17 Outdoor Exercise Ideas Without Equipment


There are several outdoor exercise ideas you can do without equipment.

The ‘key’ to a well devised outdoor exercise idea is to concentrate on bodyweight exercises and cardio.

If there is a park nearby, you can use the crossbars of the equipment to enhance your workout.

Nowadays, there are also exercise locations along jogging trails that can give you good locations for pushing and pulling.

Find a football stadium, swim in a pool, or grab a partner for some hopscotch.

Some of the best outdoor exercise ideas are not only going to give you a great workout, but allow you to have some fun as well.

So, without further ado, let’s get in to the 17 outdoor exercise ideas you can do without equipment.

Outdoor Exercise Ideas Without Equipment

1. Bodyweight Workout or Yoga

One of the best ways to get your workout in outdoors without equipment is with a bodyweight workout or Yoga.


Engage in some challenging lunges, pushups, and sit-ups.

Pick up the pace with some squat jumps, crossover crunches, and challenging burpees.

Follow your your workout with some challenging holds and stretching.

Try the chair, dolphin, or eagle pose on your next yoga encounter.

A bodyweight workout or Yoga is a great form of exercise without equipment.

2. Stadium Stair Climbing


Do you know of a vacant high school or middle school football stadium nearby?

Try running some stairs.

This is a great way to work your quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves.

Stadium stair climbers are going to be the one of the the hardest workouts you’ve ever done.

3. Wind Sprints

Favorite outdoor exercise activity of mine is the wind sprint.

Find a field or a track and either run with the wind or against the wind.

This will not only give you a great workout but challenge your leg muscles, heart and lung capacity.

4. Plyometrics

A perfect outdoor exercise idea you can do without equipment is a challenging set of plyometric exercises.

Knee raises, butt kickers, side to side shuffles, and broad jumps Are all great plyometric exercises that you can do outside on a sunny day.

These exercises will increase your power, agility, and strength.

5. Park Pole Push-Pulls

It’s challenging to work the lats without a pole to pull on.

Go to the park, find a pole and do your pushups, pull-ups and rows.

You can also use the pole to assist you in doing your squats and lunges.

6. Swim Laps

Another great outdoor activity you can do without equipment is swimming laps in a pool.

Swimming is extremely challenging for the musculature, heart, and lungs of the body.

So, find a pool, get a summer swim pass and get to exercising.

7. Running for Distance

One outdoor exercise idea only requires a pair of running shoes.

Run around your neighborhood, find a trail, or join the next 5k or Spartan Race.

Running is the perfect way to get in shape, increase your cardio, improve brain health, and decrease your chance of many detrimental diseases.

8. Events like the Tough Mudder or Warrior Dash

If you like competition you might as well join a tough mudder or warrior dash.

These unique outdoor exercise activities only require you to show up.

Grab a friend and join in on one of these great exercise competitions.

9. Jumping Jacks

One of the simplest outdoor exercise ideas you can do without equipment is jumping jacks.

You don’t even need a pair of shoes just find some grass and start exercising.

Jumping jacks are great for increasing endurance. They are also great for working your legs and shoulders.

10. Wrestling

One exercise that is often more strenuous than you think is wrestling.

Grab a friend and engage in this challenging full body workout.

 This one is especially good for those that are younger and have a lot of energy.

11. Tag or Hopscotch

Go back to your childhood and engage in a fun game like tag or hopscotch.

Play along with your kids.

A simple outdoor game like this will stress your body more than you think.

12. Hike a Mountain

One outdoor exercise you don’t need equipment for is hiking a mountain.

All you need is a good pair of hiking boots, some water, and a little bit of will power to make it to the top.

Get a group and go find a hidden pond, waterfall or stream somewhere high in the mountains.

13. Try Parkour

A new outdoor exercise idea that you may think about trying is Parkour.

This challenging sport will get you running and jumping in ways and places you never thought were possible.

Just remember to keep it safe, wear a helmet, and enjoy throwing yourself around in crazy ways.

14. Chase Your Children Around the Park

A simple, yet effective and fun outdoor exercise idea can be something as simple as chasing your kids around the park.

Park equipment is often sturdy enough for adults to climb.

Run up the ladders, slide down the slides, go across the monkey bars and bring out the younger you that you once knew.

15. Run on the Beach

A challenging outdoor exercise idea is running on the beach.

Many professional athletes do this in the offseason.

This can be one of the toughest workouts for your body and requires great effort from both your mind and body.

16. Do a Water Workout

Not only can you get a workout by swimming laps in a pool, but you can also do exercises that challenge your entire body.

Do squat jumps, chest flies, reverse flies, lunge jumps, and shoulder raises.

These can all be done underwater using your body or hands as the resistance.

17. Karate or Jiujitsu

The last outdoor exercise idea you can do without equipment is Karate or Jiujitsu.

Make your workout fun and work on your attacks, your defensive maneuvers, and your escapes, all in the crisp air and under the sun.

Karate of Jiujitsu is a challenging workout for you mind and body alike.

Summary: Outdoor Exercise Ideas Without Equipment

Some of the best outdoor exercise ideas without equipment are going to be those you can do with a friend. Pick things that will not only challenge your muscles but will give you a tough cardio workout as well. Find a suitable location for your exercise whether it be a park, beach or mountain. There are exercise opportunities for everybody. You just need to be willing to put in the time and effort and engage in something you enjoy. The outdoors is the perfect place for increasing your mood, energy and getting you in great shape along the way.

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