The Kensui EZ-VEST is a weighted vest that utilizes Olympic weight plates instead of small vest weight plates, which allows incremental loading up to a tremendously high max load of 300 pounds. It’s quite different from traditional weight vests, and truthfully, it’s not great for every movement or type of workout—but it excels in areas where most weight vests don’t, and in my Kensui EZ-VEST weighted vest review, you’ll find out if it’s right for you.
Why You Should Trust Us
My team and I have tested all of the best weighted vests available. We’ve put them all through the ringer, wearing them for everything from walks, runs, CrossFit metcons (hello, Murph), and more. After testing the PRO and MAX models for pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, dips, box jumps, and other movements over several months, we highly recommend the EZ-VEST.
Plate-Loadable Weighted Vest
Kensui EZ-Vest
Product Highlights
- Loadable up to 225 pounds
- Unique Olympic plate-loaded design
- Great for straight-set weight training
- Less expensive than other vests because you don’t have to buy the steel separately
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Loadable up to 225 pounds
- Unique Olympic plate-loaded design
- Great for straight-set weight training
- Less expensive than other vests because you don’t have to buy the steel separately
Cons
- Can feel awkward to use at first
- Not ideal for CrossFit-style workouts or running
- Can get uncomfortable to wear as the weight gets higher
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a weighted vest to use for more strength training than conditioning (or you’re just an absolute unit that can do Murph with more than 40 pounds on your torso), we recommend the Kensui EZ-VEST Weight Vest.
A Quick Look at the Kensui EZ-VEST Weighted Vest
The Kensui EZ-VEST weight vest is described as the world’s heaviest weight vest. Between the 1,000 five-star reviews on its own website (and the dozens of people that have hounded me to give it a try to see if it’s really one of the best weighted vests), it seems clear that the EZ-VEST has quite a few satisfied customers out there.
I feel quite confident in saying that the Kensui EZ-VEST is a true innovation in the gym equipment space, an industry known for copycats. It’s the first weighted vest of its kind, and it’s not only unique, but also more useful than you might expect.
Kensui Fitness has three different models of the EZ-VEST: The LITE, which holds up to 60 pounds; the PRO, which holds up to 130 pounds; and the MAX, which holds up to 300 pounds.
I tested the original MAX and PRO versions, and the brand has since come out with new versions of each. Based on my research, the V2 vests and the original vests look extremely similar, with the exception of the increased weight capacities and new latch systems. The MAX used to have Velcro, but now uses a slide-release buckle for better security. The PRO and the LITE vests still use Velcro. In this article, I’m reviewing the MAX unless otherwise noted.
My Kensui EZ-VEST weighted vest review still stands, despite those small changes. I actually think those changes are for the better.
Coop’s Tips:
- If you plan on loading the vest to full capacity, I recommend using thin plates to ensure the collars lock on completely to keep you safe.
- Even though this vest does hold 45-pound Olympic plates, I don’t necessarily recommend loading it with those because it can feel a bit awkward.
Pros:
- It’s the heaviest weight vest I know of, with a max capacity of 300 pounds (say what!)
- Plate-loaded design means you can use equipment you already have at home
- Made of durable, abrasion-resistant materials for longevity
Cons:
- It’s expensive for a vest that doesn’t come with any weight
- It can feel slightly uncomfortable to wear for certain movements and at the highest loads
- Using bumper plates or any thick plates reduces the maximum weight capacity due to the width
Is the Kensui EZ-VEST Weighted Vest Worth It?
I was served so many ads for the Kensui weighted vests for a long time, and although I was curious at first, I was also a bit skeptical and thought the ads looked gimmicky. Adding plates to a vest sounded novel, but it also sounded like a disaster waiting to happen.
After getting inundated with requests for a Kensui EZ-VEST weighted vest review by our readers, I finally took the bait and ordered a couple of their designs. After testing and reviewing them, I’m glad I did.
