I'm a big fan of efficiency, so I've been wanting to try a weighted vest for a while now. Exactly as they sound, these fabric vests can be loaded with custom metal plates to make you instantly heavier. Once you strap one on, your typical hikes become more like strength workouts, and you'll — hopefully — find your strength and endurance improving over time.
There are several different weighted vests to choose from, but I was fortunate enough to be sent one by GoRuck, the Florida-based company that started out making backpacks for rucking. Cost is something of a factor with weighted vests (we'll get to that later), but the design is durable and utilitarian. The GORUCK Rucking Weight Vest recently got the nod in our Tom's Guide Fitness Awards and, as you'd expect for a company with military ties, looks like a tactical accessory you'd see on a SWAT officer.
