Workout Devices You Wear on Your Calves

Most of us stay pretty busy juggling multiple priorities and are naturally attracted to products that promise fast results with almost no effort on our part. One workout accessory with big promises is weighted apparel you can strap on your calves. Manufacturers suggest just sporting these devices for up to 10 hours a day will really burn the calories, just like walking 2 miles.

  1. Wearable Calf Devices

    • Weighted workout accessories were introduced in the late 2000s by Dr. Ayaz Virji as a way to burn calories doing ordinary activity without exercising, a process the bariatric weight loss specialist describes as NEAT: Non-exercise Activity Thermogenesis. Manufactured and marketed under several names, these devices are designed to slip over or strap onto the calves, from the knees to the ankles. Metal bars or sand-filled pouches sewn into the sleeves of fabric add 1 or more pounds of weight to each leg. The workout garments come in various sizes and can be adjusted with Velcro straps or hook-and-eye closures.

    Buyer, Be Careful

    • While you might burn a few additional calories, Madelyn Fernstrom, a diet and nutrition expert with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, says your money would be better spent on walking shoes and a pedometer: "Don't expect to lose weight without putting in the effort," says Fernstrom. Product reviews are mixed, as dissatisfied consumers cite flaws in quality, workmanship, durability and comfort. Some reviewers reported problems with sizing and fit, others said the devices wouldn't stay up, and some said the less expensive models fell apart immediately or after a few wearings.

    Calf Weights and Resistance

    • Presuming they stay up, stay on and stay together, calf weights will add resistance to your physical activity, which the American Council on Exercise notes is one way to vary the intensity of your exercise program. For example, if you can already perform multiple sets of calf exercises easily, adding 1 to 4 pounds of weight to your legs will cause you to fatigue your muscles faster without having to add repetitions. Adding weight devices to your calves can help you break through an exercise plateau.

    Calf Raises With and Without Weights

    • Use weights to augment your exercise program, not replace it. Start with calf raises without weights to tone and sculpt your legs. Begin by standing with your feet together. Exhale and slowly come up on the balls of your feet and toes and hold, then inhale as you lower back down. You can vary this exercise by pointing your toes forward, inward or outward to work each part of your calf muscle. When you can perform two or more sets of 12 calf raises without fatiguing your muscles, try adding calf weights gradually, 1 pound per leg.

    Safety Tips For Wearable Weights

    • The American Council on Exercise does not recommend ankle weights during aerobic exercising as they can stress your joints, change how you walk or run and result in injury. Calf weights cause similar pressure and stress on the joints, so they should also be avoided in these instances.