Having the best outdoor fitness equipment will provide you with experiences that you’ll never have in the gym. Exercising outdoors can do wonders for your mental and physical health. The sunlight, fresh air and natural surroundings are natural mood boosters. Moving your body outdoors will enhance the feel good chemicals released during a workout.
The best outdoor fitness equipment needs to provide you with a way to get a full body workout. In this article, I discuss equipment that will support your cardio, strength training and flexibility.
Best Outdoor Fitness Equipment: Cardio
Outdoor fitness equipment for cardio can vary depending on your preferences. If you prefer to keep it simple- then a classic jump rope is all you need. A jump rope is so simple, yet effective. Portable and light weight enough to take anywhere. Here is a great video on a 10 minute Jump Rope Workout.
Battle Ropes are another type of cardio fitness equipment, but they are not as convenient because of their weight. Battle ropes are anchored to a fixed point and are used for high-intensity cardio workouts.
More expensive fitness equipment, but excellent for cardio are bikes. This could be a mountain bike, road bike, or even an outdoor elliptical. Outdoor ellipticals give you a low-impact, high-intensity workout. If you have knee problems this could be your solution. I’ve seen a few people riding these around where I live. What a great invention!
For me personally, I have always had a hard time with treadmills and ellipticals in a gym because they are stationary. You are moving- but not going anywhere. The scene in a gym might be a TV with the negative news playing or a wall of mirrors. Compare this to getting on a bike and going for miles and miles where you’re cycling through lush green parks, green belts or trails.
Other options would include speed/HIIT type sessions where you can set up cones to maneuver around or hit the workout stations on a fitness trail where you run between each one.
Best Outdoor Fitness Equipment: Strength Training
There are two main ways you can go here for strength training. Use existing outdoor fitness equipment or bring your own.
Fitness trails can be equipped with stations for pull-ups, dips, and other bodyweight exercises, providing you with a full-body workout. Check out my article here if you want to read more about Fitness Parks.
If you prefer to have your own equipment, there are numerous options.
Resistance bands. These stretchy pieces of equipment offer a whole gamut of strength exercises to target different muscle groups. You can pretty much mimic any lifting movement with these bands, and they come in various resistance levels to match your strength gains.
Resistance bands should be the cornerstone of your mobile gym. They’re the ultimate in versatility and take virtually no room at all. You can work on strength, flexibility, and mobility with these little powerhouses. And guess what? They can replace heavier weights when you’re doing squats, presses, or rows.
Gymnastics grips. You want to keep those hands safe and free from blisters when doing pull-ups on unfamiliar bars or rings. A good pair of grips does just that and ensures a solid, non-slip grip so you can focus on your form and reps.
Abdominal rollers. This nifty device is all about strengthening your core, which is pivotal for almost every CrossFit move. Although slightly larger than the other items, they’re still easily transportable compared to the bulk of traditional gym equipment. These typically weigh less than 2 lbs.
Mini parallettes can be surprisingly effective, especially for bodyweight exercises like L-sits and handstand pushups. They’re compact, lightweight, and let’s be honest, they’re pretty cool.
Plyometric boxes- a bit bulkier, but still portable. There are a variety of different styles and shapes to choose from. Using a plyometric box is great for doing step ups, single leg squats, and side step ups.
Best Outdoor Fitness Equipment: Flexibility
For improving flexibility, outdoor fitness equipment can be incredibly beneficial. Here are some of the best options:
Stretch Stations: These are specifically designed areas with various bars and platforms to help you perform different stretching exercises. They often include instructional signage to guide users through various stretches.
Yoga Platforms: Raised or flat surfaces designed for practicing yoga and other flexibility routines in an outdoor setting. These platforms provide a stable surface and are sometimes equipped with non-slip material.
Resistance Bands: As mentioned previously, not only are resistance bands great for strength training, they work well for stretching. You can anchor them to various outdoor structures (like trees or poles) to perform stretching and flexibility exercises. Here’s an article to illustrate further how you can use resistance bands to stretch.
Tai Chi/Yoga Wheels: These are designed to help users practice Tai Chi movements, which helps to relieve back pain, enhance flexibility and joint mobility.
Foam Rollers: While not typically fixed outdoor equipment, bringing a foam roller to an outdoor space can help with muscle recovery and flexibility through myofascial release.
Bringing It All Together: Creating Your Ideal Outdoor Gym
The best outdoor fitness equipment will provide you with a mix of cardio, strength, and flexibility. For cardio, you can keep it really simple and jump rope or ride a bike. Strength training equipment includes existing park gym/fitness trails, resistance bands, gymnastic grips, abdominal roller, mini parallettes and plyometric boxes.
Finally, for stretching the resistance bands are great, existing yoga platforms and stretch stations at the parks- and a foam roller helps significantly with recovery.
I encourage you to look for opportunities to create a community around your outdoor gym. Organize workout groups or classes – this not only motivates but also builds a support system for achieving collective fitness goals.
I really hope that you’ve found this guide helpful as you explore the best outdoor fitness equipment. Now go out there, get active, and enjoy the benefits of fresh air and fitness in harmony!