America’s most talked about weighted vest – which is now available across Europe and the UK – promises to turn everyday walks, training runs and weekly gym sessions into full-body strength and bone density workouts. Loved by the likes of Taylor Swift, Hugh Jackman, Cynthia Erivo and Oprah Winfrey, I tried it out the OMORPHO G-Vest Icon to see whether it lives up to the hype.
Wearable resistance has gained considerable traction in recent years – and for good reason. A new wave of weighted vests, ankle weights and wrist weights have seen beginners and athletes alike upping the intensity of their workouts and adding pockets of resistance training to everyday life.
Perhaps the most talked about gear within the world of wearable resistance are the weighted vests from OMORPHO. Offering a slim fit and adjustable resistance, the vests are designed to seamlessly slip into a range of workouts and activities – whether you’re heading out for a stroll, hitting the gym, training for a half marathon or commuting to work.
Loved by dozens of a-list celebrities, from Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo to Oprah Winfrey, who listed it as a winner in her 2026 Self Care O-Wards, I thought it was about time I tried a vest out for myself to see how versatile it is, how much harder it makes familiar workouts, and how much my strength improves over time.
OMORPHO G-Vest Icon: first impressions
Arriving in an unassuming, slimline box, there’s no denying that it certainly feels weighty when you first lift it out of the box. However, once you actually put the vest on, it’s amazing how subtle the extra weight feels. And this is thanks to the innovative MicroLoad™ design, which evenly distributes small amounts of weight across key muscle groups.
In terms of sizing, I’m usually a US size 4 to 6 (UK size 8-10) and opted for the S-M vest size. Once zipped in, you can easily adjust the sizing using the shoulder straps and pull cords either side of your torso. It’s designed to be close fitting, so it can move seamlessly with your body, but it certainly doesn’t feel tight or restrictive. The stretchy elastic down the sides means it really does move and breathe with you – meaning to some extent, you can forget it’s there and get on with your workout.
In terms of how much resistance it adds, the women’s G-Vest Icon has a base weight of 6 lbs (2.7kg), while the men’s G-Vest Icon starts at 10 lbs (4.5kg). If you want to up the weight further, you can purchase an additional G-Pack which seamlessly snaps into your vest to double the resistance. 6-20 lbs (2.7-10kg) might not sound like much, but trust me: once you begin working out, you’ll be surprised at just how quickly you start to feel the burn.
Exercising with the OMORPHO G-Vest Icon
While testing out the OMORPHO G-Vest Icon, I wanted to try out a range of different workouts and activities to really challenge the vest’s versatility – and myself.
First, I tried adding it to my usual bodyweight and dumbbell workouts. For standing lower-body exercises, such as squats and lunges, I hardly noticed the extra weight at first. However, upon reaching the end of my final set, I realised how much harder my core was working to keep my torso stabilised throughout the movements. And even if my legs didn’t particularly notice the additional weight, it felt good knowing that I had upped the resistance and was giving my muscles, bones and joints an extra challenge.
When I progressed to the floor for a range of upper body exercises, it’s safe to say the extra resistance made its presence known. From planks and push ups to crunches and sit ups, my mind and body felt momentarily stumped at how much harder these otherwise very familiar exercises suddenly felt. But once I got going and progressed through my sets, I loved the added challenge and definitely felt like I had worked much harder than usual by the end.
I also found it far easier to integrate the weighted vest into the bodyweight exercises, rather than using a dumbbell or kettlebell for example. Freeing up my hands meant I could simply focus on my form while still working with added resistance.
Challenge your power and endurance
Perhaps the most challenging exercise I tried with the G-Vest Icon was the humble burpee. It goes without saying that burpees are already a huge challenge for your whole body, testing strength, cardio, mobility and explosive power. Add a weighted vest into the mix and my heart was pounding just a few reps in (not helped by the heatwave we were experiencing at the time).
Strength training aside, weighted vests are also great for runners. I am not much of a runner myself (yet), but it’s worth knowing you can also add the G-Vest Icon (or the slightly lighter weight G-Vest Run) to your weekly runs to improve leg strength, endurance and stamina. Whether you’re just getting into jogging or you’re training for a marathon, it’s an effective way to up the intensity and make your body work that little bit harder, mile after mile.
Adding the G-Vest Icon to everyday activities
While you might associate weighted vests with hardcore gym workouts, wearing the G-Vest Icon is also an effective way to add some resistance to everyday activities, such as going for a walk, commuting to work, or even getting on with the housework.
I love ‘exercise snacking’ – adding little pockets of movement to my day whenever and wherever I am. It’s a great way to maintain an active lifestyle, especially if you don’t have the time to go to the gym or squeeze longer workouts into your week. And the G-Vest Icon is perfect for making those exercise snacks a little meatier. Only got five minutes? Pop your vest on and do some jumping jacks. Got a little longer? Head out for a weighted stroll. Got no spare time whatsoever? Slip your vest on and multitask!
The vest was originally designed to quietly turn the hours we spend moving through daily life into a strength and bone density workout, without adding anything to the schedule. And it really does live up to this, thanks to its secure, slim fitting design, combined with how quick and easy it is to slip on and off. Plus, the resistance is subtle enough to give you an extra challenge, without making everyday movements feel restricted or uncomfortable.
And the best bit? When you take the vest off, you suddenly feel like a weight has been lifted from your shoulders – quite literally. It’s a uniquely uplifting feeling, especially when combined with those post-workout endorphins.
Can you wear a weighted vest during yoga?
As a yoga teacher, I was especially interested to see how I could incorporate a weighted vest into my daily flows -particularly as I know how effective weighted yoga can be for maintaining muscle mass and bone density.
While it did work really well for some poses – particularly standing postures, such as Warrior I and II – I didn’t find it as well-suited to flowing sequences, such as Sun Salutations. This is simply because the vest does slightly restrict how much you can flex or extend your spine, making backbends such as Cobra a little uncomfortable.
However, OMORPHO does also create the G-Top and G-Tank, which offer a greater range of motion thanks to a looser fit, while still providing added resistance. I didn’t test one of these myself, but I can imagine these designs would work better for more fluid yoga sequences. Plus, you can then layer your G-Vest on top to add some extra oomph to your Warriors.
Final thoughts
Overall, I loved trying out the OMORPHO G-Vest Icon and particularly love how versatile it is. It truly shines during strength workouts, making you work that little bit harder without even necessarily noticing at the time – but definitely feeling it the next day. As my body adapted to the added resistance over the course of a few weeks, I definitely felt like I was getting stronger faster – and I’m excited to see how my strength and fitness progress as I continue to train with it.
In terms of the cost, the G-Vest Icon will set you back $279-299 (£239-259) – so it’s a pricey investment, but might just be worth it if you’re serious about taking your training to the next level. Or, even if you’re not looking to use it for hardcore workouts, it’s also a great tool for turning everyday activities into opportunities for future-proofing your muscle mass and bone density.
My next challenge? Taking up running. I’m keen to see just how quickly the G-Vest Icon can improve my endurance, speed and stamina…
