When it comes to upgrading your fitness routine, sometimes the most effective tools are also the simplest. Weighted vests have long been a go-to for increasing workout intensity and building strength—but not all vests are created equal. The OMORPHO G-Vest, featuring our patented MicroLoad® design, delivers evenly distributed resistance that enhances performance without compromising comfort, mobility, or form. We’ll break down the science and benefits of working out with weighted vests.
Why Train with a Weighted Vest?
Adding resistance to everyday movements such as push-ups, pull-ups, squats, and lunges increases muscle engagement, leading to greater strength gains, especially in the upper body, core, and legs. The OMORPHO G-Vest provides this added challenge without the bulk or bounce of traditional vests, making it ideal for functional workouts, HIIT sessions, and strength training.
Complementing the G-Vest is OMORPHO G-Wear, our lightweight, machine-washable resistance apparel, designed for dynamic movements, warm-ups, and endurance circuits. Together, these products create a training system rooted in real science and engineered for results.
Build Muscle Strength and Hypertrophy
Wearable resistance in the form of weighted vests has numerous benefits that are back by research.
Build Muscle & Strength
Adding resistance to your training amplifies the intensity of bodyweight movements, which accelerates strength and hypertrophy gains.
A 2023 study on females using a 10% body mass weighted vest during endurance training reported improvements in strength and endurance according to research from from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions[1]. That’s a big return for a small, portable investment in your training.
Similarly, a 2023 study in Sports Medicine reported a 6.2% increase in muscle hypertrophy when participants trained with a weighted vest compared to bodyweight-only routines[2]. This means bigger, stronger muscles—particularly in the legs, glutes, and core, where the added load makes a difference fast.
Increase Power Output
Explosive movements—like jumping, sprinting, and change-of-direction drills—benefit tremendously from wearable resistance.
Research shows that wearable resistance training can increase power output by 7.1%, making you more explosive off the line, quicker on the court, or higher off the ground[3]. This is partly due to enhanced ground reaction force, a key factor in explosive performance.
Whether you're doing box jumps, sprint drills, or kettlebell swings, adding just a little weight with OMORPHO's MicroLoad design increases the challenge, and reward, without slowing you down.
Burn More Calories & Boost Metabolism
The more weight you carry, the harder your body works. With wearable resistance, you increase calorie burn and metabolic demand—even during short workouts.
A 2019 study from the Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand found that wearing a weighted vest led to a 8% increase in calorie burn during endurance training[4]. And the benefits don’t stop when the workout ends—elevated resting metabolic rate (RMR) and increased fat oxidation have been observed even post-exercise.
That means your body stays in fat-burning mode longer, even while you recover.
Enhance Endurance
Adding resistance builds resilience. Weighted vest training has been shown to improve muscular endurance by over 9% and reduce time to fatigue by 18% during circuit-style workouts[5].
By forcing your muscles and cardiovascular system to work harder, a vest trains your body to go further, faster—without wearing down as quickly. The result is improved stamina across a variety of activities, from running and rowing to HIIT and team sports.
Support Bone Health
Weighted training isn’t just for performance—it’s also beneficial for longevity. Studies show that training with moderate resistance (5–15% of body weight) can increase bone mineral density, particularly in weight-bearing regions like the hips and spine, helping to prevent osteoporosis.
The gentle, consistent pressure of wearable resistance stimulates osteogenesis (new bone formation), which helps preserve skeletal strength over time.
Why Choose OMORPHO G-Vest and Products for Fitness?
OMORPHO is the ultimate gym companion. Unlike traditional vests, the OMORPHO G-Vest features a slim, breathable, and comfortable profile for any workout—delivering 5 lbs (women’s) or 10 lbs (men’s) of wearable resistance. Remember to start small, as recommended by OMORPHO head of performance Dr. Erin Feser, and build from there.
Every rep in OMORPHO gear delivers more impact with less strain—helping you build strength, power, endurance, and metabolic efficiency over time. Backed by science and built for performance, OMORPHO is designed to move with you and elevate every workout.
References
- April 29, 2023, The Longitudinal Metabolic and Cardiovascular Effects of Weighted Vest Training in Females
- Lin Liu, Ying Liu 1, Young-sam Yuk, Hyoung-won Lim, August 2024, Effects of Using a Special Weighted Vest on Muscle Activity around the Scapula during Knee Push-Up Plus in Healthy Subjects
- Paul Macadam, Sergi Nuell Turon, John Cronin, Shelley Diewald, Jono Neville, April 2019, Thigh positioned wearable resistance improves 40 m sprint performance: a longitudinal single case design study
- Allister P Field, Nicholas Gill, Paul Macadam, Dan Plews, August, 2019, Acute Metabolic Changes with Thigh-Positioned Wearable Resistances during Submaximal Running in Endurance-Trained Runners
- Jiwoong Kim, Eunsook Kim, Dohyun Kim, Sungjin Yoon, October 2024, Weighted Vest Intervention During Whole-Body Circuit Training Improves Serum Resistin, InsulinResistance, and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Normal-Weight Obese Women
