You’re about to hop in the car for a week-long getaway in the mountains or at the beach, or some other exotic location, but you’re the type that doesn’t like missing a workout. We get it!

For many, workouts refresh and energize. People love to come back from a vacation feeling healthier than when they left. Perhaps they anticipate overindulging a bit on the road, so a good workout helps them to feel balanced and relaxed, and less concerned about taking a break from their normal routine.

Traveling can be a great time to reinforce your current fitness routine with new or different training tools or methodologies. Working out in innovative ways can elicit a new training response in your body, while breaking up the monotony of your current routine.

The challenge usually lies in having access to exercise equipment. Due to the lack of portability of fitness equipment, you’re often limited to a small, out-of-date hotel gym. Or if you’re at the beach, in the mountains, or somewhere else off the grid, you may not have any equipment, so your options are walking, running, climbing, and bodyweight. Those are all great in their own right, but you’re on vacation and want to experience novel things!

If you’re like me, you want to have some resistance training options to speed up your workouts and get back to time with your family. Here’s what I do to make this a reality:

I rely on three pieces of equipment that are easy to throw in the car, and don’t limit me to a location. I can train with them indoors or out, no matter the conditions. When I don’t have access to my barbell, plates, kettlebells, and dumbbells, a 9” or 14” D-Ball and some Continuous Loop Strength Bands are my go-to training tools because of their versatility and portability. These three tools allow me to train mobility, stability, strength, stamina, and power. Mix it up with some trail or beach running, and you’ll come home better than you left!

Here are a few of my favorite exercises performed with these portable tools.

10lb – 20lb, 9” or 14” D-Ball

  • Reverse and Lateral Lunges

  • Overhead Scoop Toss
  • Rainbow Slams
  • Push Up on D-Ball
  • Jump to OH Slams

 

  • High Pulls
  • Hammer Curls
  • OH Triceps Extensions
  • Squat to OH Press
  • Band Loaded Mt. Climbers
  • Band Loaded Lunges