Weights Vests For Hikers

​In this episode we compare weight vests vs backpacks and talk through if they are useful for a hikers training. 

​Episode Transcript:

[0:00] All right, hello, hello, ladies and gentlemen. And in today's episode,

[0:03] we are talking about weights, vests for hikers. And this is a topic I've talked about many, many, many times in my community groups, on my YouTube lives. But I realized the other day, I was trying to look up an episode on this podcast, and I realized I haven't actually got a podcast episode on it. And I just thought, oh my gosh, I thought this was everywhere, but I haven't really covered it on the podcast to my knowledge, or at least I couldn't find a record of it. So today we are basically answering the question, are weights vests beneficial for hikers? Because pretty much once a month, if not a couple of times a month, I will get the question from someone asking, hey, if I'm training for backpacking and to carry a heavy pack, is it better to use a backpack with weights or a weights vest? Or I'll get people asking, hey, are weights vests good for hikers? Or are there any reason not to wear a weight vest or whatever it may be? And from the outside, you know, it seems like a relatively simple question and it's definitely worthwhile diving into because I get this question so much. Now, ultimately the answer to this, very, very simple.

[1:06] At light to moderate weights, when you're loading up a pack or when you're loading up a weights vest and you're trying to build up load, if you've just got light and moderate weights, it doesn't really matter what you use. It doesn't really matter if you use a backpack. It doesn't really matter if you use a weight vest. They're both going to do pretty much the same job. They're both going to load up the body, add extra resistance, add extra weight, and add that challenge to your walking workouts or whatever it may be. So when we're talking about light and moderate weights, and that specifically is light for you. So it's not too challenging. It's not uncomfortable, it's not stressful for you, it doesn't really matter.

[1:45] But as you do progress, and as you do get heavier and heavier and more challenging weights, and you shift from just using light things, a few kilos, whatever it may be, and you shift to maybe a full day pack or late enough to a bigger pack, whatever it may be, it's typically a good idea to transition to a backpack.

[2:04] This is for a few really, really simple reasons. Number one, most people will notice as they do get heavier with weights vests they don't tend to sit very nicely and they can get really really heavy on the shoulders sometimes restrict the chest and the breathing a little bit even way down on the neck not very comfortable as it gets heavier now with packs the way they are designed is because they are very much intentional to fit better they're supposed to have the hip belt where fits the weight around the hip that is what they're designed for to be more comfortable, So ultimately, as you do get a little bit heavier, if you do are wearing a vest and you feel like it's pushing you down, use a backpack.

[2:43] On top of that, vests tend to get pretty sweaty and pretty stinky as you start to ramp up your training. For whatever reason, they do not breathe well. And as much as they are designed to be used in gym environments, they're nasty. They don't hold smell very well. But packs breathe a little bit better.

[3:01] You can wash them or whatever it may be. They're much more hygienic on that front. So, they're two big reasons why I would lean more towards packs. Obviously, you have the specificity sake where you're like, well, you know, I'm actually carrying a pack on the trail or train my body like that. Yeah, that's definitely a plus as well, though it's not that big a difference between the two, but it comes down to this.

[3:22] Now, the only times I would really recommend a weights vest over a pack, and it really comes down to practicality sake, is basically if you're going to a gym and they have a weights vest and you don't want to lug your pack there, fair enough, use it, it's totally fine. Again, as you get heavier, you may want to make the effort to bring a backpack because it's going to get uncomfortable on your shoulders.

[3:44] The other situation is, you know, some gyms around the world, for whatever reason, have this weird thing about people bringing in their backpacks. I don't know why. I don't understand it. I've worked in gyms my whole life and it's never been an issue in gyms I work at.

[3:57] But for whatever reason, there's numerous gyms that do not like you bringing in a backpack. So if you physically cannot bring a pack into your gym and you're training in a gym, just do what's available there and then do a bit of pack work around your local neighborhood or on your training hikes or whatever it is so ultimately when it comes down to the question at light moderate weights weights vest pack pack pretty much the same but the heavier and heavier you get the more beneficial a pack is going to be, so short and sweet today but i just wanted to cover this just in case anyone was wondering because it's a very very common question last thing i will sort of say before i wrap this up as i always say if you were a hiker who was looking to build up to some pack weight you You want a bit of help getting comfortable with heavier loads in your pack, and you're just interested in what type of training you should be doing.

[4:42] If you want to learn a little bit about our online personal training for hikers, you can go to summitstrength.com.au online. On that page, there's a big video which talks through about our programs, about how we go about things, what it's all about. And if it's something you want to explore a little bit more, there's a link on that page. You can book a free call with our team. We can have a bit of a chat, learn about you, your situation, your needs, and we can take it from there. So if you want to learn a little bit more go to summitstrength.com.au slash online and we can take it from there so with that being said thank you for listening today hope you got a bit out of it hope you enjoyed it and we'll talk to you very soon bye.

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