12 Products to Help You Stay Fit On the Road
You should enjoy your vacations, whether that’s hiking in a National Park or enjoying a wine tasting in the south of France. Working out on vacation is totally optional, but if doing so is going to help you feel your best and get the most out of your trip, I’m here to help. As a former fitness instructor, I have tried a lot of products and have plenty of experience working out while traveling.
It’s not feasible to throw a set of dumbbells in your suitcase and not every place you stay will have a hotel gym or a group class nearby. Instead, here’s 12 items you can easily pack to help you stay fit on the road, no matter where your travels take you.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
Multipurpose Clothing
Comfortable Sneakers
Comfortable shoes are maybe the single-most important thing to bring on vacation. Nothing will ruin your day faster than your feet hurting when covering thousands (or even tens of thousands) of steps per day.
If you’re trying to pack light, shoes are a great place to save space. By paring down how many pairs you bring, you open up more space for souvenirs! These New Balance sneakers are the exact shoes I bring on most of my trips and wear them for both workouts, tours, and casual hikes. I’ve literally purchased these time and time again!
Cute Exercise Dress
Versatile clothing in your suitcase means you’re ready for any activity your trip may hold. Exercise dresses are cute and fun, but at the same time supportive and functional. I also love the built in shorts to prevent chafing.
Lightweight Equipment
Glute band
As the name implies, glute bands can help increase intensity during exercises such as lateral walks, but they can do much more. For example, put one around your arms and you can help decrease the intensity of a pushup. These glute bands come in a set of 3, but I would just choose my favorite to bring along.
Foldable yoga mat
If you want to keep up with your yoga practice, this foldable yoga mat will fit in your carry on suitcase. It is quite thin at only 2mm thick, but sacrifices had to be made for the sake of portability. This mat is also perfect for if you want a space to work out on hard flooring or even outside!
Resistance bands with handles
If you’re looking to up the intensity without much extra weight, bring along a set of resistance bands. This set comes with a variety of resistances, from 10 to 50lbs. You can use the handles for exercises like bicep curls. It also comes with ankle straps and a door stop for more exercise options and a bag to carry everything in.
Ankle & Wrist Weights
If you have some wiggle room before you hit your baggage weight allowance, you might want to add some light weights than can up the intensity of your workouts or even allow you to burn more calories on a walk. These wrist and ankle weights look just like Bala bangles but for a fraction of the price!
Stretching Strap
Stretching is so underrated and when you’re walking around cities or hiking up mountains your legs will get tight. It’s important to take the time to to stretch to reduce the risk of injury. Obviously you can do stretches using just your body or against a wall, but if you’re looking to up the intensity, adding a stretching strap can help. It also packs up small! This one comes in a variety of colors so you can match it to your luggage.
Tech Accessories
Headphones
Headphones aren’t just a fitness essential, but a travel essential. Whether you’re working out or just sitting on a long flight, you’ll want comfortable earbuds or headphones that will stay put. I travel with both a set of AirPods Pro and Bose noise cancelling over-ear headphones because I don’t always want one style or the other. Fit is essential for your comfort, but also so you don’t lose them. Thankfully AirPods Pro come with multiple sizes of silicone tips so you can find your perfect fit.
Phone Stand
If you follow workout classes online, you’ll want to be able to see the instructor and their form. Propping your phone against a water bottle only works for so long until you need to take a sip. Bring a phone stand along to up your class experience. Bonus: you can use it to watch shows and movies on the plane! This one is made of durable aluminum and folds flat for easy packing.
Fitness Tracker
If you have a daily step goal, a wearable fitness tracker is a great way to check your progress. I have had my Apple Watch since 2018 and use it daily, both at home and while I’m traveling. It’s how I knew I averaged 20,000 steps/day in Japan (without any additional workouts!).
Miscellaneous
Travel size Dry Shampoo
You may not always have time to shower and wash your hair after a sweaty workout, so bring along a TSA-friendly bottle of dry shampoo to help absorb some of the moisture. Personally, drying and styling my hair takes a long time, so if I can go a couple extra days between washes, that’s more time I can be out exploring.
Rip Tie Hair Ties
If you have long hair, you know the struggle of going swimming and then having to detangle your locks afterwards. It’s a hassle and I’m all about minimizing frustration, especially on vacation. These Rip Tie Hair Ties are 2 hair ties with cord in the middle that you wrap around your hair to keep your hair tame while swimming, skydiving, etc.
Use code “PTO” for 10% off!
At the end of the day, all you really need to stay active is your own body, but if you’re looking to elevate the experience while traveling, these products are a great place to start!
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