Featured In
About The Carry
Meet The Founders
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Esther Sedgwick, CEO
Ex Microsoft. Writer. Athlete. Mom.
Spent 10 years at Microsoft launching hardware products: Windows Phone, Xbox, Microsoft Band, and Surface PCs. Most recently she served as a Marketing & GTM executive at two Seattle-based startups. Esther is also the creator of Mad Alice—a Substack on women’s hormone health and longevity.
QUOTES
On the problem:
"Every weighted vest on the market was designed for men—bulky, restrictive, and uncomfortable on women's bodies. We tested the top six options and weren't satisfied with any of them. So we rebuilt it from scratch."
On the vision:
"The vest is the entry point. What we're really building is a platform for women's strength and longevity—with programming, community, and eventually B2B partnerships that make weighted movement as accessible and cool as running clubs or Pilates."
On longevity:
"By age 30, bone and muscle decline is already happening. Most women don't realize they have a 10-15 year window to build strength that will protect them for life. The Carry makes that impossible to ignore." -
Cortney Bigelow, CBO
Brand/retail marketing pro. Wellness enthusiast. Mom.
Brand and community builder spanning martech, fashion and photography. Founder of The Grey Edit, a lifestyle blog where she’s partnered with top brands as an influencer, and The Grey Edit Photo, a platform dedicated to empowering women through self-love and branding.
QUOTES
On community-first:
"We started with community, not product. We listened to 375+ women tell us what they actually wanted—and every single one said the same thing: comfort, adjustability, and something they'd actually want to wear. That obsession with the user is baked into everything we build."
On design philosophy:
"Most weighted vests scream 'tactical gear.' Ours says 'I'm strong.' We built something that's as beautiful as it is functional—because women shouldn't have to choose between looking good and feeling powerful."
On the bigger picture:
"Strong is the new skinny. We're building for women who want to age powerfully, not disappear. The vest is just the beginning—it's about creating a movement where strength training is wearable, accessible, and celebrated."
