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The best headphones for working out in 2025, tested and reviewed
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ShareWe may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Using headphones for working out can transform your frame of reference and put you in the mood to grind like nothing else. Of course, exercise can be strenuous and involve tons of movement, so its essential to find a pair that leaves you unencumbered by wires and fit securely enough that they wont be flung to the ground every time you move your head. In this list, well break down the best headphones for working outlike our best overall, the Apple Beats Fit Proand optimizing the circuit(s) with your favorite music and podcasts.Best overall: Apple Beats Fit ProBest splurge: Apple Powerbeats Pro 2Best on-ear: JBL Live 670NCBest bone conduction: SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2Best earbuds for running or cycling: Bose Ultra Open EarbudsBest budget: soundcore by Anker Sport X10The best headphones for working out are wireless, and Bluetooth requires power. And, in all honesty, the best headphones for working out are earphones, which is why they make up the majority of our selections. We picked pairs that offer at least five hours of single-charge battery life, and all of the earbuds include charging cases. Considering the battery life of your audio device is extremely important for keeping the flow goingyou wouldnt want the music to stop mid-workout. All of the selections on our list fit securely around the head or in the ear to ensure that they move very little or not at all during workouts. Everyday headphones made for walking or when youre stationary arent typically designed with extreme movement in mind. Sound quality was also a big factor in considering headphones for this list, and many of the earbuds we picked either come with a full and balanced sound profile or offer the option to adjust their sound via an app.Staying aware of the activity around you is always important while wearing headphones, especially if youre on the go. For our list, we picked headphones/earphones that either feature a transparency mode or are completely open-ear.Prepping for a workout is all about getting your mind and body in the right place, and apart from stretching, putting on the right clothes, and making sure you have a favorite water bottle and your fitness tracker, pumping up the jams properly can pump you up for a regular training run. One of our choices is sure to put a spring in your step the next time you go for a jog or lift weights. Best overall: Apple Beats Fit ProProsHigh-performance active noise canceling in a compact earbud designSecure design stays in ear when running or working outCompatible with dynamic head tracking on iOS devicesIncludes pocket-sized travel case and three eartip optionsConsNo wireless chargingiOS device required for full functionalityNot protected against water immersionNo multipoint pairingWhy it made the cut: The Apple Beats Fit Pro features a snug fit, balanced sound, and seamless iOS connectivity that make them easy to add to any workout routine.SpecsWeight: 0.2 ounces/earbud; 2.3 ounces with caseIP rating: IPX4 (splash-resistant)Battery life: 6 hours single-charge; 24 hours with caseWeve thoroughly reviewed the Apple Beats Fit Pro, and they take the best overall award on this list thanks to their sound quality, workout-friendly design, and fantastic iOS compatibility. They contain the same proprietary H1 chip found in Apples AirPods, which enables near-instantaneous pairing and steady, reliable connections to iOS devices along with battery life optimization. Like AirPods, the Beats Fit Pro earbuds are also fully compatible with iOS head-tracking and spatial audio features for simulated surround sound and immersive media listening. Their inclusion of active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency modes make them equally useful on the road and at the gym. We also love the range of colors these buds come in.The Beats Fit Pro earbuds are designed to sit securely in your ears using small rubber wings that rest comfortably against your outer ear along with three sets of variously sized ear tips. A quick optional setup step uses the earbuds onboard microphones to test your fit for sound leaks. Once your optimal fit is achieved, the Beats Fit Pro can endure almost every exercise imaginable, including rowing, without budging. Theyre some of the best running headphones around. The earbuds conveniently pocked-sized charging case brings their total battery life to around 24 hours. While it would be nice to see wireless charging in a product with this price tag, we appreciate that the case is chargeable via USB-C rather than Apples proprietary Lightning connector.While the Beats Fit Pro earbuds are unmistakably great for iPhone users, its unfortunate that the instant pairing and steady connectivity of the earbuds H1 chip arent extended to Android users. For their price, it would also be nice to see features like multipoint pairing and more robust weatherproofing rather than the same IPX4 rating found in standard AirPods. Still, if you work out regularly and are an iPhone user, youd be seriously hard-pressed to find a better in-ear option. If youre sold on the Beats features but are looking for an option with earhooks, the Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds below are a solid choice.Best splurge: Apple Powerbeats Pro 2Stan Horaczek ProsBuilt-in heart-rate trackingIncludes AirPods Pro features like