It all started over dinner in August 2024 - a conversation where I found myself comparing weighted vests today to a problem I faced 25 years earlier when trying to find decent road cycling clothing for women.

Back then, there was very little designed specifically for women. It was mostly “shrink and pink” - men’s kit made smaller and more colourful. Weighted vests feel strikingly similar today.

The weight is often placed in ways that don’t work for me - on the shoulders, causing neck discomfort, or across the chest, which is the last place I want added load. The designs are often bulky, covered in straps and buckles, making you feel like you’re heading on an expedition rather than a walk through a London park. And many don’t allow you to adjust the load, so you can’t adapt them to different walks or levels of effort.

That evening was the beginning of this journey.

The next phase brought together brilliant designers, technical fabric innovators, and manufacturing specialists. We created prototypes that were worn, tested and refined by the insight of women who walked and walked. Every detail was thoughtfully considered – from the main fabric all the way down to the zip and thread. 

In many ways, the process reminded me of building a house which, as it happens, I’ve actually done. You gather talented experts, collaborate to solve the inevitable challenges, stay open to feedback and new directions, and test everything thoroughly – again and again – until it’s just right. And there were challenges, plenty of challenges – fabrics that couldn’t handle the weight, an intellectual property challenge to our name, a steep learning curve in tech packs, patent law and manufacturing, two different factories that essentially turned out to be dead ends and a redesign to the pockets just before full manufacture to keep the weights safely in place.

But just like walking, it really is one step at a time – taking each hurdle as an opportunity to do things differently and better.

I’ve spent 20 years in the fitness industry teaching spinning and yoga, and over that time I’ve seen thousands of people experience the positive effects of movement in my classes. I know firsthand how powerful movement can be – not just for our physical health, but for how it supports us mentally too. 

I’ve also always loved walking and hiking. There’s something about that steady, meditative rhythm – whether it’s out in nature with a pack on my back letting my mind wander, or catching up with friends on a long walk. 

Midlife is a pivotal time for women to make intentional lifestyle choices that shape how they age – choices to age passively or to stay strong and engaged. It often coincides with intense demands – raising children, supporting a partner and/or ageing parents, pursuing careers - while managing the impact of hormonal changes through perimenopause and beyond.

In the middle of all of those pressures, finding the time and energy to exercise isn’t always easy. And the wellness world can feel overwhelming, full of mixed messages about what women should be doing – often leaving them feeling like whatever they’re doing isn’t quite right, or enough. We believe in something simpler: a conscious, intentional commitment to movement. We’re here to support that choice – making it easier to build lasting health benefits in a way that fits real life.

Weighted vests are one way to build on what many of us already do. They make it easy to add resistance to everyday movement, without overcomplicating things, whether that’s walking, strength work or simply getting outside. 

Our design is made to fit into real life – it’s versatile, comfortable, and adapts to your body and routine. Right now we’re focused on helping women take a step towards incorporating the benefits of resistance and movement into their day – and building from there toward supporting women’s long-term strength and longevity in a way that fits their lives. If you choose to wear a FARRA. vest I hope it inspires you to move, and I hope you enjoy wearing it as much as I do.

Chloe Hall

Founder