I have worked out using a 45 lb weight vest doing the stair climber. It's a workout for Firefighter training....


Down here the exam consists of 80lbs actually and simulates climbing a high rise with your SCBA and Hose.

 

 

Whoever said it doesn't add to your work load is a moron. It doesn't matter how you look at it, it will 100% intensify it your stepmill workout, I been training for the last 13 years and I can ensure you this is not a dumb workout, it might look stupid but it is giving a full body workout ( legs, calves, back etc) I don't recommend it using just a backpack, bio-mechanically speaking It loads the spine un-evenly because all the weights is in the back, but they do sell weight vest which have a better weight distribution. Adding that 25lbs onto your backpack I can say you will probably work 1 1/2 times harder in a 20 minutes workout. You will for sure feel the resistance a few minutes into your stepmill workout.