It’s awesome to have the ability to utilize weight plates you already have lying around, incrementally load the vest, and use it for max-effort pull-ups, dips, and plyometrics. The concept turns weighted vests, which are traditionally used for conditioning, into a novel strength training tool. It’s a completely different experience than what you get with a traditional weighted vest like the Rogue Plate Carrier.
The pricing is rather high for a weight vest that doesn’t include weight (like I said, it’s designed to hold Olympic plates, which are sold separately). However, it is made with high-quality materials that should prove to last.
Just to put it into perspective, at $249, the EZ-VEST MAX costs more than the 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier Vest with weight included. I do think they’re very different vests for different purposes, but it’s worth the comparison.
Here’s who I think should consider the EZ-VEST and who should move on to something more traditional.
Great for:
- People who have a set of thin weight plates at home already
- Anyone who wants to train strength and stamina in calisthenic exercises
- People who find that traditional weighted vests don’t meet their needs
Not recommended for:
- Runners
- People who do high-volume, CrossFit-style workouts
- Anyone who does not have relatively thin weight plates at home already
Video Review
Kensui EZ-VEST MAX Weighted Vest Specs
| Product weight (without weight plates) | 4 lb |
| Max weight capacity | 300 lb |
| Closure system | Slide-release buckles |
| Vest lining | Leather |
| Vest outer | 1680D nylon |
| Sleeve length | 9.7 cm |
| Sleeve material | Aluminum |
| Collars | Spin-lock |
What It’s Like to Work Out With the Kensui EZ-VEST Weighted Vest
The EZ-VEST is designed, like all strength training equipment, to build muscle and increase strength, but it’s specifically designed to easily add weight to what are typically bodyweight-only movements: Pull-ups, push-ups, dips, and the like.
Unloaded, the EZ-VEST is an extremely lightweight vest, weighing in at only 4lbs without plates, and it’s most remarkable feature is that it doesn’t require custom plates, which most other weighted vests require.
Instead, thanks to two 2-inch removable sleeves, the Kensui weight vests can take any Olympic weight plate. This means you can load it with whatever you have: iron plates, bumper plates, 45-pound plates, or even 100-pound plates, although that would be a sight to see.
Comfort and Fit
The vest is breathable and wicks sweat away, so you can wear it for a long training session and in the heat. The inside of the MAX vest features a polyurethane leather (artificial leather) lining.
Personally, I prefer the air mesh lining on the PRO version, but both are good. I think the polyurethane leather looks nice, but probably isn’t the best option for something designed for heavy, sweaty training. For this reason, I wish they would add the mesh as an option to the MAX version or just completely replace it.
The other positive is that no matter your size or sensitivity, the straps allow the vest to be tightened close to the body preventing a lot of bouncing around.
However, even with all the adaptability and convenient elements, the design is still a little awkward. For example, it doesn’t allow for chest-to-deck push-ups without taking the front post off, which may seem kind of obvious if you’re experienced with weighted vests. The post doesn’t take a ton of time to remove, but it is another step that isn’t required by standard weight vests.
I also have to note that even though the vest produces less bounce overall than I would’ve thought, the weight plates do bounce around more than the custom plates in a traditional weighted vest.
Things get a little uncomfortable when you slide 45-pound plates onto the EZ-VEST sleeves just because they’re so big. This is expected, and to me, it’s not uncomfortable enough to stop me from doing it.
Range of Motion and Workout Opportunities
The EZ-VEST is pretty adaptable to whatever kind of workout you’ve designed your home gym around. If you want to use it for bodyweight movements, it works well. If your goal is to use it for more dynamic movements like sprinting, bounding, and cutting, it works well for that too, if you don’t load it to super high weights. I personally think it’s best suited for things like pull-ups and dips.
Where the EZ-VEST really shines is that it allows for incremental progressive overloading on bodyweight movements, which is extremely hard to do with other equipment. For example, if you’re working on weighted pull-ups, you can add a 2.5-pound plate to the vest. On the contrary, if all you have to practice with is the kettlebell-and-chain setup, you’ll be forced to make much bigger weight jumps.
