Best Workout Headphones We Tested and Sweated In (2025)

All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.

The Best Overall

Amazon

Best Cheap Buds

Amazon

Best Gym Headphones

Amazon

Best Open-Ear Earbuds

Amazon

“You’re always mooooving,” a parent friend once said in my direction, as he rapidly disappeared over the horizon. As a working parent of two kids, I … don’t disagree. Over-the-ear headphones are great if you primarily use headphones at work or for meetings, but for the rest of your life—working out, traveling, or puttering around your house pretending you're putting things away—you probably want something much more convenient and durable. In other words, you'll want the best workout headphones money can buy.

Since I started testing workout headphones many years ago, the sound, comfort, variety, and features have all improved dramatically. I pretty much always have a pair on or around me during the day, whether I'm biking on errands or following along to mildly embarrassing yoga videos on my laptop in my bedroom. If you also need the distraction of music or podcasts while scrambling up stony slopes or mowing your lawn, our top pick is the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 ($249). As a runner, I'm probably wearing the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 ($180) the most often.

Don't see anything you like? Check out our Best Wirefree Earbuds, Best Cheap Headphones, Best Bluetooth Speakers, or any of our other buying guides for more.

Updated June 2025: We added the BlueAnt Pump X, the Anker Soundcore AeroClip, the Chamelo Music Shield, and the Suunto Aqua. We also updated links and pricing throughout.

How to Get the Best Fit

To a certain extent, how the headphones sound matters less than if they fit correctly. They can be the best-sounding headphones in the world, but I will find them irritating if they won't stay in mid-run. So how do you keep your headphones from falling out? Here are a few tips and tricks that I've tried over the years.

Dial it in. To put on your buds, pull open your ear a little bit and give it a little twist to fix it in place. If they don't fit, don't be afraid to switch or mismatch ear tip sizes—one ear might need a medium tip and the other a small, for example, or one might need a foam tip while the other needs a plastic tip.

Accessorize. Still can't get it to fit quite right? There's a healthy market for aftermarket clips and wings to get your earbuds or AirPods to fit more securely.

Check the IP rating. Ingress-protection ratings give you a quick indication of the headphones’ dust- and water-resistance. If you’re running outside in the pouring rain, you need a higher IP than if you’re doing gentle calisthenics in the gym.

How We Tested

I wear headphones while working out in their intended environments—open-ear headphones while running or biking, over-ear and noise-canceling headphones in a gym, and swimming headphones in the pool.

I listen for sound quality with songs in a variety of registers (is it dating myself to say that my standards include Mariah Carey for higher registers and Beyoncé's Beyoncé for bass). I test durability by dropping them, sweating in them, pouring water on them, and leaving them in grody gym bags. I also test battery life by tracking how long it takes for one charge to last.

Next Up

I will be testing the Skullcandy Crusher E40 Active ($200).

Beats

Amazon

Walmart

Best Buy

Apple

As reviewer Ryan Waniata points out, Beats were the first sport-friendly buds to have the keys to the Apple iOS kingdom. But they work nearly as well for Android people as for Apple people, which makes the new Powerbeats Pro 2 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) our choice for the best overall workout buds. They have redesigned ergonomic ear hooks made out of nickel-titanium alloy, which are super comfy. They add previously omitted standards like good noise canceling and clear transparency mode, alongside impressive new additions like a savvy heart rate monitor built off the Apple Watch and spatial audio with head tracking.

The H2 chip makes the Powerbeats Pro 2 particularly convenient for sporty Apple heads, offering core features like iCloud device switching, Find My functionality, and hands-free Siri, among others. But there's a ton of new additions, including some for Android owners, like a dedicated app and one-touch pairing. New drivers and amplification provide the slick and punchy sound Beats fans love, and they also have excellent battery life. IPX4 water resistance could've been a little bit better, but these are still the best workout buds you can get right now—even at their relatively high price.

