Strava has joined the year-in-review trend by releasing its 12th annual Year in Sport Trend Report this week. The popular fitness social media app, now boasting a community of over 180 million users worldwide, has provided a comprehensive look at how its users engaged in physical activities throughout 2025. The report reveals that dedicated fitness enthusiasts logged an impressive hour of activity for every two minutes spent on the app.
This development follows the trend seen in Garmin’s Year in Review, offering a detailed analysis of user data. Strava’s report highlights the increasing influence of Gen Z, who are not only driving the running boom but are also becoming a highly active demographic across various sports and fitness activities.
Gen Z: The New Fitness Vanguard
According to Strava’s data, Gen Z is the generation to watch, as they are significantly more engaged in races, gym sessions, and fitness spending compared to older age groups. This younger cohort is leaning heavily into structured fitness activities, setting the pace for others to follow.
Running remains the most popular sport on Strava, but the surprise of 2025 is the rise of walking, which climbed to the second spot, surpassing biking, hiking, weight training, and general workouts. This aligns with broader fitness trends where walking is viewed as an accessible entry point into structured fitness and activity tracking.
Top Sports on Strava in 2025
- Run
- Walk
- Ride
- Hike
- Weight Training
- Workout
The Racing Boom
Strava reports a notable increase in the number of runners participating in races across all distances, from 5Ks to marathons. Gen Z is leading this trend, being 75% more likely than Gen X to run for the purpose of racing or events. This shift reflects observations from race organizers who note that younger runners are increasingly competitive, aiming for personal records rather than casual fitness.
34% of women on Runna trained for the half-marathon distance, compared to 29% of men. Meanwhile, 20% of men and 12% of women worked towards the full marathon.
Training patterns reveal that Saturday is the preferred day for long runs, with 68% of runners following through on their plans, compared to only 4% on Wednesdays.
Strength Training Gains Popularity
Weight training has become a significant part of fitness routines in 2025, with Gen Z twice as likely as Gen X to prioritize it. Aesthetics drive 61% of these younger lifters, while women are increasingly participating in strength training, despite concerns about “getting bulky.”
Data shows that Monday is the most popular day for weight-training sessions, with the average session lasting about 50 minutes and 49 seconds.
Economic Pressures and Fitness Spending
Despite economic challenges, including inflation, Gen Z continues to invest in fitness. Strava’s report highlights that:
- 30% of Gen Z plan to spend more on fitness in 2026.
- 64% prefer spending on gear over dates.
- 63% identified wearables as their biggest fitness investment in 2025.
Weekly goals have emerged as a popular approach to fitness planning, with users who set weekly targets being significantly more consistent over time.
Strava users who set weekly goals are about 10× more likely to achieve them consistently over ten weeks.
Multisport Engagement and Community Support
Strava’s data suggests that athletes who engage in multiple sports tend to maintain their activity levels longer. Over half of Strava users log at least two types of sports annually, with one-third recording three or more.
The community aspect of Strava remains strong, with users exchanging 14 billion “kudos” in 2025, a 20% increase from the previous year. Boomers, in particular, are the most generous with these digital high-fives.
Photographs continue to boost engagement, with activities featuring images receiving about 3.1 times more kudos than those without.
Looking Ahead
The fitness industry shows no signs of slowing down, with brands like Strava and Garmin continuing to expand their user base. As more individuals embark on their fitness journeys, the demand for fitness products and platforms is expected to grow, prompting these companies to enhance their offerings to retain and attract users.
Strava’s 2025 report underscores the ongoing evolution of fitness trends, with Gen Z at the forefront, shaping the future of how we approach health and wellness.
