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Okay. I know. I tell you all the time that you don’t really need any equipment in the RV to stay fit. You’ve already got the best piece of exercise equipment…your own body!
So this post sort of goes against that message; flip-flopping on my fitness advice.
But sometimes, a fitness tool or two can shakes things up. It can make your workouts more interesting and might even give you that kick in the bootie you need to get up and get exercising.
Because, I get it, exercise can be such a mind game, ESPECIALLY when we’re out traveling. And when the mind starts playing the lazy game or the make-excuses game, it helps to have an arsenal ready to beat yourself at your own game.
Here’s what we carry in our RV “Lance”:
- Resistance Bands.
I just can’t say enough good stuff about traveling with a resistance bands kit.
The exercise possibilities are endless with bands, especially if your kit comes with an anchor mount— a nylon strap that allows you to attach your bands to a sturdy object, like a pole or railing like you see in the first pic above. Our favorite resistance bands kits are by Bodylastics. Their bands actually have a safety feature in case they were to break. There’s a cord that runs through each band that would stop it from snapping back and hurting you. I had a band of another brand snap on a client once. Of course, it had to hit her eye. It instantly swelled and wasn’t pretty. Bands do break, gang. But with Bodylastics, you don’t have to worry. They also come in a nice storage bag, and you get a giant poster filled with pictures of exercise suggestions!
I have no affiliation to Bodylastics, I just truly prefer that brand. And if you need some ideas for exercises you can do with resistance bands, I’ve got a bunch right here; so either hit the “Workouts” tab or use the search bar to find them.
- TRX.
The TRX took the fitness world by storm over a decade ago, and is still one of my most favorite fitness toys of all time.
It’s a strappy yellow and black thing with two handles that you suspend anywhere sturdy: a tree, your RV, a cruise ship in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, whatever you can find. Using your own bodyweight, there are 100’s of exercises you can do with it, all are strongly focused around your core. Fun story: when I met Russ Garfin and Chad Reece from Winnebago for the first time, I had attached a TRX to the back door hinge of a Travato and made them do some exercises with me! They had a great time, and years later still talk about that experience! You can see a glimpse of their first time TRXing in THIS VIDEO right at 5 minutes in. Love it when I get others hooked!
- Yoga Mat.
James and I got our blue Hugger Mugger mats years ago, and they go everywhere with us.
I’d say they have tagged along for at least 30,000 miles of RV adventures. While I’m not sure how many states I’ve unrolled mine on (a lot), I am sure these mats are our most used piece of RV fitness equipment. I use my mat regularly for yoga, but I also use it for much more than yoga alone— it comes in handy for any strength training floor work we want to do, too (like planks or pushups). Being in such a small RV, our workouts happen outside. Since I’m not a big fan of lying in dirt, gravel, or damp grass, the mats make it possible for us to workout anywhere. I’ve even used it on the edge of the Grand Canyon!
- Jump Rope.
Even if you’re not currently conditioned to handle jumping, there are loads of ways to use a jump-rope for a workout without doing a single jump. I’ll be putting up a workout video on no-jumping jump-rope workouts soon so stay tuned, but one easy way to use a jump rope is to do “step-overs.” Walk, turn the rope, and step over it. It’s a great way to work your coordination and balance…two often neglected fitness components. There are tons of ways to work your upper body and do stretches with a jump rope, too, no jumping required. But honestly for me, the allure of a jump rope is the “play” factor. I used to run a little after-school jump club back in my teaching days, so I love occasionally pulling out a rope and playing around with it doing tricks. So, jump ropes are pretty versatile and can make a workout a lot of fun no matter what your fitness level is. Plus, they’re cheap.
- Massage Roller.
This might blow your mind, so get prepared. You ready? Here it is.
Your workouts aren’t where you build strength and get fitter. Exercise actually breaks your body down and makes it weaker.
Goes against everything you think exercise should do, right? But it’s true. It’s your recovery time where the real strength-building magic happens.
Enter self-massage.
Self-massage, and the various implements to do it, should be a regular part of your recovery regime to help your body repair itself most effectively.
Plus! They’re especially handy for RVers. Long drives and sitting too long are tough on our circulatory systems. Since massage rollers boost circulation, using one regularly in the RV will help counteract any negative effects sitting might cause. James and I also keep a little foot roller on the floor of the passenger’s seat of our RV, along with the roller in the picture, and we make a point to roll out our legs and feet as we roll along the road. Ha! Rolling as we roll!
