Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The 9 est items of portable fitness gear to stay fit while traveling

Man outside playing tennis
RDNE / Pexels

Working out while you’re traveling can be difficult. Fortunately, for travelers who want to keep their workout momentum or need that extra hour of stretching and exercising, hotel gyms have steadily improved in the last few years. Even so, many hotel “fitness centers” (we stress the quotes) are little more than dark cement cubes with rusty free weights, a flickering TV perpetually tuned to Days of Our Lives, and a treadmill papered with a handwritten “Out of Order” sign. If you value your fitness routine, even when you’re miles away from home, it pays to be prepared with a compact yet versatile workout kit. Here is the best portable fitness gear to stay fit, even from the comfort of your hotel room while traveling.

Related Guides

The FitLife Exercise Resistance Bands

fitness bands
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Fitness experts have championed the utility of resistance bands for years. They’re a godsend for fitness-conscious travelers as they’re ultra-compact and lightweight — perfect for tossing in a suitcase. MVN’s four-pack of resistance bands is 12 inches long by two inches wide and folds completely flat. The best part, however, is that they’re incredibly versatile. Easy-to-read diagrams printed on the bands, coupled with step-by-step instructions via the company’s free app, provide everything you need for full-body strength training on the go. For a more full-featured alternative, TheFitLife’s Exercise Resistance Bands are part of a comprehensive kit that includes large handles, ankle straps, and a door anchor attachment.

Recommended Videos

Crossrope Jump Rope

get fit bundle
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The jump rope hasn’t changed since the earliest days of Double Dutch. For fitness enthusiasts, jumping rope is a simple yet practical addition to any cardio regimen. Just about any length of rope will get the job done. However, if you want to up your rope-jumping game, invest in a well-made jump rope kit. Crossrope’s jump rope kits are made from durable, braided steel with pro-grade handles that feature ball bearings and ergonomic grips. The interchangeable ropes are sold in varying weights, designed to personalize your particular workout based on whether your goal is getting lean or getting strong. The accompanying free app also features dozens of targeted exercises to keep things interesting.

Fitnessery Ab Roller Wheel

ab roller
Image used with permission by copyright holder

It might look like yet another as-seen-on-TV exercise gadget, but ab rollers are a great addition to any portable workout kit. The low-tech device disassembles in seconds for easy packing into even a carry-on suitcase, then reassembles quickly when you’re ready to roll. Many ab rollers are bulky and heavy, but the Fitnessery Ab Roller weighs only 1.5 pounds. The steady, repetitive back-and-forth motion is surprisingly effective at strengthening your core, lats, and triceps.

Sklz Speed and Agility Ladder

agility ladder
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The idea of packing any kind of “ladder” might seem counterintuitive to travelers. But, agility ladders like the Speed and Agility Ladder from Sklz are ideal for on-the-go workout enthusiasts. They work by creating a defined floor grid to practice footwork and coordination, whether as part of a warm-up routine or as a full-body cardio workout unto itself. Rob Gronkowski swears by them: “Agility ladder drills are a MUST before all my workouts. They work to strengthen my joints, ligaments, and tendons while improving my pre-workout coordination and focus.” They’re packable, inexpensive, and can be unrolled and used almost anywhere, including most average hotel rooms. An even cheaper and more portable alternative is to pack a roll of masking tape and line out a makeshift agility ladder on the floor of your hotel room.

Jade Yoga Workout Mat

jade yoga workout mat
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Actively protecting your joints is critical to any fitness routine. Unfortunately, more and more hotels are ditching traditional carpeting for laminate flooring. Those hard surfaces can be brutal for your extended morning yoga sessions. The Jade Harmony Mat is a lightweight, portable solution. At 24 inches wide by 68 inches long, it’s roomy enough for almost any stretch. Most importantly, the 3/16” thickness is enough to cushion your knees and elbows, yet firm enough to provide adequate stability for standing poses.

Synergee Core Sliders

syngerge core sliders
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Core sliders are deceptively simple, but they’re a near-perfect portable fitness tool. The flat plastic discs are typically sold in pairs that can be tossed into a carry-on while taking up minimal space. The dual-sided versions like those sold by Synergee can be used on both carpet and hardwood flooring, so they’re ideal for use in almost any hotel room. They help facilitate a wide variety of full-body exercises to strengthen your core, back, legs, and joints. Plus, they’re also one of the cheapest pieces of portable fitness gear on this list.

