These headphones will make your workouts an absolute breeze
A workout isn't the same for everyone. You could be lifting in a gym, going for a long run, or out riding a bike, and that's why having the best headphones for your workout can add to your motivation to keep going. Whether it's music, podcasts, or audiobooks that propel you while breaking a sweat, all of these options are capable of delivering something inspirational when you're pushing yourself. So here are some of the best wireless headphones for working out.
Best overall: Jaybird Vista 2
For durability and audio customization, the Jaybird Vista 2 stand out as one of the best you can find. The original Vista earbuds were a big step in this direction, but this second attempt gets a lot of the otherwise missing pieces right.
An IP66 rating gives these a higher water and sweat resistance level for starters, making them well suited to any run or workout. Jaybird considers them to be waterproof, crushproof, drop-proof, and sweatproof, so it's reasonable to expect these earbuds to sustain a certain level of punishment. You may want to draw the line at swimming, though, since they're not made for constant submersion. Want to run in the rain? No problem, but best to keep them out of the pool or tub. Keep them clean after every exposure, and you likely keep them going for longer.
You'll want to keep them going because there's plenty to like. Jaybird added active noise cancelation (ANC) and improved passive isolation to enhance audio playback further. Assuming the fit is ideal for your ears, the resulting performance should be agreeable. By default, the Vista 2 lean toward a heavier sound, with enough bass to satisfy anyone looking for a little rumble in their tunes. The best part is that you can expand on that a whole lot more through the Jaybird app.
Aside from learning about its controls and features, the app also has an equalizer with a very active community of fellow users who create and contribute their EQ presets. You can sample and apply these to the Vista 2 earbuds at any time, effectively changing how they sound on a whim. So, if you like deeper bass to get pumped up in the gym, but prefer a more dynamic or neutral sound signature any other time, you can just select the preset to give you that. You're free to create your own as well, making these earbuds among the most customizable available.
Battery life isn't exceptional, but good enough for working out or going out on a run. You can expect up to six hours with ANC on (eight hours when off), and the earbuds get closer to those numbers because the default volume is pretty loud, to begin with. Did I mention that the case also has its own IP54 rating? Well, it does, giving it a certain level of durability unto itself, including a lanyard built into it. And you can track it through the app as well. Not to mention the extra 16 hours in battery life the case has, giving the earbuds an additional two full charges. You can also quick charge them via USB-C or lay them down on a wireless charging pad.
Pros:- Good audio quality
- Audio customization abounds
- Comfortable fit and rugged design
- Decent ANC and ambient modes
- Improved battery life
- Case is trackable and water-resistant
- Still just as bulky as before
- aptX support would've been great
$150 at Amazon $150 at Best Buy $150 at B&H
Rugged comfort and convenience
Jaybird's encore with the Vista 2 proves to be a rugged success with the package it offers to anyone wanting to listen.
Runner-up: Jabra Elite 7 Active
The Jabra Elite Active 75t and Elite 85t are still available, but they're not quite as feature-packed or ruggedized as these are. Plus, you get better comfort for longer runs and workouts. Jabra gave the Elite 7 Active an IP57 rating, which may not seem incredibly high; it is high enough to get you that extra bit of sweat and water resistance necessary to push harder while trying to meet a goal.
What makes them so exceptional is the combination of fit, comfort, and audio quality. Jabra addressed some design flaws from the 85t by building a pair that are lightweight and contoured to feel just right. You could probably wear these for hours and not always notice. Not that sound quality got a dramatic shift, as you still get a smooth, bass-heavy audio profile by default. Go into Jabra's Sound+ app and tweak the sound how you want through the onboard EQ, where you can also customize profiles for your tastes or mood.
ANC performance benefits a lot from the excellent passive isolation you get from the snug fit. However, you do have to customize ANC before you even start using it, the idea being you get a more personalized form of noise cancelation. It's pretty good, though your mileage may vary, especially if you're trying to drown out the background during a workout. Another advantage is that the onboard controls are actual physical controls, not touch-sensitive taps. That makes a big difference in consistency when you skip tracks or access a voice assistant.
