Garmin’s 2023 fitness report is out — and this intense workout is booming in popularity

Three women exercising together at the gym with a HIIT routine running on the spot

(Image credit: Shutterstock images/ antoniodiaz)

The annual Garmin "Fitness Report" compiles data from the millions of individuals using the Garmin Connect app to track their workouts, and the 2023 report is full of curious insights. Some data points, like running being the most popular activity among users, are not surprising. Others are.

Walking, cycling, strength training and cardio — in that order — make up the rest of the top five most popular activities. Other more nuanced activities saw sizable year-over-year growth in sessions recorded, including indoor rock climbing (+62%), e-biking (+62%), bouldering (+68%), tennis (+76%) and tracking running (+76%). But only one activity had over 100% growth in 2023.

According to user data, this is the fastest-growing workout activity

High-impact interval training (HIIT) sessions recorded by Garmin users were up 112% in 2023, the biggest percentage increase of any trackable activity. That comes with a caveat: Garmin first introduced support for HIIT workouts in early 2022, so we may have to wait until 2024's report to see if the trend sticks.

Advantages of HIIT

High-intensity interval training offers numerous benefits, including boosting one’s metabolic rate and burning a large amount of calories in a relatively short period. Best of all, users can customize their HIIT routine as much as they like. Not into burpees? Swap them for Mountain Climbers.

This may also come as a surprise, but HIIT workouts tend to burn more calories than even running. You also don’t need to go to the gym or even own any fitness equipment to take part in HIIT. However, the best exercise bikes and the best free weights will provide a greater amount of workout flexibility and fun.

How to try this fast-growing workout at home

a photo of a man doing a workout from home — (Image credit: Future/Tom's Guide)

Want to try HIIT on your own? These are the best beginner HIIT workouts. And they all can be done from the comfort of your home. Want more options? This equipment-free HIIT workout takes just 35 minutes to complete and is a staff favorite.

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Dan Bracaglia is the Tom’s Guide editorial lead for all things smartwatches, fitness trackers and outdoor gear. With 15 years of experience as a consumer technology journalist testing everything from Oura Rings to instant cameras, Dan is deeply passionate about helping readers save money and make informed purchasing decisions. In the past year alone, Dan has assessed major product releases from the likes of Apple, Garmin, Google, Samsung, Polar and many others.

An avid outdoor adventurer, Dan is based in the U.S. Pacific Northwest where he takes advantage of the beautiful surroundings every chance he gets. A lover of kayaking, hiking, swimming, biking, snowboarding and exploring, he also makes every effort to combine his day job with his passions. When not assessing the sleep tracking and heart rate accuracy of the latest tach gadgets, you can find him photographing Seattle’s vibrant underground music community.