If you’re traveling by plane and don’t need to be dressed for any particular occasion upon arrival, don workout clothes. Simply being comfortable and not in stiff garb may prompt you to perform a light workout (like a brisk walk) at the airport rather than sit while waiting for your flight.
I move from city to city regularly enough for work. Often, I’m on the first flight out. Because I hate to rush, I usually get to the airport with time to kill. I have a myriad of options for how to use that time. If I’m in jeans and boots, I’m likely to sit and read or work (and crave snacks). If I’m in sweats and a T, I find myself walking, stretching, lunging (go ahead and laugh) and otherwise moving.
Airports are designed to make you spend exorbitant amounts of money on cheaply made, low quality food. Because you don’t have the option to leave, you’re trapped into grabbing snacks or premade crappy sandwiches. Candy and processed food is everywhere and the bars are plentiful for liquor consumption. The message is clear: purchase booze, mags and snacks, then sit still. In fairness, some airports are actually trying to assist our well being efforts. From the Wall Street Journal:
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and San Francisco International Airport both now offer free yoga rooms in terminals. Several airports, including Indianapolis, Cleveland, St. Louis and DFW, have laid out half-mile walking paths through terminals in conjunction with the American Heart Association, hoping to turn “mall walkers” into “terminal walkers. And many are pushing vendors to offer options that are lower in fat and calories—even writing healthy-food requirements into new leases.
This is good news, but y’all know we don’t lean on the outside world doing the work for us. Luckily, a walk is always well within reach. That’s all we really need to change an otherwise unhealthy day into a physically productive one. From Harvard Health:
Walking is an automatic, intrinsic human function, and it serves many practical roles. Strange as it seems, though, modern man appears determined to walk as little as possible…And it’s not just a question of walking for transportation; moving walkways whisk us through airports, and elevators and escalators lure many able-bodied men away from stairways…Walking doesn’t get the respect it deserves, either for its health benefits, its value for transportation, or its role in recreation.
Need another reason to be in flexible gear? I’ve got you. It’s especially difficult for most folks to get a regular workout in on travel days. You leave the house at the crack of dawn and are beat when you land in your destination city. How are you to train at that point, particularly if you’re rocking slacks or a dress? Inspiration to hit the workout room at the hotel before showering up is easier if you’re already dressed for the occasion.
Leaving the house in workout gear sets the tone. The mindset is clear: I’m going to take care of myself today; I’m committed to landing in my next city feeling strong in mind, body and spirit. I generally don’t believe the clothes make the man (or woman), but in this case they can make the day.
Row nine, seat F, now standing to stretch,
Kap
Shaun says
I pack a small foam roller and resistance bands in my carry on. There’s almost always a terminal that has open space in it that you can do a quick workout out in peace – and you also have some stuff to get by if where you’re staying does not have a gym or park nearby.
Gabe Kapler says
Dig that, Shaun.
RealTimeRick says
Reminds me of a co-worker (in the pre-TSA distant past), who travelled from San Diego to South Carolina in sweats…. without his wallet (including his ID and car keys). I met him at the airport, was his chauffeur and paid his hotel bill. Can’t remember how he was able to get home. It WAS a long time ago!
Gabe Kapler says
Thanks for adding value, RTR.
Gavin says
No doubt. Don’t concede to the lazy, stressed, price-gouging culture of those places. The herd mentality is never more apparent than at any airport. Worthy of its own psychology class. The privilege to link to most places in the world within a matter of hours is incredible. Don’t let the process of it beat you down. Don’t chase that stuff that the place/people/process throws well off the plate.
Gabe Kapler says
Really like this take, Gavin. Thank you.
Duane says
When I had to travel I always took my weighted jump rope. Its a damn good workout.
Chester says
Agreed
Gabe Kapler says
Indeed.
Michelle W. says
I’m not sure how to feel about this! A part of me is absolutely in agreement. I tend to wear my yoga gear when I travel, it’s comfy and I am more likely to be more active. On the other hand my brother is a pilot and I have friends who have been or are flight attendents…and they have a different set of ideas about what people should wear when they travel. I know I’ll stick with what I’ve been doing, but I can see their point.
