weighted vests are legit for what they are. There's actual research behind them walking or training with ~10% of your body weight added burns noticeably more calories and pushes your heart rate up without you having to run faster or change anything else. People use them for rucking, for making push-ups and squats harder, even just for dog walks. 20 lbs is a sensible max for most guys starting out, and it's adjustable so you're not stuck carrying all of it day one.
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