• Golf, Climbing & Co.: These Sports Are the Most Expensive: Golf equipment costs an average of over €1,500 – horseback riding and climbing also rank among the most expensive sports.
• Swimming, running, and football are among the most affordable sports.
• Prof. Dr. Silke Heuse (UE): “Health should not be a consumer project – self-optimization can make you sick.”

Berlin, April 7, 2025 – For World Health Day, the University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE) examined which sports come with the highest equipment costs across eleven different disciplines. The result: while average swimming gear costs a relatively modest €120.34, golf enthusiasts pay nearly ten times more on average at €1,500.71. Climbing (€836.44) and horseback riding (€662.78) are also significantly more expensive than team sports such as football (€218.42) or basketball (€264.19).

“Sports are healthy, but they shouldn’t become a stage for self-optimization.”
Prof. Dr. Silke Heuse, Head of the Psychology program at UE, comments on the findings from a psychological perspective:
“Sports are no longer just about health – they have become a symbol of lifestyle, status, and self-optimization. The right outfit, the right gear, the visibly toned body – all of this is heavily promoted through social media and societal ideals. This is fine as long as it helps to motivate people to exercise. Still, we must ask: what do we gain from sports if we take it too far?”

Golf, Climbing & Riding Top the Price List – Classic Recreational Sports Are More Affordable
On average, equipment across all sports studied costs €485.74 – but there are some clear outliers.

Sports like golf and horseback riding are not only more expensive, but they often signify a certain social status. High costs can act as a barrier to participation. Prof. Dr. Heuse explains: “Those who can afford golf or horseback riding are also sending a social signal – this shapes what we view as desirable.”

At the lower end of the scale: running, swimming, and football – sports with a low entry cost that still offer major health benefits.
In light of World Health Day, Prof. Dr. Heuse calls for greater awareness: “Health isn’t just about fitness – it’s about finding balance in a stressful everyday life. Those who constantly push too hard, compare themselves to others, or treat sports solely as an optimization project can easily lose the actual health benefits. Social pressure to have the ‘right’ hobby or the unrealistic ideal of a perfect body can create significant stress and actually backfire.”

Fortunately, there is also a trend toward more accessible team sports, such as martial arts, padel, or urban fitness.

“Health doesn’t start with a €500 outfit,” says Prof. Dr. Heuse. “True health comes from sports that integrate easily into everyday life, are practiced regularly, connect us socially with others – and simply make us feel good.”

About the Study
The study analyzed a total of 33,465 products across 86 different categories from eleven sports (golf, climbing, swimming, horseback riding, fishing, running, hockey, yoga, basketball, football, tennis) available in the online store of Decathlon. Items analyzed included clothing, basic gear, and accessories. Product prices and distribution were assessed. Status: April 2025.