For a budget home gym, something like this that offers so much versatility in a small package is a great buy.
However—and this is a very big however for all you CrossFitters out there—if you’re someone looking to take your WODs or metcons to the next level, this vest isn’t the ideal candidate for such purposes.
Doing workouts like Murph, the Memorial Day WOD, isn’t really possible with the EZ-VEST, as it can bounce a bit on runs and the front post won’t allow you to do push-ups.
If you’re looking for a vest for metcons and CrossFit WODs, I’d suggest going with something like the Rogue Plate Carrier, which was used in the 2020 CrossFit Games.
Convenience
The Kensui EZ-VEST has a lot of inbuilt convenience for trainees. The EZ-VEST makes use of Olympic weight plates, which most home gym owners already have at hand. Similarly, changing the weights is quick, and can be done while wearing the vest. This makes the weight quick to take on and off, with no velcro meddling required.
How the Kensui EZ-VEST Weighted Vest Works
Because this weighted vest is so unique, I thought it would be worth diving into some of the specs and features.
Construction and Build
The plate sleeves feature a locking nut that is easy to hand tighten and stays pretty tight just by using your hands.
The sleeves are removable in case you are doing push-ups and want weight on the back, but want to remove the front sleeve to allow for full-depth push-ups. This was a very thoughtful feature that could have easily been overlooked if the person who designed the product wasn’t actually a user of the product.
Durability
Kensui designed the EZ-VEST to withstand hard training. All of the materials are highly abrasion-resistant and made to take a beating.
The sleeves on the MAX are made of aluminum, which is lightweight but strong. The sleeves on their LITE and PRO vests use fiberglass, which will prove to be just as durable in actual use.
All EZ-VESTs come with two Olympic spin-lock collars that screw on tightly. I had no issues with the collars unlocking.
Weight Capacity
The weight capacity of the Kensui EZ-VEST is higher than any other weight vest commercially available. Even the lightest option, the EZ-VEST LITE, can hold more weight than most traditional weighted vests. The weight capacities are:
- LITE: 60 pounds
- PRO: 130 pounds
- MAX: 300 pounds
This means for someone on a true budget or that wants a minimalist gym, they could technically use the vest for squats and hinge movements, not just pull-ups and dips, eliminating the need for a barbell, squat rack, and other equipment.
If you’re someone looking to use the heavy weight capacity to the fullest, you’re going to want to know how it feels to wear at max capacity, which I took the time to experience, both for the feeling and to take a goofy picture with hundreds of pounds on my chest.
Overall, if you balance the front and rear weights, the vest feels pretty comfortable to wear. It’s obviously heavy, and the top straps can dig into your traps a bit at higher weights, but that’s to be expected. Because the straps are wide, they don’t cut into the shoulders to a level where it’s unbearable.
At higher weights, you need to make sure you’re using thin plates so they all fit with the collars locked on. Also, the 45-pound plates feel a bit awkward as they get near your chin and therefore I wouldn’t recommend running or jumping with that big of a plate on the vest.
Kensui EZ-VEST Weighted Vest vs. Other Weighted Vests
Of course, my Kensui EZ-VEST weight vest review doesn’t just end at exploring what we like and don’t like about this particular vest. We have to compare it to other weighted vests on the market to really see how it stacks up against the competition.
There are many details on the EZ-VEST that make it different from the many competitors that saturate the space, but the feature that most stands out is the ability to load weight plates and therefore progressively overload your training.
Kensui EZ-VEST vs. Rogue Plate Carrier
In comparison to the Rogue Plate Carrier, the Kensui EZ-VEST is pricier for what you get. With the Rogue Plate Carrier, you’ll only have to pay $135 for the vest, whereas the EZ-VEST will cost you between $97 and $250. The custom plates required for the Rogue Plate Carrier will run you about another $70, putting you at about $200 for the whole shebang.
