Travel fit tips: How to keep your workout rolling on the road

We’ve always wanted to give high-fives to the workout warriors we pass who are making their pilgrimage to early-morning sweat sessions in the hotel gym while we’re en route to the breakfast buffet. Mmm … donuts. Big ups to those who get in a circuit on the weights before hitting up the the hotel lobby happy hour, too.

Whether you’re headed on vacation (lucky you!) or pulled away from home for a business trip, you, too, may have had grand plans to hit the gym while on the road. But if you’re anything like us, you might as well have just sent your running shoes a postcard because they never actually get pulled out of your suitcase.

No more excuses for your next trip. Here’s how to be one of those rare, healthy creatures who can adapt to their natural habitat in the gym no matter where their travel takes them—because nobody wants to come up from a trip with, well, extra baggage, right?

Here are a few solutions to the most common obstacles keeping you from working out while on the road.

Problem: You’re staying at your in-laws and there are no gyms within a 20-mile radius.

Solution: Pack a gym! Of course, you’ll get majorly weighed down if you try to stash your weights in your suitcase and your treadmill doesn’t travel well. (Hello, overweight charges!) But, we love this kit because it’s super lightweight and it allows you to set up a gym anywhere. The kit comes with resistance tubes, hand grips, ankle straps, door anchors and a laminated training manual that shows you how to use your own weight for resistance training. Attach the handle grips to the tubes to perform squats, lunges, bicep curls, lat pull downs—you name it. You can use different combos of tubes to obtain up to 15 levels of resistance ranging from 5- to 75-pounds. GoFit Pro Gym Extreme Kit, $59.95, REI.com

Problem: You’re only packing a carry-on for a quick trip and there’s no room for workout gear.

Solution: Choose a hotel with a fitness program that loans out workout apparel and even MP3 players with workout playlists. The Westin, for example, will loan your shoes and workout clothes for $5 through a partnership with New Balance. They’ll even lend you some headphones—because we know you can’t truly hit your stride until you hear Lil’ Jon’s Turn Down for What. Check with the concierge for running maps, too. When you check out, just leave the items in your room in a mesh bag. If you find yourself loving New Balance shoes after your stay, pick up a pair when you get home. New Balance for J. Crew shoes, $80, jcrew.com

Problem: You usually pack gym shoes—but forget other essentials like athletic socks or a sports bra.

Solution: Get organized with a notepad, $7.26 at amazon.com, that essentially puts your packing plan on auto-pilot. When you plan ahead, you don’t end up working out in dress socks and tennis shoes. Make your carry-on a workout bag. We’re especially loving the sporty sweatshirt look of this bag (above). A zippered pocket on the bag will stash your tablet or other small electronic devices that you’ll want to bring on the plane, and there’s a zippered compartment to separate your running shoes. Unless you’re planning on doing laundry, pack a few lightweight T-shirts and some workout shorts or yoga pants. Check your hotel as some loan out bikes or offer morning yoga classes and pack accordingly. Adidas Fearless Club bag, $49.99, ebags.com