Traveling the world helps you develop in a lot of different ways. It gives you a greater perspective, opens you up to new experiences, and might even expose you to a new way to enjoy fried chicken. One thing it’s not so good at, though, is building up your fitness.
There are endless challenges in the way of staying fit on the road. You might have a dedicated exercise space, gym membership, or weekend pick-up basketball routine at home, but there is no way to find that if you’re hitting up a new town every week. You’re lucky enough if you find a hostel with a yoga space.
Plus, half the point of traveling is all the new flavors you come across. You’ve got to eat and drink your way through every new place to get a taste of it. And any half-decent street food tastes better when washed down with a few local beers.
It can add up to a disaster. Traveling for six months can wreck years of progress in the gym, and the threat of your workout regimen being taken away can hold some people back from hitting the road.
So, we’re here today to quell those fears and get you on your way with the tools you need to stay in shape while still enjoying your trip. But first, a DISCLAIMER.
Until someone finally invents a gym membership subscription that works Airbnb style or figures out a way to make 20 lb dumbbells weigh nothing at one moment and turn on the next, the truth is that you’re travel workout routine will never look like your at-home system.
And that’s okay. The whole point of flying to Namibia is that everything is different than the inside of your apartment, anyway. That shouldn’t stop you from traveling, nor should it stop you from caring about your fitness.
Because there are ways to get great workouts on the road, and there are plenty of nearly weightless travel workout equipment that will help you reach your FITNESS GOALS. So, get warmed up and meet me on the mat!
Fit Simplify Loop Resistance Bands
- Price ($) > 12
- Packed dimensions (in.) > 6 x 3
- Packed weight (lbs) > .1
Manduka eKO Superlite Yoga Mat
- Price ($) > 12
- Packed dimensions (in.) > 6 x 3
- Packed weight (lbs) > .1
Running Shoes
- Price ($) > Variable
- Packed dimensions (in.) > Variable
- Packed weight (lbs) > Variable
Trideer Stretching Strap
- Price ($) > 11
- Packed dimensions (in.) > 75 x 1
- Packed weight (lbs) > .37
TRX Fitness App
- Price ($) > 5.99 per month
- Packed dimensions (in.) > NA
- Packed weight (lbs) > NA
TRX Weighted Jump Rope
- Price ($) > 19.99
- Packed dimensions (in.) > NA
- Packed weight (lbs) > NA
Bala Bangles One Pound Weights
- Price ($) > 5.99 per month
- Packed dimensions (in.) > NA
- Packed weight (lbs) > 2
TRX Go Suspension Trainer
- Price ($) > 199
- Packed dimensions (in.) > 53 x 2
- Packed weight (lbs) > 2
Lululemon Workout Sliders
- Price ($) > 28
- Packed diameter (in.) > 7
- Packed weight (lbs) > NA
Redify Adjustable Jump Rope
- Price ($) > 13
- Packed dimensions (in.) > NA
- Packed weight (lbs) > NA
Gaaim Travel Folding Yoga Mat
- Price ($) > 21
- Packed dimensions (in.) > 68 x 24
- Packed weight (lbs) > 1.8
Travel Workout Equipment is Only The Start
While having travel fitness gear is essential, it’s only the first step. I’ve logged many trips with a jump rope in my bag; it doesn’t mean I’ve ever used it. It’s equally important to cultivate a mindset and make time for fitness. The details of that mindset are different for everyone. But generally, you should plug into the same motivation you have at home.
If you like to rise and grind and hit the gym for a few hours before work at home, make it a part of your routine. Get your sweat on before hitting up the continental breakfast. If you’ve never gotten up early to work at home, don’t expect that you’ll magically get into it while you’re on vacation. Stick to what already works for you and do it in a different country.
That doesn’t mean you can’t try anything new when working out while traveling. I’ve found a great way to keep up with my fitness away from my gym membership is to build my trips around exercise. When I’m in Sicily for a month, the only fitness I’m into is fitting this whole pizza into my mouth. So I try to make sure my trips include time near the beach, ski mountains, or bike routes where I know I’ll be super keen to get moving.
Another great way to get into the travel workout mindset is to find a way to get moving and meet new people.
If you’re staying in a hostel full of stoked surfers, you’ll be more interested in getting into the water and giving it a shot than if you’re staying in an Airbnb by yourself. This brings me to the last and most important part of getting into the travel workout mindset: accommodation.
Your accommodation will make or break your travel fitness goals. For example, if yoga is part of your daily routine at home and you go book a cramped dorm room in the tiniest, cheapest hostel in town, you’re going to have a bad time.