That’s still less than the EZ-VEST MAX, which comes with no weight—but you probably already have weight plates if you’re reading this. The Rogue vest is only loadable up to 20 pounds.
The Rogue Plate Carrier has a much simpler design and is designed more for metcon-type training. You can’t add up a ton of Olympic Plates to increase the load like you can on the Kensui weighted vests, but it’s also more minimalistic and therefore more comfortable during running and high-volume WODs.
Honestly, I foresee many people using the Kensui EZ-VEST in a different manner and these vests are like an apple-to-orange comparison than direct competitors despite their product categorization.
Kensui EZ-VEST Weighted Vest vs. 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier
The 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier is similar to the Rogue Plate Carrier and offers similar benefits and disadvantages in comparison to the EZ-VEST.
The TacTec Plate Carrier is loadable up to 40 pounds in total, compared to the insane 300-pound max on the EZ-VEST.
I prefer the 5.11 vest for those who want a do-it-all vest. It can’t go as heavy, but you’ll be able to do a lot of traditional weight vest movements that are more cumbersome with the Kensui Weighted Vests.
The Kensui EZ-VEST Weight Vest is just a different animal. It’s in the product category of weighted vests due to its name, but it’s a very different product.
Ordering and Assembling the Kensui EZ-VEST Weighted Vest
You can order the Kensui EZ-VEST directly from the website. Depending on availability, you might be prompted to check availability in your area. Shipping may be free depending on your location. Check out, and your order should arrive within a week (Kensui offers one to three day shipping).
Once your vest arrives, there’s really no assembly to be done, except for installing the sleeves which takes all of two minutes. You should be able to put it to the test right away.
Customer Experience
If you need to contact Kensui Fitness for any reason, you can do so through the customer support line (800-359-7180, available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST). Kensui has a 100-day no-risk return policy on the EZ-VEST, so you can return it, no questions asked, during that time frame, even if you’ve used it quite a bit. Also, when you buy the EZ-VEST, you get access to a workout library and a private community, which is pretty cool.
Customer Reviews
The Kensui EZ-VEST has phenomenal customer reviews. There are nearly 1,000 reviews on the Kensui website alone, with nearly 90% of those being five-star reviews. Buyers say it’s “outstanding” and that it “exceeded expectations.”
A couple of reviews mention a desire for more padding in the shoulders, but the customers still seem to be happy overall.
Final Verdict of Our Kensui EZ-VEST Weighted Vest Review
The value of the vest is unmatched, with durability, convenience, and adaptability all taking a top spot in the design. It’s an incredible weighted vest, and one I highly recommend. But, it’s not the same as a traditional weighted vest and that’s something you need to consider when making your purchase.
- The EZ-VEST has the highest weight capacity of any weighted vest on the market that I know of.
- It’s great for building strength in calisthenic movements.
- It’s not the best option for CrossFit-style workouts or running.
Full Rating
Kensui EZ-VEST
The Kensui EZ-VESTis a weighted vest that utilizes Olympic weight plates instead of vest plates to allow incremental loading on bodyweight movements as well as a tremendously high max load of 225 LB. After testing the PRO and MAX models for pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, dips, box jumps, and other movements over the past two months, we highly recommend the EZ-VEST. It’s quite different from traditional weight vests and it’s not great for every movement/workout (running wasn’t great,) but it excels in areas where most weight vests don’t.
Product Brand: Kensui
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 299
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.4
Kensui EZ-VEST Weighted Vest FAQs
Here are some answers to common questions I hear about the Kensui EZ-VEST Weighted Vest.
What is the heaviest weight vest?
The Kensui EZ-VEST MAX is the heaviest weight vest on the market with an impressive max weight capacity of 300 pounds.
What are the benefits of a weighted vest?
Weighted vests can help you build strength in stamina in a number of different exercises, from bodyweight strength movements like pull-ups to running and rucking.
How do you put on a Kensui vest?
To wear the Kensui EZ-VEST, put it on over your shoulders and then secure the side closures, which are either Velcro or slide-release buckles depending on the model.
