(Article originally published on our sister site endurance.biz in December 2023.) Strava has unveiled its new Messaging feature. This enables direct messaging between Strava users, as well as group messaging, and provides an option for route sharing and general conversations. It may also entice athletes away from other messaging apps, such as WhatsApp or Signal.
Citing research which found that ‘athletes perform better together’, Strava added that it is introducing Messaging as… ‘an efficient avenue for athletes to coordinate adventures, connect for inspiration or tips, share their journey, and more – all within a unified platform.’
“The introduction of Messaging marks an exciting milestone for Strava,” said Zipporah Allen, Strava’s Chief Business Officer.
“This highly anticipated feature adds depth to what makes Strava special – a global community rooted in authentic connections. It also underscores our unwavering dedication to continually prioritize the athlete experience and what we are building for them.”
The inaugural version of the feature launched today and offers two core options: direct (one-on-one) and group messages. Strava noted that this enables… ‘seamless coordination, connectivity, and celebration of accomplishments and progress.’
Additional features integrated into Strava Messaging include:
Share an Activity and/or Route: Easily share Activities and Routes to messaging to help assist in coordination and celebration.
Group Message Customization: Message creators can personalize the name of group chats for a more tailored experience.
Have Fun: Athletes can bring motivation, hype and even some friendly competition through message reactions, gifs, and replies.
A release from the company added that… ‘Strava Messaging bridges the gap between tactical planning and meaningful engagement, embodying Strava’s commitment to empowering athletes and fostering a thriving community. It’s a catalyst for real-time connections and discussions to transform the athletes’ experiences.’
Athletes on Strava can customize the Messaging feature based on their desired experience on the platform. For example, athletes can set their preferences on who can invite them to a Group Message or who can Message them directly. Settings will be automatically set based on an athlete’s profile visibility but can be adjusted to receive messages to and from ‘Following’, ‘Mutuals’, or ‘No One’, under settings in the Strava app.
Looking forward, early 2024 will see the introduction of more features, including:
Messaging within Strava Clubs: Conversations based on specific topics within a Club.
Photo Uploads to Messaging: Sharing photos within messages.
Expanded Shareables: Enabling athletes to share clubs, posts and events within Messaging.
Now supporting more than 50 different activity types, the platform continues to grow with features such as the recently announced Flyover, on-platform sharing for Groups and Clubs, and an improved posts composer making it easier to create Club content.