Weighted clothes/Weight training

[Tschirnhaus]

Hello, I am going to be doing quite a bit of body training/working out & also running when I get back home after the summer. I would like to have some info. about weighted clothing/weight training. I've done some research/shopping and these items can be quite pricy. I assume that some of you who have trained in martial arts have worked with such equipment. I'd like to know which work the best, and are worth using, and which I should look into buying. Ankle weights and wrist weights are a start, maybe also a weighted vest? I am considering training by running up & down the steepest hill in town with a weighted vest. Are there any shoes/boots that are weighted?

Thank you!

[JusticeZero]

I found that weighted ankle stuff was expensive for a reason - your feet endure a lot of force, and it takes a heroic amount of doing to keep the things on just -walking-. I don't know that much of anything would keep them on while running, but maybe there's some gear out there that would do it. Also, that's fairly specific and unusual lines of resistance that might not match whatever you're trying to build up.

For what you described, honestly you can achieve a similar effect by buying a good frame backpack, loading it up, and carrying it. Might be cheaper, plus the backpack is useful to have.

I spent some time wearing wrist weights. I could feel the minor extra work, but I can't say that they were all that important in the end. They seemed to me to be a lot like those toy weights that some women (of the type that many of the ladies on this board gnash their teeth at) like to get so that they can do so many reps! without running the risk of actually developing any strength.

My thoughts are that the weight (carried on the body) might be good for making a walk or jog that you are going beyond into one that is still a challenge, so that would be useful. The ankle and wrist weight is probably useful for specific exercises, but i'd suggest using weights or advanced bodyweight training using high intensity strength building exercises instead.

[Ueshirokarate]

Whenever I am thinking of trying something new like this, I first ask myself the following questions:

What exactly am I trying to accomplish with this training modality?

What exactly is the goal I am trying to reach with this and how will I measure progress toward it and know when it has been attained?

Is this the most efficient (cost and time wise) way to reach that goal?

Answer these questions before you put money down on anything, or spending time doing it. IMHO, body weights are just another form of resistance and not the most efficient form. They would be good if you really like doing a lot of body-weight exercises or are using rings, a TRX type tool or running and have reached the point where straight body-weight will no longer tax you enough to make progress. I would be very cautious with wrist and ankle weights, as you typically use these for very high rep activities and they can strain your body as a result.

[Evil Dave]

I almost always steer people away from ankle and wrist weights, due to the issues they may cause up the kinetic chain. IE knees, hips, elbows and shoulders. There is a big difference between holding onto weights and punching verse having the weights around your wrist. It's all about control.

I always find it funny to watch guys {it's usually the guys...} wearing a weighted vest while doing seated bicep curls!

About the only time I prescribe weighted vest is for advanced athletes {as already mentioned, if you are already doing a lot of body weight exercises} that are involved in combative sports {ie MA, hockey, basketball, football, etc} or police, fire, military. Even then I don't recommend running the roads with a weighted vest as your body already takes a pounding while running on hard surfaces. Keep it for body weight exercises, plyometrics, and sprint work {not on hard surfaces}.

[DWx]

I don't think you need either tbh (although that does depend on what exercises you intend to do).

Justice's backpack idea is better than the weighted vest. If you load it up with containers of water you'll also be able to increase the weight as you get stronger.

You don't really need weights for bodyweight exercises either as you can use gravity to make things more difficult, like elevating yourself. Check out "Convict Conditioning", "You are your own gym" or similar books for some really good bodyweight workouts.

[Ueshirokarate]

I don't think you need either tbh (although that does depend on what exercises you intend to do).

Justice's backpack idea is better than the weighted vest. If you load it up with containers of water you'll also be able to increase the weight as you get stronger.

You don't really need weights for bodyweight exercises either as you can use gravity to make things more difficult, like elevating yourself. Check out "Convict Conditioning", "You are your own gym" or similar books for some really good bodyweight workouts.

You use weights for body-weight exercises when you have reached a point in training where body-weight alone no longer cuts it. IMHO, going from 100-200 push-ups is not as good at doing 100 push-ups with an additional 25-50lbs in a vest. A backpack is certainly an alternative, but it would be impractical to use one with a TRX like device or certain type of body-weight exercises. I would much rather wear a weight vest when doing burpees and the like too.

Every training modality has its ideal applications, but no training modalities are ideal for all applications. That is why it is important to first define your specific goals and then develop a program to reach them. If all you want to do is get stronger and bigger, nothing will out-do traditional free-weights.