Spatial Audio and transparency modeFantastic fit makes them nearly impossible to shake outFive tip options included in the packageConsExpensiveEarhook may chafe when wearing for several hours at a timeWhy it made the cut: With built-in ear hooks and five different tip sizes, these high-end buds fit perfectly and stay in no matter what kind of workout youre doing. SpecsWeight: 2.2 ouncesIP rating: N/ABattery life: 10 hours with ANC on (45 hours with charging case)When it comes to earbuds, nothing keeps them in place during a workout better than a full-on hook. Thanks to that form factor, the Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds reach over the back of the ear and lock in place for your workout. I had some of my fittest friends try them during exercises like burpees and pull-ups and no one could shake them loose (though they did get them very sweaty). The box includes five different tip sizes from which a hearing test helps you choose the right one for your specific ear holes.From a sound performance standpoint, the Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds offer many of the same qualities found in the AirPods Pro 2. You get active noise canceling, which works very well in most settings. Transparency mode, on the other hand, allows sound to come in from the outside world. Thats important if youre working out in public or running on a road. The transparency isnt quite as effective as an open-back or bone-conduction option that doesnt obstruct the ear canal at all (for those, see below), but its a closer battle than it seems.The onboard media controls rely on physical buttons, which are easier to press than touch-based controls during exercise. They can trigger some accidental inputs, though, until you get used to putting them in without accidentally hitting a button. Despite a few quirks, these are S-tier workout earbuds. They sound great. They fit impeccably. And the case isnt quite as chunky as the previous model, which felt like carrying a plastic Uncrustable around in your pocket.Best on-ear: JBL Live 670NCProsLong-lasting 65-hour battery lifeQuick charge gives 4 hours operation in 5 minutesAdaptive noise cancellingJBL app offers EQ and other advanced featuresConsVariable fit affects noise cancellation performanceIntegrated voice assistant button is easy to press accidentallyNo IP ratingWhy it made the cut: The JBL Live 670NC boasts full, energetic sound with up to a 65-hour battery life, making them perfect for spur-of-the-moment workouts.SpecsWeight: 9.3 ouncesIP rating: N/ABattery life: Up to 65 hours (50 with ANC)If you prefer the fit and look of over-ear headphones for working out, the JBL Live 670NCs are worth considering, thanks to their snug fit and battery life. They offer up to 65 hours of operation on a single charge (50 with ANC, but aided by auto play/pause), a full recharge in two hours, and a burst charge for four hours of operation in 5 minutes, so theyre almost always ready to go on a moments notice. The 670NCs also feature noise-canceling and ambient-aware modes fed by four noise-sensing mics, making them equally suitable for use in noisy gyms and on busy streets. We had inconsistent results with their noise-canceling abilities due to the on-ear earcups sealing differently on different peoples heads, so if the best noise-canceling is an absolute must in your book, youll want to consider noise-canceling over-ears or earbuds instead. But the 670NC is easy to pull off if you need situational awareness (or you can keep them on with Smart Ambient activated).Thanks to their 40mm drivers and Bluetooth 5.3, the sound of the JBL 670NC is energetic and immersive with a pronounced Pure Bass response that makes them great for listening to pop, dance, and other beat-heavy music while working out. The JBL Headphones app offers further sculpting of the 670NCs sound with EQ (including Personi-Fi 2.0 custom sound profile) and ambient-aware level adjustments, as well as access to battery life indicators and more. The headphones also feature their own onboard suite of control buttons. Still, they require a bit of studying to master, and the voice assistant button that covers the entirety of the left earcup is easy to press accidentally.Lastly, the 670NCs have no official IP rating, and while we didnt experience any technical issues from getting them a little sweaty, youll still want to be mindful of using them in heavy rain or other settings where they might get doused. If you absolutely need to work out with water-resistant over-ear headphones, the Treblab Z2 headphones are a uniquely light, comfy option with IPX4 and a long battery life that makes them great for taking on a run.Best bone-conduction: SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2Tony Ware ProsHighly sweat- and weather-resistant for high-impact workoutsOpen-ear bone-conduction + air-conduction design for improved situational awarenessLong battery life with quick charge functionConsLess bass response than a traditional earbud, but more than previous modelsNot completely silentothers may hear what youre listening toWhy it made the cut: The unique design of the SHOKZ OpenRun 2 keeps your ears fully open so that you can stay aware of your surroundings and your motivating sounds.SpecsWeight: 1.06 ouncesIP rating: IP55 (dustproof, waterproof for 30 minutes)Battery life: 12 hoursThe SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2 is an open-ear headphones that sports a unique design that allows you to listen to music and podcasts while maintaining full situational awareness. Unlike