Privacy | The personal data Strava, Nike and other apps hold
Sometimes apps simply need to know personal stuff about you in order to provide the insights and guidance you downloaded them for in the first place. However, other apps are just lazy and ask for carte-blanche access to everything. If you’ve read any news recently, it won’t have escaped your notice that PRIVACY is becoming an ever-more important topic.
Some of us think we are clever and secure with our data. Others don’t care and others REALLY care…a lot. The last of those 3 categories appear to have ‘won’ and the world of apps and websites are now having to, at least, pay lip service to issues around consent and clarity when holding your data.
Of course, one of the biggest security risks is that you use that same password across multiple sites and that’s your responsibility as no site is truly hack-proof. However, introducing mechanisms to manage data privacy can be time-consuming for the content provider and that creates a big barrier-to-entry for startups.
Anyway, mini-rant over. Some research from USwitch details what some popular iOS apps and Apple Watch apps like STRAVA and Nike Run Club would like from you in terms of your personal data.
These apps have different purposes and so need different pieces of information, so I’m not sure that such a table really gives insights. I’d much rather know which of them have had data breaches that compromised either my password, address or credit card details. Which brings us to one omission from the list…Garmin, who was famously hacked in 2020.
Strava: Set your STRAVA Privacy Zone
Last Updated on 28 May 2026 by the5krunner
My favourite kit and nutrition
- Maurten — the race nutrition trusted by elite athletes. Gels and drink mix engineered to be easy on the stomach.
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter — the small adapter that keeps your charging cable tidy at the stem. Essential for race day.
- Garmin charging puck — the fastest and most reliable way to top up your Garmin before a session.
- Ravemen FR300 — front light that mounts directly under your Garmin or Wahoo head unit. Keeps your bars clean and your beam pointed where it matters.
- Garmin Varia RTL515 — radar rear light that alerts you to vehicles approaching from behind. Pairs with your Edge or Garmin watch.
- Stryd — the footpod that brings running power to your Garmin. The single most useful running upgrade I have made.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2 — the power meter pedals most serious cyclists end up choosing. Accurate, easy to move between bikes.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
funny that Garmin even don’t make into the top15 list neither on running nor fitness ah… I forgot they are busy paying ransom to get their server access password back or?
yes I pointed that omission out to the authors!