I love bodyweight workouts because they enable you to exercise anywhere and anytime. However, once you get a bit stronger, you’ll have to perform a million repetitions for the exercises to have the same effect. Weighted vests can add the all-too-required extra resistance to your callisthenics sessions.
Weighted vests come in many shapes and sizes, and usually, all of them are ill-fitting. They are often filled with sand and/or use metal plates to increase their weight, making them clunky to wear.
Omorpho’s G-Vest has a different approach. It’s a slender vest with an even weight distribution, allowing you to move more. It’s perfect for bodyweight workouts, such as push-ups, pull-ups, squats, and more.
It’s by no means cheap, but is the Omorpho G-Vest worth the price tag? What are the benefits and drawbacks of this weighted vest? How does it compare to the best weighted vests? Let’s find out.
Omorpho G-Vest review
Price and availability
The Omorpho G-Vest is available to buy now directly from Omorpho for a recommended price of $299 (approx. £232.75/ AU$457.33). This is the price for the men’s version; the women’s variety is slightly cheaper at $279 (approx. £217.18/ AU$426.83).
The G-Vest comes in four colours for men and six for women. Both versions come in S/M and L/XL sizes. The men’s version is available in four colours, the women’s in six. I used the men’s L/XL in Olive for the review.
Specifications
- Removable weights: No
- Weight range: approx. 10lbs (men’s), approx. 5lbs (women’s)
- Good for: callisthenics, explosive movements, running
- Adjustable: Yes
Design and materials
The Omorpho G-Vest is made from laminated polyester to synthetic rubber. This makes the vest less prone to getting saturated with sweat, which helps it stay fresh for longer. Most weighted vests use a padded approach similar to backpacks, which is hard to clean; the G-Vest can be wiped clean after each use.
Encased inside the vest are ball bearings, giving the G-Vest its unique look. The steel balls are dotted all across the vest, enhancing comfort significantly. Comfort might not be the perfect way to describe a weighted vest, but the weight distribution is definitely leaps and bounds better than your average sand-filled vest.
Another key difference between the G-Vest and traditional weighted vests is the front zipper. Getting in and out of vests can be cumbersome, as you have to lift them off over your head. The G-Vest works like a waistcoat and can be put on and taken off easily.
As for adjustability, the G-Vest features side cords with lock and adjustable shoulder straps to ensure it fits your upper body perfectly. A wide ventilation strip runs in the middle of the back of the vest to help your back stay cooler during workouts.
Performance and comfort
I used the G-Vest for resistance training and running, and it performed well for both. The vest is considerably thinner than the Domyos Strength and Cross Training Vest I have at home, which was a real boon when doing push-ups and squats.
The weight distribution is on point. There are roughly the same number of bearing balls in the front as there are in the back, and they sit quite closely to your upper body. The adjustable cord at the side and the zipper are what really make the G-Vest, helping the vest to stay as close to the body as possible and reducing chafing by a great deal.
The shoulder straps are comfortable, although not as padded as those of other weighted vests. The G-Vest weighs ‘only’ 10 lbs, so you don’t need tons of padding anyway. The aforementioned Domyos vest has thick padded straps, but it has a weight range of 13 to 22 lbs.
The relative lightness is one reason it might not be the best option for everyone. If you’re stronger, 10 lbs on your upper body might not provide enough resistance to keep you going, and there is no way to add weight to the G-Vest. You can buy a weighted T-shirt or shorts from Omorpho to increase the overall weight, but it will cost you money, and the vest is not cheap as is.
Verdict
Who’s the Omorpho G-Vest is for? Despite the lack of heft, it’s suitable for a range of different workouts, from bodyweight exercises to running and more. It does come at a price, which might not be justifiable if you’re not too serious about your workouts. But if you are looking for a premium accessory to elevate your sessions to the next level, the G-Vest might just be your best bet.
