Getting involved in a new exercise regimen can be an expensive undertaking, but thankfully the Internet has plenty of ideas for great accessible fitness hacks. You don't need to buy every single piece of expensive gear when you're starting out or as your equipment deteriorates, for much of it can be made by you from bits and pieces around your very own home.
If you need a handy way to transport your yoga mat, why not try knotting up your own from a lengthy piece of rope? If you're into cycling all season long, try wrapping cable ties around your tires to help them grip after an overnight snowfall. A particularly clever solution to homemade dumbbells comes from custom caps with handles that connect to standard plastic water bottles. These fitness hacks demonstrate that designers and consumers are getting crafty about making cheap athletic equipment and sporting accessories. This may be reflective in the rising prices of workout products and gym memberships––a note to retailers that many customers would rather be resourceful.
10 Affordable Fitness Hacks
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DIY Snow Tires
The Zip Tie Snow Tires Make Biking in Winter a Cinch
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Recycled Deck Surfboards
The Bjorn Holm Reto Creates Waves with His Design
8
Water Bottle Weights
The PETball Turns Any Plastic Canteen Into an Instant Dumbbell
7
DIY Wearable Tech Kits
The WaRPboard Platform by Freescale is Being Demoed at CES 2014
6
Backyard DIY Skate Parks
The OC Ramps Half Pipe Ramp Brings The Skate Park to You
5
DIY Mat Straps
This Creative Macramé Yoga Mat Strap Can Be Easily Made By Yourself at Home
4
Guided Yoga Apps
The FitStar Yoga App Includes Short Guided Videos Get You Flexible Fast
3
Bicycle-Sharing Sites
Spinlister's Bike Rental Service Makes Eco-Transportation Accessible
2
DIY Disco Surfboards
This Honestly WTF DIY Helps You Create a Shiny Surfboard
1
Makeshift Olympic Backyards
This Long Island Unlce Created a Backyard Luge Track for His Family
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Sun-Soaked Surfing Snapshots
The Jessica Hart Free People January 2012 Collection Gets Super Hot
Recycled Skateboard Shades
Holloway SK8 Sunglasses are Decked-out Frames
Homemade Plant Hangers
This Natural-Looking Decorative DIY Plant Holder is for Hanging Houseplants
Wearable Tech Glasses
The Lumus DK-40 Will be Google Glasses’ Biggest Competitor in 2014
Skateboard-Recycled Cases
The Grove Made MapleXO iPhone Cases are Made for Skaters
Cumulus Watering Accessories
Make It Rain on Your Plants with the Rainmaker Plant Watering Cloud
Dressy Data-Storing Accessories
The USBowtie is a Dapper Piece of Memory Stick Jewelry
Water-Friendly Vehicles
The Fiat 500 Boat Performs on Both Land and Sea
Skate Park Editorials
The ELLE Hungary August 2013 Photoshoot Stars a Sporty Chic Kate Kondas
Railz Conversion Kit For Your Board
Carry-on Customizing Crafts
This DIY Luggage Tag Will Help You Distinguish Your Suitcase
Bird-Flipping Board Sculptures (UPDATE)
The Newest Haroshi Installation is Very in-Your-Face
String-Light Cycles
Shelby Tanner's Illuminated Bicycle is Perfect for Night Riding
Transparent Water Branding
Tundra Packaging Shows the Product's Purity with a See-Through Image
Acid Denim Kicks
The Vans Denim Classic Collection is Rad
Recycled Skateboard Art
The Skate and Destroy Sculpture Exhibit Finds Beauty in the Broken
Office Stretching Apps
Take a Yoga Break by Suzan Colon Encourages a Healthier Work Life
Three-Wheeled Conversion Kits
The Triblean Tricycle Kit Turns Your Bike into a Three-Wheel Beast
Undressed Beverage Branding
Naked Water Packaging Has Been Kept Bare of Labels and Images
Tap-Like Water Bottles
The Sismo Tap Water Bottle Looks Similar to a Faucet
Backyard DIY Skate Parks
The OC Ramps Half Pipe Ramp Brings The Skate Park to You
Luxurious Location Rentals
This Airbnb Style Event Space Rental Platform Focuses on Unique Venues
Faux Glass Bottles
The Design of This Mineral Water Bottle Mimics a Nostalgic Glass Shape
Speedy Racer Bikes
The Montante for Maserati Bike Pays Tribute to the Maserati 8CTF
DIY Wind Chimes
Make Your Own Music with This Peace-Making Musical Craft From Free People
Skateboard Deck Statues (UPDATE)
These Haroshi Wooden Sculptures are Artful and Intricate
Luminously Patterned Dresses
The Lume Collection by Elizabeth Bigger Glows Stylishly
Triangular Driftwood Decorations
This Crystal-Carrying DIY Dreamcatcher Comes From Free People
Phone Yoga Ads
Zin Cleverly Acknowledges the iPhone Bendgate Issues
Non-Profit Skater Goods
The Good Wood 'Skateboard Art Exhibition' Benefit Skate Park
Holistic Health Scheduling Apps
The Owaves Wellness Calendar Helps You Plan a Balanced Day
Updated Health-Tracking Accessories
New Features Make the 'Jawbone Up 24' a Must-Have This Christm
Lightweight Water Bottles