JLab Audio

Amazon

Walmart

Best Buy

JLab Audio

Workout buds are getting cheaper and better all the time, but JLab’s are really in a different class when it comes to build quality, sound, and value. The Go Air Sport are the sport version of the insanely affordable Go Air (8/10, WIRED Recommends), with a slight markup for over-ear hooks and a case with a cover. You just can't find buds with quality this good for this price, especially if you don't want to spend a ton on headphones that you will mostly be sweating and grunting in.

They come in a sturdy case with a built-in USB charger. The build quality is solid, and touch controls are not too sensitive; I don't accidentally turn off my music or turn up the volume whenever I adjust my hair or my hat. They have a solid 30 hours of battery life when you recharge them in the case—I wore them for two weeks for a few hours each day while running and walking my dog, and I didn't have to recharge them. And the Bluetooth connection is stronger than in other affordable earbuds that I've tried; I don't have to be wary about walking around a corner, away from my phone. As a bonus, they also come in a wide array of playful colors.

★ Alternative: I love two things about the Soundpeats Breezy ($26)—the low, low price and the ratcheting ear hooks that you use to dial in a precise fit. In a few ways, these fall short of their claims. Despite the directional speakers, there is considerable sound leakage (every time I put them on, my son starts saying, “Where is the music coming from?”), and even AI-enabled noise cancellation can only work so well with open-ear buds. Nevertheless, the battery life is fantastic, the fit is comfortable, and they sound so much better than comparatively-priced buds that they deserve a recommendation here.

BlueAnt

Amazon

Ever since I started lifting weights, I need a secure pair of over-ear headphones that aren't going to pop out on the floor when I pick up something heavy. The BlueAnt Pump X have an incredible standout feature, which are cooling gel ear pads that you can keep in the fridge and swap out with the regular ear pads so that you don't get too sweaty. These work remarkably well, even if your spouse does find the condiment drawer to be a very strange place to store gym equipment.

The single-button operation is intuitive and ANC is effective, causing my whole family to scare me repeatedly as I sat quietly on the floor doing laundry. Battery life was also startlingly long—I wore them for an hour or two a day for several weeks before the battery got to 50 percent. The regular ear pads are soft and comfortable, and they're also water-resistant, which is unusual in over-ear gym headphones. There's also a special X Mode which pumps up the bass; I could feel distinct vibrations with my bass standard, Beyoncé's “Partition.” The price is also pretty reasonable.

Soundcore by Anker

Amazon

Soundcore

Open-ear buds are probably the fastest-growing category of headphones. These are great if you like to exercise outside, because you can enjoy music or podcasts while remaining cognizant of your surroundings. Although I love open-ear buds, these are also a difficult category for me to fit because I have very small ears.

I hate the Soundcore C40i because they fall right off when I walk a half-block, but surprisingly, the AeroClip (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is, as reviewer Ryan Waniata puts it, hassle-free. Instead of a solid design, it has a high-tensile loop that lets the clip stay securely in my ear. The touch controls are responsive, and they sound great. I don't like that Anker has recently raised the price (the company has not commented on this), but overall the AeroClip headphones sound and feel much more expensive than they are.

Apple

Amazon

Walmart

Apple

I'm legally required to put these in the roundup. As we noted in our roundup of Apple's latest AirPods Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends), these little white drumsticks are ubiquitous. You're going to work out in these whether I tell you to or not, so you might as well read about them here. The two most significant differences from the previous version are that the case has USB-C charging rather than Lightning, which I've already found to be incredibly convenient. iOS 18 has new features, like letting you nod or shake your head in response to Siri, which is neat! Apple is also turning the Pro buds into a de facto hearing aid. You can take a hearing test, turn down noise that's too loud around you, and get hearing assistance when necessary.

