Weight Vests?

[DrRy]

Does anyone here train or know of anyone that trains with a weight vest? I'm considering buying one. It's seems like a good peice of equipment to use with a balance board or any other balance equipment. But I've heard some talk that it could be bad for your back.

Anyone info or opinions? Thanks.

[Stikki]

The goal of balance drills is to keep the body stable while on an unstable surface, therefore there isn’t a need to use a stabilized load like a weighted vest. Save your money and just throw some weight in a backpack or hold dumbells. Now if you are moving your body as in agility drills and such then a vest would be beneficial.

Considering, as long as a good spine position is maintained, the back can handle loads in excess multiple times bodyweight then a small percentage of bodyweight in a pack or vest is nothing to worry about.

Whether or not loaded unstable surface training is even a good idea in the first place is something I’m not going to touch.

[DrRy]

Thanks for the response. Couple of questions.

The goal of balance drills is to keep the body stable while on an unstable surface, therefore there isn’t a need to use a stabilized load like a weighted vest.

But wouldn't increasing my overall weight help further strengthen those muscles associated with balance?

Whether or not loaded unstable surface training is even a good idea in the first place is something I’m not going to touch.

Shit, I didn't want you to end with that. I guess I want there to be some proven benefits but I'm having trouble finding them. In theory it seems this could be a solid peice of equipment that would help build power, especially if I'm using it for various jumping drills.

But when you say "loaded unstable surface training" are you referring to exercises, using added weight, that are not being performed while in a stationary centered postion?

[Stikki]

But wouldn't increasing my overall weight help further strengthen those muscles associated with balance?

With balance training you are not strengthening the muscles as much as working nerve feedback and muscle control. So increasing weight is less important than progressing from stable surfaces to less stable surfaces, two legs to one leg, and eyes open to closed.

But when you say "loaded unstable surface training" are you referring to exercises, using added weight, that are not being performed while in a stationary centered postion?

Unstable surface training is stationary e.g. standing on a wobble board and making it loaded is merely adding weights. Running around on a field or court or weightlifting would be a stable surface.

The part about 'not being a good idea in the first place' pertains to the craze of doing replacing normal weightlifting with balance crap like doing all your lifts on a balance board or swiss ball.

In theory it seems this could be a solid peice of equipment that would help build power, especially if I'm using it for various jumping drills.

Now you are talking about something different from pure balance/stability/unstable surface training. Again, this is something that doesn't necessarily require external loading and if it did there are better ways than a weighted vest. The variables for jumping are height, reps, and contact time. Even if you were to do things like loaded squat jumps a barbell or dumbells are superior.

I guess the point I'm not making all that well is you could have a thorough program that trained balance, power, etc. without using a weighted vest. The best use I've ever seen for a weighted vest is power walking.

[DrRy]

Right on...I think I'm going to pass.

Thanks for the explanation, that was the information I was looking for.