Strava is one of the most popular fitness tracking apps, allowing users to track runs, bike rides, swims, and more. It provides detailed statistics on distance, pace, elevation gain, and other metrics. One useful feature in Strava is the ability to toggle the display units between kilometers and miles. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to change this setting.
On Mobile
- Open the Strava app on your iPhone or Android device.
- Tap on your profile picture in the bottom right.
- Tap the gear icon to access Settings.
- Under “Preferences”, tap on “Units of Measurement”.
- Toggle between kilometers or miles by tapping on the unit you want to use. The app will now display distances and paces in your selected unit.
That’s it! The units will now change across the Strava app – on your activity feeds, profile stats, route builder, etc.
On Web
- Go to www.strava.com and log into your account.
- Click on your profile picture in the top right.
- Click on “Settings” below your name.
- On the left sidebar, click “Display Preferences”
- Under “Units & Measurements”, click the edit icon (pencil symbol).
- Select either “Miles and pounds” or “Kilometers and kilograms” from the dropdown menu.
- Scroll down and click Save at the bottom.
The Strava website will now display using your preferred units across all pages and features.
On Apple Watch
Unfortunately, there is currently no way to change units on the Strava Apple Watch app. The app displays distances and paces using the same units set on your paired iPhone.
To change units on Apple Watch:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone
- Tap “Privacy”
- Tap “Motion & Fitness”
- Find “Strava” and toggle permissions on if disabled
- Close Settings app
- Change units on iPhone Strava app (see first section above)
After changing the units on your iPhone, launch the Strava app on Apple Watch and it will now display activities using those same units.
Why Units Matter
Being able to switch between miles and kilometers can be very useful depending on your location and the events you are training for. Units also impact how you compare your pace and distance to other athletes.
For example, running pace is typically expressed as minutes per mile in the US, or minutes per kilometer in countries using the metric system. So choosing the right units allows you to quickly gauge your pace against personal records, goals, friends’ activities, segment leaderboards, and more.
Summary
In just a few taps, you can toggle the display units on Strava between imperial or metric measurement systems. This settings carries across the mobile apps, website, and synced devices for a seamless experience. Use miles/pace if training for American events, or kilometers for races elsewhere around the globe. Consistently tracking with your preferred real-world units makes training with Strava even more useful.
My Experience with Strava
As an avid runner and triathlete, I’ve been using Strava daily for over 5 years now. I find it invaluable for recording my workouts, analyzing my progress, competing on segments, and connecting with the local athletic community.
The ability to switch units has been hugely beneficial when training for destination races. For example, when preparing to run the Tokyo Marathon, I changed my Strava app to kilometers for 6 months leading up to the event. This allowed me to better gauge my training paces, become familiar with the metric system, and review Tokyo segments using the local unit of measurement.
Whether you use Strava to train for your first 5k or Ironman triathlon, utilize the unit toggle tip to optimize the app for your unique training and racing needs. Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions!