traditional headphone designs, bone-conduction headphones employ a clever hack of human anatomy to transfer sounds directly to the inner ear by gently vibrating your facial bones from the outside in, leaving the entire ear canal unobstructed. The typical drawbacks to this design include that they provide no passive or active noise cancellation, and the vibrations may be audible to others, so theyre not the best choice for quiet environments or taking public transit. Bone-conduction headphones also produce markedly less bass frequencies than traditional designs, making them less ideal for immersive music listening. However, the SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2 addresses this with a dual-driver setup it calls DualPitchusing bone-conduction on your temples for the highs and air-conduction (aka an 18mmx11mm racetrack woofer) pointed into the ear for the lows. On the functionality side of things, the SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2 packs about 12 hours of battery life on a single charge (now via USB-C for cord convenience) and boasts a substantial IP55 ratingprotected from dust and water but not impervious, so dont submerge them (the company makes the OpenSwim Pro for that). They have a comfy 30g Ni-Ti headband design with easy-to-use control buttons that make them particularly suited for running and cycling in traffic. The end result is a set that is pretty comfortable, even if you have a helmet, wear a snood, or have a ponytail. Youre not going to be bumping massive bass, but you can hear the beat and your surroundings. These arent for you if you want to be drowning in music, but theyre great if you want to keep an ear out for traffic. And you dont have to worry about them flying off if you hit a bump or turn your head really fast (a genuine traditional earbud issue). Oh, and Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint pairing lets you use them at a computer and easily pick up where you left off on your phone when its time to leave the house and hit the trails. Best for running or cycling: Bose Ultra Open EarbudsProsSituational awareness of the world around youGuaranteed to fitSurprisingly good bassConsAbsolutely no isolation or ANCSpecsWeight: 0.2 ounces/earbudIP rating: IPX4Battery life: 7.5 hours (4.5 hours with Immersive Audio enabled)It may come as a surprise that Bose, so well-known for industry-leading noise cancellation that shuts the world out, is also responsible for earbuds on this list that are purpose-built to do the exact opposite. Its new Ultra Open Earbuds have a unique design; instead of inserting buds into your ear canal, you wrap it cuff-like around the helix (the edge) of your ear, then settle the speaker end into the concha right above the ear canal. This lets the earbud play into your ear while leaving it exposed to outside noise, which is practical when running or biking or when you need to hear an instructors directions/motivation. Youll be able to hear obstacles like cars or other runners/cyclists coming behind you. And, unlike with bone-conduction headphones, there is ample bass response and a convincing Immersive Audio mode, so the sound appears far more outside your head. Getting the hang of how to properly wear the Ultra Open Earbuds takes a couple of tries. The buds are very flexible as you clip them on. This curled design ensures they can fit behind virtually any sized ear comfortably. Theres no worrying about which eartips will create a proper seal or whether theyll fall out of your ear, which allows you to grab and go and focus on whatever youre listening to or doing with your body. Once settled, the control buttons sit atop the body held securely behind the ear, allowing you push patterns to pause/play, skip/repeat a track, answer calls, toggle the Immersion mode, and adjust volume. And the polished exterior doesnt interfere with the style or fit of your jewelry, glasses, hats, etc. They grip snugly around our ears even during jogs without indicating theyd slip or fall off. That said, it never felt like the earbuds were pinching our ears or irritating them in any other way.Musically, Boses Ultra Open Earbuds are a great addition to the companys lineup. They support Bluetooth 5.3 (including AAC for iPhones) and, surprisingly, delivered a lot of bass, which we didnt think would be possible from earbuds that created no seal around our ears. Perhaps even more surprisingly, there was very little sound bleed; the directional drivers do an excellent job of beaming sound into the canal so that you could feel comfortable wearing these without worrying about disturbing someone doing their set next to you. But really where they excel is when youre actively exercising outdoors and want to enjoy that perfect playlist without sacrificing safety.Best budget: soundcore by Anker Sport X10ProsVery secure swiveling ear hook designControls customizable via a smartphone appTransparency mode enhances situational awarenessConsNo multipoint connectionANC performance is lacking in loud environmentsMulti-press controls are confusing and uncomfortableWhy it made the cut: The Anker Soundcore Sport X10 offers an incredibly secure fit and long battery life for runners on a budget.SpecsWeight: 0.2 ounces/earbud; 1.9 ounces with caseIP rating: IPX7 (waterproof for 30 minutes, not dustproof)Battery life: 8 hours single-charge; 32 hours with caseIf youre less concerned about noise cancellation performance, the Anker Soundcore Sport X10s are a great budget option for working out thanks to their secure fit and long battery life. They have a