Outdoor Exercise Equipment

Indoor training can be very monotonous, and even possibly chip away at your motivation. Worse yet, unless you invest in a good gym build and air con system, you could have to bear with an intense smell of sweat, steel and concrete.

More so, if you have to train in a cramped basement, it could be even worse.
Don’t even talk about having someone else in there, your session could soon turn into a struggle for breath.
The good news is, you don’t have to go through all the hassle. How about taking your workout sessions outdoors and enjoy the breeze as you pack up some muscle?

The cool thing about working out in the open is that you not only get to up your morale, it’s also great for motivation even on those lazy days when you just don’t feel like working out a sweat.
In this post, I will be sharing with you some pretty awesome outdoor exercise equipment that you can either install permanently or bring out when needed.

Let’s jump right in!

First Things First; Can Exercise Equipment be Outside?

Sure, you can install exercise equipment outside or bring some out once in a while when needed. But before you rush in and bring your whole gym to the backyard….
There are several boxes that your equipment should check if it is to be reliable for outdoor use. Here are a few of them.

Durability is an Absolute Must

From the material to the overall build, how stout your equipment is could make a world of difference when deciding whether to have it outside or not.
Seriously, you don’t want to leave equipment that can rust with ease in the outdoors for the rain to pound on it and moisture build-up to take its toll.
The finish also needs to be up to snuff, the material itself might be prone to the elements, but if the finish can hold up against the extremes, then you can count on that.

Safety, Safety, Safety

Safety is, of course, the other factor that you definitely don’t want to get wrong. Just because you will be using your equipment outside isn’t to say you can compromise on this one.
If anything, it’s here that you need to be keener on that since you don’t have a way of restricting access for others and kids as you would with a home gym that you can lock up.
And while at it, also remember to set up your equipment for the best and safest form when working out. You could easily risk an injury to yourself and/or others if the setup for your outdoor workout equipment isn’t well planned and executed.

Check for the Best Customizability

Whether you are considering setting up outdoor exercise equipment in public parks or tight backyard space, you need to get the best of the best.
The equipment you choose should be ideal for use in different settings.

But the most important bit of all is figuring out what you want out of your gym equipment. Some will work better for whole-body workouts, while others are better suited for targeting particular sections.

However, if you can get one that doubles for more than one workout, then go for it!

Outdoor Exercise Equipment for Adults

If you think outdoor fun is all about child play, you are wrong. Even adults can burn fat, shred those extra calories, and build up muscles with just outdoor exercise.
I have already mentioned some of the perks that come with exercising in the open, but even then, without the right equipment, your efforts are bound to stall.
For those considering taking outdoor workouts to a whole new level, here are a few must-haves.

Power Towers

For a well-rounded piece of equipment that will allow you to work the different parts of the body, check out power towers. These simple yet efficient machines will push you to the limit with one move after another…the options here are endless.

I have tried several of these myself, but I got hooked on two of the best.

RELIFE REBUILD YOUR LIFE Power Tower Workout Dip Station

This Relife workout dip station is one of the best value for the money options you can get out there when it comes to power towers.
Its steel material makes it the go-to equipment for strength and durability, strong enough to support a whopping 330 pounds.

The stability of your equipment is very vital to convenience, and even more importantly for safety, too. Thankfully, this unit is built with the need for that in mind, so it comes equipped with suction cups at the bottom, which give it solid contact with the ground.
This goes the distance to keep your tower solidly grounded and safe for use.

Still, on safety, you have a locknut that helps keep the nut in place if the tower vibrates, which is very unlikely anyway.
Flexibility shouldn’t be a concern either, as this tower has up to 9 height level adjustments and 4 backrest adjustments, which allows just about everyone in the family to use it with convenience.

Then there are the different types of exercises that you can do, which is a pretty long list by the way. But the ones I always find most impressive are the pushups, hip lifts, as well as lower-leg lines.
You can work the whole of your body with these; working the arms, chest, back, waist, and leg muscles.

The only gripe with this one is the weight. At 59” by 35.4” by 29.8” and weighing up to 60 pounds, it can be a bit hefty to move around with ease, but if you can install it then it’s worth every single penny.

Weider Power Tower with 4 Workout Stations and 300 Lb. User Capacity

While this Weider power tower is just as cool as the one we’ve looked at above, it has one cool side – it is slightly cheaper by about $20. So if you are shopping for outdoor exercise on a stretched budget and looking to save every penny possible, then go with this one.

The slightly lower price doesn’t come at the expense of quality; however, as this power tower also boasts a robust construction for the best performance and durability.
It’s no wonder then, that this tower can support users with up to 300-pound weight.
Comfort has been taken care of thanks to the ergonomic padding on the back, handgrips, as well as elbow padding.
Looking for versatility? You have found it!

