Spring 2018 Trail Running Survey Results

Each spring, the American Trail Running Association conducts a survey to measure trail running trends from our national audience. This year we had a record 2300 responses, nearly triple that of the 2017 survey. Complete survey results are made available to corporate members at the Switchback, Steep & Rocky and All-terrain levels. The following selected outtakes are from our most recent trail running survey conducted in May/June of this year. The following are some survey highlights.

Trail Runner Participant Profile:

51% male; 48% female (1% non disclosed)
34% ages 20-39; 53% ages 40-59
35% have been running more than 10 years
44% run 3-5 days per week
48% run 6-20 miles per week; 5% run more than 50 miles per week
57% mix it up, some days preferring gnarly, some days gentle trail
46% list single-track as their favorite type of trail; 44% list a mix of single track/wider paths/meadows
83% prefer a mix of ascending and descending
64% will run 1-5 trail races this year
8% will run more than 10 races this year
8% prefer racing 50K or longer; 12% prefer racing 10K or shorter; 5% don’t race
74% will run one or more road races this year
34% of dog owners sometimes run with their dog on the trail

Use of Activity Trackers:

51% record their trail runs with a Garmin
17% use Strava
15% don’t use a watch, or tracking device

Trail Finding Websites or Apps:

34% don’t use websites or apps
30% use Google Maps
26% use Strava
20% use Trail Run Project

Running Shoe, Sock, and Hydration Preferences:

64% typically wear ankle-length socks
64% wear light-cushioned socks
78% wear trail-specific shoes when training on the trails
77% wear trail-specific shoes when racing on the trails (another 9% sometimes wear trail-specific shoes when racing). When choosing a shoe, fit and comfort rank highest, followed by (light) weight and traction
65% wear a hydration vest when training or racing
8% only hydrate before or after a run. When choosing hydration equipment, comfort and fit rank highest, followed by (light) weight, pockets and storage.

Top Seven Running Shoe Brands: