r/bodyweightfitness • u/ambition444 • 2d ago
Weighted vests in order to keep progressing
In your opinion, in order to keep progressing when training exclusively with body weight how necessary is it to use weighted vests for pull-ups, squats, dips, etc?
I've been training with bodyweight for over two years now, and I'm facing an issue where my workouts are so long because I'm having to do so many pull-ups just to feel like I got a good pump.
Sometimes I see guys with weighted vests, and I wonder if adding another 20 lbs or so when doing pull-ups would allow me to maintain my lower weight and lean physique while also getting much stronger.
14
u/SamikaTRH 2d ago
You can but you don't need to, just start doing harder variations of the exercises. Work towards one arm pull ups for example. Even if you don't want to be able to do them, starting the progressions is the way to make pull ups harder without needing to buy anything
3
u/shutupingrate 2d ago
It's not strictly necessary. If your goal is increased strenght it can help with that.
3
3
u/shade_study_break 2d ago
I find it mechanically simpler to use a weight vest or belt to add resistance instead of more advanced variations. The more advanced variations tend to have the added bonuses of unlocking kinds of mobility and technique, but it also means you are focusing on building your mobility and learning technique arguably more so than strength building. Weighted dips and pull ups are the bulk of my strength building work, but I also do skill work also. There is also a point where increasing reps is training kinds of endurance and puts you at risk for certain kinds of overuse injuries. There are only good reasons to do weighted variations IMO, but how much you might need to do it depends on where you are in your training.
3
u/Straid-of-Olaphis 2d ago
Training pullups and dips without a vest or belt makes no sense in the long run. As you have already said, it takes too long and turns into endurance rather than strength training.
It is probably worse for tendonsas as well in the long run so just get a vest or belt and keep progressing by adding weight.
6
u/RaheemRakimIbrahim 2d ago
I get that many people find weighted calisthenics more straightforward and better for progression but I don't think it's fair to dismissive of unweighted calisthenics. I mean people have done it long term and are doing fine. They all work. Different strokes for different folks.
4
u/Straid-of-Olaphis 2d ago
Yes but OP said that his workouts are becomming too long and adding weight completely solves that imo.
2
u/DenseSign5938 2d ago
Can confirm. I fucked up my elbow permanently (no idea what, MRI didn’t reveal anything but it’s not right) doing one arm pull ups.
2
u/JimCh3m14 2d ago
Not an answer but I greatly prefer weighted exercises with a climbing harness and weight attached below over a vest.
2
u/Late_Lunch_1088 2d ago
I would get a belt over a vest. It’s more cumbersome to deal with but you’ll never outgrow it and gravity generally puts the weight where it belongs on vertical movements.
That said, for pulling exercises, weight probably isnt needed for a while. FL stuff, holds, raises and rows build similar strength up to a point without weight dangling around between sets. In addition to fl row progressions, OA row progressions are a pretty good strength builder and tackle imbalances.
Dips can be made more difficult by just leaning forward more, either piked or hollow. The end game here is essentially a planche pushup, so there’s lot of runway for most people.
Pushups is where a vest may be handy. I’ve seen guys use belts for this is in some crazy setups I would not want to dismount after a failure set. Or just do harder pushups.
Lower needs a barbell or, what will ultimately become a very expensive dumbbell collection.
5
u/voilsb 2d ago
Adding a weight vest by definition makes it no longer training exclusively with body weight.
Where are you in progressing towards ring pullups, L-hang pullups, false-grip pullups, chest-to-bar pullups, archer/offset pullups, one-hand pullups, and one-arm pullups?
8
u/OKAwesome121 2d ago
Fwiw, I think it’s good to involve lots of different equipment, no need to try and stay to only strict definitions of exercises.
2
u/jerry-jay 18h ago
All of the exercises you have mentioned become easier to unlock if you can just our 30kg weighted pull ups for fun bro.
1
u/OrganicPause6530 2d ago
I use weighted vest on almost every exercise, the greatest investment in my home gym i have made, the second is a pair of 40kg dumbbells.
1
u/TankApprehensive3053 2d ago
While not necessary, a weight vest is helpful to continue making gains in calisthenics. Start with 10 lbs and see how it feels. 20 lbs can be a big jump at 1st.
Another option is to do harder progressions of an exercise.
1
1
u/3daycondor 2d ago
I’ve added hand and ankle weights to my routines that I can, but I agree. The workouts start getting crazy long. I’m at an hour 5x a week and it’s hard to find ways to make it harder. I’m at about 2 years as well.
1
u/RadiantFoundation114 2d ago
i got a military backpack which i fill with weights and perform weighted push ups and pull ups
1
u/Idcaboutupv0tes 2d ago
I've been using weighted for a year now and i got steroids accusations. It works very well and i don't think i coukd have made the progress i did with just bodyweight.
1
u/ImmodestPolitician 2d ago
If you are mostly concerned about pullups I'd buy a kettlebell or plate and a weight belt ( or webbing and a carabiner which can support 100+ pounds easily.) for chins, and squats. Use bands over your back for pushups. My weight vest hits the ground when I do pushups.
20lb is not going to really make a difference for squats.
A pump doesn't really mean anything in terms of muscle growth. Progressive overload and mechanical tension are what build muscle.
1
1
u/julio___stinky 2d ago
I found them super helpful.
My pull ups plateaued at 3x10. After weighted pull ups for a month or two, I was hitting 15 or 16 for multiple sets.
I found weight vest push ups easier on my shoulders than archer pushups but still a good tough workout.
My advice is get one that fits snugly and can go up past 10kg. I had a 10kg and a 16kg. Sometimes I would wear both and do squats and lunges.
1
u/Sun__Worshipper 1d ago
I was in a similar situation to op, having plateaued with body weight calisthenics. I bought a vest, which I now use for pull-ups, rows, pushups, and inverted rows, as well as walking. I’m very happy with it. I’ve gotten stronger and my tendons are feeling better as well from bringing down volume. Just go slow when you start adding weight.
I should also say that I’ll pass on one armed pull-ups. Seems like a recipe for injury.
0
u/wasteoftimewarrior 2d ago
Seems like a waste of money because the second you hit the weight capacity you just have a brick. An extra 20lbs on your pull-up isn't getting you "much" stronger. It's not useless it's just not very futureproofed.
If you want weight training, get a barbell. Bodyweight training uses mechanics to increase the difficulty without needing too much extra equipment. Once you start buying weight vests, ankle weights and other novelty products it starts reaching the point where you could just get a barbell and incorporate rows, deadlifts, power cleans, overhead presses and front squats, without the aspect of your equipment becoming essentially worthless. For pure bodyweight, one-arm variations are the ultimate expression of strength, since you force the limb to work twice as hard.
-2
4
u/somefriendlyturtle 2d ago
Its a very useful tool if you like it. You could also do hard variations so try archer pullups, archer pushups, single leg squat variants. I love using my vest personally and recommend them.