Strava's 12th annual report has just been released: by 2025, young people have massively swapped hours spent on TikTok and Instagram.tagRam versus sneakers, a bicycle, weights, and club runs. The result? A historic decline in doomscrolling to the benefit of a more active, more social and more real life.
Images: depositphotos.com, strava.com
Gen Z is rewriting the rules: "less screen time, more movement"
More than half of 18-24 year olds say they want to use Strava even more in 2026… while also planning to use InstagramtagRAM and TikTok as much or less than today.
Michael Martin, CEO of Strava, sums it up: This generation prioritizes lived experiences over hours spent in front of a screen. They are rewriting the rules, and we are building the platform that will support them. »
The numbers speak for themselves:
- 14 billion kudos will be exchanged by 2025 (the equivalent of "likes" on Strava)
- Subscribers spend 1 hour physically active for only 2 minutes in the app
- Nearly 1 million Strava clubs created (+almost x4 in one year), including a 5,8x increase for hiking clubs
Running is still king, but walking and weight training are exploding in popularity.
- Running remains the number one activity, boosted by competitions: Gen Z is 75% more likely than Gen X to run for a race number.
- Bodybuilding is becoming the signature sport of young people: they are twice as likely as 45-64 year olds to cite it as their main activity, often for aesthetic reasons.
- Women are massively investing in gyms: +21% of weight training sessions recorded vs. men.
- 54% of users practice several sports, and walking becomes the number 2 activity on the platform.
Money follows priorities
Despite inflation affecting 65% of them, Gen Z continues to invest:
- 30% plan to increase their sports budget in 2026
- 64% would rather buy shoes or equipment than pay for a restaurant meal on a date
- 63% more than Gen X are falling for connected devices (watches, rings…)
And love? 46% of those surveyed are keen for a first date… running or in a gym.
Holidays rhyme with movement
For Gen Z, sport + travel = inseparable (+23% vs Gen X). Their 2025 mantra? "Run, tan, aperitif" (30% of responses).
This year, we flew less but explored our own country more (-22% international travel). When we went far, it was for snow (65%), hiking (58%) or water sports (48%).
The equipment that was a hit in 2025
- Shoes: ASICS Novablast dethrones everyone, ahead of Nike Pegasus and HOKA Clifton
- bicycles route Most used: Trek, followed by Specialized and Giant
- Gravel bikes: Specialized ahead of Trek and Scott
- Mountain biking: Specialized ahead of Trek and Giant
- Watches: Apple Watch still number 1, but COROS explodes
- Rings: Oura and WHOOP showing strong growth
- 72% of activities recorded directly via Strava phone (ahead of Garmin and Apple Health)
- AI is gaining ground: 46% would accept a virtual coach (especially Gen Z)
The most dynamic cities and regions
- Fastest metropolis: Copenhagen (5:30 min/km on average)
- Largest group run: South Africa and Colombia (18,5%)
- Most "photo-friendly" location: Uri, Switzerland (42% of activities involve photography)
- France is among the world's top performers in daily steps.tagne: Haute-Savoie (7,989), Savoie (7,974) and Hautes-Alpes (7,972) – only the province of Gipuzkoa (Spain) does better.
In France, the most popular running segment is the "1K X-run - Return" in Paris, and for cyclists, the Longchamp circuit.
2025 marks a turning point The generation that grew up with screens is putting them away to live outdoors, together. And Strava, with its 180 million users in 195 countries, has become the social network for real-life movement. Passive scrolling? So last century. Sunday morning running club? The new cool thing to do.