So there it is: all our favorite RVing fitness tools we travel with in the RV. They take little space, transport easily, and make us WANT to exercise on the road. Just remember, staying fit isn’t a part-time gig. Just because you’re on vacation shouldn’t be a reason to vacation from exercise. So next trip, load up some fun gear and get those workouts in. You might even find they’ll be your best workouts ever.
Would love to hear what YOU like to travel with! Leave a comment below; always love your thoughts!
Stef thanks so much, just retired, looking to improve myself and found your videos on YouTube. You rock! Thank you thank you thank you!!!
Thanks for all this content!
Any chance you’ve seen a pull-up bar hitch configuration? Just started out and don’t want to lose my pull-up count ha! I’ve seen a few but those companies no longer exist.
Hey there, yep I’ve seen them in the past too, but I have no experience with them, sorry! You can do lat pulls with resistance bands by mounting them to a high anchor… like a sturdy tree branch or playground structure. Not quite the same, but will help you maintain the same muscles!
I have the Bodylastics Stackable (14 Pcs) MAX XT Resistance Bands Sets. This Leading Exercise Band System Includes 6 of Our Anti-Snap Exercise Tubes, Heavy Duty Components, and a Travel Bag in my cart and wondering if I should go ahead and get the wall mounts?
We have a Winnebago View and like traveling. We are in our 60’s and love the idea of using resistance bands. Want to get what we need to get launched.
Love your blog!
James
As far as the wall mounts – I don’t know which ones you’re looking at, but I would shy away from anything that had to be permanently mounted with screws, bolts, or what have you.
The challenge with those would be to find something suitable in the structure of your rig to mount them to.
I’m not saying it can’t be done. But if you’re just starting out, I’d wait a while before drilling into my rig.
we are 72 and respective 74! We’ve been retired to 8-10 years, We have commitment for 4-5 months it help the parents with kids (we have blessed with 4 grandkids) and for the rest we have an extended vacation for 7 to 8 months used to travel in a 24 foot travel trailer . We got so used to the travel trailer that my wife keeps complaining that the stationary address in Toronto is to big to maintain.
All my working life was travelling Monday to Friday for work in some place in North America. The difference with the travel as retired is that I stop where I want for whatever time I want and when I am done I go to the next point of interest. Isn’t this great? No bosses, no commitment (except to the sweet honey (heart) sharing her/his life with you for a number of years in – in my case for 60 years. I real hope that my story will be an idea to stand up from those comfortable chairs and sofas (moved for some nefarious reason on the porch), buy a bicycle (second hand would do) with 2 wheel if you can ride, if not, buy one with 3 wheels – is good for exercise as well and for shopping too, and get moving – it could add a potential 2-3 years of lease on your file plan. It will give better physical condition and a different perspective on life and family. Do not wait; start doing something for yourself and that way you’ll help those you love.
I love this! Thanks for sharing some of your living well (and exercise!) motivation. Research shows that while exercise is the key to a long healthy life, having strong loving relationships is another part of the longevity formula. Sounds like you have both. Adventure on you two! May you stay young at heart another 30 years (and beyond)! xoxo
Hi. Thanks for all the posts about the 8 limbs of wellness.
I am curious about your recommendations for bodylastics. The have numerous kits on Amazon. I think the kit you have is the one they sell for $120, but there are some with fewer bands for $34. Is there a rule of thumb about which one to get? Will I ultimately be disappointed with anything but the bigger kit with 13 bands?
Thanks again for your posts.
Ron
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Hi Ron! Gosh, you certainly don’t need the huge pro kit that we travel with, especially if there’s just one of you working out at a time. Bodylastics has 6 different kit sizes last time I checked, and the smallest 12 piece set comes with both hand grips and ankle straps, so you can do everything with the smallest kit that you can with the biggest, the only difference is less bands in the smallest, though if you combine all of them you get 96 lbs of tension in the small kit; that’s nothing to sneeze at! The only thing I’d recommend considering are getting 2 add-ons: the Anywhere Anchors that come in small and large, get one of each. You can wrap them around things…like poles, trees, and we even use our running board and RV ladder, and then you slide the band through them so it creates something similar to a cable machine at a gym. We use our anywhere anchors all the time. The kits come with a door anchor which is great in your home, but it isn’t really practical for us in the van. I think they do have some medium sized kits that include the small anywhere anchor, but the only kit that comes with the large is the huge one like ours. But luckily you can order them separate! Hope this helps, and good for you for making your fitness needs a priority. <3
Here is a belated thanks. I did get the bodylastics fitness bands and have been using them regularly. I like that I can use them pretty much anywhere. You really provide a tremendous service to the community. Thanks again!