Reviewer Parker Hall noted that while Apple declined to confirm the exact changes in the audio architecture, this latest version sounds better than ever before. They have an IP54 sweat- and dust-resistance rating, and the noise-canceling is top-tier. These aren't my favorite headphones to run in. The fit is comfortable, but it's one of the least secure headphones I've tried. But if you have an iPhone, these are by far the most convenient for everything from work calls to plane rides, and they'll be fine for quick workouts in the hotel gym.

★ Alternatives: Apple-owned Beats makes a lot of workout headphones. Beats' previous, and now cheaper, Powerbeats workout buds still work reliably after years of heavy use. For more Apple-compatible headphones, check out our complete guide to the Best AirPods.

Shokz

Amazon

Best Buy

Shokz

The biggest change to this year’s updated Shokz Openrun Pro 2 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is that they now charge via USB-C so there's no more hunting for the weird proprietary Shokz charger! The company's headphones use both air and bone conduction to transmit sound while you're working out outside. This year, it added a second air conduction unit, which improves the sound and further reduces the weird skull bone tingle that you get with bone conduction.

Reviewer Michael Sawh notes that the battery life is a little less than promised, the waterproof rating is lower than on previous iterations, and the sound is not quite as clear as promised. However, the bass and punch still come through. I've tried these as well, and the USB-C charging tips it over the edge for me—the build quality is also leagues nicer than other headphones of this type that I've tried, with buttons that don't stick or collect dirt. These are still my favorite headphones to run in, and they also work well underneath a helmet.

Amazon

REI

In a head-to-head comparison on the street, the OpenRun Pro 2 sound better than this year's Shokz OpenSwim Pro. The OpenSwim Pro's bone conduction Tech is also an earlier iteration of Shokz's bone conduction tech than the one that's used in the OpenRun Pro, so when I wear it running or walking, it just feels so much more buzzy. However, in an underwater comparison, there is no competition.

On my Mac, I just plugged the OpenSwim Pro in and dragged and dropped MP3s to load. It has a 32-GB capacity, so more than enough for a few Beyoncé or Taylor Swift albums. With swimming earplugs in, Taylor Swift's Reputation sounded remarkably clear and punchy, considering that I was in the pool swimming freestyle. These do come with more than a few caveats, however. You can't swim deeper than 2 meters, or you'll damage the mics. You can't go into salt water, so unless you are on the Great Lakes, these are useless for surfing or other ocean sports. You have to switch it to MP3 mode in the app on your phone, which is annoying when I am already sitting on the edge of the pool and need to run back and get my phone to switch it. There's also only nine hours or less of battery life, so I have to charge it every other day, or much more often than pretty much any other headphone on this list. However, I switch to lap swimming once it gets too hot to run outside in the summer, and I can fully submerge and dive in these in a chlorinated pool, which is fun and also surreal. They're perfect for keeping in your pool bag with your goggles, Adidas slides, and swim cap.

Chamelo

Chamelo is known for its electrochromic transition lenses—that is, you can transition the lens darkness by sliding a finger along the right arm of the glasses, from 63 percent light transmittance to a mere 17 percent. But you can also connect it to your phone to play music while you’re running, which makes these workout headphones as well. Long-press the power button and it will automatically enter pairing mode when you turn it on. As headphones, the battery lasts for about 6.5 hours, and be careful, because there isn’t a battery indicator light and I often forget if I’ve turned them on or off. Best to just charge it every night to be safe.

These are one-size-fits-all with a medium-large fit. I’m a small woman with a big head and these fit well. Chamelo sent me a pair in the black colorway, but they also come in orange, blue, and red lenses. The speakers sit right above your ears and are clear, if not as powerful and clear as the speakers on the Ray-Ban Wayfarers—I did have to turn it up louder than I would've liked while I was biking. The lenses are also not polarized (you'll need the Dusk Classic for that). But the fit is secure, the transition slider is responsive, and it’s very cool to be able to keep your sunglasses on as the sun starts setting and not have to take them off and find a way to store them mid-activity.

