RUNmax Shoulder Pads for Weighted Vest, One Size

this are a must have with a weighted vest

Like the vest the stitching is good, the cushioning is adequate and they stay in position, these are actually a "must have". Initially there will be some discomfort especially with weight over 25lbs, but that's you getting acclimated not the product failing to do its job, stay with it and everything settles in and gets "comfy"

They do aid in weight distribution, and it does make wearing my 40lb RunMax vest more bearable. However, I don't perceive much padding in them. I only use them for walking/hiking, and they stay in place while in use.

First, a little background: I didn't buy this at the same time I bought the 40lb Cross 101 Weighted Vest. I figured, I'm already 245, I bench and squat more than that regularly, I should be able to manage that extra weight without too much discomfort. Well, as it turns out, it's not the extra weight, it's the fact that it's primarily concentrated on the trapezius muscles of each shoulder. An hour-plus of that gets a little painful. So I ended up buying these a week or so later.They work okay, delaying the shoulder discomfort for quite a while (it is inevitable, however). The main problem is applying them: I was hoping they would somehow fit _inside_ the vest. They do not. You basically just work them in between the vest straps and your shoulders, and the weight of the vest should keep them in place as you move. The strange thing is there are tiny (an inch, maybe?) squares of velcro, one on each side of the pads. I'm not sure what they're designed to do because they don't have nearly enough surface area to truly "grip" either the shirt (obviously you need to wear something under the vest between your skin and the pads) or the vest. Now I have to keep track of three things: the vest and the two pads. Other than that design issue (and keep in mind RUNmax makes the pads, and Cross101 makes my vest) they function OK.

Adding more weight to my vest. It was starting to cut into my shoulders. This did the job by helping to soften the straps while the weight is in. They are also very good quality.