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We’ve reached the point of the year when, if you haven’t hit the trail by 8 a.m., you’re gambling with heat exhaustion. For most of the country, the UV reaches high or extreme levels by mid-morning and stays there for most of the day. Temps are also climbing, reaching record highs in some areas. These summertime days, we have to decide: Is it even safe to exercise outside right now?
Indoor workouts are a viable option to maintain fitness or build strength without compromising your health. You don’t need a gym; bodyweight or lightweight exercises at home can work wonders. We dug through our archives to find our best indoor workouts.
Get Trail Fit Indoors
Many hikers avoid hiking-specific workouts other than actually hiking. Those people are more likely get injured. Dial in your muscles with this indoors-focused training plan. “Stay sport-specific during indoor training, and you’ll be ready for the trail,” says Budd Coates, who trained countless hikers, runners, and cyclists over his tenure years as Rodale’s fitness director. The best way to do it? Get on the treadmill and stair climber. “These machines allow you to move the mountains inside.”
16 Exercises to Help You Train Like a Guide
Want to work out like a pro? Try this 16-exercise series, created by Bryan Pope of Earth Native Wilderness School. He recommends these exercises with high reps and low weight to build the strength and endurance of a mountain guide.
These 5 Upper-Body Exercises Are Perfect for Backpackers
Trail legs get all the hype, but a strong upper body means you’re more balanced and stable on rough terrain.
4 Ways to Build Lungs of Steel (Without Running!)
Even runners don’t want to run sometimes. Even though it’s the easiest way to improve your aerobic base, it’s not the only way to train cardio. These in-the-gym exercises offer low-impact alternatives.
The Home Gym Equipment Every Hiker Needs
Don’t want to pay for a monthly fee? You only need three pieces of gear to get a hiker-specific full-body workout, straight from the comfort of your own home.
3 Exercises to Train for Carrying Heavy Packs
Even ultralighters need to train to carry added weight on their pack. Prepare your muscles to handle it with these three exercises.
From 2025