Weighted Vests Are for Strength, Not Women's Swing Votes

Why the “Swing Voter” Narrative Misses the Point

Recently, Politico ran a story titled "Weighted Vest Women are the 2026 Swing Voters" suggesting that women using weighted vests for strength are the newest swing voters. It cited a survey by pollster Christine Matthews where about one in six women (166 out of 1000) said they use a weighted vest. Incredibly that small sample was spun into a swing voting block.

The poll was focused on a younger female demographic: “under age 45, have kids at home, and live in urban/suburban neighborhoods, [are] well-educated, higher-income and highly engaged with politics ....” At Hyperwear we know from our decades of weighted vest sales that it is women 45 and older who have taken to using weighted vests for bone health and strength in big numbers. 

We’d like to offer a different perspective. Weighted vests aren’t political props. They’re part of a serious, science-backed shift toward strength training as health care—especially for midlife women seeking to preserve bone density and muscle.

As Mark Twain quipped: “Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are pliable.”

The Real Trend — Strength Training for Health

From Osteoporosis to Balance and Strength

• Bone loss accelerates after menopause, making strength training critical.

• Research shows that progressive load—whether with barbells, resistance bands, or weighted vests—helps maintain bone density

• In fact, clinical studies have used Hyperwear weighted vests specifically in protocols to study how to improve bone health, weight loss and balance.

GLP-1, Weight Loss, and Muscle Preservation

With the rise of GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, etc.), muscle preservation is now a front-page health issue. Losing weight too quickly without resistance training can mean losing muscle. Weighted vests provide an accessible, everyday way to preserve lean mass—turning daily walks into strength-building sessions.

Why Hyper Vest® Weighted Vests Lead the Way

Not all vests are created equal. Some competitors (like Omorpho with its performance apparel weighted clothing andmicro-load / MicroLoad  approach) limit their weighted vest for women to 3-5 lbs which we view as too light to deliver results women want. Hyperwear vests feature:

• Slim: Thin steel weights sit close to the body for natural movement.
• Adjustable Weight: have 10 lbs of removable weight
• Machine Washable: removable weights for gentle cycle cleaning
• Clinically Proven: Used in multiple university studies on bone density and functional fitness.

Explore Hyperwear’s Weighted Vests →f

The Takeaway

Weighted vests aren’t “swing votes.” They’re part of a larger cultural shift toward strength as preventive health. Whether you’re combating osteoporosis, preserving muscle on GLP-1, or simply wanting better posture—Hyperwear vests deliver the proven performance you need.