Running USA’s 2025 Global Running Survey revealed that Brooks remains the favorite footwear brand among respondents in the training and racing categories, while Hoka experienced a significant year-over-year increase in appeal for its trainers. Lululemon gained popularity with apparel, while Garmin watches, the Strava app, NordicTrack, and Gatorade led their respective categories.

Initially launched as the National Runners Survey in 2007, the 2025 study, sponsored by Active, sheds light on the habits, preferences, and expectations of participants in running races.

The 2025 global survey features responses collected from March to July 2025 from over 12,700 runners, representing a 73 percent increase in response rate from Running USA’s 2024 survey. A majority of respondents (95.6 percent) classify themselves as runners or joggers. Of this year’s runners or joggers, 53.3 percent identified as a frequent/fitness runner. While those surveyed represented a wide range of years running, 62.9 percent have been running for at least 10 years.

Running Footwear Brand Perceptions
In the overall shoe category, Brooks retained its No.1 position. In training shoes, Asics retained the No.2 spot, but Hoka jumped from No.5 in 2024 to No.3 in this year’s survey. Saucony went from No.3 to No.4. New Balance jumped ahead of Nike to take the No.5 spot. Nike dropped from No. 4 to No. 6 in the 2025 training shoe rankings.

Overall, when respondents were asked what their favorite running shoes are for training, the Top 10 responses were Brooks, cited by 23.6 percent of respondents; Asics, 16.4 percent; Hoka, 12.7 percent; Saucony, 11.9 percent; New Balance, 8.7 percent; Nike, 8.4 percent; Altra, 4.1 percent; Adidas, 4 percent; On 2.9 percent; and Mizuno, 2 percent.

When asked about racing shoes, Nike retained the No. 2 spot, while Saucony moved to No. 3, just ahead of Asics. Overall, the favorite racing shoe was Brooks, cited by 20.2 percent of runners; followed by Nike, 15.2 percent; Saucony, 13.7 percent; Asics, 13.5 percent; Hoka, 11.8 percent; New Balance, 8.1 percent; Adidas, 4.4 percent; Altra, 3.6 percent; On, 2.4 percent; and Mizuno, 1.7 percent.

The survey found that while the majority (54.9 percent) of respondents race and train in the same brand of shoes, 45.1 percent indicated they train and race in different brands. The average number of shoes purchased in one year was three.

When asked where they prefer to purchase footwear, a running store was the top response, cited by 44.6 percent of respondents; this was followed closely by online, at 38.6 percent. Only 5.6 percent favored buying their running shoes at a major sporting goods retailer, while 10.5 percent had no preference.

Sports Apparel Brand Perceptions
Nike remained the top choice for sports apparel while Lululemon jumped from No. 5 in 2024 to No. 2. Of the respondents, 11.2 percent chose Lululemon, up from 9 percent in the 2024 survey. Additionally, 15.1 percent of respondents cited another brand that was not listed as their top sports apparel brand, and numerous brands received fewer than 2 percent of the responses, indicating that runners have many apparel options and are less loyal in the category. Of the respondents, 2.3 percent had no preference for their choice in sports apparel.

The Top 10 favorite sports apparel brands were Nike, 17.2 percent; Lululemon, 11.2 percent; Under Armour, 7.9 percent; Brooks, 7.4 percent; Adidas, 6.6 percent; Rabbit, 4.1 percent; Athleta, 4.0 percent; Asics, 3.9 percent; New Balance, 3.6 percent; and Tracksmith, 3.3 percent.

Sports Hydration Brand Perceptions
Gatorade, Nuun, and LMNT were the most popular sports hydration brands, although 15.6 percent of runners wrote in another sports hydration brand that was not listed, again demonstrating the category’s wide variety of options. When asked what their favorite sports hydration brand is, the Top 10 respondents were Gatorade, cited by 20.7 percent; Nuun, 15.3 percent; LMNT, 12.4 percent; Skratch, 8.0 percent; Maurten, 6.0 percent; Tailwind, 5.5 percent; Powerade, 5.1 percent; Bodyarmor, 3.8 percent; Liquid I.V., 3.2 percent; and water, 2.7 percent.

Wearable Devices Brand Perceptions
In terms of wearable technology, the Garmin Watch is the most popular, used by over half of respondents, followed by the Apple Watch. The percentage of respondents who indicated they use the Garmin Watch increased 8 percent from the 2024 survey, while the use of the Apple Watch decreased about 5 percent from 2024 to 2025. Fitbit also lost ground while the Garmin Heart Rate Monitor gained share year-over-year.

Asked to select any or all wearable technologies they have used during running/walking in the last 12 months, the top response was Garmin watch, 58.4 percent; followed by Apple Watch, 29.3 percent; Smartphone, 24.4 percent; Garmin Heartrate Monitor, 10.1 percent; Fitbit, 6.6 percent; Coros watch, 6.5 percent; Oura ring, 2.7 percent; Samsung watch, 2.5 percent; and Whoop band, 2.2 percent.