GoFit Professional Stability Ball

GoFit Professional Grade Stability Ball
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Stability balls — also known as yoga balls, Swiss balls, or just exercise balls — work by providing a round, unstable surface designed to target a wide range of major and minor muscles. The most portable versions pack down flat but inflate with a basic air pump in less than a minute. The GoFit Professional Grade Stability Ball is available in three sizes, depending on the height of the user. An included DVD and printed how-to guide both provide easy-to-follow stretches and exercises to strengthen your core, back, shoulders, and just about every other part of your body.

Pro-Tec Foam Roller

Pro-Tec Athletics Hollow Core Smooth Foam Roller
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Like stability balls, foam rollers work by providing a round, rollable surface that targets small and large muscle groups. The design is also ideal for aggressive self-massage of the back, feet, and legs — the most common parts of the body to stiffen and cramp during long-haul travel. It’s a portable, near-perfect therapy and recovery device. Typical foam rollers are solid and occupy a lot of luggage space. As the name implies, the unique design of the Pro-Tec Athletics Hollow Core Foam Roller allows for packing loose bits of clothing or valuables inside the tube.

Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle

Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle
Image used with permission by copyright holder

A reusable water bottle hardly takes up that much space in a typical carry-on or messenger bag. But if you’re the sort of traveler who values every cubic inch of luggage space, a collapsible water bottle is a great space-saving option. Nomader’s Collapsible Water Bottle is exactly what it sounds like: A flexible, food-grade silicone bottle that rolls up and packs down small when not in use. Once unfurled and filled, it’s leakproof, shatterproof, and holds up to 22 ounces of liquid. It’s also dishwasher safe and handles both hot and cold drinks, in case you prefer to hydrate with, say, a cup of coffee (odd) while working out.

Workout Apps

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Even with a full gym at your disposal, all that equipment is useless if you don’t know how to work out properly in the first place. Having a decent workout app or three can be key to helping you exercise like a pro. Yoga Studio is great for stretching the right way without hurting yourself, while Aaptiv offers expert guidance through a wide range of niche cardio routines built around stair-climbing, rowing, indoor cycling, marathon training, and more. For beginners looking for on-the-go motivation, C25K is a free, tried-and-true system designed to take you from couch potato status to 5K runner in just eight weeks.

If nothing less than a full gym setup will suffice, Zeamo is an affordable subscription-based app that offers travelers unlimited access to more than 25,000 gyms around the country.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Golf in Las Vegas: What to know, where to go, and how to make the most of it
Top 5 golfing experiences in Las Vegas and how to make the most if it
Golf in Las Vegas

Like the Scottsdale area, Las Vegas is famous for world-class golfing experiences. That said, there's no doubt in my mind that Las Vegas has the better off-course scene. With its many resorts and casinos, Las Vegas has a lot more for everyone to enjoy, even those of your party who aren't as enthusiastic about golf. While there are only about 50 courses as opposed to the 200 or so in Scottsdale, Golf in Las Vegas promises a vibrant and exciting atmosphere, full of its own luxurious flavor. Here are the top 5 courses in Las Vegas.
Top 5 courses to visit while at Las Vegas

Shadow Creek Golf Course
Shadow Creek is a bucket-list course for many golfers. While it is in North Las Vegas, about a 25 minute drive from the Strip, Golf Digest ranks it among the best in the United States due to its exclusive experience and meticulously maintained greens. Signature holes include the par-3 17th with its water features and the par-5 18th, which has a creek guarding the approach.

Read more
Yes, you’re probably overpacking — 7 travel tips for packing I swear by
Years of travel mistakes led me here. These tips actually work
An overhead view of a man packing a suitcase

There are two types of people in the world – the ones who pack two weeks in advance with a packing checklist, and the ones who shove a random pair of shoes into a bag 10 minutes before leaving for the airport. I’ve been both.

But after years of red eyes, lost luggage, and trying to survive long layovers in jeans, I’ve learned what actually works. These are the travel tips for packing I swear by – the things that save space, stress, and yes, your sanity.
1. Lay everything out. Then put a third of it back.

Read more
Move over Vegas — this U.S. city is now the top casino spot
Is Chicago the new Las Vegas?
Casino

Before you book your next trip to Las Vegas, you might want to consider a surprising alternative. A new ranking from gaming aggregator SlotMatrix reveals that Sin City isn’t even in the top three casino destinations in the U.S. In fact, Las Vegas came in fourth place, while the number one spot went to an unexpected winner: Chicago, Illinois.

The study analyzed several factors, including the number of casinos per 100,000 residents, casino amenities like hotels and restaurants, the number of slot machines, table games, poker tables, late-night bar options, and average hotel prices.

Read more