It is absolutely worth it to splurge and book a place that provides the space and privacy you need to work out. Whether that means bike rental, a yoga shala, a fitness center, or a rock climbing wall, it’s the easiest way to set yourself up for success.
When we discovered fitness resorts and wellness programs, it completely changed the game. We have curated this list of the best fitness retreats in the WORLD, to help you embrace a healthier travel experience.
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Best Travel Fitness Gear Tried and Tested
Now that we better understand the mindset, let’s get to the good stuff: travel gear.
Life as a broke backpack doesn’t include many Instagram-worthy sunsets and fancy hotels with pools and exercise rooms with power plates. And still, with a bit of grit and the right equipment, you can have your beer with no fear.
The fitness gear we’ll look at below all weighs less than 5 pounds and all provide a better workout than relying on pushups and sit-ups to get through your vacation.
This equipment has accompanied our team across the globe, and we’ve made room for these essential pieces of gym equipment in some absolutely tiny backpacking packing lists.
1. Fit Simplify Loop Resistance Bands
- Price ($) – 12
- Packed dimensions (in.) – 6 x 3
- Packed weight (lbs) – .1
Resistance bands are a versatile fitness equipment, especially when you’re packing light. They’re proof that no matter how minimalist you pack, there’s always space to bring your workout with you.
These light bands weigh less than a pair of underwear and bring a world of potential to anywhere on Earth where you can lay down a mat.
Resistance bands can help you stretch deeper and use your body weight against you, turning a simple Pilates routine into a sweat-inducing, challenging workout. While these won’t rip up your muscles like a set of dumbbells, the functional equipment has done wonders for my mobility, and resistance bands flys still leave me sore in the morning.
There are thousands of hours of free workout content available on YouTube to show you how to make the most out of resistance bands.
If you’re heading outside the reach of the internet, spend a few weeks before your trip studying the basics and mapping out your routine, and you can keep your workouts going without missing a beat. You can always stay connected and on top of your workouts with these great travel Wi-Fi routers.
2. Manduka eKO Superlite Yoga Mat
- Price ($) – 12
- Packed dimensions (in.) – 6 x 3
- Packed weight (lbs) – .1
A 6 X 8 space and a yoga mat are all you need to improve your body. The only trouble is, yoga mats can be pretty unwieldy. They don’t fit easily in a suitcase, and many travel mats sacrifice your knees to save a few ounces. This Manduka option is the exception to the rule, offering excellent comfort and still weighing less than two pounds.
While it is a super-lite mat, there is just no way to make yoga mats smaller. I usually just throw my Manduka mat into the water bottle pocket of my backpack and carry it onto the plane, and no flight attendant has ever batted an eye.
It doesn’t even count as a personal item, and the value of traveling with a yoga mat is well worth a few side eyes while I cram it into an overhead bin.
Sure, you can always hope that your accommodation is the only hostel in all of South America that stocks fresh, clean yoga mats that don’t smell like other traveler’s sweat. Or you can bring your fortune with you and squeeze in a stretch in the bus terminal while you’re at it. It’ll feel weird, but no one cares.
3. Running Shoes
- Price ($) – Variable
- Packed dimensions (in.) – Variable
- Packed weight (lbs) – Variable
If you want to workout while traveling, a comfortable pair of travel shoes is not up for debate. Unfortunately, it’s common knowledge that the easiest way to pack light is to leave a few pairs of shoes behind. Unless you’re just rolling a suitcase from the airport to a taxi to your hotel and back again, you likely won’t have room for dedicated workout shoes.
Talk to many broke backpackers about travel shoes, and they’ll likely give you some version of this same advice! The maximum pair of shoes you bring is 3. Flip flops, shoes you can walk around a city and eat a nice dinner in, and one weather-resistant pair for intense hiking.
Many hardened travelers will widdle that number down to two, either by skipping the snow hikes altogether, or deciding they don’t give a fuck, and they’re wearing hiking boots to dinner. I like to sneak my running shoes in as my everyday city pair by opting for a fashionable, rugged shoe.
My favorite recommendation for that is the Nike ACG line. This subset of shoes is usually water resistant, comfortable enough to hike in all day, and stylish enough for a night out in Budapest. I wouldn’t run a marathon in these heavier shoes, but they’ll help me sneak in a 5K on the beach. They’re stable enough for HIIT workouts.
4. Trideer Stretching Strap
- Price ($) – 11
- Packed dimensions (in.) – 75 x 1
- Packed weight (lbs) – .37
Stretching is a vital part of travel workouts. After a few long layovers and some bumpy bus rides, you might be able to get straight back onto the squat rack in your early twenties, but not forever. Sneaking in a stretch while traveling supports quicker adjustment to new time zones and builds strength.