When tracking their training in the walk or running categories, most respondents (92.4 percent) noted a reliance on wearable devices or fitness apps, while a small minority use paper logs (4 percent) or do not track their training (3.7 percent). The use of wearable devices or fitness apps increased from 86.7 percent in 2024.

Running Apps Brand Perceptions
Strava surpassed Garmin as the top running app in 2025, with 58.3 percent of respondents using Strava (42.4 percent in 2024). Garmin’s use among runners increased in this year’s survey to 53.4 percent from 45.3 percent in 2024. Among other running apps, those used by surveyed respondents in the last 12 months include Nike Run Club, 15.4 percent; Apple Fitness+, 14.9 percent; Peloton, 9.5 percent; Runna, 7.6 percent; Fitbit, 6.7 percent; Coros, 6 percent; Asics Runkeeper, 5.7 percent; Adidas Running, 4 percent. V.02, 3.5 percent. Rungo, 1.5 percent; and Coopah, 0.3 percent. Of the respondents, 5.6 percent were not using any running apps at all.

The most valued fitness app feature for surveyed respondents was detailed running data, with 79.7 percent prioritizing this aspect over others. Training plans are also important to 13.3 percent of respondents, while community features are valued by just 3.8 percent.

Treadmill Brand Perceptions
New in 2025, Running USA partnered with Wahoo Fitness to explore treadmill brand popularity, usage and spending habits. The top brand of treadmill owned by respondents was NordicTrack, 26.8 percent, followed by Peloton, 9.8 percent; Life Fitness, 9.2 percent; Sole, 7.9 percent; ProForm, 7.3 percent; Woodway, 3.9 percent; Precor, 3.7 percent; Horizon Fitness, 3.2 percent; Matrix, 2.7 percent; Technogym, 2.2 percent; Wahoo, 2.2 percent; and True Fitness, 1.4 percent.

The survey found nearly 30 percent of respondents own a treadmill, while 36.2 percent use a treadmill as at a gym and nearly 25 percent are not interested in owning or using a treadmill. Close to 10 percent expressed a plan to purchase a treadmill.

A quarter of respondents said they were willing to spend $1,000 to $2,000 on a treadmill, with 23.1 percent willing to spend less than $1,000 and 23.7 percent willing to pay more than $2,000.

For runners interested in treadmills, the most important features are durability, followed by cost and running surface. Less important features include the tech integrations, such as training apps. Over 60 percent (60.5 percent) of respondents emphasized that the convenience of having a treadmill at home is most appealing, followed by safety from running outside in bad weather or in the dark. Other appealing features include access to entertainment and hydration while running.

Running Habits
The primary reasons for running or walking, according to survey respondents, were to stay in shape/stay healthy (cited by 75.2 percent), relieve stress (35.3 percent), and enjoy the activity (34 percent). Of the respondents, 74.7 percent primarily run alone, 15.2 percent run with a friend or in a group and 10.1 percent run with an organized running group/club. Asked how often they run with an organized running group/club/crew, 50.1 percent said never; 11.9 percent, multiple times a week; 15.8 percent, once a week; 7.3 percent, two to three times a month; 14.6 percent, once a month.

This year’s survey, like those in 2024 and 2023, found that weight training was the most popular activity outside of running or walking. The percentage of respondents who weight train increased in 2025, from 47.6 percent in 2024 to 60.6 percent in 2025. Weight training was followed by hiking/backpacking/rock climbing, at 39.7 percent; cycling, at 35.5 percent; at-home virtual workouts (such as Peloton and iFit), at 28.6 percent; and fitness classes (including spin, yoga, and Pilates), at 27 percent.

Event Participation Trends
Surveyed respondents participated in an average of 11 events over the past 12 months, which consisted of races of varying distances. This is the same number of races respondents participated in in 2024.

In line with finisher data showing that the half-marathon is the most popular distance, the largest percentage of respondents (37.9 percent) ranked the half-marathon as their favorite distance. The second most popular distance was the 10K, followed closely by the marathon and the 5K.

The most important factors in choosing a racing event were location, preferred distance and a desirable course (such as fast or scenic). Cost and having friends or family participating also rank high.

About three-quarters (73.7 percent) of surveyed respondents indicated race fees are too expensive, up from 63 percent in 2024.

A majority (59.5 percent) of respondents believe that t-shirts are important for their run experience. As in 2024, hats and socks ranked one and two as a swag alternative, followed by drinkware, including a water bottle/thermos and a glass or mug. As in 2024, the least preferred swag items were koozies/coasters and drawstring bags.

To read the full 2025 Global Survey from Running USA, go here.

Image courtesy Running USA