[JusticeZero]

A backpack is certainly an alternative, but it would be impractical to use one with a TRX like device or certain type of body-weight exercises. I would much rather wear a weight vest when doing burpees and the like too.

Oh, I agree. Though I was stating the backpack idea in response to..

I am considering training by running up & down the steepest hill in town with a weighted vest.

..for which a good frame (internal or external) backpack would be a better alternative.

[DWx]

I don't think you need either tbh (although that does depend on what exercises you intend to do).

Justice's backpack idea is better than the weighted vest. If you load it up with containers of water you'll also be able to increase the weight as you get stronger.

You don't really need weights for bodyweight exercises either as you can use gravity to make things more difficult, like elevating yourself. Check out "Convict Conditioning", "You are your own gym" or similar books for some really good bodyweight workouts.

You use weights for body-weight exercises when you have reached a point in training where body-weight alone no longer cuts it. IMHO, going from 100-200 push-ups is not as good at doing 100 push-ups with an additional 25-50lbs in a vest. A backpack is certainly an alternative, but it would be impractical to use one with a TRX like device or certain type of body-weight exercises. I would much rather wear a weight vest when doing burpees and the like too.

Every training modality has its ideal applications, but no training modalities are ideal for all applications. That is why it is important to first define your specific goals and then develop a program to reach them. If all you want to do is get stronger and bigger, nothing will out-do traditional free-weights.

You're right we have to look at OP's goals. He said he wanted the vest for running so that's why I agreed with JusticeZero about the backpack being better not to mention cheaper.

He also said he wanted to do bodyweight training so that's why I said check out those books. Instead of using a weighted vest for body weight exercises, s/he should look to increase the difficulty of the exercise instead of just adding weight. IMHO there isn't a point when bodyweight alone stops cutting it. Body weight can go a long way and if it seems like an exercise is easy, you should increase the difficulty of the exercise you are doing because that exercise is no longer as useful to you. If you can do 100 push ups easy, then you start doing things such as elevating your legs or work towards to one handed pushups, then through to hand-stand push-ups. No need for high reps unless you want endurance.

Bodyweight exercises are great for martial artists because they also demand control, balance etc. If you want to be a bodybuilder you'll probably end up using weights but you can get definitely get big using bodyweight only, check out people like

, that's only using bodyweight.

[Ueshirokarate]

I don't think you need either tbh (although that does depend on what exercises you intend to do).

Justice's backpack idea is better than the weighted vest. If you load it up with containers of water you'll also be able to increase the weight as you get stronger.

You don't really need weights for bodyweight exercises either as you can use gravity to make things more difficult, like elevating yourself. Check out "Convict Conditioning", "You are your own gym" or similar books for some really good bodyweight workouts.

You use weights for body-weight exercises when you have reached a point in training where body-weight alone no longer cuts it. IMHO, going from 100-200 push-ups is not as good at doing 100 push-ups with an additional 25-50lbs in a vest. A backpack is certainly an alternative, but it would be impractical to use one with a TRX like device or certain type of body-weight exercises. I would much rather wear a weight vest when doing burpees and the like too.

Every training modality has its ideal applications, but no training modalities are ideal for all applications. That is why it is important to first define your specific goals and then develop a program to reach them. If all you want to do is get stronger and bigger, nothing will out-do traditional free-weights.

You're right we have to look at OP's goals. He said he wanted the vest for running so that's why I agreed with JusticeZero about the backpack being better not to mention cheaper.

He also said he wanted to do bodyweight training so that's why I said check out those books. Instead of using a weighted vest for body weight exercises, s/he should look to increase the difficulty of the exercise instead of just adding weight. IMHO there isn't a point when bodyweight alone stops cutting it. Body weight can go a long way and if it seems like an exercise is easy, you should increase the difficulty of the exercise you are doing because that exercise is no longer as useful to you. If you can do 100 push ups easy, then you start doing things such as elevating your legs or work towards to one handed pushups, then through to hand-stand push-ups. No need for high reps unless you want endurance.

Bodyweight exercises are great for martial artists because they also demand control, balance etc. If you want to be a bodybuilder you'll probably end up using weights but you can get definitely get big using bodyweight only, check out people like

, that's only using bodyweight.

Interesting video. However, think about this, your muscles do not know the difference between body-weight and free-weights. Resistance is resistance no matter where it comes from. Body-weight exercises are great, but they are not the be all end all (and neither are free-weights), especially for working the lower portion of one's body. Moreover, no matter how creative you get, you will always only have a maximum of your body-weight to train with.

[JusticeZero]

You can jimmy your body weight up and down by modifying the exercizes to change leverage and weight distribution.