Everyone is pushing for a healthier lifestyle. More and more people turn to healthy foods and ditch junk foods. People pay more attention to their diets today, but they also exercise more – whether it is a daily walk or an hour a day in a gym. But then, if you travel a lot, chances are you feel a bit limited in your possibilities.
Sure, you can still have healthy foods, regardless of where you go. But then, unless the hotels you go to have an actual gym, chances are you will not get random subscriptions everywhere you go. Luckily, your regular gym or your home gym can now come with you – here is some of the best travel fitness equipment on the market.
Before digging into deeper details, you can probably imagine that you can run anytime. No matter where you are, you can always put on your gym gear and start running around the block or find a nearby park. But what happens if you are not so much into running? What if you want something more accessible in the comfort of your hotel room?
Best portable workout equipment
If you are into cardio, you probably know already that jump ropes represent an excellent choice. They are portable, lightweight and can go anywhere. They have been used for decades and they barely take any space in your luggage. They can provide excellent workouts anywhere and anytime – it makes no difference how small your hotel room is.
Core sliders represent another great choice and can provide an excellent workout for the top part of your body. They are light, slim and compact – they can literally go anywhere. You can keep going with your exercises for the abs, yet these sliders also work on your back and arms. Also, they work on both carpets and hard floors.
Resistance bands are just as attractive. You only need one solid model or perhaps a set of mini resistance bands. Did you know that you can mimic pretty much any exercise from a gym with resistance bands? You can work on your back, legs, arms, chest and so on. Go through a few video tutorials first and they will make your life easier.
Stability balls represent a great choice in the gym and allow you to work on more parts of the body. Such a ball is easy to stretch and can help you overcome your limits. While in theory they are large, they can also be folded or packed in a compact manner. Some balls come with accessories to inflate and deflate balls accordingly.
Can you travel with weights?
Generally speaking, the larger and heavier an item is, the more likely you are to face some objections from traveling personnel. Therefore, weights are not really recommended in a carry bag. However, you can place pretty much anything that is legal in a checked-in bag. In theory, you can travel with weights, but it can be daunting.
Imagine having to pick up your luggage from the band and struggling to lift it. While you can handle a couple of weights, bringing in more of them will make it incredibly heavy. There is nothing more annoying than having to sweat while pulling the luggage around or trying to get it into a taxi at the airport. There are, however, some better options out there.
Portable weights for training
Everyone would love to have their weights with them while they travel – whether you travel in your own car or by plane. If you travel by car to some cottage in the middle of nowhere, you can take anything you want. But then, it is just not convenient. Luckily, there are a few options for those who travel a lot and they will not let you down.
A little search over the Internet will give you access to water-filled dumbbells. When empty, they can be packed just like your clothes. They are compact and will not require too much space in your luggage. Make sure you have a source of water and you are ready to go. You can fill each piece to different levels of weight, based on your needs.
What should I use for weights on vacation?
Unsure about the water-filled dumbbells? While this is probably the best idea out there, you can also use alternatives. If you use light weights, simply get a couple of bottles of water – 500ml will do for half a kilo. You can also get two-liter bottles. If you want something heavier, you can get large bottles – up to five liters or more. However, their handles are not too comfortable and will most likely hurt your fingers.
Can I bring workout bands on a plane?
Resistance bands – or workout bands – are compact, lightweight and easy to fold. They can go into your luggage without too many issues, so they are perfectly legal. No airline will oppose to your idea – sure, some security personnel may want to see what you carry, but no one will bother about such workout equipment.
Sometimes you won’t need to take any equipment with you, for example, I was on a business trip that was going to take a couple of months and I wanted to stay fit and active in the duration so I did the one punch man exercise challenge; doing 100 pushups 100 sit-ups and 100 squats each day, it’s was a fun little challenge that kept me active while being away, don’t expect to bulk up though using this challenge the rep count is too small for that
Travel calisthenic equipment
Gymnastics rings are some of your best choices if you truly want to travel with your fitness equipment. You need to bag a couple of rings, as well as some rope. You do need a bit of support while setting everything up though – they may not be suitable for every hotel room out there. If they are meant for home uses, they will most likely go by the door.
Resistance bands are suitable for all kinds of workouts – cardio, weights and even calisthenic workouts. They are compact and light. Fold a few of them and stick them in your luggage. They will not trigger any issues with security personnel in airports and they can provide a full-body workout without too much hassle.
Finally, the abs roller is one of the most popular travel calisthenic pieces of equipment. Such things are usually disassembled in small bits. You have the roll and the stick, as well as a few extras to get them attached. The unit is compact and each part can be squeezed in your luggage without having to sacrifice too much space.
Best portable exercise equipment for travel
There are a few extra pieces of portable exercise equipment for travel apart from the above-mentioned options:
- Fitness tracker – small, compact and suitable for all kinds of workouts, even if you only want some daily runs around a local park.
- Suspension trainer – available in more small parts, you will find no issues fitting it in your luggage and can provide workouts for more parts of the body.
- Small weights – small weights that can attach with velcro to your wrists or ankles are just as handy if you are into aerobic workouts.
- Weight vest – the weight vest will take a bit of space in your luggage and it will not offer a full workout, but it is handy to challenge yourself for any exercise you do.
Conclusion
As a short final conclusion, travelling comes with lots of restrictions in terms of weight or the size of your luggage. If you use a checked-in bag, you can carry much more than in a simple carry bag. However, the carry bag is just as handy if you only bring one or two compact pieces of equipment for daily maintenance.
Travelling by car is a completely different kettle of fish because you can take pretty much anything that can fit inside your vehicle – your options are countless.