It’s officially spring, and for those who made it their New Year’s resolution to spend more time at the gym, like I did, this time of year is when it gets less crowded, since fewer new gym people are still going. This means there’s less pressure to rush off a machine because a line of people is waiting to use it. With that extra time, I’m also maximising my time at the gym to improve my health and getting in some gaming.

Thanks to improvements in both handheld gaming and cloud streaming, you can play practically any game you can think of away from home on your phone or on slightly bigger devices. So what better way to take advantage of this tech than to use it to help pass the time at the one activity everyone needs more of: exercise.

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Cloud gaming vs. handhelds

There are two options for playing games at the gym: cloud streaming and handheld gaming consoles. The advantage of streaming games is that all you need is your phone, although some sort of gamepad is ideal, since touch controls are not ideal for playing a complex game like Cyberpunk 2077. However, there is an issue with the internet speed. 

Cloud gaming requires a minimum speed to play smoothly, and depending on your carrier and location, that might not be available. Many gyms have their own Wi-Fi, but even then, it might not cover the whole area the same way, for example, if the lockers or some workout equipment are in a sublevel. 

If you’re going to go with cloud gaming, here are some controllers and other items to consider for optimum gaming. 

When it comes to mobile controllers, the Backbone One is hard to beat when looking for the balance of size and functionality. It handles the controls for any game, and it doesn’t take much space in your pocket. It’s also compatible with many phones, so it’ll be ready to go with the next phone you purchase.

While mobile controllers like the Backbone offer a solution to gaming on a phone, there are those people who just don’t like it for various reasons. If you’re one of those who simply want a controller, check out the 8BitDo PocketPro. It’s smaller than the standard game pads, making it easy to fit in your pocket, and yet it still has a full layout with dual analog sticks and trigger buttons. 

Also vital for streaming games is the actual subscription to the service. The primary game streaming services are Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PS Plus and GeForce Now. Those who own a PS5 or an Xbox Series console can also remote play their console via the internet using their respective apps. 

If you prefer a specialist handheld device while exercising, there are a few options from retro devices to more powerful handhelds that can play newer games. 

If retro gaming is more your style, the Analogue Pocket is a good pick. It’s shaped like the original Nintendo Game Boy, making it easy to put in your pocket while roaming around the gym. It can also play some of your favorite retro handheld games from different systems, including the Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Game Gear, Lynx and Neo Geo Pocket.

The Switch 2 is out, but many games are still coming out on the original Switch, which makes the Switch Lite the handheld that can play new games while still fitting in your pocket. 

While the above handhelds can easily fit in your pocket, if you decide to bring a larger device such as a Steam Deck, Xbox ROG Ally, PlayStation Portal or a Nintendo Switch 2, you should also consider a sling bag. The Genki Saya Carry, Bellroy Venture Sling and the Tomtoc sling bag are big enough to carry whichever handheld you choose, as well as other gym essentials such as water, gloves, wrist straps and headphones.

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What exercises are best for gaming? 

Commercial gyms have a lot of machines to choose from for cardio and weightlifting. If you want to play some games while you’re working up a sweat, here are some suggestions of machines to use: 

Exercise bike: An exercise bike is the go-to machine when you need your hands free. Just keep pedaling away as you finish up that one level on your handheld. A recumbent bike is especially good for this.

Treadmill: Gaming on a treadmill does have some caveats. The first is that you can’t be running. There’s just no way to put a controller in your hand while trying to run. Instead, if the workout plan for the day is a long walk on the treadmill, playing a game will help that time fly by. 

Another caveat is that you need a good sense of balance, as your hands won’t be holding onto anything other than a controller, and there’s no spot to brace yourself to stay stable. 

Stairclimber: For those who want a challenging gaming session, try to play while on the stair machine. It’s definitely doable as you can lean up against the machine to brace yourself, but it’ll be tough to concentrate on gaming as your quads start burning from all those stairs. 

Weightlifting: If you’re sitting down to lift weights, then yes, you have a perfect position to play some games, although it’s in short spurts. When lifting weights, it’s recommended to have a rest period of two to three minutes between sets for recovery. Most people just sit on their phones during this rest period, which makes it a great time to play a game. 

Just remember not to overdo it with your rest time, as it’ll waste your workout time and be inconsiderate to other gym-goers waiting to use the machine. A workout app that counts down your rest period or just has a stopwatch will keep your rest period time in check. If you do five different exercises with three sets each, you’re looking at 30 minutes of gaming time while you’re trying to make some muscle gains.

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