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Eight in 10 young Brits ditch boozy nights out for outdoor fitness activities

A new poll has found Millennials and Gen Z say activity-led experiences help them meet new people - more so than a traditional night out

[A group of runners showing off their colorful running shoes on the pavement.]

Young Brits enjoy the social aspect of working out (Image: Getty Images)

Eight out of 10 young Brits now favour healthy activities for socialising over a traditional night out. A survey of 2,000 UK adults revealed that 27% of Millennials and Gen Z believe activity-led experiences help them make new friends.

A quarter enjoy the sense of community these activities foster, while a similar proportion (24%) said they provide the perfect excuse to discover new places.

Many young Brits are now embracing the great outdoors, with three in 10 (31%) actively seeking opportunities to spend time outside several times a week.

Popular social pursuits now include running and trail running (49%) and open-water swimming (28%). Others are participating in activities such as hiking (26%), surfing or diving (13%), and climbing (13%).

The research was commissioned by Samsung to celebrate the Galaxy Watch Ultra2, designed to support outdoor adventures with health tracking and rugged durability.

[Swimmer wearing the Galaxy Watch Ultra2]

Samsung is marking the launch of its new Galaxy Watch Ultra2(Image: Samsung)

Annika Bizon from the tech firm said: "People are making more room for movement and adventure in their everyday lives.

"Our research shows that 87% of Gen Z are interested in taking on a new fitness or outdoor challenge in the next year."

Social media is also helping drive the trend, with almost half (48%) being introduced to new activities, clubs and outdoor communities through these platforms.

Additionally, 25% discovered a new hobby or interest through organised events and challenges. In fact, 51% of Gen Z respondents have taken on a personal fitness or outdoor challenge in the past year.

As outdoor pursuits become an increasingly vital part of social life, wearable technology is helping people prepare, track and recover with enhanced confidence.

[Trail runner wearing the Galaxy Watch Ultra2]

Monitoring and tracking different health metrics is now a key part of working out(Image: Samsung)

A quarter (24%) use a wearable device to set goals, while 39% regularly monitor their progress and 27% use one to track performance. Stress and energy insights (18%), sleep quality monitoring (23%) and heart rate tracking (23%) are amongst the features Gen Z consider most valuable when participating in activities.

For 93% of those who enjoy water sports and diving, a wearable that can provide insights while they're in the water is essential. And 89% of adventurous young Brits want a watch that can endure harsh outdoor conditions.

Bizon added: "As more people join run clubs, discover new trails or take on personal fitness goals, they want technology that helps them feel prepared, stay motivated and understand their progress.

"Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is designed to support every step of that journey, helping users better understand their performance, track their progress and explore with confidence."

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