a while, and when she started wearing the vest again she'd start at a lower level and build up again. I think the reason is because it's not so much exactly what you're carrying, but the challenge of a slightly higher weight. So if your new weight is 6 pounds and you're used to, say, 5.7, then your bones are being stimulated to build up, just as much as if you had gone up from, for example, 10 lb to 10.5. It's the new challenge which makes the bones get stronger.
I should add that one should always start with a low weight. I started with 5 lb because I was used to carrying around a backpack and had for a while chucked a 5 lb ankle weight in so I was used to that weight. Anyone doing this for the first time who has not used a backpack in their daily life should start with only a small weight and every few days add a new weight. The weighted vest is exponentially more comfortable than lugging around a backpack!
Cheaper, but why would you? I bought the hypervest and I know it will last me the rest of my life. It won't wear out and it is adjustable and very comfortable to wear.
What a stupid thing to say. The results might be the same, but can you imagine how uncomfortable it would be for you, not to mention wear and tear on your clothing? And you'd probably clunk when you moved.
Hi, you have replied to me before re weighted vests. I still have not bought one but am going to. I have osteopenia in my spine, hip was normal. Do you use a 10kg vest? Do you think that is heavy enough? In reality, I'm sure it is. The 20kg vest would probably be very heavy on your back. I feel I need to do everything possible to reverse the changes in my spine. Thank you for any information which you can give me.
I believe my vest is designed to carry up to 20 lb because it was originally designed for body builders. It comes with 10, plus it's supposed to be possible to squeeze two ingots into each pocket. I did buy the extra ingots because at the time I thought I'd try to eventually carry up to 15 pounds as this was close to the amount of weight I'd lost. In fact I've since lost more weight, and after three years only worked up to 8 pounds, but that's because I forget to wear it. I am sure I'll never get over ten!
Does anyone have experience of using a weighted vest with vertebral compression? I have three low grade compressions. Would using light weights be ok eg 5k? Useless asking my doctor! Thanks!
Thanks Ianwoowoo for letting us know about this vest. I ordered one from Aldi online yesterday as my local store seems to run out of special buys really fast.
At this bargain price it's definitely worth trying.
I bought one online but it was much too heavy and it was one of those that you couldn't take the weights out they were stitched in so I gave it away there's no way I could even lift it never mind wear it
I'm so glad I ordered this vest online. When it was delivered I couldn't pick it up, perhaps because of weakness in one hand after breaking wrist last year. Never realised it would be THAT heavy.
However, it does appear different to most others I've looked at. For a start although can fasten the two buckles no problem it doesn't meet in the middle so there is a very large gap across the front, even though the image on the box shows it completely closed.
Also putting the weights in is not the easiest as the space is quite tight.
I'll definitely be using it, but won't know if the effect is positive as next scan won't be for another 5 years: but at £17.99, even though obviously not as good as the expensive ones, hopefully it will be is some benefit.
ianwoowoo, thank you for your post. I have just joined this site so only saw the bargain vest today. HeronNS's comments here and elsewhere inspire me, along with your post, to get a vest. It is better than stones in the pocket which would be likely to cause damage when they fall out and break your foot, or when they strain your back because the weight is being carried at a hazardous point on the body. The vest will work if it allows me to carry the weight at even distribution in the best position. I will report back when I'm under a vest.
Good luck with it. I think the Aldi ones will be long gone but you may pick one up on EBay. I think it’s worth trying the cheaper one before spending loads on one.
Aldi? nobody is going to go out in public in that!
Do go to nykweightvest.com they have many styles for women and they are all great looking so can be used to walk outdoors or wear anywhere
Just thought I would pipe up on this having bought one recently...did some research prior to this and took the plunge...so far it works well, plenty of adjustment, build quality is good and doesn't look too odd in the gym or in public. All black material with separately contained sand bags up to 10 kgs...bought it for training for my trek up Kilimanjaro next year...they recommend to get one that goes up to 10% of your body weight for effectiveness but obviously work up to this for those just beginning...hope this helps!
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