5 Affordable Pieces Of Workout Equipment You Can Travel With
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We’ve all been there—we book a vacation, get to our destination, realize there isn’t a gym, and suddenly all of our hard work and consistency go out the window. We make excuses and end up skipping our regular workouts, and when we get back from vacation, we feel defeated knowing we have to start over again.
I cannot tell you how many times this happened to me when I started my fitness journey! Also, even when there is a gym on the premises, sometimes I only have 20 or 30 minutes free in the day, and by the time I get dressed and trek over to the gym, it feels like I don’t have enough time to get anything meaningful done. And other times, I’m too tired to leave my room! So now, I always bring equipment with me.
I’ve tried out tons of travel workout gear—some of which I’ve loved and some of which I found inconvenient and impractical. To save you the trouble (and money!) of trying different pieces of travel workout equipment, here are five of my favorites!
(P.S. yes they are reasonably priced and yes, they can easily fit in your suitcase, even if you’re just bringing a carry-on!)
1. Loop resistance bands
I call these “loop bands'' or “booty bands”—but you probably just know them as resistance bands. I would guess that you’ve seen these at the gym before or used them yourself in a class or at home. Let me tell you: a booty band is a worthwhile travel companion! Not only is it super lightweight, but it’s incredibly versatile. I use these bands for multiple exercises, including leg and glute workouts, which have been my favorite lately. There are tons of options out there, but I personally always recommend this set of three from the WS brand. The set comes with light, medium, and strong resistance bands, so you can totally customize your workout to your fitness level. I use the light one for side leg raises, the medium for lateral band walks, and the strong for squats and glute bridges.
Te-Rich Resistance Bands for Legs and Butt, Fabric Workout Loop Bands, Set of 3 - $13.98
2. Upper body resistance bands
I know, another set of bands—but these are different! These thinner resistance bands are amazing for exercises like bicep curls, chest presses, tricep extensions, and so much more. What I love about these is that you can control the “weight” that you’re using. In other words, each band represents a different level of resistance that corresponds to a weight number (e.g. 10 pounds, 20 pounds, etc.). I love having the ability to switch bands very easily—the handles are detachable and they come in a convenient carrying case to keep everything together. The best part? They are lightweight and easy to travel with! You would never be able to travel with multiple sets of dumbbells, it would be way too heavy (and frankly, expensive). These resistance bands allow you to have multiple weights at your disposal, without the hassle and inconvenience of packing actual weights. For tutorials on how to use these, check out this YouTube video. (P.S. Don’t worry, I’ll be putting out my own tutorials and videos soon…)
SPRI Xertube Resistance Bands Exercise Cords, Red, Medium - $14.14
3. Jump rope
If you follow me on Instagram, you won’t be surprised to see a jump rope on this list! I’ve written a lot about how much I love jumping rope—how it was such a fun outlet for me as a child, and how it’s become a huge part of my workout routine over the years. Jumping rope torches calories, which is great if you have weight loss goals, and it’s fantastic for your cardiovascular health, which is something we should always strive to improve! There are a million different jump ropes out there, but I love this one by Power Systems because it’s extremely durable (meaning it’ll last you forever), adjustable, and affordable. If you’re someone who loves numbers/keeping track of your workouts, then I recommend this jump rope by Aforfu, which will count how many jumps you’ve done for you. See how many you can get in a row, and set a goal to build on that number overtime. Did I mention the handle is slightly weighted? PJW Warriors never back down from a challenge!
Power Systems Pro-Vinyl Jump Rope - $11.54
4. Sliders/Gliders for wood and carpet
Another super affordable and versatile piece of workout equipment is a set of core sliders. (They’re sometimes also called gliders, disks, etc.) If you’re trying to improve your core strength—which we all should—these sliders are a game changer. Besides being portable and lightweight, they can be used on any surface, including carpet, rugs, hardwood, laminate, or even tile… aka you can use these in a hotel or room, gym floor, anywhere! These discs can be used to strengthen and tone your core, arms, chest, legs, shoulders, and more. And while they may look harmless, trust me, they’ll give you a killer workout! Here’s a free 13 minute full body workout that you should definitely try.
5. TRX Set
And finally, my all-time favorite piece of workout equipment—the TRX! You may remember I featured this as a #PureJoyWellnessApproved product last year, and I’m happy to say it remains a staple in my workout routine, especially when I’m traveling. Not only can you take it anywhere, but you can use it to work pretty much any muscle and muscle group on your body. It’s basically an all-in-one gym. Plus, it’s a worthwhile buy for anyone, regardless of your fitness level. I could go on and on about this, but if you want to know more about it, you can read my blog post about why I love TRX. Otherwise, take my word for it—you need one of these!
For more product recommendations, workouts, and fitness advice, make sure to join our Pure Joy Wellness Private Facebook Group, where we do group walking and workout challenges all the time! And if you’re already in the group but you know another woman over 50 who would love it, invite them! The more the merrier when it comes to community.
Xo,
Renata