GORNATION athlete standing in a park with the GORNATION Weight Vest

18 Exercises With A Weight Vest - Calisthenics Workout

Boost your workouts with a Weight Vest! Our 18 exercises focus on legs, core, and upper body, helping you develop strength, muscle definition, and endurance. With simple variations, they’re perfect for home or gym training and take your functional fitness to the next level.

Premium Dip Station Guide - Take Your Dip Training to the Next Level at Home Reading 18 Exercises With A Weight Vest - Calisthenics Workout 7 minutes

When it comes to calisthenics, the possibilities are endless. But have you ever considered taking your bodyweight workouts on the next level? Enter the Weight Vest, your secret weapon for supercharging your calisthenics routine. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore 18 exercises you can do with a weight vest. These exercises not only help you build strength but also elevate your workouts to new heights.

Triceps Extensions - Targeting Your Upper Arms

Triceps Extensions are one of the best exercises to build strong, defined arms at home. Using a Weight Vest adds resistance, boosting tricep strength and muscle definition. If you’re unsure about the proper form, check out our detailed blog on Triceps Extensions, with step-by-step instructions, common mistakes, and tips for safe, effective training at home.

Burpees - The Ultimate Full-Body Workout

Burpees are a full-body, calorie-burning powerhouse that target legs, core, and upper body simultaneously. They are perfect for boosting cardiovascular fitness, increasing endurance, and burning fat efficiently. Incorporating burpees into your training routine helps improve overall strength, coordination, and stamina, making them an essential exercise for anyone looking to get fit, burn calories, and build functional strength at home or in the gym.

GORNATION athlete standing in a park with the GORNATION Weight Vest

Jumping Lunges - Leg Power Unleashed

Jumping Lunges with a Weight Vest are a powerful exercise to boost leg strength, power, and agility. They effectively target the glutes, quads, and hamstrings while improving balance and coordination. Adding these explosive lunges to your training routine helps enhance lower-body strength, athletic performance, and overall muscle definition, making them an essential move for anyone aiming to build strong, powerful legs.

Pike Push-Ups - Elevate Your Shoulder Game

Pike Push-Ups are a game-changer for shoulder development.You'll feel the burn as you sculpt strong and defined shoulders. Incorporating Pike Push-Ups into your training routine helps improve shoulder endurance, sculpt muscle definition, and enhance overall upper-body performance.

Pull-Ups and Chin-Ups - Upper Body Mastery

Pull-Ups and Chin-Ups are classic exercises in Calisthenics that effectively target your back, biceps, and shoulders. Adding a Weight Vest increases resistance, helping you build more upper-body strength and muscle definition. For even better performance, you can use Liquid Chalk as an add-on to improve grip and control during each rep. To master the technique and maximize results, check out our detailed blog on Pull-Ups where we break down proper form, common mistakes, and tips to safely progress with weighted variations.

GORNATION athlete standing in a park with the GORNATION Weight Vest

Tucked Leg Raises and Leg Raises - Core Control

Tucked Leg Raises and Leg Raises are key moves for strengthening and defining your core. They engage the lower abs, hip flexors, and obliques, helping to improve balance and control throughout your body. By adding these exercises to your routine, you can take your ab training to the next level, increase core endurance, and achieve a stronger, more sculpted midsection.

Toes to the Bar - Abdominal Excellence

Toes to the Bar is an advanced core exercise that challenges your entire midsection while also engaging your shoulders and grip. Performing this move regularly strengthens the abs, hip flexors, and forearms, helping you develop a solid, defined core.

L-Sit Hold - Mastering Midsection Stability

L-Sit Holds with a Weight Vest are a powerful exercise to challenge your core, hip flexors, and shoulders. Holding this position builds midsection stability, improves posture, and strengthens the abs for better overall calisthenics performance. Regular practice enhances balance, body control, and endurance, making L-Sits an essential move for anyone looking to take their core and functional strength to the next level

Biceps Curls - Shapely Arm Definition

Biceps Curls with additional weights are a highly effective exercise to build stronger, more defined biceps. They target the muscle directly, enhancing arm strength, shape, and endurance. Incorporating weighted curls into your routine helps improve performance in other pulling exercises and functional movements. So get ready to show off those arms!

