Wearables top 2026 fitness trend

The American College of Sports Medicine’s 2026 fitness trends report put wearable technology at No. 1 again, giving fitness trackers, smartwatches and heart-rate monitors the top slot in a survey that the group says draws on responses from thousands of researchers and practitioners. ACSM says wearable technology has ranked first since 2016 except in 2018 and 2021, underscoring how firmly data-tracking devices have embedded themselves in mainstream training. Life Time’s 2026 wellness survey points to a parallel shift in what people say they want from training. The company said 42.3% of respondents named getting physically stronger as their primary health goal, ahead of weight loss, and 46.5% said they planned to lift more weights in 2026. Another 82% said they planned to focus more on overall health and well-being in the year ahead, according to the survey. (acsm.org) ### Why are wearables still sitting at the top? ACSM’s fitness trends page says wearable technology now covers fitness trackers, smartwatches, heart-rate monitors and GPS devices that collect both real-time and trend-based health data. The group says common measures include heart rate, steps, speed and distance, while newer biosensors can also track indicators such as heart rhythm, blood pressure, blood glucose and skin temperature. (ir.lifetime.life) Roughly 36% to 44% of adults own wearable technology, ACSM says, and the organization projects the global market could reach 186 billion by 2030. ACSM says those devices can support behavior change through feedback, goal setting, coaching, training plans and integration with other apps and platforms. ### If wearables are No. 1, what are people actually training for? (acsm.org) Life Time said the strongest signal in its 2026 survey was not weight loss but strength. The company quoted Danny King, its director of recovery and performance, as saying, “Strength training is the new weight loss,” adding that people are training “to feel and perform better for longer” and pairing that with recovery and objective health metrics. (acsm.org) The same survey said 82% of respondents planned to focus more on overall health and well-being, a 7% increase from the prior year. That figure is broader than strength training alone, but it helps explain why wearables and lifting are appearing together in current fitness discussion: the devices measure progress, and strength work gives users a concrete target to improve. That connection is an inference drawn from the two reports. (ir.lifetime.life) ### Where does the “get jacked and lean” conversation fit? Women’s strength training has already been moving into more mainstream coverage. NBC’s TODAY reported in March 2025 on women embracing being “jacked,” describing a shift away from older fears that lifting would make women look bulky. Social posts circulating on September 2 pushed that language further, framing women’s fitness interest around getting “jacked and lean” and arguing that supplements and workout variations do not replace basics such as sleep, nutrition, consistency and strength. (acsm.org) Those posts are useful as a snapshot of online conversation, but the independently verified data in the available reporting comes from ACSM’s trend rankings and Life Time’s survey results. (today.com) ### So what does the 2026 picture look like in practice? ACSM’s 2026 rankings show a market where technology and fundamentals are moving together rather than competing. Wearables are at No. 1, while mobile exercise apps and other data-linked tools also remain part of the broader trend mix, according to the organization’s fitness trends page. (acsm.org) Life Time’s December 30, 2025 survey release gives the consumer side of that picture: more people say they are chasing strength, longevity and overall well-being rather than treating weight loss as the single headline goal. ACSM’s full 2026 trend list remains available on its website, and Life Time’s 2026 wellness survey release remains posted in the company’s investor materials. (ir.lifetime.life) (acsm.org)