Best Travel Workout Equipment
Maintaining a workout regime can be tough on its own.
Sticking to regular exercise while you’re away from home can make things even more complicated.
As a result, some travel workout equipment could prove to be a wise investment in the long run.
If you value consistency with your fitness training and you’re often away from home, then it’s essential that you have a way of staying in shape wherever you are.
👑 Our Pick for Best Overall
⭐ Our Other Top Travel Workout Equipment Picks
- Best of the best: Bodylastics Resistance Bands
- Runner up: Dimok Workout Sand Bag
- Best for Core Workouts: Sports Research Ab Wheel
Best Travel Workout Equipment Reviews
Bodylastics Resistance Bands (👑 Top Pick)
You can’t talk about the best travel workout equipment without bringing up resistance bands, and this kit from Bodylastics is hard to beat.
Excellent value for money is just one thing we like about this resistance band set from Bodylastics, and it certainly delivers in that regard. For the reasonable price you’ll get your hands on 5 anti-snap bands of different colors. Each color corresponds to a different weight, and the weights range from 3lbs to 19lbs. That’s not all though. You also get 2 handles to use with the bands, as well as a door anchor and a carrying bag.
Having different levels of resistance is crucial if you want to get a full body workout in, since you likely will want to use a different weight for different bodyweight moves. But it’s the handles and door anchor which really help set this kit apart from other resistance bands. The handles give you better grip for when you want to really go hard with the strength exercises, and the door anchor gives you more flexibility in how you use the bands. Being able to attach the bands to a door increases the number of moves you can do tenfold.
The anti-snap design is useful too, since it means that no matter how strong you are or how taut you want the band to be, there’s no risk of having the band snap on you. The inner safety cord used is incredibly robust, and protects your face and body as a result from potential harm.
Even if you feel like the weight offered by these individual resistance bands isn’t sufficient for your workout regime, you can stack them together for a combined weight resistance of 96 lbs. By using the Bodylastics clip bands you can add or subtract resistance, which makes these bands ideal for training regardless of how light or heavy you want the session to be.
To top it all off, there’s a 100% money back guarantee, so that ensures a safe investment and should alleviate any concerns you may have with the bands up front.
Features:
- 5 different colored resistance bands from 3lbs to 19lbs
- Up to 96lbs stackable resistance
- Inner safety cord prevents snapping
- Includes carrying bag, ankle straps, and door anchor
- 100% money back guarantee
Dimok Workout Sand Bag (🥈 Runner Up)
If you’re in the market for some heavy-duty gym equipment that’s also portable, then this workout sandbag from Dimok should do the trick.
This so-called aqua bag is a military-style sandbag that’s built for use on the road. If you’re always on the move, going from hotel room to hotel room, then you’re going to want a piece of exercise equipment to come with you if you want to stay in top shape.
What’s great about having an aqua bag like this one is that it can give you a killer upper body workout without being cumbersome to transport. Aside from water-filled dumbbells, there are few things that come close to bringing the intensity when it comes to travel workouts. This is the piece of exercise equipment for anyone who’s serious about training and wants to ensure they never miss a strength workout.
When it’s not being used, this aqua bag flattens down to a travel-friendly size weighing just 3lbs, and when it is full of water it provides an incredible 79 lbs of weight to wrestle with. That’s a lot of weight to lug over your shoulder for some farmers’ carries around your hotel room. You also have the option of using this sandbag for olympic movements like lifts, swings, and curls due to the handles.
Since you control how much water to fill this sandbag up with, you determine how much weight you want to work with for each training session. If you’re not feeling 100% but you still want to make sure you get the training session in, then just fill the sandbag up halfway and you’re ready to go.
There’s also a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, allowing you to essentially try before you buy.
Features:
- 3lbs when flat, 79 lbs when full of water
- Includes handles
- 30-day satisfaction guarantee
- Available in 3 weight options (45lbs, 49lbs, 79lbs)
Sports Research Ab Wheel (💪🏽 Best for Core Workouts)
If you enjoy core workouts then it’s well worth considering an ab wheel to get the washboard abs you see in the magazines. This ab wheel from Sports Research is an excellent option, and can be a great piece of exercise equipment to pack for any overnight bag.
This is a sturdy ab wheel which comes with a supportive knee pad ideal for any hotel room. The last thing you want when using an ab wheel is to realise that the floor is too hard for your knees as this can make the exercise more painful that it needs to be.
This is one of those pieces of exercise equipment that you can just drop down and use at a moment’s notice, whenever you feel like you need a quick core workout. As the wheel is so sturdy, it offers great stability, and ensures you won’t be sliding all over the hotel room. floor. It also helps keep the movement as intense as possible, and doesn’t help you get down in the slightest.
Even the grips have been designed carefully to ensure the best user experience. As ergonomic grips, you’ll find them extremely comfortable to hold onto as you go through the motions. The handles are removable too, so you’ll be able to pack away the wheel as easily as you set it up.
As well as the knee pad, you’ll also get a 1 year warranty for your ab wheel and a workout guide to help you use it correctly.
Features:
- 3 inch thick rubber wheel
- Ergonomic grips
- Includes knee pads and workout guide
- 1-year warranty
Ultimate Guide to Travel Workout Equipment
When it comes to picking the right travel exercise equipment for you, there are a few factors to bear in mind.
The most important of which is the type of workout or training you’re interested in.
This will in large part determine what type of equipment is best suited for your needs.
1. Type of Workout
The term workout can apply to many different forms of training, which is why it’s important to get clear on what exactly you want from your exercise equipment.
A good way to figure out what you’ll get the most use out of is to think about what equipment you use most often whenever you work out.