This machine allows you to pull off a wide array of exercises; from knee raises to tricep dips to pull-ups and much more, allowing you to work the core as well as both upper and lower body.

Adjustable Dumbbells

From the massive power towers to the masters of flexibility — the adjustable dumbbells.

These nice little pieces of equipment allow you to do a myriad of exercises and target different muscles in your body. And yeah, they are perfect for both outdoor and indoor use since you can carry them to and fro with much ease.

Just be careful when moving these bastards, most of them are particularly brittle and could easily snap a lock somewhere in there if roughly handled or dropped.
Now, not every adjustable dumbbell set out there is going to suit your needs as you want.
Knowing too well how difficult it can get to find a good set, I shared with you some of the ones I’ve used and found to be the most efficient, easy to use, and super fun to work.

Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells

It’s very unlikely to find any dedicated fitness fanatics out there who don’t own a pair of these. And even the rookies hop on them quite early on when getting their fitness journey on track.
A glance at the reviews shows that this is one of the most commonly used adjustable dumbbells in the fitness space. But why is it so popular?
Just like most other dumbbells in its tier, this pair allows you to switch the weights with ease, and fast enough too – the turn of a dial is all it takes and you can be on your next workout in a matter of seconds.

You can choose any weight from 5 pounds to 52.5 pounds and everything in between. Of course, that means you have to work with several increment weights, which are quite flexible too, with the option to up the ante by a minuscule 2.5 or a muscle crushing 25 pounds.

If you don’t have much space inside, which could as well be the reason you are taking the fun outside, then this set will help with that, as having just this pair means you can replace that clunky 15 sets of dumbbells. Talk about a real space saver.

So, how far can you go with these in terms of versatility? Well, pretty far actually, as you can do up to more than 30 exercises. Anything from back exercises, leg exercises as well as chest exercises goes; it’s up to you to decide how deep you want to dig.

The only catch here is the weight though, although this pair can be compact enough to handle, each one weighs up to 52.5 pounds. So yeah, it seems just bringing them out and taking them back is going to be quite a workout too.

Yes4All Adjustable Dumbbells 40, 50, 52.5, 60, 105 to 200 lbs

For those in need of a pair of dumbbells that pushes you even further, this Yes4All Adjustable Dumbbells set will suit you better.
With the weight range from 105 pounds to 200 pounds, it gives you about twice as much as you get with the option we’ve listed above. That’s more burst right there, more muscle mass.

Made of cast iron, you can bet this pair will fair just nicely against the elements, and you’d be right to think so. That said; still make sure to take good care of your dumbbells. You don’t want to drop these from several feet. While the weights themselves might be resilient, the delicate locking mechanisms aren’t.
Strengths and weaknesses aside, let’s look at the ease of use. This turns out to be the other aspect that makes these dumbbells a cool choice, especially with the star-lock collars for easy changing of the weight plates.

And there’s something even more interesting about them – threaded ends are great for safety during use too, a big plus it is! And while still at it, you will hardly miss the textured chrome handle, which guarantees a secure, non-slip, firm grip.

The weights are cut out into different sizes, with eight plates at 5 pounds, two plates at 2.5 pounds, two more at 2.5 pounds, and two collars. All the plates feature rust and corrosion-resistant black paint for enhanced durability.

The collars are just as impressive, with loose-resistant rubber trims as well as screws that help keep everything in place.
Measuring just 15” by 12.5” by 4 inches, it’s one of the most compact pairs of dumbbells you can lay your hands on, which helps a great deal with ease of storage.
With a set of dumbbells so flexible and efficient, there’s virtually no limit to the number of exercises you can do with these, your call!

Portable Punching Bags

What good would a workout session be without a punching bag to throw some hard punches at? There is a common misconception that punching bags are best suited for boxing, MMA, and martial artists.

Punching bags are ideal for just about all fitness goals and some of them make for a nice addition to your outdoor gym setup.
But there’s one thing you need to keep in mind here, a heavy punching bag might not be very practical for this kind of use. Otherwise, you will have to leave it in the outdoors or have to bear with the grueling task of setting it up and taking it down every time you want to work out outside.

The only way around this is getting a freestanding one, which you can move with ease, and or empty and fill up as needed.
Now, which freestanding bag is good for your outdoor exercise? That’s what we are getting into next!

Everlast Powercore Bag

This punching bag is one of the most popular punching bags on the market, for good reasons.
The quality speaks for itself, with top-notch material and a solid construction making it tough and durable yet still fun to use.
While most of the specs here are above par, none more so than the air-foam chamber, which gives you that realistic feel during your workout.

