Fitness Equipment That Fits in a Suitcase

“You have to be kidding,” I said to the crew member checking my daughter in for her flight to England from the States last week. He had just told her she might not be able to carry her tennis racquet on board because it could be used as a weapon. We waited for him to show the racquet to a homeland security officer, who ruled that it was harmless enough to carry on.

Golf clubs, skis, yoga mats, tennis racquets and other sports equipment are not only cumbersome to travel with but are increasingly expensive now that many airlines charge fees for checked baggage. My daughter’s experience prompted me to think about the best sports and exercise gear for traveling, particularly when it comes to fitting it in your suitcase.

Renting sports equipment when you travel, or staying in hotels with gyms or arrangements with a gym or a pool nearby is one solution. But there are also some inexpensive easily packable options for exercise on the road.

I like to take my Resistance Bands Pro 6 (www.suspensiontrainer.co.uk ). It includes two handles, ankle straps, a door anchor and eight bands of varying levels (the thicker the material, the more strength required to stretch it), and which takes up little space once tucked into its travel bag. Then, no matter where I am — from my room to a rooftop deck — I have the option of standing on the band and doing arm curls and overhead presses, attaching it to a door for pull downs and push downs, or even slipping it around a pole for chest and shoulder exercises. (£69.95, or $113).

Amy Moore, whose work as a film producer has taken her regularly to South Africa and London, travels with her blow-up exercise ball by Gaiam (www.gaiam.com) $19.98, including a pump. “When I get off long plane rides the first thing I do is blow it up and lie on it to stretch out my back in the hotel room,” Ms. Moore said. “It helps with general stiffness from the plane, but it is also great for doing abdominal exercises, as well as leg and arm repetitions.” The 55-centimeter ball comes with workout instructions on a DVD.

Daniel Lyon, an instructor in New York at the Real Pilates studio and the author of the book, “The Complete Book of Pilates for Men,” noted that fitting in exercise when traveling for work or vacation can be difficult. But, he said, “It is essential to loosen up the joints, get the body hydrated and the oxygen going so you can feel good and enjoy the trip.” Mr. Lyon said Pilates was good on the road because all that is needed is a soft surface and some space: a carpeted floor or the beach.

Pilates practitioners and yogis might also want to invest in a mat that travels easily. The eKO SuperLite Mat (www.manduka.com) has a good grippable surface, weighs only about 2 pounds, or 0.9 kilograms, and folds easily. It is made of biodegradable rubber that doesn’t fade or flake ($39).

Julie Tamarkin, a yoga instructor and world traveler (she once practiced yoga on the deck of a boat cruising down the Nile) recommended non-skid yoga socks and gloves as an alternative to packing a mat. Gaiam carries them for $9.98 for the gloves to $19.98 for the socks. “You don’t get the padding of a mat, but you can still move through sun salutations and many other poses,” she said, adding, “It helps to step outside your normal routine when you travel. Take the opportunity to practice however you can — even just taking five minutes to stand in Tadasna with healthy alignment and breathe (no props needed) can work wonders.”

Ms. Tamarkin also travels with her Vibram FiveFingers shoes (www.vibramfivefingers.com). About $80 a pair, they look like a combination of gloves and aqua shoes (each toe has a slot and they are waterproof). “They energize my feet, stimulate my body from the ground up and counteract the negative effects of wearing shoes by spreading your toes, rather than pinching them.”

Raymond DiPrinzio, a banker who is training for a marathon and travels a lot for work, is a big fan of the Run Keeper App (runkeeper.com), which works anywhere in the world. “It’s GPS-based so it tracks my runs and has decent coaching and very good integration of music,” he said.

For those who don’t think they can fit one more thing in their suitcase, Ms. Moore recommends taking just one small object with you on vacation that will help you to exercise. “A measuring tape,” she said. “I put it around my waist. If the number is higher on any given morning, I walk more.”