JBL

Amazon

B&H Photo

JBL's latest outdoor workout buds have one of the most important qualities for a pair of buds that will see all sorts of harsh conditions: They're relatively cheap! While they're virtually indistinguishable from their previous iteration, the JBL Endurance Peak II ($70), they have improved specs, like an IP68 compared to an IP67 dust- and waterproof rating (it can be submerged deeper and for longer) and startlingly long battery life—10 hours of playtime in the buds and an additional 40 in the case. I wore them for two weeks while running and walking the dog and never once had to recharge. The JBL app is easy to navigate, with quite a bit of customization available.

These are quite a bit bigger than some of our other picks, and even the smallest size of ear tip doesn't seal securely inside my ear. That made it a little difficult to evaluate sound quality as objectively, since if you can't seal them securely, you'll find the sound a little tinny. The buttons are a little more sensitive, and I often found myself skipping tracks by adjusting my hair or hat. However, if you want killer battery life and buds that you don't have to worry about even if you step on them, these are a solid pick.

Nothing

Amazon

We reviewed Nothing's conventional earbuds (8/10, WIRED Recommends) in April 2024. In September, the company released its first pair of open-ear buds. These are my favorite buds to work out in, especially since I live in rainy Portland, Oregon, and spend most of my time outside. They're remarkably slim and comfortable—only 19 mm wide. Unlike most open-ear buds that are round or stick out, these have a tiny directional driver that fits nicely inside your ear. They slip under a hat or a helmet easily, and I barely notice them at all.

They don't sacrifice sound quality for all that—well, any more than than any other open-ear bud does. These sound better than any other open-ear buds besides the Bose. They have automatic bass enhance; again, I test bass with Beyonce's “Partition” and these made my eyebrows rise. In two weeks, I didn't have to recharge them. They have about 30 hours of playback time and an IP54 water rating, so they're protected against water spray, if not direct immersion. I also like the thoughtful little design details, like a red dot on the right bud so you're not constantly puzzling over where the manufacturer has written the tiny R or L. My only concern is that the clear case doesn't clamp shut as firmly as it could, and I'm a little worried about throwing them willy-nilly into my bag.

JBL

Amazon

To stay safe on a run, you should remain aware of all the honking, revving, and talking around you. But sometimes, you want to shut the world out completely to enjoy your podcast, audiobook, or death metal playlist in perfect isolation. These buds can deliver both total awareness and total escapism—plus every notch in between—with a fully tweakable noise-canceling experience.The Reflect Aeros have many of the basic active noise-canceling features, like an ambient listening mode and the ability to turn ANC on and off. Additional controls live inside the JBL Headphones app, including the ability to adjust the level of noise canceling that’s applied when ANC is switched on, or to activate an adaptive noise canceling mode that automatically adjusts the level of canceling based on the noisiness of your surroundings. Touch controls can also be tweaked in the app, so you can decide what a tap (and double- or triple-tap) on either bud should control: volume, track playback, or ANC.They sound fantastic for music, movies, and voice (podcasts, calls, Zooms) with great bass and plenty of volume. The ANC is powerful enough to handle loud train rides and louder roommates. Fin-like wings keep the buds lodged into your ears; our reviewer wore them on two dozen runs with zero fit issues. The battery lasts eight hours, and that drops to six hours with the adaptive noise-canceling on. Our only quibbles are with the case; it’s USB-C (no wireless charging), and getting the earbuds properly aligned so they’ll recharge takes some practice. —Michael Calore

Sony

Amazon

In his write-up, WIRED associate editor Parker Hall says Sony redesigned these buds to fit roundly in your ear instead of the “mostly in but with a bit hanging out” style of previous iterations. These buds are too big for my ears, but if you have larger earholes, this is the one pair to rule them all.