These polyester stretching straps are more durable than the resistance bands we looked at earlier, but at the cost of some stretchability. They won’t work the same for strength-building exercises, but they will offer a more formidable hold. It’s perfect for taking your stretches deeper.
Loop these straps around your arch and work towards greater hamstring, glute, and quad flexibility from anywhere. These bands won’t make her dance, but they will help you connect to your body in new ways, bridging the gap between your shoulder joints and helping to straighten things out.
5. TRX Fitness App
- Price ($) – 5.99 per month
- Packed dimensions (in.) – NA
- Packed weight (lbs) – NA
You can’t travel with a personal trainer, but you can travel with a personal training plan.
The TRX Fitness App is one of the best fitness apps for travelers. It provides access to the TRX training club, hundreds of hours of videos, and support to get the most out of your TRX. YouTube has some workouts, but they won’t take you nearly as far as these science-backed programs.
The app features full-length classes from professional trainers and programs that help you build strength over weeks, months, and years. Unfortunately, the app is subscription-based because you can’t own anything these days, but that comes with its own perks. You can sign up when you hit the road and cancel when you’re back within range of LA Fitness.
Each suspension trainer purchase comes with a code for six free months of the app. If you time it right, you can use the app across your entire semester abroad without breaking out your credit card. Remember to download videos before take-off, so you can have on-demand workouts ready no matter where you are.
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Join REI Today!6. TRX Weighted Jump Rope
- Price ($) – 19.99
- Packed dimensions (in.) – NA
- Packed weight (lbs) – NA
Don’t let the term ‘weighted’ scare you off from this jump rope as a travel partner. Each handle of the rope only adds 9 ounces of weight. It’s one of the best travel workout equipment that feels like nothing in your pack but starts to add up after a few minutes of jumping.
Weighted jump ropes, in addition to the obvious benefit of increased resistance, help your jump activate different muscles. With just half a pound in each handle, your arms might surrender to the jump before your legs. Each handle’s extra weight is removable to get your reps in with or without the extra oomph.
The 10-foot cable can be adjusted to fit from armpit to armpit of any jumper. Partners can travel with one rope and find the perfect size adjustments for two workouts.
And it’s much more than a simple travel workout. I never leave the country without a solid jump rope, which also doubles as my makeshift laundry line or a keen strap for taxi roof racks.
Renting workout equipment on-site can be a smarter choice sometimes, especially for larger and heavier gear. Let’s help you learn exactly what not to pack in your carry on!
7. Bala Bangles One Pound Weights
- Price ($) – 5.99 per month
- Packed dimensions (in.) – NA
- Packed weight (lbs) – 2
Unfortunately, there is no way to pack dumbbells without adding serious weight to your luggage. A pound is a pound, no matter how round.
If you still want to add some extra oomph to your workouts, consider these Bala Bangles. It’s one-pound ankle and wrist weights that help you beef up body workouts without undue strain on luggage limits.
You can even hook these bangles up to your ankles to put some extra work in on travel days. However, we can’t promise you the TSA isn’t going to have a few questions. The weight bands are pretty straightforward, coming in 1 and 2 lbs weights that hook up around your extremities.
It’s not something you can build a workout plan around, but rather use as support. One pound doesn’t sound like much, and it won’t put a significant strain on your packed weight. But strap these suckers on for a few sets of burpees and forward lunges, and you’ll really start to feel the heat.
8. TRX Go Suspension Trainer
- Price ($) – 199
- Packed dimensions (in.) – 53 x 2
- Packed weight (lbs) – 2
TRX has revolutionized travel workouts. As long as you can find a sturdy place to set them up, this system helps elevate bodyweight training and allows you to work your entire body anywhere on Earth. From minute back muscles to hip and pelvic stabilizers, there’s a TRX method to reach every muscle group.
The driving force behind TRX is suspension training, which is the idea that the human body needs to move all over the place.
Many traditional training methods only focus on large muscle groups and heavy weights. They don’t really consider the stabilizing muscles, core strength, and joint strength necessary for truly functional movement. The TRX is here to address all that.
By performing normal, bodyweight exercises like pushups, rows, and shoulder presses lifted off the ground, your body will shimmy and shake before eventually locking into place. It’s a great way to work out, whether you’re traveling or not. But lucky for us, the whole system weighs less than a pound.
