Weight Vests: Buying Guide Australia (2026)
Weight Vests: Buying Guide Australia (2026)
The Short Answer
A weight vest adds load to exercises you already do with your bodyweight: pull-ups, push-ups, lunges, step-ups, walking and conditioning circuits. For most people the right choice is a plate carrier vest, because the load sits in flat plates front and back, close to your body, and you can change it by swapping plates. The VERVE Tactical Vest Plate Carrier is $155 without plates and weighs 1.6kg empty. Add a pair of 5lb plates for a 14lb vest (about 6kg) or a pair of 8lb plates for a 20lb vest (about 9kg), the two common competition standards.
Specs from the VERVE product pages, November 2026. Prices on this page update automatically.
Plate carrier or adjustable vest?
There are two common designs. An adjustable vest has many small pockets filled with sand or iron blocks spread around the torso. A plate carrier, like the VERVE vest, holds one flat plate in a front holder and one in a back holder.
The plate carrier keeps the load flat against your chest and back, so it moves less during running, jumping and pull-ups, and changing the weight takes seconds: slide one plate out, slide another in. The trade-off is that you load it in plate-sized steps rather than small increments.
The VERVE plate carrier and plates
The VERVE Tactical Vest Plate Carrier comes in black and green. It is built from 500D nylon with front and back plate holders, elastic side straps for a universal fit and a quick release, and it now includes an Australian flag velcro patch. Plates are sold separately, in pairs, one for the front and one for the back.
| Item | What it is | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Tactical Vest Plate Carrier | 500D nylon vest, 1.6kg empty, no plates included | $155 |
| Weight Plate Inserts, red | Pair of 5lb powder coated steel plates, 240 x 290 x 5mm | $69 |
| Weight Plate Inserts, black | Pair of 8lb powder coated steel plates, 240 x 290 x 8mm | $89 |
Weights on the plates are per plate. The vest with two 5lb plates gives the 14lb setup, and with two 8lb plates the 20lb setup, which works out at about 6kg and 9kg. Those are the two weights most often set as competition standards for weighted workouts.
How heavy should your vest be?
Start lighter than you think. A vest adds load to every rep and every step, and the work adds up quickly over a long session.
- New to vest training: start with the 14lb setup, or the empty vest for a few sessions, and add load only once the movement is solid.
- Training for a weighted workout or event: train at the weight the event sets. For most that is 14lb or 20lb.
- Walking and hiking: the light setup is plenty to start. Build up time before you build up weight.
Split the load evenly between the front and back holders, as VERVE's plate pages recommend, so the vest sits square and does not pull you forward.
What to look for in any weight vest
- Fabric: the shell takes abrasion from bars, floors and walls. 500D nylon is a step up from the cheaper polyester used on many budget vests.
- Fit: it should sit high and tight on the chest so it does not bounce. Adjustable side straps help it fit different body sizes.
- Quick release: worth having for getting out of the vest fast when you are fatigued.
- Plate size: check the plates fit the carrier. VERVE plates are made for the VERVE carrier.
What to do with it
A vest is most useful on movements where you are the weight: pull-ups, dips, push-ups, air squats, lunges, step-ups on a plyo box, and conditioning circuits. It pairs well with the rest of a functional setup; see the functional training range.
Frequently Asked Questions
What weight vest should I buy?
How heavy is a 20lb weight vest in kg?
Does the VERVE weight vest come with plates?
How heavy should a weight vest be for a beginner?
What is a plate carrier vest?
Your next steps
Decide what you will use the vest for, pick the setup that matches, and start at the lighter end. The vest and both plate pairs are in the weight vest range.
Shop Weight Vests