unique swiveling ear hook design that folds into a compact shape for storage in their charging case and unfolds to loop securely around the front of your earlobe, keeping them snug during even the most vigorous exercise routines. The Sport X10s also features a six-microphone array that provides relatively good phone call quality and an effective transparency mode. Still, their ANC performance falls short of quieting most common midrange sounds like speech, engines, and other urban noise.The Sport X10s sound profile is a bit muddy and heavy in the low-mids, but this can be adjusted using the EQ settings within the Soundcore app, which includes several presets to choose from. The app also allows you to rebind custom functions to the earbuds onboard control buttons, which are clicky and provide some nice feedback but tend to shift the earbud around with minor discomfort. You also dont get multipoint pairing with the Sport X10, but at their price point, thats understandable.You could take the best headphones to the gym, but you would probably have very sweaty ears and potentially ruin your precious investment. Heck, even some of the best Bluetooth earbuds might not be suited for more than a brisk stroll. So here is what to think about before clicking add to cart on the best headphones for working out and going all in on that next set:Sweat levelSweating is a normal part of any workout, but if you tend to sweat more than the average person while you exercise, you should consider a pair of headphones with an Ingress Protection rating of IPX7. Most of the headphones on our list are designed with at least IP55 level of sweatproofing. If you sweat a lot, youll probably also want to steer clear of over-ear designs, which can heat up your ears and exacerbate the problem (plus theyre less secure and less durable in general when it comes to high-output exercise).Workout intensityIf you do CrossFit or other forms of intense workouts, choose earbuds that use an ear hook or another type of external fastener to ensure that they dont go flying. We like the Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds for heavy exertion, though the soundcore by Anker Sport X10 is an inexpensive alternative.Charging capacityIf you use your headphones frequently, have limited access to charging capabilities, or just find yourself constantly running devices on low battery, picking a set of headphones with a high battery capacity can increase the likelihood that theyll be ready come workout time. The 10-hour single charge (45 hours with charging case) of the Apple Powerbeats Pro 2 is the best weve tested in the battery life department, though our budget pick, the soundcore by Anker Sport X10, also performs well.Situational awarenessIf you spend lots of time exercising near traffic or in busy locations, its important to maintain a good level of situational awareness for your own safety. Many headphones include a transparency mode that allows you to hear your surroundings in addition to your music, including the Apple Beats Fit Pro. For maximum situational awareness, nothing beats the open-ear design of bone-conduction headphones, and we prefer the SHOKZ OpenRun.FAQsQ: How much do headphones for working out cost? Headphones for working out cost between $70 and $200, depending on features. Q: Is it OK to sweat with headphones? Its generally OK to sweat with headphones as long as they were designed with some measure of waterproofing. The easiest way to tell if your headphones are waterproof is by looking for an IP rating in their specsanything above IPX4 should be just fine for everyday workouts. If you sweat a bit more than average, choosing something around IPX7 or higher might be safer. All of the picks on our list, except for the JBL Live 670NC, are water-resistant to fully waterproof. Q: Are bone-conduction headphones good for working out? Bone conduction headphones are very good for working out thanks to their open-ear design that keeps you fully in touch with your surroundings. Runners and cyclists are particularly good candidates for using bone-conduction headphones due to their proximity to road traffic, though anyone can benefit from the increased situational awareness that these designs provide. Q: Do noise-canceling headphones work in the gym? Noise-canceling headphones work in the gym to an extent, but not every pair of ANC headphones is created equal. The best headphones for canceling out human conversation and ambient music that weve tested include the Apple Beats Fit Pro, aided by a secure earplug design to deliver passive and active noise canceling at the same time. Best overall: Apple Beats Fit ProBest splurge: Apple Powerbeats Pro 2Best on-ear: JBL Live 670NCBest bone conduction: SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2Best earbuds for running or cycling: Bose Ultra Open EarbudsBest budget: soundcore by Anker Sport X10The best headphones for working out will fit securely in your ears or on your head while delivering great sound and a good level of situational awareness. We love the Apple Beats Fit Pro for its overall sound quality and secure fit. If you need the longest and most reliable battery performance, the Powerbeats Pro 2 and JBL 670NC are the best earbuds and over-ears for working out, respectively. And if you want the best situational awareness possible while cycling and running, the SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2 bone conduction headphones and the surprisingly immersive Bose Ultra Open Earbuds have our vote.
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