Top Fitness Trends (September 2023)
Here are the current fitness trends of 2023 and 2024, found using our software tool and selected based on their growth and global popularity across sites like Google, TikTok, Reddit, Twitter, YouTube, Amazon, and more. These are not fads, such as new movies or social media challenges – rather they’re long-term global fitness trends that are likely to see continued growth throughout 2023 and into 2024. We’ve also included our analysis on these new emerging trends below.
Cold Plunge Tub
A cold plunge tub is a tub that is filled with cold water and used for cold plunging, a practice that is said to have many health benefits. The water can be used to cool the body after a workout or to relieve pain and inflammation. … Read more
Stapelstein
Stapelstein, which is a German word that means "pile of stones," is a sporting goods manufacturer that creates colorful stacking stones for children and adults. The stacking stones enable a wide range of exercise and can be rearranged to suit different activities, games, and creative uses. … Read more
Pickleball
Pickleball is a sport that is a combination of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. The game is played with a paddle and a ball that is about the size of a golf ball. The object of the game is to hit the ball over the net and into the other player’s court. … Read more
Onelap
Onelap is an indoor cycling app designed to be used with spinning bikes or indoor bike trainers. The app creates a realistic and immersive 3D environment that mimics the real-world outdoor cycling experience. The platform also features professional cycling training and online competitions. … Read more
Oversized Gym Shirts
Oversized gym shirts are shirts that are designed to be worn as a cover-up or as a casual shirt. The shirts are typically made of a lightweight and breathable fabric and are oversized to allow for a comfortable and relaxed fit. … Read more
COROS Pace
The COROS Pace is a GPS-enabled watch that tracks a variety of data such as distance, pace, time, and heart rate. It also includes features such as music playback and notifications. COROS is a company that makes a line of fitness watches, the most popular of which is the COROS Pace. … Read more
Copenhagen Plank
The Copenhagen Plank is a fitness exercise that is meant to work the core muscles. The exercise is performed by lying on your back on the floor with your feet together and your arms by your sides. Then, you lift your torso and legs off the floor, and hold the position for as long as possible. … Read more
Rear Delt Exercises
Rear delt exercises are exercises that target the muscles in the back of the shoulder. The exercises are meant to improve the shape and size of the muscle and can be performed with free weights, cables, or machines. … Read more
Barbell RDL
The barbell RDL, or Romanian Deadlift, is a weightlifting exercise that targets the hamstrings, glutes, and lower back. The exercise is performed by standing with a barbell in front of the body, bending at the waist, and then lifting the barbell to the standing position. … Read more
Oraimo Watch
The Oraimo watch is a smartwatch and wearable device that is designed to track the user's daily steps and calories burned. The watch also monitors sleep quality and provides notifications for calls, messages, and social media updates. … Read more
Pull Down Machine
A pull down machine is a piece of exercise equipment that is used to target the latissimus dorsi muscles. The machine is typically a cable-based system where the user pulls down on a handle to bring the weight or cable down. This exercise is used to build muscle mass and strength in the back and shoulders. … Read more
Tricep Pull Down
A tricep pull down is a weightlifting exercise that targets the triceps muscles. The exercise is performed by standing in front of a cable machine and grasping the handle with the hand that is closest to the machine. The elbow is then bent and the hand is pulled down towards the shoulder, extending the arm. … Read more
Wing Foiling
Wing foiling is a water sport that involves using a wing-shaped foil to ride the waves. The foil catches the waves and allows the rider to glide across the surface. … Read more
Muscle Republic
Muscle Republic is a fitness clothing brand that is known for its high-quality, affordable workout clothes. The brand offers a wide range of products, from basics like T-shirts and leggings to more specialized items like compression gear and swimwear. … Read more
Leg Curl Machine
A leg curl machine is a piece of fitness equipment that is used to isolate and work the hamstring muscles. The machine consists of a bench with a weight stack and two footpads that the user curls their legs against. … Read more
Push Day Workout
A push day workout is a type of workout that focuses on pushing exercises, such as chest presses, shoulder presses, and triceps extensions. The workout is designed to target the muscles of the chest, shoulders, and triceps. … Read more
All In One Exercise
An all in one exercise is an exercise that combines multiple exercises into one. This can be done with machines at the gym or with bodyweight exercises at home. All in one exercises are a time-saving way to get a full-body workout. … Read more
Pull Day Workout
A pull day workout is a workout routine that focuses on exercises that target the muscles in the back and shoulders. The workout is typically done on one day per week, and is meant to help with muscle growth and definition. … Read more
Nordic Curl
The Nordic Curl is a strength training exercise that is said to be especially beneficial for the shoulders, arms, and back. The exercise is performed by lying on your back on the floor and curling your body up into a ball, then returning to the starting position. … Read more
Motivational Water Bottle
A Motivational Water Bottle is a water bottle that is designed to help people stay hydrated and motivated throughout the day. The bottle has a built-in reminder system that prompts the user to drink water every few hours. The bottle also has a motivational message printed on it to help the user stay positive. … Read more
Nordic Hamstring Curl
The Nordic Hamstring Curl is a strength training exercise that targets the hamstrings. The exercise is done by lying on one's back with the feet flat on the ground, and then curling the heels towards the glutes. … Read more
Trend Highlight – The Rise of Pickleball - The Fastest Growing Sport
Pickleball, the fastest growing sport in the U.S., is most popular among a surprising demographic: the elderly.
