Wearing weights to increase the intensity of a workout is nothing new. The premise is that by wearing weights, the body has to work harder to perform the same exercise against gravity, thereby increasing intensity (and making it feel like an easy win when later performing the same workout without the extra load).

However, adding wearable weights can also be risky for those who are in poor condition or already overloaded in their joints. This is especially true for those who add ankle weights to their walking or running training, as it compromises proper form and increases the likelihood of ligament and tendon injuries.

Now comes Gravity Sportswear by Omolfo. While many are familiar with the concept of weighted vests, Omorpho has taken it a step further and developed fitness wear that is embedded with evenly distributed weight "beads." These spheres "distribute the load," allowing the wearer to gain the benefit of added resistance minus the increased imbalance/threat of injury.

They also look crazy cool (more on that later). But now, it goes without saying that they are well-made fitness wear that is not only functional, but fashionable as well.

Omolfo, from the Greek word for "beautiful," took over three years to perfect Gravity Sportswear. Not only were they tested in a variety of activities, from cycling to running to dancing, but they were made to live up to their name. In short, they are not only effective, they are actually very chic.

The idea behind Omorpho Gravity Sportswear, co-founded in 2017 by former Nike employee Stephan Olander, is to naturally distribute weight in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 pounds across the body, so that the wearer's choice of workout wear simply results in a healthy The idea was to create a garment that would make the wearer

Omolfo accomplished this by fusing hundreds of high-density polymer spheres into the fabric of the fitwear (the company calls this MicroLoad technology). The result is a garment so light that it weighs almost nothing. However, studies have shown that Omorpho wearers burn up to 8% more calories, run up to 3% faster, and jump up to 9% stronger.

The Omorpho G-Tight is available directly from Omorpho for $149. It is available in sizes XS to XL, with waist sizes ranging from 23" to 35".

After reading all the research and thought that went into the design of these leggings, I was really excited when I had the opportunity to try the Omorpho G-Tight for myself. I had tried different types of leggings in the past that were supposed to increase muscle workload through embedded bands and other unique construction techniques, but I didn't really like any of them. [However, as soon as I received my new Omorpho leggings, I had a feeling that these would be different. When I opened the box, I knew immediately that these were very high quality leggings. The Lycra material was thick, yet supple. And the weighted beads were like old Necco candy buttons, except they were sexy, not edible.

I ordered a size medium. I usually default to a medium when I wear leggings (I'm on the petite side, but I have a long inseam and am muscular enough that I don't think I'm 5'7"). In hindsight, I should have gone with a size S. This is because, although it was supposed to be mid-rise, I have a short waist, so I was able to pull the leggings up to just below my chest. As a result, I had to turn the pants a bit to keep the weights from hitting my knee joints in weird places.

Still, as soon as I put these on, I was swooning. I felt like some sort of superhero, or actually the X-Men (especially the shapeshifting character "Mystique," played by Rebecca Romijn, who looks a bit like a lizard or something). The leggings fit well, except that they were high-waisted for my body and had an odd gap around my ankles (maybe my ankles are small). But the overall fit was tight and attractive.

And the way the beads were distributed made it clear that I was wearing something a little heavier than normal leggings, but at the same time it didn't feel weird. The next step was to try them on different activities.

I have had three knee surgeries, so running is no longer in my repertoire, but I quickly found that jogging or sprinting in these did not interfere with my cadence.

However, I decided to try these on a barre workout first. I've been teaching barre for years and like the low load. So I was curious to see if this would increase the intensity of the workouts I already participate in. As a first trial, I did a 45 minute routine that I teach regularly. [The result. I definitely felt an increased burn and actually liked it. The leggings made the barre class a little more challenging without putting extra strain on my joints. I could really feel the burn, especially when I did exercises that pulsed my legs.

The even distribution of the weight was also very evident, and as opposed to, say, ankle weights, I didn't feel like I was pulling on any particular muscle or joint, but rather felt an overall strengthening of the effort. I can honestly say that I may never wear anything but these leggings to barre lessons again.

My next test drive was yoga. Another great use for these leggings. However, there is a caveat here. If you like to balance on your arms, like in crow pose, and rely on the connection between your arms and legs, the microbeads can be a little distracting. You will feel the microbeads pressing against the skin of your arms while you are balancing, and that is not the best feeling. But if you're someone who only does sun salutations or other flowing asanas, you might find wearing these leggings for yoga exercises to be an added challenge.

I decided to try standing upside down in these weighted leggings. In fact, last year I did a 21-day handstand challenge that completely changed my handstand practice. I am still practicing handstands and improving regularly. So I put on a pair of leggings to see what happens when I am upside down. And lo and behold. I don't know what happened, but the extra weight on my legs made me more balanced than usual. I was keeping my head upside down beautifully.

The final test was to walk around in them all day. I wore them all the time, whether I was going shopping, vacuuming my apartment, or putting on makeup. There is no doubt that just wearing them in my daily life increased my NEAT (non-exercise heat production) level.

*NEAT is energy expended in activities other than eating, sleeping, and exercise.

If you are like me, you don't need to hand wash all your workout clothes. I like to work up a sweat and throw them in the washing machine. But I was surprised to read that these Omorpho leggings are machine washable. You would think they would be dry-clean only, since they are chock full of microbeads and look so fancy.

But after thoroughly abusing it during a sweaty workout, I took it to the laundry room, turned it inside out (as per the instructions) and threw it in the washer with a bunch of other dirty clothes. Then, against my better instincts, I also put them in the dryer (which also said they were fine, but I was worried). To my delight, they turned out perfect.

I have now washed it several times in the machine and it kept its shape and not a single microbead came off. Additionally, the material has not faded and looks as nice as it did when it first came out of the box.

I am rarely completely enchanted by a product, but from the moment I put these on I was impressed. But from the moment I put on these leggings, I was impressed. Yes, they are pricey, but compared to high-end leggings from Lululemon or Athleta, I don't think they are that expensive.

If you want to improve your performance or increase your calorie burn without any extra effort, try these G-tights. In seconds, you can be on your way to a new level of fitness while looking like the coolest kid in class (or an X-Men character).