Then you have the Powercore ring, which absorbs impact very well, allowing your bag to suck up those punches and kicks like a champ. This also helps with keeping the base movement as well as sliding as minimal as possible.

Flexibility comes in different ways when using this bag. The first and most impressive of all is the adjustable height, which you can set at 54” or 65” depending on your height.
The base can be filled with either water or sand, which is also cool since if you want it to be 250 pounds, you can fill it with water, and if you like it heavier at 370 pounds, then you should go for sand.

A heavier base means a sturdier bag that can withstand powerful punches, while the lighter one will better suit beginners and petite users.
The best part by far is the ease of movement, which allows you to move your bag indoors and outdoors as needed, making for a handy addition to your outdoor exercise arsenal.

Punching Bag with Stand, boxing bag for Teens & Adults

You don’t have to dish out a significant chunk of money to land a good punching bag, and rightfully so, since the market has some great options as this bang for the buck bag.
Now, the fact that it is very affordable doesn’t mean you get a piece of crap, far from it.
This punching bag has just about everything you need for one heck of a workout, including the adjustable height, which allows you to set it at 48” or 58” to match your height. This makes it ideal for everyone from novice teens to seasoned adults.

The spring-loaded shaft is not just adjustable, it also helps the bag swing back into position easily after each blow, which feels fun and convenient when using it.
Its durable base gives you lasting performance and resilience stability even when the blows fly like crazy, it would take a ton of force to down this thing!
Setting it up and taking it down can’t get any easier, especially with the inflatable design making it a breeze to blow up or deflate. But that’s just part of it; the coolest thing yet is how realistic the bag feels since it absorbs blows better while still being easy on your knuckles.

Above all the cool bits are the other cool benefits that you can get with this punching bag. These include everything from the workout to stress and tension relief, honing your reflexes and speed, as well as enhancing hand-eye coordination.

DIY Outdoor Exercise Equipment

While all these options are awesome for those who want to up their outdoor exercise experience, some of them can be a bit costly, actually, most of them.
And if you have a way with tools, then you can go the DIY route and build some cool outdoor exercise equipment. But before we get ahead of ourselves on this, it’s important to keep in mind that you can’t build just any outdoor exercise equipment that comes to mind. Some are way too complicated even for the DIY freaks.
So, what are some of the outdoor gear that you can put together and put those muscles to the test?

The Pull-up Bar

A pull-up bar is one of the simplest workout equipment that you can build yourself at home, yet among the most effective for working your core, back, arms and chest.
The best part by far is, well, you can do a myriad of exercises with a pull-up bar so you can work several parts of the body or a combination of several of them.
Just be sure to make it as solid as it can get; you don’t want to be doing theatrics on a wobbly or a poorly built pull-up bar; unless you want a direct ticket to injury.

Tire and Sledgehammer

This one is not only super easy to build, but it also shouldn’t cost you much either. All you need is a sledgehammer, and of course, a tire.
Tires are usually readily available, you can even get one at the local tire yard for very cheap (say $10?) if not for free. After all, you don’t need a new one; even that beat-up tire should work just fine.

For the sledgehammer, you shouldn’t spend more than a measly $20 to $40 at most, and you will be all set for the build.

How About a Sandbag

All the strength-training freaks out there, this one’s for you! And yeah, it’s effortless to build. Just fill a bag with sand and you’re all set. While this works pretty much like a kettlebell, the sand inside the bag keeps shifting around, making it harder to lift and control.

That’s the secret behind it, that’s where the workout is.

Besides, it’s not just easy to build; it could save you a lot on expenses as well. All you need is the sand, a rope, tape, and a laundry bag or something similar. But at most, you shouldn’t have to part with more than $30 tops.

Go for More…

These aren’t the only DIY outdoor gym equipment you can come up with; throw in a bit of ingenuity and there’s almost no limit to what you can build;

• Workout bench
• Obstacle course
• Farmers walk bars
• Kettlebells
• Suspension traps
• Battle ropes, etc

The Takeaway

As y’all have seen, whether you have to invest in a piece of equipment for outdoor exercise, or build one yourself, things don’t have to be too complicated to wrap your head around here.
Even for those looking to invest in commercial outdoor exercise equipment, finding the right options out there doesn’t have to be a daunting task.
And yeah, these can be very rewarding, you won’t believe the number of people who want to exercise in the open but don’t have enough space in the backyard for an outdoor home gym.
Now that you’ve got all you need, it’s time to take the gym outside and work out in the open where you don’t have to sweat within the first two reps. You will definitely notice the difference!