Awww how nice! I’m thrilled to hear you’re incorporating bands in your exercise regime. Thanks for the kind words, you’ve made my night!
Im very interested in purchasing the Bodylastics, however im stationary in my RV. Wondering if Ill have room inside the RV to do these exercises. I only have one indoor door I might be able to use (the bathroom) The front door is right by the kitchen counter. I get the idea you use the out of doors, but what do you do on days that are not optimal for being outside?
Depending on how big your RV is, it’s quite reasonable that you could still do resistance training inside on inclement weather days. Many resistance bands exercises do not require a mount, so as long as you have the space to stretch your arms out, do squats, and reach up, you should be good! Also, you could save the resistance bands for outdoors and stick with bodyweight exercises inside. Since we’re in a small campervan, that’s what I prefer to do.
I have traveled with kettlebells, club bells, TRX, yoga matt, bands and other things. My favorite now are the club bells because I can travel with them lined up along my side of the bed. We have a RoadTrek so there is limited space.
I have often swung kettle bells at rest stops, in gas stations while my husband filled up, and along the side of the road while my husband napped. When it rained I have used inside a quiet visitor center, under the eves of a bathroom… Where there is a will, there is a way.
I met a fantastic man, Mike Graham, in Lockhart, TX and told my husband we would be staying in the local county park for a month while I trained under him. This summer we will travel to where ever Paul W. gives his Indian Club or Mace workshop. In February he will let us know when and where he will be on his American Tour (from Australia.)
That is fantastic, Vicki! And good for you swinging those KBs anywhere!!! It would make my day to see an RVer at a gas station swinging a KB. 🙂
I love your simple suggestions that will be great to stay fit on trips, with some hill runs thrown in for good measure 😉 Looking at a suspension trainer on Amazon now. Thinking I can loop it through the ladder on the back of our MH.
For a place to put sweaty post-workout clothes, I got a smaller (24″x16″ or so) hanging mesh laundry bag that I hang outside for the initial sweat to dry then in the closet, over my duffel (which fits exactly the depth of the closet), once it’s not as damp (yep, this girl is a sweater!), or in the bathroom with the vent open.
Thanks for the inspiration througout your site!
Hi Shannon! Sounds like a good system for the sweaty stuff. We accumulate a lot of it too…it’s good to have a system for handling it! Thanks for swinging by the website and I’m glad you’ve found some inspiration around here!
Hi Stefany
I like your bag of resistance bands – that looks pretty comprehensive!
This is the equipment I use when I travel:
“Fitness Equipment — What My Wife Lets Me Take On Holiday”
http://busyparentfitness.com/travel-fitness-equipment-calisthenics-holiday
Keep training, George
I’ve been practicing yoga for over 8 years and teaching for 4 years. I take my yoga mat RVing. I also take a 4×6 foot piece of thin indoor/outdoor carpeting to put under the yoga mat. This helps keep me and my yoga mat clean.
Fantastic!
We are waiting for the delivery of our first ever RV. Excited and planning! We would like to travel with two bikes and an elliptigo. Wondering what you recommend in terms of bike racks? Looking at the 200dj sprinter rack that requires drilling (UGH!) Do you prefer the door mounted racks over hitch mounted for any particular reason?
So awesome you’re about to get your first RV, Gail! As far as bike racks, we haven’t done any reviews of specific models. But we do prefer door mounted, as they bounce less. A lot of times with hitch mounted racks, you can’t open the doors (if you have them). Door mounted, you can. Our Travato came with a door mounted Fiamma rack and we’re very happy with it.
Have you ever hooked the Bodylastics through the wheels?
James here – No, I don’t think we’ve ever hooked up the bands through the wheels. Lots of brake dust there.
I’m sure it could be done though. You wouldn’t loop the band directly through the wheel, you’d loop one of their anchors through the wheel. I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work.
But generally, if we need a lower mount, we will use either the trailer hitch, or some other object at our camp site.
I hope that TRX was hooked to a ‘mighty oak’ cause it looked like it was about to topple…
LOL! Yeah we gotta be careful what tree we hook it to with James holding the handles. IN HIS DREAMS!