Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I will preface this by saying that you should NEVER run in any weight vest. Walking stairs, walking, elliptical...all fine but you run in a weight vest and some time in your life you will be seeing an orthopedic surgeon...ok...enough lecture... Weight vests are a great thing. They are versatile and safe. If you want to do lunges but are concerned about safety when using dumb bells, a vest is the answer. Want to get a chest blasting workout with only a few different exercises and sets of push-ups? Weight vest is awesome. Even want to burn some extra calories on an elliptical...great idea. But...most vests are unbalanced, uncomfortable, and cumbersome. They don't have enough variations in sizing. They hang too much in the front. They cut into your throat when doing push-ups or they poke your back when you are doing squats. But, this vest gets it right. The RUNmax is one of those few fitness products that covers pretty much all the bases. It has great weight balance options. I have the 100lb version and it has 5 pockets on front and back spaced really well allowing easy and accurate distribution of weight. The vest is very versatile in it's fit. It has a nice two band wrap around system that can be changed to fit different body shapes. The straps that go around the torso are very wide but taper to grab tightly. The Velcro on the straps is high quality. The vest is comfortable in a cross-fit environment, on an elliptical, or even walking around a track. But...AND TAKE NOTE...that is with the shoulder pads installed. That is my one real problem with it. The vest should come with removable shoulder pads. I can't imagine using the vest for more than 10 minutes without the pads. So, why make them an option and charge more for them. I would prefer that the company simply sell the vest with them because I cannot even imagine a person buying this vest and not eventually wanting the pads. So, I guess I am saying buy the vest and include the pads...even though they should be included. They should be included. But even with that the vest is great. It holds tight, feels firm, and is really a great addition to a workout. I would buy it again (with the shoulder pads) without hesitation.