Cardio machines for an outdoor gym ideally need to be electricity-free, so the options immediately reduce to a rower, spin bike, or a curved manual treadmill. Less options can make life simpler for the gym designer and for gym users in fact so focus on these items and buy from a quality brand if you want them to to last more than a couple of seasons.

A CrossFit or calisthenics style training rig for small groups. Made of steel, these need to be carefully treated for outdoor use and it always pays to opt for a quality manufacturer, if budget allows. Expect pull-up bars, dip bars, squat racks, monkey bars, and a range of other details. Nowadays, we look to integrate a storage component into our rigs as well.

Galvanized steel is used in outdoor gym equipment because its protective zinc coating prevents rust and corrosion, ensuring durability and resistance to weather damage. This extends the lifespan of the equipment, making it ideal for long-term use in varying outdoor conditions. We aim to specify all our outdoor fitness equipment with this treatment!

outdoor gyms need just as much storage as indoors, in fact we’d argue it is even more critical in an outdoor context as there is the added challenge of protecting the equipment when not in use, during bad weather, or if we are in the South African bush designing a safari lodge gym facility, making sure it isn’t eaten by passing leopards!

Health and safety always needs to be top of mind for nay gym designer or operator and outdoor gyms are no exception to that rule. Operating outdoors often means an unsupervised gym experience, with ‘cleaning’ happening at the end of each day to tidy up the equipment that will inevitably have been left strewn across the gym floor, in itself creating trip hazards. More maintenance checks and gentle nudges in the form of signage reminding clients to replace the equipment on the racks can be especially useful in such circumstances. Primarily though, it’s about getting the gym equipment storage right upfront so that everything has a place.

Similar to the Sparta Gym example above we created for Sani Resort in Greece, an obstacle course is both a fun alternative to an outdoor workout and a challenge that goes beyond the classic gym moves of squats, hinges, presses, pulls and core work. An obstacle course will require climbing, balancing, carrying, throwing, and yes perhaps a few burpees too.

Any combination of hard-wearing kettlebells and dumbbells, exercise benches, barbells, weight plates and functional training accessories such as rubber slam balls, battle ropes, skipping ropes and sandbags. Equipment made of wood will only work in certain climates / locations. When in doubt, go with oxidized stainless steel for rigs and racks. Optional upgrade to an all-wood solution similar to the Tulum Jungle gym set-up!

Options include rubber tiles (typically 50cm2 or 100cm2), wood decking, hard-packed gravel, artificial grass or sand. Each of these has its own pros and contras, not to mention sustainability credentials, but whatever option is chosen any fixed equipment or indeed cardio machines will need either installing with a 50cm3 concrete block for support (think vertical posts of a functional rig) or a solid concrete slab underneath them of 3-5cm width.

Any outdoor gym in a warm climate is going to need to consider the impact of the mid-summer sun. A shade structure can extend the (comfortable) operating hours of such a facility, whilst also protecting the equipment below to some extent. Options include canvas awnings or army camo nets, either way you’ll need to install some vertical posts firmly into the ground to serve as supports too.

Already the archetypal jungle gym concept - this is a true labour of love by an ex- Scottish military man who was determined to create a fun, social media friendly version of outdoor gyms. The only way to achieve what he has done is considerable investment in time, resource and money in order to perfect the bespoke equipment made of local hardwood or stone.

Even when all precautions have been taken, from safety flooring to the avoidance of heavy iron weights in favour of sandbags and so on, there will inevitably be accidents at some point so a customer waiver form for all gym users that is completed on their first visit helps to cover a business from any claims of damages if a gym client injures themselves while exercising. A preventive maintenance schedule focused on ensuring the equipment is all in regular working order, catching any weak spots before they turn into a hazard, is another useful strategy for a safety-conscious outdoor gym owner.

A Turkish equipment manufacturer with a growing profile in the Middle-East thanks to their all-wood constructions. Their range covers everything from entrance signage to dumbbells, squat racks and benches - all in hard wood. A realistic option for warm, dry climate locations such as the Middle-East or Southern Europe.