Unlike many other sports, pickleball – a mashup of badminton, tennis, and ping pong – doesn't give much of an edge to age or experience. It also takes far less time to play a full match than with other sports, so couples will schedule regular pickleball dates as a way to establish friendships within a community.
As pickleball grows in popularity among the 60+ demographic, retirement homes are flocking to add the sport to their offerings and highlight it in their advertisements.
While the volume is low for such long-tail keywords, searches like "pickleball retirement community" have as high as $10 CPCs on Google, meaning that retirement homes are paying up to $10 for every click they get on their ads shown to users in Google search results. Because the elderly don't switch retirement homes as frequently as younger generations switch housing, the retirement homes are willing to spend more on acquiring those customers.
Trend Highlight – Why Oversized Gym Shirts Are So Popular
The top google autocomplete suggestion for “how to not feel awkward” is “at the gym”, even beating out “at a party”, “around your crush”, and “eating alone”.
“Gym anxiety” is a new term for an age-old problem: gyms are a wide open space with many mirrors and opportunities to feel like you’re doing the wrong thing. This phenomenon has led to demand for home versions of some gym activities—not just weights and exercise machines, but even saunas, too. Sauna blankets are an increasingly popular product that offers convenience, low cost, and a way to avoid odd looks or awkward encounters at the gym.
When we first covered “Sauna blankets" in March of 2021, “gym anxiety” was a new term with just 2.4M views on TikTok. It’s since grown over 3750% and, today, boasts more than 9B views.
Now, oversized t-shirts are an increasingly popular gym outfit, as gym-goers report heightened self-consciousness. Many say that loose clothing helps them feel more relaxed and avoid feeling judged by their progress or lack thereof.
Trend Highlight – The Rising Popularity of Under Desk Treadmills
As consumers' desire to share health progress (like tracked steps) conflicts with feeling like there's less time to exercise, the under-the-desk treadmill has risen in popularity.
As the boundaries between work and leisure time blur and staying active is increasingly seen as aspirational, products and activities that would once have been seen only at the gym are now more and more acceptable in the office, particularly when working at home.
Cubii, a company that sells a similar product - the under-the-desk elliptical - has sold over 500,000 units in 2020. Its compact size, meanwhile, means that even city dwellers can store it in their apartments (a barrier for other popular fitness equipment such as Peloton bikes).
The growth of fitness trackers like Fitbit and the Apple Watch also means more people are counting steps, and under desk treadmills allows users to track steps, helping them reach their goals even when they might have trouble fitting a workout into their daily routine.
Unlike other kinds of pandemic-panic shopping, gym equipment is a high-ticket purchase that takes up space (constant reminder to use it) that can lead to a permanent lifestyle change. As airlines worry about Zoom and hoteliers worry about staycations, Gyms may look at their January 2020 revenue as the peak that ushered in a long decline.
Trend Highlight – Wing Foiling: A New Sport
Wing foiling, a variant of windsurfing, is a sports trend so early the equipment is being sold only on Alibaba, not yet on Amazon.
Part of why high-performance water sports products have had relatively small markets is they require such high skill—a product like a wing foil can help grow the market, introducing people to these sports in an easier context.
Wing foiling is similar to pickleball–the fastest growing sport in the US– in the sense that by lowering a game’s difficulty to play, the market can be significantly grown.
Pickleball doesn't offer a big edge to people who are at a particular level of fitness or experience. Wing foiling also benefits from having a larger available market than kitesurfing; since it needs less wind, there are more beaches where it can work and more days when it's an option.
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