Dips - Arm and Chest Dominance

Dips with added resistance from a Weight Vest are an excellent exercise for developing the triceps, chest, and shoulders. This classic move helps you level up your upper-body strength and build muscle definition effectively. For tips on perfecting your technique, avoiding common mistakes, and safely progressing with weighted Dips, check out our detailed blog on Dips, where we guide you step by step to maximize results and performance.

GORNATION athlete performs dips in a park with the GORNATION Weight Vest

Split Squats - Unilateral Leg Power

Split Squats are an excellent exercise to correct muscle imbalances and build strong, balanced legs. They target the quads, glutes, and hamstrings while improving stability, coordination, and functional strength. Incorporating Split Squats into your routine helps enhance lower-body performance, supports athletic movements, and is perfect for both leg development and overall functional fitness.

Mountain Climbers - Cardio and Core Fusion

Mountain Climbers are a high-intensity exercise that combines cardio and core training in one powerful move. They engage the abs, hip flexors, and shoulders while boosting heart rate, helping you burn calories, improve endurance, and build core strength simultaneously. Adding Mountain Climbers to your routine enhances overall athletic performance, increases stamina, and is perfect for full-body conditioning

Squats - Total Leg Strength

Squats are a fundamental exercise for building leg strength and power. They target the quads, hamstrings, and glutes while improving overall lower-body performance. Incorporating squats into your training routine boosts functional strength and helps sculpt well-defined legs, making them a must-do move for anyone looking to strengthen their lower body at home or in the gym.

Deep Push-Ups - Chest and Triceps Intensity

Deep Push-Ups offer an increased range of motion, making them highly effective for targeting the chest and triceps. Adding a Weight Vest further intensifies the exercise, helping you build a stronger upper body. For even better performance and wrist comfort, using Parallettes is highly recommended, as they allow a deeper push while reducing strain. Incorporating Deep Push-Ups with these tools into your routine boosts strength, muscle definition, and overall Calisthenics performance.

GORNATION athlete performs push ups in a park with the GORNATION Weight Vest

Step Ups - Leg Endurance and Balance

Step Ups are a highly effective move to improve leg strength, endurance, and balance. They work the quads, hamstrings, and glutes while enhancing overall stability and control. For the best results and safer execution, performing them on a Plyo Box is recommended, as it gives a solid and elevated platform. Adding Step Ups with a Plyo Box to your routine helps build powerful, defined legs and supports functional fitness

Sprints - Explosive Cardio

Sprints with a Weight Vest are an intense cardio exercise that pushes your speed, endurance, and agility to the next level. They engage the legs, core, and cardiovascular system simultaneously, helping athletes and fitness enthusiasts improve overall performance and burn calories. 

Check out our Youtube Video

To see the exact execution of these 18 exercises and follow the proper form, check out our YouTube video where each exercise is demonstrated. Perfect for ensuring technique and progressing safely!

Conclusion

Incorporating a weight vest into your calisthenics routine is a surefire way to unlock your full potential. Whether you're looking to build muscle, improve endurance, or increase agility, these 18 exercises have got you covered. So, strap on that weight vest and elevate your street workout game to new heights. Start integrating these exercises into your routine today and witness the incredible transformation in your strength and physique.

 

Phil profile picture

Phil

Hi, I’m Phil, the founder of GORNATION. I brought the brand to life in 2015 with a clear mission: to create a premium brand for Calisthenics, something that didn’t exist before. I live and breathe this sport, doing calisthenics myself since 2013. My vision is to unite 1 million people around the world through calisthenics, building a strong, supportive community. I'm happy that you're part of that!

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