9. Lululemon Workout Sliders
- Price ($) – 28
- Packed diameter (in.) – 7
- Packed weight (lbs) – NA
Who knew that two discs the size and weight of a pair of breast implants could change everything. These sliders help encourage functional movement by getting your core involved in everyday movements. It’s exactly the kind of thing you should take with you on your travels, with maximum effort at minimal packed weight.
Deploy your sliders on carpet, wood, and linoleum, and move up and down the room without lifting your feet. There are all sorts of easy applications that help you change up a bodyweight workout. Slide instead of stepping back into the lunge position. Amp up your mountain climbers, and add movement to planks to help wake up your shoulders.
The whole idea of the sliders is to get your body working better together. Instead of throwing your weight around, starting in your legs and arms, sliders force your core to activate each movement and build strength in your strike zone. The tools can look slightly gimmicky until you get on the floor and feel your glutes start to burn.
10. Redify Adjustable Jump Rope
- Price ($) – 13
- Packed dimensions (in.) – NA
- Packed weight (lbs) – NA
Jump ropes rank just under exercise bands in terms of travel-ready workout equipment. At a minimal cost and minimal additional weight, you can get your cardio in, pump up your calves, and improve your balance in 20 minutes or less.
Jump ropes are also incredibly simple workout tools, with plenty of great options well within any broke backpacker’s price range.
This Redify two-pack means you can order one for home and one for the road. You’ll be hopping and bouncing your way to a lower weight at the end of your trip no matter how many extra desserts you treat yourself to. Some exercise gurus say that 10 minutes of jump rope is equivalent to 30 minutes on a treadmill. So if you bounce around for half an hour, it’s like running a marathon!
Jump roping might seem like only a lower-body workout. That’s certainly the primary muscle group worked, bringing great strength and endurance to your ankles, calves, knees, and leg muscles. But you can’t overlook how in-tune every part of your body has to be to hit each jump in stride. This is a great exercise to improve your coordination and get your body in tune.
11. Gaiam Travel Folding Yoga Mat
- Price ($) – 21
- Packed dimensions (in.) – 68 x 24
- Packed weight (lbs) – 1.8
Yoga mats are such an essential piece of travel equipment that we had to look at two options. A lot of hotels, hostels, and camping sites have extra space to work out, but not a lot of them are easy on your knees. Bringing a yoga mat helps you out with much more than a downward-facing dog.
While a yoga mat isn’t a workout on its own, it’s quite literally the basis for every complete workout possible.
This Gaiam mat makes it happen by folding up and compacting better than most mats out there. You can easily squeeze this one on top of your carry-on backpack and it unfurls like a map to guide you toward better fitness.
This mat is so thin that it can slide into the hydration bladder holder in most backpacking backpacks. It’s not like you had big plans for that storage space, anyway. Pack up this folding Gaiam traveler, and you’ll never be too far from a moment of recentering and rebuilding.
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Final Thoughts on The Best Travel Workout Equipment
When you’re scraping together a few coins for a papi pollo, it might feel like you’re a world away from a proper exercise routine. You might not have access to a fancy gym or a spacious hotel room, but you’ve got something better! CREATIVITY and Lululemon workout sliders.
Whether you’re on a Thai beach, wandering through the alleyways of Marrakech, or chilling in a dodgy hostel, there’s always a way to stay fit. Bodyweight exercises are your best friend – squats, pushups, and burpees don’t cost a dime, and you can do them anywhere.
The best travel workout equipment we’ve looked at is all geared towards enhancing those body workouts. And not because adding on two one-pound weights will magically turn a squat into a superset. We’re not fake gurus trying to sell you a dream.
The real benefit of traveling with workout equipment is to help break the monotony of normal bodyweight exercises. Light, portable, and inexpensive fitness gear is your ticket to maintaining your gains without breaking the bank.
Staying active while traveling on a shoestring budget might not sound glamorous. However, it’s the kind of adventure that leaves you feeling like a warrior. It’s all about embracing the grind, and there’s a certain satisfaction in not giving in to the travel slump. Sure, it’s not always comfortable or convenient, but neither is sleeping on an overnight bus.
And the best part? Keeping up with your workout routine abroad is like a stealthy act of rebellion. You’re showing that you can live large on a tight budget while still prioritizing your well-being. It’s a big middle finger to the idea that staying fit is all about fancy gyms and pricey protein shakes. It turns a six-month sabbatical into another way of life.
In the end, travel fitness is about flexing your imagination, not your wallet. So, grab your budget-friendly gear, adapt to your surroundings, and make space for your workout, no matter where you are.
Now, if you’re gearing up for an awesome trip, check out the Broke Backpacker’s ultimate travel resources. They’ll help you squeeze every drop of fun out of your adventure! Cheers :))
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
