Strava updates app with route planning and strength training features

Strava has released updates to its fitness app, enhancing route discovery and planning for outdoor activities like walking and hiking. The changes also include strengthened strength training features, with animated workout guidance designed by fitness coaches, marking a shift toward more guided fitness offerings.

Tarun Mottlia

Editor, Lazyfounder

Published Oct 27, 20262 min read

Strava updates app with route planning and strength training features — Image: Strava) via source

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Strava updated its app with improved route discovery and planning for outdoor activities like walking and hiking.
The search function now supports natural language prompts and intuitive navigation.
Offline maps and route cards have been redesigned for better usability.
Paying subscribers will soon access turn-by-turn audio directions and community-tagged points of interest.
Strava expanded strength training features with animated guidance for coach-designed workouts.
Free users receive a sample workout, while subscribers get full access to strength training features.

Route planning and outdoor activity updates

Strava’s latest update aims to simplify route discovery and planning for users engaged in outdoor activities such as walking and hiking. According to TechRadar, the app’s search function has been improved to understand natural language prompts, allowing users to input queries in their own words. Offline maps and route cards have also been redesigned for easier navigation and usability.

Paying subscribers will soon gain access to turn-by-turn audio directions and community tagging of points of interest, features that could enhance real-time navigation during outdoor activities. Users will also be able to discover new routes on the web, expanding access beyond the mobile app.

Strength training and guided workouts

In October, Strava introduced upgrades to its strength training features, including animated guidance for workouts designed by fitness coaches. The app now provides live tracking of sets and reps as users progress through their workouts. Free users receive a sample workout, while subscribers gain full access to the strength training suite.

Strava plans to add more workout series and strength tracking features before the end of 2026. These updates reflect the company’s broader strategy to move beyond its origins in running and cycling, incorporating more guided and structured fitness activities.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

Strava’s updates reflect a strategic expansion into guided fitness and outdoor activity planning, areas that could redefine its market position. For founders and operators in the fitness app space, this move signals growing competition in features like route planning, offline usability, and subscription-driven content. The emphasis on coach-designed workouts and natural language search may also push other apps to prioritize similar enhancements, particularly those targeting outdoor enthusiasts or users seeking structured training programs.

Key takeaways

Founders in the fitness app space may see increased competition as Strava broadens its focus beyond running and cycling to include guided workouts and outdoor activities.
The updates signal a shift toward subscription-driven features, which could influence pricing and feature strategies for other fitness apps.
Improved route planning and offline maps may set a new benchmark for usability in outdoor activity apps, relevant for startups in this segment.

Sources

TechRadar · 2026-10-27
Strava’s latest update adds improved route discovery and planning to help you get going in the great outdoors

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