The AquaBells weigh less than a hardback book and are the perfect companion for business travellers, backpackers or anyone else who wants to keep up their gym routine when away from home. You simply fill them with water, attach them to the cushioned bars and then lift up to 7kg. They can even be filled with air and used as floats for water resistance training in the pool, if you’re super-keen.

Stockists: www.totallyfitness.co.uk

This no-frills dumb-bell set may look basic but it does everything you need it to, at an almost absurdly affordable price. It comes with 12 spare iron plates, at 0.5kg, 1.25kg and 2.5kg weights, which are easy to change and secure, and has well-gripped bars too.

Stockists: www.escaladesports.co.uk

Originally used by Russian Special Forces, Kettlebells are the current weight of choice in celeb-land with Sly Stallone, J.Lo and Penélope Cruz among their devotees. According to Kettlebells instructor Svetlana Writtle, ‘They can be used to juggle, spin, pass hand to hand and throw, and they have a fun factor not found in traditional strength training.’ They are also nearly indestructible and take up very little room.

Stockists: www.powerandbeauty.co.uk

This innovative dumb-bell system gives you all the benefits of 15 separate pairs of weights, but magically only takes up the space of one. It’s easy to use – you twist a dial to select the weight you want and then just pick it up – and with a weight range from 2kg to 21kg, it’s as good for beginners as it is for experienced users.

Stockists: www.bowflex.co.uk

If you’re worried that your bulging biceps don’t say loudly and clearly enough that you pump a lot of iron, you’d do well to invest in Marcy’s Hexagonal Set. This large display boasts ten pairs of high-quality dumb-bells, in weights ranging from 1kg to 10kg, and they’re thoughtfully coated in rubber to prevent damage to floors and other surfaces.

Stockists: www.escaladesports.co.uk