Collaborative Post
Many of us like to incorporate equipment into our exercise routines. Unfortunately, a lot of this equipment isn’t very portable (you can’t take a treadmill on holiday with you).
The good news is that not all exercise equipment is big and bulky. In fact, some forms of gym equipment are compact and collapsible enough to fit in a suitcase. This post lists a few examples of workout equipment you can take anywhere.
Exercise mat
Exercise mats make floor exercises more comfortable. They’re most commonly used in yoga, but are useful for many general exercises too like sit ups and push ups. Most exercise mats can be easily rolled up, but some are still quite bulky in this form. Travel mats are the solution to this – these exercise mats are slimmer and lighter so that they take up much less room in a suitcase or backpack.
Resistance bands
The likes of these Eatprotein resistance bands could be another great form of exercise equipment to take on your travels. Resistance bands are basically giant elastic bands that you can push and pull in order to work out muscles all around the body. Great exercises to try with a resistance band include lateral raises, banded squats, clamshells and bicep curls. An advantage of this equipment is that it’s incredibly portable – resistance bands can be squeezed into any bag and even carried in a pocket.
Jump rope
Skipping ropes aren’t just for kids. In fact, they’re commonly used by athletes to improve one’s cardio. They’re also very compact pieces of equipment. This makes them ideal travel items for those wanting to work out on the go. You can buy jump ropes in different lengths online. This Glamour Magazine jump rope guide compares some of the best ropes on the market.
Dumbbells
When it comes to weight training, dumbbells are an essential piece of apparatus. You can use them to target numerous parts of the upper body, and you can even combine these exercises with squats and lunges to target the legs at the same time. While more compact than barbells, you could still find that a regular set of dumbbells takes up a lot of room in your suitcase. Fortunately, there are dumbbells you can buy with removable weights and connectors. Being able to disassemble these weights can make them much easier to pack in a bag or case. You can even buy dumbbell sets that come in their own cases.
Kettlebells
A unique weight that can be fun to train with is a kettlebell. As their name suggests, they’re shaped a bit like a kettle. You hold the handle and swing them in order to exercise various parts of the upper body. Regular kettlebells tend to be quite large – potentially too large to put in a small travel bag. However, there are kettlebells you can buy that you can fill with water. These ingenious kettlebells are perfect for travelling with – they are able to fold flat when not filled with water, making them easy to pack into any bag.
Ab roller
An ab roller consists of two handles connecting a wheel. They are used to perform unique ‘rollout’ exercises from a kneeling or standing position. As the name suggests, ab roller exercises primarily target the abs, although they can also target other areas of the body in the process. You can buy ab rollers online fairly cheaply. Many of these devices are compact enough to fit into a suitcase, making them another potentially great exercise tool to travel with.
Ankle weights
Ankle weights are weights that you strap around the legs. These weights can help to up the intensity when carrying out various leg exercises, helping you to tone up your calves and thighs faster. Some people jog while wearing them or even put them on while swimming. All in all, they have many applications. A benefit of these weights is that they can easily fit into any bag or case. Check out this Women’s Health guide to ankle weights to compare some of the top options.
Boxing gloves/pads
Finally, there’s also the option of training with boxing gloves and pads. You can find some great boxing gloves online to start your boxing journey with, especially if you want to keep it a staple in your routine. Boxing can be a great cardio workout that can also strengthen the upper body. To practise punching pads, you’ll need someone with you to hold the pads. This does make this equipment less suitable for solo travellers. However, if you’re travelling with friends or family this could be a great piece of equipment to pack. When choosing gloves, try to choose lighter and more compact gloves.