EPAL's Reusable Water Bottle is Made of 100% Recyclable PET
Adventurous Eco Bicycles
The E-Bike Summer Life is a Truly Adventurous Two-Wheeler
Clothing-Inspired Musical Instruments
DrumPants is a Wearable Instrument You Can Play Anywhere
Protruding Window Architecture
The Shipara Office Building Slopes Like a Vertical Skate Park
Backyard Ice Forts
Redditor UnspeakableFilth Made the Best of the Cold Weather with an Ice Fort
Motion-Controlled Channel Surfing
The PointGrab AirTouch Turned Heads at CES 2014
Retro Surfing Books
'California Surfing and Climbing in the Fifties' Chronicles a Golden Era
Artistic Yoga Accessories
The Grey Area Yoga Mats are Fit for the Healthy Design Lover
Business Travel Rental Services
Airbnb's Business Travel Rentals Cater to Those Who Travel & Work
Retro Ski Cars
A Nash Metropolitan Gets Converted Into an Auto-Sleigh
Wearable Tech Rentals
Lumoid Lets You Test Drive with Their New Wearable Gear Rental Services
Notification-Providing Wigs
Sony's SmartWig is a Smartphone Lodged in Your Hair
Exceptionally Crafted Sleds
Kringle Sleigh is Beautifully Designed to Balance Function and Fantasy
Eco Bike Chargers
The i-Green Concept Juices Up Your Gadgets While Cycling
Neon Night-Surf Stunts
The Strongbow 'Welcome Summer' Campaign Celebrates Solstice at Bondi Beach
Handy Bottle Hooks
A Tweak to the Plastic Cap Would Enable Consumers to Easily Tote Canteens
Live Tannenbaum Rentals
The Living Christmas Co. Rents Out Live Christmas Trees
Cardboard Sci-Fi Sleds
The AT-AT Sled is Perfect for DIY Jedis
Wellness Retreat Simulation Games
The Yoga Retreat Game App Provides Real World Wellness Tips
Footwear Container Speakers
The Reebok FitList Shoebox Celebrates Its Partnership with Spotify
Thermal Surfwear Collections
This Cold Weather Surf Clothing Protects from Harsh Elements
Festive Sweater Rentals
Rent the Runway Lets You Rent an Ugly Holiday Sweater for Christmas
Wearable Air Conditioners
The Wristify Bracelet Allows People to Control their Body Temperature
Offices for Skaters
Old Movie Theatre Converted to Giant Bowl Workspace for Comvert
Travelling Yoga Apps
Lululemon's 'Om-Finder' App is Made for On-the-Go Movement Enthusiasts
Social Media Toilet Rentals
The AirWC App is a Spoof on Airbnb and the Sharing Economy
Interactive-Integrated Bikes
Be Guided by Your iPhone With the Encycle Concept
DIY Hanging Hemp Lighting
This Beaded Macrame Light Fixture Makes For a Summery Craft Project
Flat-Pack Xmas Bonuses
Despite Economic Recession, IKEA Bikes Go to 12,400 US Employees
Springing Stunt Scooters
JumpX Kick Scooters Make for Super High Leaps and Bounds
Camping Gear Rentals
GearCommons is a Network Where You Can Rent Outdoor Equipment as Needed
Albino Two-Wheelers
The Look & Lacoste Bicycle is Fashionably Pale
Imagined Urban Olympic Venues
New York Winter Olympic Venues are Imaginatively Impossible
Faux Vintage Jeans
Citizens of Humanity's Premium Vintage Denim Mimics The Real Thing
Hair Extension Rental Services
The Nelson j Salon Offers a More Affordable Alternative
Artisitcally Modern Wave Riders
These Asymmetric Surfboards are Cool and Contemporary
Super-Soaking Bottle Caps
The Aquabot Replacement Cap Turns Water Bottles into Water Cannons
Olympian-Led Skate Lessons
The Waldorf Astoria Park City Hosts Private Skates with Patrick Me
Handbag-Inspired Yoga Bags
The RoZCoo Ahimsa
Mountain-Climbing Skateboard Shoes
White Mountaineering Slip-Ons Are Fit for the Alps, Or a Skate
One-for-One Exercise Totes
'Babar's Yoga for Elephants' by Out of Print is Made in the USA
Brainwave-Controlled Cameras
Neurocam is a Hands Free Camera that Uses Brain Activity
Assistive Yoga Mats
This Hi-Tech and Smart Yoga Mat is Like Your Own Personal Yoga Guide
Vibrant Surfing Suits
Neon's Wetsuit Designs Can be Customized with Different Colors
Sanctuary-Seeking Apps
The ‘Breather’ App Finds You Reprieve from Urban Life
Adventurous All-Terrain Dirt Bikes
Take on Icy Adventures with This New Snow Dirt Bike Kit
Expanding Emergency Canteens
The Water Spider Supplies Clean Water to Trapped Earthquake Victims
Extreme Ski Practice Videos
James Webb Films Stunts for 'Rail Jam' with a Sony Action Cam
Iconic Automobile Brand Bobsleds
The BMW Bobsled is Just In Time for The Winter Olympics
Farmland Skate Parks
The Dan Mizicko 'Skate Harvest' Video Peers at Ohio's Cool Kids
Municipal Equipment Trading
MuniRent Allows for Equipment Rentals Between Local Governments
Cleverly Convenient Carriers
The Quirky Core Yoga Mat Stores Your Keys and Water Bottle
Water-Resistant Wetsuit Carriers
This Wetsuit Bag Will Keep Your Dry Things from Getting Soaked
Emoticon Holiday Browser Plugins
12 Days of Emoji Injects Emoticons into Your Internet Surfing
O.C. Urban Streetwear Surfboards
Shawn Stussy S/Double Expands the Brand to the World of Surfing
Surfer Cleansing Sets
The Surfboard Grooming Kit Ensures Optimal Wave Catching