The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, and the urge to get outside is growing. The first warm days of spring put most people in a good mood and rise the will of doing outdoor sports. But which outdoor sports are currently trending, and what could you try this year? In this article, we present five current outdoor trend sports that you can try without much experience or expensive equipment.
- Trail Running
- Gravel biking/road cycling
- Pumptrack
- Paddle Tennis
- Spike Ball
Trail Running
Have you ever seen a small path in the woods and wondered where it leads? Trail running is the best way to explore all the local forest and meadow paths. Many people find running boring and monotonous. But that can easily change with the right route choice. Trail running, as the name suggests, moves your running session onto narrow single trails or hiking paths in the countryside. You don't have to climb several thousand meters up some mountain; in most places there are plenty of small forest and meadow paths that you can explore. Hilly to flat forest paths are ideal for beginners. There you can enjoy nature to the fullest and also add a bit of action to your running session. The only things you need are running or trekking shoes and sports clothes.
Gravel biking/road cycling
Gravel biking and road cycling are currently booming like never before. This hype is justified, because what could be better than exploring quiet gravel and back roads by bike? But what are the differences between road bikes, gravel bikes, and mountain bikes? The biggest difference is undoubtedly the tires. On a mountain bike, you ride wide, knobby tires for maximum grip off-road and to be able to ride over rough rocks and roots. Gravel tires, on the other hand, are much narrower and have only minimal knobs to avoid flats on gravel and dirt roads, but still offer low rolling resistance. Road bike tires are even narrower and have no knobs at all to ensure minimal rolling resistance and maximum speed on the road. This means that if you like to go fast, you will probably choose a road bike. However, those looking for a compromise between speed and off-road capability are best advised to go with a gravel bike. So to all cycling enthusiasts and those who want to become one: get on your bike. We've compiled the most beautiful road bike routes in the Salzburg area for you HERE .
Paddle Tennis
This new sport is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Paddle tennis is a mix of squash and tennis. Like tennis, it is played on a court with a net, but like in squash, the walls are part of the court and can be included in the game. The court is also smaller than in tennis and the ball cannot go out. A point is therefore scored when the ball either bounces twice on the ground, goes into the net, or touches the wall in the opponent's half directly without touching the ground first. The racket is also smaller and harder than in tennis to reduce ball speed. This makes paddling easier and easier to learn than classic tennis. Therefore it's very suitable for newcomers. Teams of two play against each other, making the sport a perfect group activity.
Roundnet / Spikeball
As the name suggests, "Roundnet" is played on a round, approximately 1m wide, set-up net, onto which a small, fist-sized ball is hit. The rules are similar to volleyball. Teams of two play against each other on the same net. Each team may touch the ball three times before hitting it on the net. A point is scored when the ball hits the ground. Spikeball is very easy to learn, and you can take the net and set it up anywhere. It's most fun to play in the sand, but it also works very well on a flat lawn. Spikeball is perfect if you're looking for a flexible outdoor sport that you can play with friends anywhere and without any infrastructure.
Pump track
A pump track is a man-made wave track on which you move by "pumping" up and down movements. Many pump tracks are now paved, meaning you can ride them with a variety of means of transport, such as bicycles, roller skates, skateboards, longboards, and scooters. Riding a pump track is not only fun, but also a perfect full-body strength and endurance workout, as the pumping movements are performed by both the arms and legs. Pump track sport is becoming increasingly popular in Austria, and more and more tracks are being built. In many places, these are a very popular meeting place for young and old. You can find out whether there is already a pump track in your area HERE . We have summarized some of the best pump tracks for you in THIS article.
What do these 5 trending outdoor sports have in common?
On the one hand, all five sports keep you fit and are perfect for having fun with friends in the fresh air. On the other hand, good sports glasses like our VOLT or BLADE , with adequate UV protection in sunny weather and versatile interchangeable lenses in more decent weather, are essential for all five activities. If you're wondering, "Which sports glasses are the best?", take a look HERE . 😉