Best Travel Workout Gear to Help you Stay Fit on Vacation

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

Caroline joined Boston-based SmarterTravel in 2011 after living in Ireland, London, and Manhattan. She's traveled to all seven continents, jumped out of planes, and bungeed off bridges in the pursuit of a good story. She loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations, anything outdoorsy, and all things adventure.

Her stories have also appeared online at USA Today, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Yahoo, Boston.com, TripAdvisor, Buzzfeed, Jetsetter, Oyster, Airfarewatchdog, and others.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "Earplugs. A good pair has saved my sleep and sanity many times!"

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.

Travel Motto: "Don't be boring."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle (when the first class private suite isn't available)."

E-mail her at cteel@smartertravel.com.

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Don’t let a lack of suitcase space for your travel workout gear stop you from getting exercise on the road. Sticking to your fitness routine while traveling can help fight jetlag, combat side effects of overeating, and let you see a destination at a slower, more personal pace.

Travel Workout Gear Perfect for a Run or Taking in the Sites

The best travel workout gear should be able to do double-duty, working for both running and sightseeing.

Elemental Water Bottle

Save your money and the environment with a reusable water bottle, which you can use both to hydrate during a workout, or at the airport (fill it up once you’re through security to be 3-1-1 compliant). I hate drinking lukewarm water, which is why I love the Elemental water bottle. Made from double-walled stainless steel, this bottle will keep drinks cold for up to 24 hours, or hot for up to 12 hours. I took it out on a city walk on a snowy day, and my coffee was still steaming hot hours later. It’s also great for hiking—you can’t beat a cold drink of water at the summit.

Lululemon TechLoom Phantom Shoes

I’ve never been able to pack just one pair of shoes for a trip, because I like to go running (or at least pretend I’ll get motivated and go for a jog one morning), but I hate wearing athletic sneakers when I’m not in the gym. That’s why Lululemon’s new TechLoom Phantom Shoes were such a game-changer for me—these rose gold running shoes are gorgeous, and look stylish paired with jeans or even a casual dress. Unlike most athleisure sneakers, these actually have enough support to work on longer runs, so I only have to pack one pair of shoes. (If the rose gold is a little too fabulous for you, they also come in neutral colors like plain black.)

Pearl Izumi Pursuit Thermal Cycling Tights & Versa Barrier Jacket

If you’ve ever cycled in wet weather (or even on a dry day over a wet road) you know how easy it is to get soaked. Pearl Izumi’s Pursuit Thermal Cycling Tights (available for women and men) are made from a water-shedding fabric that will keep you dry no matter how far you ride in the rain. These tights are warmer than rain pants, as they’re lined with a thermal fleece fabric that’s cozy and flexible. Combine it with the wind and water-resistant Versa Barrier Jacket and wet weather doesn’t stand a chance.

Zella High Waist Lattice Midi Leggings

Pack leggings that can be worn alone for working out then and easily washed in the sink and worn again under a dress or skirt. Zella’s High Waist Lattice Midi Leggings add a stylish twist to the basic black travel workout gear, with a cool braided design down the side. Made from a polyester-spandex blend, these leggings aren’t see-through if you wear them alone, and dry quickly so you can wear them multiple times on one trip.

Runtopia

If you want to up your running game, you’ll have to move beyond phone apps and smartwatches as your travel workout gear go-to. The unique Runtopia Reach shoes have a microchip embedded inside them, which gives you real-time audio feedback on your stride, running form, and cadence, along with coaching to help you get better. Even without the advanced smart chip technology, these lightweight shoes are great for travel, as they weigh less than most running sneakers.

Athleta Meshblock Pocket Saturation Tight

Some fitness brands seem to believe that women have no need to carry anything with them while working out, so why bother with pockets? Athleta gets it though—their Meshblock Pocket Saturation Tight has two pockets (one on each side of the pants) that are large enough to hold even the biggest of smartphones. The pockets seamlessly blend in with the sides, so you’ll have a streamlined look that won’t detract from the stylish look. Carry your keys, iPod, phone and cash on a run or walk—hands-free!

SuperLite Travel Yoga and Pilates Mat

Grossed out by the loaner yoga mats in the hotel gym? It’s easy to bring your own when it’s just 2lbs and 1.5 millimeters thick, like the Maduka SuperLite Travel Yoga and Pilates Mat. This super-portable mat folds flat (it’s thin enough that it doesn’t need to be rolled), but is still sturdy enough to prevent you from slipping during your practice.

RunGo App

Running is a great way to explore a new destination, but it can be really annoying to have to stop and check directions every half mile. The RunGo app solves this problem by giving you hands-free, turn-by-turn audio navigation on your route. It has a global library of over 100,000 running routes around the world, so you can easily pick one and get out the door. Best of all, it works offline (just download your route ahead of time), so no data connection is required.

NewMe Exercise Cards

It’s easy to plan to workout in your hotel room, but once you’re actually there, it can be hard to think of a good routine that doesn’t require any equipment and makes the most of your time. Bring this neat deck of cards along on your next trip, and you won’t have to put any thought into your workout. It contains 50 cards showing detailed instructions for a bodyweight exercise that you can do without any equipment.

Resistance Band Set

You can still get a muscle-building workout in without access to weights—just pack a set of resistance bands, like this one by Fit Simplify. This set has three different levels of resistance (heavy, medium, and light), which will take up next to no space in your luggage, but give you a great workout.

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Caroline Morse Teel thinks that the best travel workout gear should be functional and stylish. Follow Caroline on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline to see what she wears in destinations across the globe.

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