Looking to travel more and stay in shape this year? Do you find it difficult to work out with a busy travel schedule? You’re in luck! In this post, I highlight some of the best travel workout equipment that makes it easier to stay fit while on the road.
Gone are the days when hitting the gym was the only option for staying in shape. With the right tools, working out can be done anywhere, anytime, and most importantly, with a whole lot of fun!
Imagine waking up in a new city, putting on your running shoes and taking a scenic run along the beach, or doing a yoga session in the woods. It’s time to break the monotony of the same old workout routine and add some adventure to it! With convenient and portable travel workout equipment, you can work out in style and make the most out of your travels.
As a lifelong explorer, I know that staying in shape is just as important as getting outside and exploring the world. Whether you’re embarking on a tour of Europe or are looking to escape to Hawaii, personal wellness and the inner journey are vital parts of travel.
So, how can you work on your gains while sticking to your travel itinerary and enjoying the spectacular scenery? With the help of quality travel equipment. Here is a roundup of the best travel workout equipment to make staying in shape on the road easy. Let’s gear up and get ready to stay fit while we wander!
The best exercise equipment for travel
Even the most experienced travelers can have difficulty deciding what to pack. If you’re trying to balance your busy life and workout routine, check out this roundup of travel fitness equipment to keep on your radar for 2023. You can use these items at home, on the road, and everywhere in between.
1. Travel Workout Mat
Whether you want to squeeze in a Vinyasa yoga flow or work in some ab workouts, a quality yoga mat is a great investment. The Manduka eKO Superlite Yoga Mat is a great travel workout mat because it’s lightweight, portable, and provides excellent grip.
Thinner than most traditional yoga mats, the Eko Superlight travel yoga mat is only 1.5mm thick, making it easy to fold for maximum portability. The standard mat length weighs 2.2 lbs, while the long mat only weighs 2.5 lbs.
While this Manduka yoga mat emphasizes portability and sustainability, it doesn’t sacrifice performance. I love this travel workout mat because it provides excellent grip even when working up a sweat. Sun salutations in Florida? Check.
2. Collapsible Water Bottle
Staying hydrated is important for traveling AND exercising, so it’s important to find a travel water bottle you can take everywhere with you. When it comes to the best collapsible water bottles, I love the LifeStraw Peak Series collapsible water bottle with filter.
This travel water bottle offers lots of versatility, especially when you’re adventuring in different countries. This all-in-one water storage and filtration device is made of durable materials that can withstand your backpacking adventures while remaining incredibly lightweight. The 1-liter size is collapsible at less than 4 ounces.
The included Lifestraw filter filters out over 99% of bacteria, parasites, microplastics, and sand so that you can rehydrate during your workout with clean water.
3. Sandbag Kettlebell
When it comes to travel gym equipment, traditional weights aren’t appealing because they, well, add weight to your luggage. The workaround to packing free weights or finding a gym on your vacation is to pack a fillable sandbag weight. If you regularly train with kettlebells, you will love the Exerbell.
This travel kettlebell is made from a durable softshell fabric that is foldable and easy to store. Pack it in your luggage when traveling and when you’re at home, you can either integrate it into your workouts or keep it stored – either way, it won’t take up much room.
The Exerbell is one of my favorite pieces of travel workout equipment because it can be filled with sand and water. It’s the perfect add-on to a beach destination because you can fill it with sand when you arrive and empty it before you go. The Exerbell travel kettlebell has an adjustable weight: up to 22 lbs when filled with water and up to 30 lbs when filled with sand.
Read also: Top Weighted Vests for Resistance Training
4. TRX Suspension Trainer
TRX Suspension Systems are an all-in-one fitness method that uses your body weight to deliver a full-body workout. The TRX GO Suspension Trainer System is a lightweight and portable way to bring the gym to you wherever you go. Use it at home, in the gym, on business trips, or vacations.
What makes TRX one of the best pieces of travel gym equipment available is its versatility. You can do hundreds of full-body exercises using only TRX and your body weight, from warmups to workouts to recovery.
The TRX GO is their lightest and leanest suspension trainer and weighs less than 2 lbs so it won’t weigh you down.
5. Jump Rope
Did you know that jump ropes are one of the simplest, most affordable pieces of travel workout equipment? They’re not just a fun summer activity for kids. A 10-minute session of using a jump rope equates to about 30 minutes of jogging.
Jump ropes are a great way to work out when traveling because they are lightweight, portable, and don’t require a huge time commitment. You can easily fit in a quick cardio session between touring the Pantheon and indulging in gelato on your Italian adventure. It’s truly the best portable travel equipment imaginable.
6. Lightweight Sneakers
Whether you’re looking to squeeze in some cardio with a run along the Burlington Bike Path or a free walking tour around Bogotá, it’s important to invest in a quality pair of shoes. When it comes to travel fitness equipment, you want a pair of running sneakers or trainers that are lightweight, comfortable, and durable enough to withstand traveling by foot.
One pair of travel shoes I’ve come to rely on are the XERO HFS lightweight road running shoes. These travel-friendly minimalist sneakers are lightweight, breathable, vegan-friendly, and travel-friendly with a 5,000-mile warranty. I really enjoy grounding barefoot in nature, so this is the next best thing.
