Weighted Vest vs. Barbell

Whenever you plan a resistance-training routine, you are faced with many equipment options. Barbells are one of the most commonly used free weights, while weighted vests are rarely found in homes or gyms. Although these pieces of equipment vary widely in popularity and the ways they affect your body, they each have important uses that would make either one, or both, a great addition to your weekly routine.

  1. Equipment Design

    • A barbell is a metal bar designed to hold weights at either end. Barbells can be anywhere from 4- to 8-feet long and weigh from 10 to 45 pounds without added weights. Barbells can be bought in sets with fixed weights, but most are adjustable and can hold up to several hundred pounds. Weighted vests are sleeveless vests made of strong materials like nylon that are designed to carry small weights in compartments around the chest and back. The vest’s weight can be predetermined or adjustable, but the range is smaller: anywhere from a few pounds up to about 120.

    Barbell Uses

    • Barbells are extremely popular for resistance training because they can be used for a wide variety of exercises that work any part of the body, including bench presses, back squats and deadlifts. Barbells are also very similar to dumbbells and many weight machines, making it easy to adapt other exercises to be used with them. The wide weight range and variation makes barbells useful to people of all fitness levels doing all different kinds of routines. Depending on the exercise, weight and number of repetitions, barbells can improve strength, endurance, explosive power and balance.

    Weighted Vest Uses

    • Weighted vests have a more limited weight, but they have a greater variety of uses because they can be worn during any exercise. Weighted vests add to the resistance of your movement while keeping your hands free, so they are a great way to increase the difficulty of body-weight exercises like pushups, pullups and Squats. They can also be used in conjunction with other equipment, like barbells. For instance, wearing a weighted vest during a deadlift adds extra resistance to your back and legs while the arms and shoulders lift only the weight of the barbell.

    Safety Concerns

    • Both pieces of equipment have drawbacks. Barbells generally must be gripped with two hands, which increases the risk of injury if you lose control of the bar. The heavier the weight, the greater the danger, so always be sure to use an appropriate weight and have a spotter close by for assistance. Weighted vests increase body weight, which can have a detrimental effect on the body -- especially the joints -- during running, jumping and other high-impact exercises. Begin using a vest with a very low weight and increase slowly to allow your body to acclimate to the change safely.