To compare the blood pressure (BP) responses to exercise with 1.36 kg (3.0 lb) hand-held weights (HW), wrist weights (WW), and ankle weights (AW), 12 sedentary males (20.8 +/- 1.2 yr) completed three randomly assigned treadmill exercises at 75% maximum heart rate (HR) reserve. Systolic and diastolic BPs among HW (181.2 +/- 21.9 and 73.2 +/- 7.9 mm Hg), WW (180.1 +/- 27.2 and 71.0 +/- 10.1 mm Hg), and AW (183.8 +/- 26.8 and 71.7 +/- 7.8 mm Hg) were not significantly different (P greater than 0.05). When compared to exercise with no weights (NW), only the diastolic BP for HW was significantly different (+4.4 mm Hg, P less than 0.05). To evaluate the energy cost of exercise with HW, WW, and AW, subjects completed a fourth exercise at constant treadmill speed (6.3 +/- 0.3 km.h-1) and grade (6.3 +/- 1.4%). Oxygen uptake and HR responses were greater (P less than 0.01) for HW (30.4 +/- 0.8 ml.min-1.kg-1; 160.6 +/- 4.0 beats.min-1), WW (30.4 +/- 0.9 ml.min-1.kg-1; 159.7 +/- 4.6 beats.min-1), and AW (29.0 +/- 0.7 ml.min-1.kg-1; 154.6 +/- 4.4 beats.min-1) than for exercise with NW (26.6 +/- 0.7 ml-min-1.kg-1; 147.0 +/- 3.8 beats.min-1). Oxygen uptake and HRs for HW and WW were greater than for AW (P less than 0.05). Ratings of perceived exertion (Borg scale for NW (11.7 +/- 1.8), HW (12.1 +/- 2.0), WW (12.2 +/- 1.8), and AW (12.3 +/- 1.8) were not significantly different (P greater than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)