RUNmax Pro Weighted Vest 12lbs/ 20lbs/ 40lbs/ 50lbs/ 60lbs with Shoulder Pads Option

Comfortable, sturdy, well-made, and a much-needed change up for the workout routine
I purchased this weighted vest (with shoulder pads) mainly to change up and increase the intensity of my cardio workouts which usually take place in the form of running/jogging. Having used the vest a number of times now, I’m quite happy that I purchased it.Comfort and fitment are critical to me. The vest molds well to my upper body and with a few adjustments on the side straps I find it to be pretty tolerable for running. I usually adjust it a time or two before beginning in order to dial-in just the right amount of “snugness,” so it’s not too tight so as to restrict my breathing, but also not too loose to bounce around while I pound the pavement. I have not had any issues whatsoever with the straps bothering my shoulders, albeit, this is only a 20-pound vest. It’s comfortable enough during warmups and cool-downs that the vest is hardly noticeable to me. It’s worth noting that it’s been cold here, so I’ve been layering up with multiple shirts/sweatshirts, so that may provide a benefit in terms of the comfort of the shoulder straps.The materials and construction of the vest appear to be very robust. Time will tell, but based on what I see, this is a tough and rugged setup that is built to last.As far as the weights go, I was a little worried that since they are sand filled bags that they would be prone to failure and leaking, but they seem to be put together well enough. I’ve played around with them a bit and don’t have any difficulty getting them out or back in to make adjustments. For what it is worth, and this is just my opinion based on what I am seeing, I think if you take the weight packs out, you want to keep them aside somewhere so they can hold their shape thereby making it easier to get them back into their compartments on the vest.For a touch over 40 bucks with the shoulder pads, I’m impressed with this vest. It bears the weight evenly and comfortably. I was looking as some vests with plates, but to me, for jogging, this type of vest seems like it affords the best fitment.Overall, this vest is a nice addition to workouts that were getting a bit stale, and at a price that seems pretty darn good. I really don’t have anything bad to say about it, but if something changes in the future I will come back with an update.UPDATE 1/13/2024: Just wanted to pass along that after more than a year of regular use for jogging, this vest is still going strong and it shows virtually no signs of wear and tear. The vest, the weights – they all look perfectly fine and ready for more. The dimensions of this 20-pounder are perfect for me. The vest rides high on my abdomen/chest, and it does not bounce or flop around whatsoever. I can’t speak to the other weight options, but in my opinion RUNmax nailed it pretty darn well with this 20 pound vest. However, there is one thing that irks me after a year of ownership, and that is the escalated price tag for this vest. I purchased my vest on December 13, 2022, for $40.46 (including tax). Here I am today updating this review on January 13, 2024, and the price has rocketed to $64.99, and that is without tax! I will repeat what I have already said – this is a great vest – tough, comfortable, and exceptionally designed. But, the new price of $64.99, well, I’m kind of without words for that.

Great vest. Easy weight adjustability. Velcro could be upgraded
Item purchased: adjustable 40lb vest with shoulder pads. It comes with 10 4lb weight bags.I have enjoyed the vest for the past few weeks. I can definitely feel a difference in my training. I am able to reduce the time on a treadmill/stairclimber yet get a much better workout. I really like the weight adjustability. I would buy again. Reduced 1 star for velcro and pocketUses: outdoor walking, some running, treadmill, stairclimber. So far I’ve used 16lbs and 20lbs. I never weigh myself, Ifigure if my clothes are fitting well then who cares what the scale says. However, in this case I wanted to know howaccurate the weight is in the vest. I determined that vest with 4 bags is 19lbs and with 5 bags is 23lbs. So the vestitself is 3 lbs.Cleaning: some reviews have noted a smell. Well that’s what a washing is for. I wash mine after every 4-5 uses.No issues. The first time I washed it I washed it alone just in case any black dye came off. I put it in the dryer and thenhang it over a chair.Breathing:Walking: when fitting the velcro strap I recommend taking in a full breath, hold it and then strap it down.Running: same as above except after strapping it do it just a little bit more. When running it can bounce a little butnot bad. If you over tighten it is a bit constricting to breathe when running.Velcro: not the best. Each time I make sure to pat it down firmly. This could be upgraded. This is the reason for 4 stars5 stars. I have NOT used the water bottle holder.Weight placement: the vest has 5 pockets in front and 5 in the rear. I messed around with weight placement to figureout my personal best Center of Gravity. This is my personal preference: 4 bags = 3 in back and 1 in front; 5 bags = 3in back and 2 in front. If you have access to to a treadmill with an adjustable incline I’d recommend using that firstto figure our how it effects you on a incline as opposed to on a flat surface.Pocket in front: not much to speak of here. I have an iPhone 16pro in an apple style case. It barely fits in the pocket.Don’t plan on placing anything more than your phone in the pocket. Or a key with an ID card and no phone.Hopefully you have an Apple Watch or Google pay on you watch in the event you need to buy anything while yourout. The pocket if difficult to access when using the vest. Basically place it in and once it’s there forget about accessingit. Plan on using voice commands to do change music, answer phone calls, text someone, etc.My wife tried it a few times (5ft2″). It was too big for her and didn’t fit quite right. Too much overlap in the waist band. The lower quality velcro wouldn’t keep it snug. We purchased a different brand with 12lbs for her that more like a back pack style but isn’t adjustable. She’s happier. which course means I’m happier. 😉

Great vest, I got the shoulder pads but haven’t needed to use them yet. Highly recommend.

I’m 5’10” and 200lbs and the vest fits me fine. I bought the 20lb version without shoulder pads and I’m finding it pretty comfortable so far. I only wear it about 10 minutes at a time to overload pull ups. The straps are not digging into my shoulders and the velcro fasteners on each side allow me to keep the vest as snug as I need.