Gone are the days that weight vests were bulky 50lbs devices used only by firefighters or football players. Today's weight vests are stylish, comfortable, adjustable and allow users to start with a very manageable weight.

But why use a weight vest over hand weights or ankle weights? Many walkers who want to increase resistance and calories burned walking will use hand or ankle weights. Using hand or best ankle weights for women will help increase calories burned walking and increase resistance but they can also put undue added strain on the shoulders and elbows. If you are trying to maintain a low impact workout by walking, a weight vest will place added resistance in the most ideal position on your body.

Biomechanic researchers support the weight vest concept as well. "The best place to put weight is evenly distributed on the trunk," said Peter Francis, an emeritus professor of exercise at San Diego State University.

Scientific studies further support the use of a weight vest for increasing low impact exercise resistance and getting more calories burned walking. A 2006 University of Iowa study published in the journal Medicine Science in Sports Exercise found that wearing a weighted vest can increase calories burned walking by 7 percent and increase exercise intensity.