Co-founders Esther Sedgwick and Cortney Bigelow fell in love with walking with weight, also known as rucking, in 2024 but couldn’t find a weighted vest that addressed their needs. After ten months of iterative product design and four filed patents, The Carry Vest Beta Bundle is now available to preorder for customers in the US and Canada, with more countries to follow.
Built by Women, Backed by Belief
The duo identified the market opportunity after testing five of the ‘top’ weighted vests on the market and validating design requirements with hundreds of women. Unlike traditional vests designed for military-style training or male athletes, The Carry Vest pairs elevated design with functional performance. Its cropped, contoured silhouette is bust-friendly and made specifically for female biomechanics. Modular metal weights adjust in half-pound increments up to 20 lbs. and can be removed from the outer shell, which is nontoxic and machine washable.
With complementary backgrounds in hardware, marketing, and community building, the founding team brings a blend of product expertise and cultural insight. Sedgwick, a former marketing exec and athlete, spent over a decade in hardware and startup leadership. Bigelow, a creative strategist and wellness advocate, has built engaged communities around confidence, style, and self-growth.
More Than Fitness—A Longevity Tool for Modern Women
The Carry repositions weighted vests as an essential tool within the broader health and longevity movement—a space poised for explosive growth. Research shows that weight-bearing exercise supports bone density, cardiovascular and metabolic health, and builds lean muscle, which is especially important as women age.
Designed with women 30+ in mind, The Carry serves as a stylish, empowering bridge to strength training for anyone seeking to add impact to everyday movement. With only 19% of women strength training the recommended 2x/week, it offers an accessible entry point to building a consistent practice.
Development was guided by a medical advisor and shaped through input from women across age groups, sizes and lifestyles. From breast cancer survivors and women with osteoporosis to wellness enthusiasts and celebrities, early supporters voiced a need for a more comfortable, stylish, and sustainable alternative that evolves with them as they get stronger.
“Women are waking up to the profound health benefits of being strong—vs. skinny,” said Esther Sedgwick, Chief Executive Officer. “But many don’t know where to start. Our goal is to be both a catalyst and a steady companion as women build strength through key life stages like postpartum, perimenopause, and menopause.”
Community-Powered Launch
Since the start of the year, The Carry has built a community of 5,500+ women and generated a waitlist of 4,500+ potential customers. The brand has drawn global interest, with inquiries spanning 10 countries outside of the US. In Spring 2025, The Carry earned early investment and industry recognition as the first-place winner of the Dream Ventures Accelerator Pitch Competition in New York.
“We hear from women daily of all ages who are ready for a new standard,” said Cortney Bigelow, Chief Brand Officer. “This isn’t just a fitness accessory—it’s about stepping into our power and feeling good in our bodies again.”
Limited First Edition: The Carry Vest Beta Bundle
The Beta Bundle includes The Carry Vest featuring modular, removable weights totaling up to 20 lbs., plus a bonus accessory and community perks such as early access to future product launches, collaborations, and events. This launch offers a modern alternative to crowdfunding: a community-powered investment that gives early supporters exclusive access while helping fund initial production.
Preorders begin July 30, 2025 exclusively at thecarry.co for US and Canada markets, with plans to expand international shipping soon given strong global demand.
What’s Next
The Carry is finalizing manufacturing partnerships, with first product samples in hand and production now underway. The company plans to expand its offering with new colorways, co-branded shells, and premium accessories. Retail strategy will grow from direct-to-consumer and evolve into partnerships with wellness studios, boutique hotels, and health clinics.
International expansion is a key priority, driven by strong demand from Western Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and the UAE. Community activation remains a core focus, with The Carry Rucking Club hosting local events across US cities as the brand builds its presence in North America before expanding globally.
For these co-founders, it’s more than just fitness equipment. It’s a mindset. To be in the carry is to carve out space for your health, to pick up something heavy—and move forward. It’s about choosing to build strength over obsessing about your size, to choose action over overwhelm, and to become the hero of your own story.
Preorder The Carry Vest Beta Bundle at thecarry.co.
The Carry is the first weighted vest and rucking brand purpose-built for women—tapping into the fast-growing, clinically backed fitness trend of walking while carrying weight. Our products help women build lean muscle mass, improve bone density, and increase overall longevity. In a category long dominated by male-focused gear, The Carry is redefining the market with stylish, functional, and sustainable gear women actually want to wear. Led by Seattle-based co-founders Esther Sedgwick and Cortney Bigelow, the team celebrates being strong over skinny with a lifestyle brand and community centered on women’s preventative health.
cortney@thecarry.co
The Carry
esther@thecarry.co
The Carry
