An enhanced exercise vest for improving squatting exercise performance includes an upper portion; a bottom portion, the bottom portion including two front sections that wraps around a portion of the torso of the user and a back section; two shoulder straps; and two clasps or brackets. The two shoulder straps connect to a back surface of the main portion, the two shoulder straps to wrap around shoulders of a user, cross, and pass through a loop attached to the back section of the bottom portion. The two shoulder straps attach to each other across a front side of the bottom portion. Two clasps or brackets are attached to the two front sections of the bottom portion.