If at the gym you head straight for the stationary bike or treadmill, then perhaps you’d enjoy a cardio-centric piece of equipment like a skipping rope.
If you enjoy nothing more than lifting heavy weights and doing the bench or shoulder press, then you should get your hands on some water-based dumbbells.
There’s also the option of resistance bands if you want a lot of versatility in your exercise equipment, as they can be equally as effective as weights if used correctly.
Core
For a solid core workout, there’s only one real option when it comes to portable exercise equipment.
The ab roller is a sensational piece of equipment which might feel like torture at first, but will have your abs showing through sooner than you thought possible.
While it isn’t the only way to get washboard abs, it sure beats doing hundreds of situps and crunches on the hotel room floor.
The ab roller is fun to use, easy to transport, and something that can work out your core almost as well as any piece of gym equipment.
This should be an essential inclusion if you want to work your core while traveling.
Strength
If you value strength training, and you want to build muscle mass even while traveling, then your only options are going to be water-filled dumbbells, resistance bands, or sandbags.
To get a good strength workout in, you’re going to need something to work against.
Whether that resistance comes from a band or from a dumbbell, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re not relying on just bodyweight resistance, although that too has its place in building strength.
A good pair of water-filled dumbbells can add an extra level of difficulty to any bodyweight exercise like squats, as well as giving you the possibility of lifting.
Resistance bands are another option which provide you plenty of flexibility in how you use them, and are incredibly easy to carry around.
A sandbag is an unusual, yet efficient, piece of equipment that can boost your gains wherever you are. Of course, you’ll have to ensure you’re near a running source of water to make this one work, though that shouldn’t be an issue if you’re staying in a hotel.
Full Body
For a full body workout, there are plenty of options for strength equipment available to you.
To get the most out of a full body workout, you’re going to need some equipment that can add intensity and an extra challenge to all kinds of bodyweight movements.
Our suggestion would be a solid set of resistance bands of different levels of resistance.
This will give you the ability to do just about any bodyweight exercise from squats to shoulder presses with increased resistance for extra strength gains.
You can also go for the water-filled dumbbells or sandbag though, depending on which you prefer to use in your regular workouts.
The water dumbells can be used as you would regular ones, and the sandbag is great for getting a tough workout in that should leave your whole body feeling sore afterwards.
Stretching
Stretching should form part of your workout routine, as it can help the muscles recover quickly and keep them in good shape.
While you can stretch without any equipment at all, it’s always handy to have a resistance band on hand as it can be very effective for stretching out tight hamstrings and calves.
The benefits of a resistance band while traveling are numerous, and stretching is just one thing you can do with it.
Also consider a foam roller for muscle recovery.
2. Personal Preferences
As well as the type of workout you’re interested in, personal preferences should form an important part of the decision-making process when buying travel exercise equipment.
Preferences will determine things like the weight of the equipment, how apt it is for your fitness level, and what type of equipment you prefer to use in your workouts.
Weight
The weight of the exercise equipment will have an impact on your ability to transport it, depending how big a bag you usually travel with.
While resistance bands will be very light, something like an aqua bag or aqua dumbbells could be heavier.
Compactness
More important than weight is probably compactness.
While an ab wheel might prove awkward in shape, resistance bands can be laid flat at the bottom of your bag.
An aqua bag flattens down to a very small size, but the issue with this is that it might be too long for a standard backpack.
Fitness Level
If you’re interested in light workout sessions that barely draw a sweat, then you likely won’t want to invest in a heavy-duty aqua bag or water-filled dumbbells.
If you’ve been training for a while, then you can probably use any piece of equipment effectively. If you opt for resistance bands, then it’s best to make sure you get the right amount of weight.
What You Like to Use
Perhaps the most important factor when it comes to personal preferences is whatever equipment you prefer to use.
If you love the idea of resistance bands, but you get frustrated using them sometimes, then you might be best off looking for something else.
Likewise if you haven’t used a sandbag before but would really like to give it a go, then that could be a great way to bring fresh energy to your workouts.
The best way to know what travel exercise equipment you’ll enjoy using the most is by thinking about what you use the most for training right now.
If you like bodyweight movements, then some resistance bands might be the perfect addition. If you prefer weight-lifting, then water-filled dumbbells or an aqua bag will best suit you.
Related: How to Eat Healthy While Traveling
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Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Workout Equipment
How do I exercise while traveling?
Make the most of your surroundings to maximise your gains while traveling.
That means using the hotel room chair for dips, putting your feet up on the bed for incline pushups, and packing some resistance bands to get in a strength workout whenever you need to.
Just because you’re away from home and the gym, it doesn’t mean you can’t get a good workout in through bodyweight moves and/or travel workout equipment.
What exercise equipment can I use when traveling?
There’s a variety of exercise equipment you can use when traveling, including resistance bands, ab wheels, and water-filled dumbbells.
Resistance bands should form part of any portable workout equipment setup, as they are incredibly versatile and can be used for both strength moves and stretches.
Water-filled weights and ab wheels can be great for doing core workouts and your usual gym lifting routine.
What weights to use when traveling?
If you want to use weights while away from home, your only real option is to find some water-filled weights.
These water weights shrink down to a compact size when not full of water making them easy to transport.
You won’t need to sacrifice your usual dumbbell weight to pull this off either, since once full of water the weight should be sufficient.
Related: Best Yoga Mat
A Final Word from Energetic Lifestyle
You shouldn’t have to compromise your training just because you’re away from home, and travel exercise equipment ensures you can get a full workout wherever you are.
Whether it’s core training you like, or full body strength workouts, or even just light stretching, there’s portable equipment out there you could use.
