Can I paste a Strava activity link directly into TrailShorts?

Yes! TrailShorts is a standalone web application. You can simply paste any public Strava activity link or URL directly into https://trailshorts.xyz to automatically extract GPX route data and generate 3D cinematic flyover shorts and reels. You do not need to install any browser extension or manually export files.

How do I convert a Strava activity into a 3D video short?

Either paste your public Strava activity URL directly into Trailshorts.xyz, or upload a GPX/FIT/TCX file. Then customize your 3D camera angles, map style, and atmospheric effects, and click Record Video to download an MP4 short ready for Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts.

Is Trail Shorts free to use?

Yes, Trail Shorts is 100% free with no subscriptions or paywalls. All exports include a clean Trail Shorts branding outro.

Are my GPX activities uploaded to a server?

No. All GPX parsing, 3D terrain rendering, and video capture occur client-side in your web browser for complete privacy.

About TrailShorts

The origin story, principles, and developer behind the free 3D trail flyover generator.

1. Why TrailShorts Exists

TrailShorts is an independent project created and maintained by Bibhuti Poudyal. As an avid cyclist and trail runner based in Kathmandu, Nepal, this project was born out of frustration with Strava's subscription pricing.

I only needed the 3D flyover feature to visualize, review, and share my outdoor activities, and paying $8/month just for that single capability felt unreasonable. So, I decided to build TrailShorts—a fast, free, and privacy-focused tool that gives every athlete access to high-definition 3D flyovers, video shorts, and aesthetic social posts without subscriptions, ads walls, or paywalls.

2. Privacy-by-Design Architecture

Because athletic and geographic data is deeply personal, TrailShorts operates on a strict client-side execution model:

Our Technical Guarantee: Your data technically never reaches our servers.

All GPX parsing, elevation profiling, and 3D WebGL flyovers run 100% inside your browser's JavaScript / WebAssembly engine.
Video exports (MP4 / WebM) are encoded locally on your machine and downloaded directly to your disk.
We do not run user account databases, profile tracking, or cloud video storage for standard studio rendering.

3. Developer & Accountability

Software built with independent accountability and direct transparency.

Bibhuti Poudyal

Software Engineer • Co-Founder @ TheValueCrew • MSc CS Graduate • Kathmandu, Nepal

I have been building browser tools, web applications, and open-source software since 2017. You can explore my personal journal, open-source projects, and writings on my website:

bibhuti.me (Personal Website)• GitHub• Strava• LinkedIn

4. Mapping & Geospatial Consulting

Architecting custom 3D map solutions, telemetry viewers, and route simulators.

Through building TrailShorts, I have developed deep hands-on expertise with Mapbox GL, MapLibre GL, OpenStreetMap (OSM), vector tiles & PMTiles, digital elevation data (DEM), and 3D camera flight simulations.

If your team is building a geospatial platform, outdoor GPS application, or custom mapping experience and needs architecture consulting or implementation support, feel free to reach out.

Contact via Email Contact Page