Resistance bands are a great workout tool for travelers.

Resistance bands are one of the most underrated workout tools out there.

You’ll often find them neglected in a corner of the gym, but they are a great addition to most fitness routines.

From isolation exercises to bodyweight workouts, adding resistance bands will increase tension and improve muscle growth, while burning extra calories.

The best part of this resistance band praise is that they’re perfect for traveling. They’re small and light, meaning you can pack them in your carry-on and take them with you on the road.

So the next time you find yourself without an adequate gym (an all-too-common occurrence for travelers), just take your resistance bands out and get after it in your hotel room or outside.

Let’s take a look at the best resistance bands and how you can use them to get a great workout while you travel.

The Best Resistance Bands For Travelers

Resistance bands are a great addition to bodyweight exercises, making the movements more difficult and therefore increasing your strength.

So where to get started?

First, let's dive into the different types of resistance bands that you can bring with you while you travel. Then we'll get into how to use them.

Black Mountain Resistance Band Set ($28)

The Black Mountain Resistance Band Set is a top-seller on Amazon. It’s light enough to travel with and supports many different workout routines.

The five-piece set includes bands with interchangeable handles, a door anchor, an ankle strap, and five bands with a range of resistance.

Tribe Premium Resistance Band Set ($21)

The Tribe 11 Piece Premium Resistance Band Set includes five resistance bands that are color-coded to distinguish their weight tension— Yellow (5 lbs), Green (15 lbs), Red (20 lbs), Blue (30 lbs), and Black 35 (lbs) and a Pro Accessories kit that has two cushioned soft-grip handles, a door-safe anchor, two soft ankle straps, and a water-resistant carrying bag.

Rogue Fitness Monster Bands ($68)

Rogue makes some of the highest-quality fitness equipment you'll find. You can order their resistance bands individually, in pairs, or as a full set.

There are eight color-coded versions of their natural latex rubber stretch bands to choose from, each measuring 41” in length, but varying in width, thickness, and overall resistance.

Getting Started

Resistance bands are a great place to start for anyone new to strength training.

First, you need to choose the right bands. Resistance increases at the end of a movement, so band choice will depend equally on two things: your fitness level and the type of movement you are doing.

Be sure to choose bands that will provide enough resistance while training but are still light enough to allow you to maintain proper form throughout.

Go for a light, medium, and heavy band because you'll find yourself using each one with different muscle groups.

If you choose to go with the Black Mountain Resistance Band Set or a complete set of the Rogue Fitness Monster Bands, you will have a wide enough range of resistance to cover any fitness level.

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The Full Body Resistance Band Workout

Resistance band workouts like the one below can be done right in your hotel room or at home.

Perform the workout as a circuit, meaning do one set of each exercise, then another round of the same, and so on until you have completed three rounds (or three sets of each exercise).

Hit each exercise name for a video demonstration.

Bicep Curls

Stand with your feet together on the resistance band to keep it anchored. Grip the other end of the band with both hands, palms up.

Simultaneously bend both elbows and pull the band up towards your upper chest. Lower the band back down to the starting position slowly, straightening both your arms.

Perform three sets of 15 reps.

Deadlifts

Grasp the band on both ends and keep it anchored down by standing on it. Knees should be slightly bent and your head and chest should be up. Stand straight up and keep your back straight. The bands will be at waist level when you complete the movement.

Do three sets of 10 reps.

Squats

Place your feet on the band and hold the other end (or handles) with an overhand grip, keeping your hands around shoulder height.

Lower yourself down as if you are placing your butt onto a chair. Get your quads below parallel to the floor. Explode up and return to the standing position, pressing through your heels.

Complete three sets of 10 to 12 reps.

Push-Ups

Resistance bands make push-ups more challenging.

Wrap the resistance band around your upper back and hold each end down with your hands as you get into the push-up position. Perform the push-up movement as you normally would but expect increased resistance at the top.

Perform three sets of 10-20 reps.

Band Pull-Aparts

Pull the bands apart while keeping chest and shoulders stable and without arching your back.

Do three sets of 10 to 15 reps.

33 Resistance Band Exercises You Can Do Literally Anywhere

Stretching With Bands

You can also use resistance bands to deepen your stretches and improve your flexibility.

The best time to stretch is after a workout, when your muscles are already warmed up. Stretch to your level of comfort and hold each stretch for ten to twenty seconds.

Here are three stretches you can do.

Hamstring Stretch

Lie on the floor and loop band around the right foot, grabbing onto the bands closer to your foot to create tension. Straighten the right leg as much as you comfortably can while keeping the left leg bent on the floor. Gently pull the right leg towards you, stretching the back of the leg. Switch sides.

Hip Stretch

Lie on the floor and loop the band around the right foot, grabbing onto the bands with the opposite hand. Straighten the left leg out on the floor and gently lower the right leg across the body and to the left as low as you can go feeling a stretch in the right hip and glute. Switch sides.

Chest Stretch

Grip the band with hands a few inches apart. Pull your arms out and down as low as you can to stretch the chest.

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Bottom Line

Resistance bands are perfect for staying fit while traveling. Add them to bodyweight exercises to increase resistance and give yourself an added challenge or use them for pulling movements that are often difficult to do without weights or a pull-up bar.

Cover Photo Credit: Adidas