Physical fitness and well-being are important factors in our lives. You cannot overlook your health even if you are traveling. So having the right workout equipment items is crucial for the physical well-being, even if it carries out some of your backpack space.
In this blog, we are going to discuss some of the essential workout equipment items you must consider packing up to make your exercise routine more fruitful.
You may also like this: Digital Nomad Gear: 21 Must-Have Items (2024)
[This article may contain affiliate links. This means that if you decide to purchase some of these resources, I earn a small commission at no additional cost for you. I only recommend selected products that I’m convinced about and that I would buy (or already did buy) myself.]
Best Workout Equipment
Before picking up the best workout equipment items for travel, things you need to pay attention to are:
➤ Weight or Lightweight features
➤ Size
➤ Durability
➤ Ease of use
➤ Functionality
➤ Budget
Here we picked up 12 top travel gym equipment items by keeping all these crucial considerations in mind. Try to avoid items that you feel are unnecessary, too bulky, or have less durability.
Foldable Yoga Mat
A foldable yoga mat is important travel workout equipment that helps you to perform yoga and other forms of exercise in a more convenient way while on the go. Opt for a lightweight, portable, and comfortable yoga mat that can be easily foldable and carried along with your backpack.
You can check out the Gaiam Yoga Mat, which has all the necessary features a travel yoga mat has to have. Due to its lightweight and portable feature, it can easily fit in your carry on bag or backpack. It is made of non-toxic PVC, which provides a grippy and sticky texture for stable footing. Besides, it is easily foldable, affordable, durable, and, of course, comfortable.
Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are used in strength training exercises to improve physical strength and build muscle. They are elastic equipment that helps in stretching exercises. Besides, they are very portable and can easily fit in your backpack.
Check out these resistance bands that are made from natural rubber and will help you improve your physical strength. It takes up minimal space and can be used in powerlifting, stretching, chin ups, yoga, and calisthenics.
TRX
The TRX Suspension Trainer is a portable and versatile gym equiptment. It is used for bodyweight exercises to build strength, balance, flexibility, and core stability simultaneously. It is not only home gym equipment but also can be used while on the go.
The TRX is lightweight and can be easily fit on your carry-on bag, making it portable for full-body workouts anywhere, from your hotel room to the beach. It really does an amazing job for upper body, lower body, and core part training.
Ankle Weights
Ankle Weights adds resistance to build your lower body muscles, especially leg muscles. They can help to strengthen weak leg bones. Also, it adds more resistance to daily workout, jogging, core training, and rehabilitate muscles.
This leg exercise equipment increases workout intensity and is really compact and lightweight. Your ankles will definitely thank you later after making the best use of it.
Jump Rope
A jump rope is great exercise equipment for cardio workouts. It improves coordination, burns calories, and reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. It’s also good for elevating heart rate and enhancing bone density.
The great thing about jump rope is that, it’s very compact and lightweight and literally takes little space in your backpack. Besides, you can use it anywhere, both indoor and outdoor.
Core Sliders
Core sliders are perfect for activating and strengthening your core. These sliders provide low-impact exercise and intensify your daily workout session. These dual-sided gliding discs are versatile, working smoothly on both carpets and hard floors.
However, this gymnasium set is small, light, and compact, making it easier to carry while traveling.
Collapsible Foam Roller
A collapsible foam roller is perfect workout equipment for tired muscle recovery and easing body soreness after a long day of travel or workout. It helps with stretching muscles in the arms, back, legs, and feet.
As it is collapsible, it can fit easily into a backpack or carry-on bag. Though it can be bulky for small bags, you can opt for this equipment to keep your muscles relaxed.
Exerbell
A close alternative to dumbbell, exerbell is an innovative and collapsible gym equipment designed for travelers due to its portability feature. Unlike those traditional dumbbell, the exerbell can be filled with water or sand during your workout routine and later make it empty.
This lightweight kit can be used for enhancing strength and endurance. Besides, you can use it for exercises like squats, deadlifts, and swings. It is indeed a helpful add-on in physical fitness for travelers.
Running Shoes
A good pair of running shoes for travelers provides comfort, durability, the right mount of cushioning, and possibly waterproof features. It has to be lightweight, protective, and provide stability. As a travel workout equipment, it increases speed, improves endurance, and decreases the risk of injury.
Though there are a pretty good amount of running shoes out there on the market, we recommend using Brook Men’s Ghost for men and New Balance Women’s Fresh Foam for women. These are light, compact, and durable. They do the perfect job as running shoes to be a great companion while traveling and doing exercises.
As a digital nomad or traveler, a good pair of running shoes got your feet whether you’re hiking or camping or just simply wandering around. So, highly recommended!
Pilates Ball
A Pilates ball is a lightweight and versatile gym equipment. It helps to increase flexibility while strengthening and balancing muscles. It is an excellent workout gear for core workouts and does an amazing job for arms, abs, hips, quads, and hamstrings.
Merrithew Mini Stability Ball is a travel-friendly and portable option that you can carry in your backpack. It easily inflates to your desired firmness for versatile usage.
Stretch Out Strap
We get the idea from the name! Stretch Out Strap is basically used for stretching exercises. It offers deeper and more effective stretching and improves flexibility. Besides, it helps in muscle recovery and range of motion.
You can add this to your packing list, as this particular equipment is focused on stretching and recovery.
Mini TheraGun
The smaller and light version of TheraGun, Mini TheraGun is a portable gym equiptment that helps to relieve aches and pains. It works great on joint pains and improve recovery. It is a great massage kit which plays effective role for muscle relief and relaxation.
3 built-in muscle massager speeds ensure different effective doses according to your needs. Also, it connects to the Therabody app via Bluetooth for more accessible and personalized wellness routines. As it’s light and compact, this personal massager is perfectly suited for travelers.
How to Stay Fit While You Are on the Road
You don’t need to sacrifice your health and fitness while traveling. By following some tips, you can easily maintain your fitness routine and stay healthy while on the go.
● Plan and Create a Routine: Before you start your journey, do a bit of research on your destination. Get information on nearby gyms, fitness centers, or parks beforehand. To maintain your fitness routine while traveling, you can utilize both the gym and equipment available at your accommodation.
Create a personalized workout schedule and stick to it, even if it’s just a short session each day. You can gradually increase your session time.
● Focus on basics: While starting out, focus on basic or bodyweight exercises that require minimal workout equipment items. It includes free-hand exercises like push-ups, squats, stretching, and so on.
● Go for intense workout sessions: While basic exercises form the backbone, more intense workout sessions will help you stay fit and in shape. Invest in necessary travel workout equipment items that work for upper body, lower body, and core body part wellness. Look for items that are effective for building strength, toning muscles, and boosting cardiovascular health.
● Don’t go hard on yourself: Sometimes, you may get into a situation where it becomes hard to maintain the routine while traveling. But that’s completely fine! Workout sessions should be on your routine; so does the experience of food, culture, and relaxation that comes with traveling.
A skipped workout or a cheat meal here and there won’t derail your fitness goals. Try to be consistent with your routine, and don’t get stressed. Set realistic fitness goals and track your progress to stay motivated.
Wrap Up
With the right travel workout equipment, staying fit on the go is entirely feasible. You might face hard times while maintaining your workout routine and traveling. But balance is the key here.
By including this workout equipment mockup into your travel routine, you can maintain your fitness levels and enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle. Set fitness goals, track your progress, and enjoy a healthy travel life.
If you find this article helpful, please share it on your social media to help other travelers. Also, if there are other travel workout equipment items that you use, please let us know about them in the comment section.
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You may also like this: 10 Best Backpacks for Digital Nomads in 2024
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