Battery life is solid at up to eight hours per charge with ANC on. Leave it off, and you can probably stretch that out to 10 hours. The included case gives you another three charges for an overall total of about 30 hours. Charge them up via USB-C or place them on a Qi wireless charger.
Pros:- Excellent audio quality, including ANC
- Great fit and comfort
- Very good durability
- Reliable button controls
- Nicer color options
- Solid app support
- Call quality isn't as good
- Don't submerge them in water
$180 at Amazon$180 at Best Buy
An active player
The Elite 7 Active have all the trappings you'd want in a pair of durable earbuds, even if a couple of things aren't there.
Best value: Beats Powerbeats
True, it's not as vogue now to have any cables present when talking about wireless earbuds, but the Powerbeats are good value when you value key things, like fit, comfort, and battery life. The ear hook design is great for stability, especially when you're being active and don't want the earbuds to fall out at the wrong time. With stability, you often get better comfort, and the two do go together well here.
The IPX4 rating is modest by water and sweat resistant standards, but their design makes them easier to manage and clean. Wipe them down after a workout, and you should have these playing for some time to come. Apple's H1 chip is inside, and you derive no benefit from it as an Android user, but that's okay. If you're just looking for earbuds that stay firmly in place while you work out or go for a run, these will do just fine.
You do get Beats-style audio quality, so if you're into heavier bass, you'll feel at home moving to tunes coming through. There are no actual special audio treatments beyond that, though you can download the Beats app and see if there's anything there worth utilizing. The most important part is the fit itself, where the amount of bass is based on which ear tip you use to seal it into your ears.
Battery life can last up to 15 hours per charge, depending on volume level. It's just unfortunate that they charge via Lightning and not USB-C. The one saving grace is that a quick five-minute charge can get you up to 60 minutes of playback.
Pros- Bass-heavy sound
- Comfortable fit
- Modest water resistance
- Long battery life
- Good color options
- Not truly wireless
- No ANC
- Uses Lightning to charge
$115 at Amazon From $113 at Walmart
Still going strong
The Powerbeats still have a cable tying them together, but that makes battery life something you don't worry about.
Best battery life: JLab Epic Air Sport ANC
There are two things that JLab Audio got right about the Epic Air Sport ANC off the bat. First, while hardly proprietary, the ear hooks suggest that stability is as essential to the overall design as comfort is. Second, the number of ear tips in the box tries to cater to various ears and preferences.
Ear hooks aren't for everyone, but it's hard to argue with their ability to maintain a good seal since the weight and pressure are largely allocated to the hooks rather than the buds. These are flexible enough to find a happy medium in many respects, even if the fit doesn't feel perfect the first time. JLab includes two large-sized silicone tips, which are molded for taller inner ears. There are even medium sizes doing the same thing. There's even a CloudFoam pair included to truly deform into your inner ear's proportions for the tightest seal yet.
The IP66 rating gives them a pretty good level of durability from the start, though you will want to be careful not to expose them to too much water. You shouldn't have any issues with runs or workouts, provided you keep them clean after you sweat all over them. Whether dry or sweaty, the touch controls are finicky on these, which is a shame since physical buttons might have been the better option.
When it comes to listening to music with them, the default sound signature is a good starting point that you can tweak through the JLab Epic Air ANC app. While presets are limited, you can create your own for whatever sound you're looking for. Either way, you can expect the battery to go for a long while. Without ANC, the earbuds can play for up to 15 hours per charge, or 11 hours with it on. Those are truly impressive numbers at this stage. The case adds another 55 hours or 44 hours, depending on where ANC is set.
Pros:- Good audio quality
- Very stable fit with extra tips
- Ridiculous battery life
- Pretty good durability
- OK ANC mode
- Good app support
- Touch controls need work
- Mediocre call quality at best
- Case is larger than most
$73 at Amazon $100 at Best Buy
Ringing around your ears
JLab did right by the Epic Air Sport ANC in making them sound good, feel comfortable, and last a long time.