Of course, it comes down to what is comfortable for you and your feet. Minimalist sneakers might not be the right fit for you right away. Choose a workout sneaker that fits well and doesn’t weigh you down.
7. Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are great in your travel exercise equipment arsenal. They are lightweight, easy to pack, and can take your lower body workout to the next level. Use hip bands to help add resistance to squats, dip thrusts, and other exercises on the go. They are also perfect for low-impact training, rehabilitation, stretching, and mobility when you need more recovery after a long day of traversing scenic hills or rocky coastlines.
When traveling, I find fabric resistance bands tend to hold up more than latex ones, especially when visiting hot and sunny places. If you leave them in direct sun or hot, dry conditions, your resistance bands may snap. Fabric bands tend to hold up well, but as with everything, take care of your travel workout gear, so it lasts a long time!
8. Collapsible Foam Roller
When working out while traveling, recovery is just as important as the workouts themselves. You don’t want to lose a day of your vacation held up by a pulled muscle or back pain. Foam rollers are a necessity for any workout enthusiast. However, due to their oversized and elongated shape, they’re cumbersome travel companions. Until now.
Collapsible travel foam rollers take up significantly less space in your luggage because they fold flat when you’re not using them. When you’re ready to roll, it quickly expands to an industry-standard-size foam roller in seconds.
As seen on Shark Tank, the Brazyn Morph Foam Roller only weighs 1.6 lbs but can support up to 350 lbs, making it an easy addition to your travel workout gear. This collapsible foam roller is a great solution for travelers, hikers, runners, weekend warriors, and anyone who wants to foam roll more consistently but lacks storage space.
9. Garmin Solar Multisport GPS Watch
Many smartwatches on the market have benefits for fitness enthusiasts such as Apple Watch and Fitbit. However, if your travel plans involve a lot of outdoor activity, such as skiing the Swiss Alps, summiting your first 14er, or hiking the Appalachian Trail, you’ll want a rugged fitness watch built for the outdoors.
Garmin watches are dependable for modern adventurers, and I am especially impressed by the Garmin Fenix 7 Solar Multisport GPS Watch. While it comes with a hefty price tag compared to other smartwatches, this one is built to handle rugged conditions. It includes advanced sports features, sports apps, health and wellness monitoring sensors, and more.
My favorite aspect about this watch is that it has a solar charging lens that uses the sun’s energy to extend its battery life. A solar smartwatch is a great if you find yourself off the beaten path without a handy charger anywhere!
If you need something a little less rugged and expensive, check out the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar. Both are solid additions to your travel workout gear.
10. Theragun Mini 2.0
Massage guns are a great way to relieve aches and pains and improve recovery after a long hike or workout. I like the 2nd generation Theragun Mini the because it is best for travel. It’s the most portable percussion massager weighing only 1 lb, and is 20% smaller and 30% lighter than the previous generation.
Theragun percussion massagers are proven to improve recovery, performance, sleep, mobility, and even stress, which can negatively affect your travel experience. The Theragun Mini 2.0 is a must-have for travel workout equipment. Simply toss it in your luggage or backpack and get out there!
11. Running Belt
Running is one of the most popular ways to get in a workout while traveling because it allows you to explore while getting in some cardio. If you’re running abroad, you’ll likely need to carry more items than if you were just going for a run around your neighborhood. For this reason, I recommend a running belt as one of the best pieces of travel workout equipment.
A good running belt will allow you to carry your keys, phone, ID, money, and other essentials with you. Running belts are different than belt bags (which are beneficial for walking tourism) because they are designed to not bounce against your body or chaff your hips while you run.
When traveling, I prioritize a lightweight run belt that has room for the essentials rather than a bulky bag. When you have a lot to carry, you might prefer a backpack.
12. Sandbags
If you want to squeeze some functional fitness workout exercises into your travel plans, consider investing in a sandbag. Sandbags are great pieces of workout equipment for travel. Similar to the Exerbell, sandbags are lightweight and packable when empty but can be filled with sand once you reach your destination.
These are simple to use and adaptable. You can control the weight by increasing or decreasing the amount of sand you use. Ideal for beginners and advanced athletes, you can use fitness sandbags with deadlifts, squats, presses, drags, throws, and more.
13. Core sliders
When it comes to the best travel workout equipment, core sliders are a great way to get in an ab workout. Travel core sliders can be used in full-body workouts to work on balance and stability with every movement. This forces you to use your abdominal muscles, strengthening your core.
These small but mighty core sliders are lightweight plastic, making them an easy addition to your luggage. They’re so lightweight that you probably won’t even know they’re there (until it comes time to use them). No matter your fitness level, these are a great addition to your travel fitness equipment collection.
The best travel workout equipment for adventurers
I hope you found this list of the best travel workout equipment useful! I used to run track & field in college, and while I don’t run as frequently anymore, I know how important it is to maintain an active lifestyle, especially when traveling. That’s why in addition to my travel tips, I also share articles on discovery and personal growth, such as the benefits of ice baths and why you should go on a wellness retreat for your next vacation.
