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Jun 06, 2023

10 Best Pieces of Fitness Gear for Outdoor Summer Workouts

Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may earn a commission

Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Why Trust Us?

Take your training outside this summer with these top-notch picks.

YOUR WORKOUT ROUTINE can—and should—change during the summer months. Once the weather starts to shift for the better, you might feel the pull of the great outdoors. Heed that call. Whether you're at the park, beach, or your own backyard, one of the best ways to stay in shape in the summer is to get outside and get moving.

The one downside of outdoor workouts: Unless you have a world class home setup filled with award-winning gear, you no longer have access to a full gym's worth of weights, machines, and gear. That's not to say that you don't have options, however. Bodyweight workouts are a great option, and you can use the environment around you—a playground bar or sturdy tree branch can serve as a reliable pullup station, for example—but you can also get your own equipment that works well with the DIY workout ethos you have to embrace to get a good session outside the gym.

These picks give you plenty of options for outdoor training. The focus here isn't so much on hauling heavy weights and building big muscle (although a few of these picks will allow you to do that). Instead, you'll be well-served with a kit of gear that you can pack in a bag and take with you on your latest outdoor summer adventure. From resistance bands to agility gear to a weight vest, you'll have all the tools you need to make nature your own personal performance space.

This set of five high-quality exercise bands ranges in strength from 20 to 150 pounds of resistance. They're made from natural latex and perform just as well when you use them to add a challenge to bodyweight workouts or as a complement to weight training routines. We've used them consistently for about two months' worth of workouts, and the bands have held up well to the wear and tear of training. For maximum portability, the set comes in a drawstring bag.

These handy handles solve one of the biggest challenges people face when training with resistance bands: How to grip the sometimes uncomfortable stretchy implement. The Bandit's ergonomic design fits in the palm similarly to the handle of a dumbbell—and even has a cross-hatched rubber grip like the knurling of a standard metal weight. Your band rows, curls, and presses will be much less awkward with this kit.

There's not much more to be said about the TRX suspension trainer system, widely regarded as one of the best options for training without traditional weights. You'll use a sturdy anchor, your own bodyweight, and gravity for resistance—which makes this an ideal tool for park workouts on playgrounds or tree limbs. MH senior editor Brett Williams has used the TRX Pro4 System for home and road workouts for years, calling it an "indispensable training tool" for back workouts outside the gym. This kit is especially portable, with a handy drawstring bag to pack the system on the go.

Jumping rope isn't just for kids—and it's the perfect outdoor workout to burn fat and ramp up your heart rate. This high-quality option allows you to swap different types ropes off the premium handles, ranging from lighter agility versions for speed to heavy ropes for more of a strength challenge. This is another part of Williams' training kit, and has been for four years.

You might have a hard time breaking away from the idea of working out with weights, and with limited space for a set in your outdoor kit, deciding between dumbbells and kettlebells might feel like choosing a favorite child. The YBell gives you a little of both worlds, with an interior handle like a dumbbell and swingable, rackable handle like a kettlebell. The Pro model's commercial grade powder coating stands up to a beating, both from your workouts and the elements of nature. We've used the YBell for two years now, and love its versatility.

Working out at the beach? You're standing on a near-limitless resource for strength training—if you've got one of these sandbags and willingness to dig. You can use this bag like a traditional barbell for deadlifts and squats or swing it up onto your shoulder for heavy carries. Reinforced handles allow you to pull and swing, and a liftetime guarantee should give you peace of mind that you can beat it up as much as possible. After three years of sandbag workouts, our model is holding up just fine.

A large number of fitness fanatics will kick off the summer workout season with the Murph on Memorial Day—and you'll need a stellar weight vest if you're doing the full version of the Hero WOD. This high-performing vest is an MH Certified pick, and continues to be a favorite for our fitness team after a solid year of use. We found it keeps weight plates in place during runs, and performs solidly for the bodyweight movements you'll want to do for your outdoor workouts.

Fitness isn't all just heavy weights and long runs. If you want to hone athleticism and work on your footwork, agility ladders can serve as useful tools. All you need is some runway on grass or sidewalk. This option has adjustable rungs for different drills and a handy drawstring bag for easy transport.

Whether you're establishing the sidelines and endzone for a pickup game of touch football or ultimate or performing NFL Combine-style shuttle runs, these cones can help to organize your training space in the great outdoors.

This big rig isn't necessarily as portable as the other picks on this list—but it's a tremendous option for power training and conditioning in your home gym setup. We reviewed the M1 sled last year, and found that it can be a useful tool for all types of surfaces—making it a great option for outside workouts on grass, driveways, and anywhere else. Resistance is built in with variable resistance system, so you don't need to add a ton of weights either.

At Men's Health, we take great pride in providing our readers with reliable and trustworthy product recommendations. We believe that our readers deserve the best, which is why we always make sure to conduct thorough research and testing before making any recommendations. Our writers and editors thoughtfully select experts for collaboration on product recommendations, and are also experts in their own right, using their informed opinions to select products and ensuring that our content is of the highest quality.

Our product recommendations are purely editorial, and while we may receive free products to test and review, we only recommend the products we are most impressed by. We never let retailers or public relations contacts dictate our content or product coverage. Which is why you can trust us to provide you with reliable and unbiased product recommendations.

Brett Williams, a fitness editor at Men's Health, is a NASM-CPT certified trainer and former pro football player and tech reporter who splits his workout time between strength and conditioning training, martial arts, and running. You can find his work elsewhere at Mashable, Thrillist, and other outlets.

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