The sound quality is excellent, the noise-canceling is better, and they pick up your voice more clearly than ever before. They also have wireless charging and an industry-leading eight hours of battery life. They might be a little bulky to use on runs, but they work just fine for lifting weights at home. I do have to note that Sony released an upgrade to these buds which are smaller, the Sony WF-1000XM5. But our reviewer Simon Lucas found that while they are smaller and more sustainable, the new buds struggled performance-wise, with not great sound, nor great noise cancellation.

We try almost every pair of new workout buds that come out. Here are a few that we also like that didn't quite earn a space above.

Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 for $180: In 2024, Jabra revealed that this generation of the Elite Active series would be its last, which I hate, because these are the best. They're comfortable, secure, sound amazing, have a pleasingly matte texture and a smart case. These will be obsolete in two years. I weep.

JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 for $100: This is the upgraded version of the Go Air Sport above, with hybrid dual drivers for better sound, a higher IP rating, better battery life, and active noise-canceling. You need a fully-sealed fit for ANC to be effective, which these don't have; I can still hear people at the gym when I'm lifting weights. Still, in every other way these headphones meet their promises and they do feel incredibly secure.

H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport for $200: These are a huge improvement of the first iteration of the brand's waterproof headphones, with a better fit, better buttons, and a better silicone finish. I also like the charging case! However, they're pricier than the Shokz and they use a proprietary charger instead of USB-C, which is annoying.

Anker Soundcore AeroFit 2 for $100: I like the price, the beautiful colors, and the sound is great. However, they are a little bulkier than some of our other picks and the fit a little less secure.

JLab JBuds Mini for $40: If I were spending my own money, I would buy a pair of JLab workout buds and be done with it. I raved about these cute, tiny buds last year and they are also in our Best Wireless Earbuds guide.

Suunto Sonic for $129: If you want to try a neckband-style headphone like the Shokz above, but for cheaper, Sawh also likes these lightweight headphones with a balanced sound profile.

Shokz Openrun Pro for $160: These headphones still work perfectly well and are smaller than the new version. There's also a mini version ($130) where the neckband is almost an inch shorter, which I like, because I am smol.

Speck Gemtones Sport for $70: These are cheap and fit well. The buttons are a little too sensitive, and the sound is noticeably fuzzier than most of our other picks, but they're not bad.

There’s nothing more annoying than carving out some time in your day for a workout, getting out the door, and realizing that you can’t listen to your fun podcast because your headphones are glitching out. These are the ones I hated.

Raycon Bone Conduction Headphones for $85: I have no idea if these sound good, because they pressed directly on top of my ear canal, where they buzzed the flesh of my eardrums and not my bones. It was unbearable.

Anker Soundcore C40i for $100: These fulfilled all my worst imaginings about open-ear buds; they fell out before I'd run a block down my street. I put them in my pocket and didn't wear them again for the rest of the run.

Oladance Sport for $180: These have a high IPX rating and sound decent. However, the neckband is way too big for me, so they keep falling out of place, and the buttons are hard to use and unpleasant to push.

1More Fit Open for $130: Don't buy these. They sound OK, but the buttons are so sensitive that I couldn't run for more than five minutes without a song skipping or the music turning off.

Suunto Wing for $200: These look very nice and come with a bunch of thoughtful accessories, like a carrying case and a charging holder. But they sound way too tinny for this price.

Suunto Aqua for $115: I wish Suunto would improve its software experience. The lifeguard at the pool actually yelled at me for lane-hogging while trying to get these to work. For that reason alone, I have to continue to go with the Shokz headphones above.

Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.

10% Off Wayfair Promo Code with sign-up

20% off Dyson Promo Code

$50 Off In-Person Tax Prep When You Switch From Your Tax Current Provider

Up to $500 off cameras at Canon

Save extra 10% Off TurboTax

Exclusive: Up To 50% Off 6 Boxes With Factor Promo Code

Best Workout Headphones We Tested and Sweated In (2025)

Related Articles