2021’s top fitness trend is exercising outdoors

THE Covid-19 pandemic has changed the fitness landscape. According to a survey conducted by RunRepeat.com, a website by a community of runners who review running shoes, more people are heading out to exercise.

“Exercising outdoors is the most popular fitness trend in 2021,” says its fitness research director, Nick Rizzo.

“Close to 60 per cent of active adults choose outdoor activities like running, training, hiking and walking as the best way to stay fit this year, up 14.6 per cent from the start of 2020,” he adds.

Almost 40 per cent of gym members are also switching to running and other outdoor activities.

The website surveyed 4,538 adults from 122 countries who reported being active at the start of 2020. They shared what they believed was the best way to stay fit in 2021, compared to 2020, before the pandemic hit.

DO IT AT HOME

Rizzo says the three fastest-growing fitness trends among active adults in 2021 are at-home fitness equipment (up 49.6 per cent), personal trainers and nutritionists (up 47.5 per cent) and online fitness courses, classes, and subscriptions (up 16.8 per cent).

Home fitness is growing explosively among active Americans and gym members.

“Active American adults saw significant increases in both at-home fitness equipment and online fitness. Gym members also saw significant increases in both at-home fitness equipment and online fitness.”

As expected, the biggest losers of 2020 are memberships to gyms, health clubs and group exercise classes. Fewer active adults see gyms, health clubs and group exercise classes as the best ways to stay fit this year.