Bryan says
Can you elaborate on what your brother and your friends recommend?
Gabe Kapler says
No rules, Michelle. Appreciate you brining a different perspective.
Chester says
Usually carry a jump rope; sometimes elastic bands. In a hotel I jump in the room or in the stairwell. Jumping rope is full body if you engage properly. A personal trainer I know once told me that if more people jumped rope regularly, there would be less personal trainers.
Duane says
Gotta love the jump rope! Easy to carry and easy to do!
David says
Went to Vegas for a convention and the hotel charge for access to the gym was around $30 a day. I said “forget that”!! My hotel had 30 or 35 floors, so, I just ran up and down those stairs everyday. There was not one soul in that stairwell….great workout!!
Gabe Kapler says
Resourcefulness inspires me, David.
kbeyazdancer says
I like to travel in my yoga gear when i travel because that’s usually the first thing I do when i get to my hotel room. I also get my exercise in by parking in what father called “no ding zones”. Those are the parking spots so damn far away, you are likely not to get clipped my anyone because no one else is parking that far away. I used to complain about that as a child but now I welcome the exercise. Plus it is less stressful than circling and re-circling to find a close up spot. Just park and walk (walk a lot). But it’s all gravy baby!
-Have a Good Tuesday Love!
Kelebek
Gabe Kapler says
Like the parking lot move, Kelebek.
Michelle W says
It’s bit old school, but they think people should dress a little nicer for flights. Nothing like it was when people first started flying commercially (like it was an event and dressed to the nines) but no sweatpants, pajamas, or ripped workout stuff. Yoga gear is borderline because it can be dressed up a bit. When my brother travels he’ll wear dressier jeans and a button up shirt at minimum. More a relaxed business casual maybe. The flight attendents have the same kind of take. But they are in the business and can potentially represent their company even travelling off the clock. Makes it a little different.
Michelle W says
It’s bit old school, but they think people should dress a little nicer for flights. Nothing like it was when people first started flying commercially (like it was an event and dressed to the nines) but no sweatpants, pajamas, or ripped workout stuff. Yoga gear is borderline because it can be dressed up a bit. When my brother travels he’ll wear dressier jeans and a button up shirt at minimum. More a relaxed business casual maybe. The flight attendents have the same kind of take. But they are in the business and can potentially represent their company even travelling off the clock. Makes it a little different.
Kristen E. says
I completely agree. Last week I went to Aruba and was on the first flight there. I met up with friends when I arrived at the resort and only had time to get in a quick workout before dinner. It was the worst workout I have had in a long time. Better then nothing though
Gabe Kapler says
A bad workout beats no workout 10 times out of 10. Thank you, Kristen.
BoojieMaw says
Kap – Do you dig out your color coordinated track suit when you travel? 🙂
Gabe Kapler says
Absolutely (wink).
Michelle says
I travel frequently and see some of the same people…always admire the women in 4″ heels and business suits appearing to be as at ease as the sweats-wearing crowd.
Unrelated, I like the first flight out no matter where I’m going so if it’s not a planned off day, I train at 3am…afterwards never happens
Gabe Kapler says
4″ heels on an airplane seem necessary.
M.squared says
Side-bar here.. Is it only me or are others amazed at the lack of gyms in hotels these days (3 treadmills and a mirror does not count)
I travel to Chicago often and it is a damn struggle to find a place that even has a chin-up an dip bar… The blank response I get when I call hotels to inquire is down-right amazing.
I have been successful in finding some go-to’s… But all-in-all, this is a huge gap in the hotel/travel industry.
In the absence of a gym, one thing I can suggest is a set of TRX cables.
They can attach to any door and won’t weigh down your bag.
Read you mañana.
Gabe Kapler says
Definitely not only you, my friend. I rarely use a hotel gym. Yelp is my friend.
~Al~ says
Hypercolor shirt and Zubaz pants makes me the envy of all travelers.
~Al~
Gabe Kapler says
Of course, Al.
Kelly says
We were the clueless baseball people who sat next to you in row nine. Can definitely attest to your workout gear and the cooler filled with healthy foods you carried on. Despite our lack of love for baseball… I do love blogs about fitness, life, food and travel! Glad I found this and will be following!