Best noise-canceling: Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
Samsung never ventured into ruggedized territory with its earbuds before the Galaxy Buds Pro but found the right time to do it. These earbuds are packed with features to make them stand out in the crowd, and that combination is better because of the extra durability that goes with it all. The IPX7 rating is by far the highest of any Samsung earbuds to date, letting you get in a solid run or workout without much fuss.
Though the design takes a lot from previous models, like the Galaxy Buds+ and Galaxy Buds Live, these are easily the best ones for running or working out. Small and nimble, they do have some extra girth to pack in ANC and all the other tech inside, plus more significant drivers to produce a bigger and clearer sound profile from the get-go. ANC has two settings (high and low) to drown out background noise, plus four Ambient mode settings, both of which can work together in unique ways.
If you need to talk to someone for any reason, Voice Detect lowers the volume of whatever you're listening to and turns up the Ambient mode once you start talking to hear the conversation. After 5-15 seconds, the audio comes back. If you want to adjust how the music sounds, your best bet is to use the six equalizer presets in the Galaxy Wearable app, even though there is no custom EQ to create your own.
Unfortunately, you won't get a ton of battery life to go with all that. Expect up to five hours per charge max when ANC is on, or eight hours if you keep it off. The included case gets you three extra charges, which you can charge via USB-C or wireless charging pads. So if you need some tunes for a run or workout and are low on battery, a quick five-minute charge can get you up to an hour of playback.
Pros:- Excellent sound
- Effective ANC
- Rugged water and sweat resistance
- Comfortable design
- Spatial 360 Audio
- Reliable microphone quality
- Lower battery life than before
- Finicky touch controls
- Needs custom EQ
From $170 at Amazon $170 at Best Buy $170 at B&H
Buds without the noise
Samsung did a lot for the Galaxy Buds Pro, ensuring they were durable enough to keep playing while you're active.
Best over-ear: Anker Soundcore Life Q35
Over-ear headphones may not be everyone's cup of tea for a workout, but if they're your preference, then you may like the Soundcore Life Q35 for their value and performance. They don't have a particular durability rating, but you can get away with using them while working out or being active. What helps these achieve that is the larger earcups that do a nice job of staying in place. While not ideal for runs (maybe on a treadmill), they should stay in the gym.
These headphones are very similar to the Soundcore Life Q30, with the only difference being that these support the LDAC codec for lossless playback on any devices or content that can play it. They don't have an ambient mode, but they auto-pause when taking them off, another feature that sets the Q35 apart. With ANC on board, you can cut off the world around you and focus on the work you need to do. Passive isolation is already excellent, so the ability to stay focused by drowning out background noise is just a button away.
It doesn't hurt that they sound good, too. The soundstage is vibrant, and if you find it to need something more, you can find it through the excellent Soundcore app. It has an equalizer you can use to tweak the sound however you want, plus over 20 presets to use on top of that. Even the ANC has three settings within the app, giving you a good level of control over what these headphones can do.
You also won't be charging them all that often. These headphones last 60 hours per charge with ANC off or up to 40 hours when it's on. So in the odd time you might find them dead and need a quick boost to listen to music for a workout, plug them in via USB-C for five minutes, and you'll get up to four hours of playback.
Pros:- Superb audio quality
- Outstanding battery life
- ANC support
- Great companion app
- LDAC codec support
- Affordable price
- Limited touch controls
- Bulky design
- Unclear long-term durability
$130 at Amazon $130 at Walmart
Playing nice for everyone
The Soundcore Life Q35 is of great value with everything they offer, including when it's time to get active.
Best on-ear: Adidas RPT-01
It's unique on its own that Adidas made a pair of headphones, but even more so that the RPT-01 are good enough to be on this list. The headband and earcups are covered with a fabric material to give them a softer feel all around. The rubber headband and ear cushions are removable, so you can wash them when they've gotten too dirty or sweaty, and while easy to remove, they are a bit tricky to put back on. It could be more elegant, but it's not often that you can take pieces off your headphones and clean them this way, either.
Adidas didn't engineer the best possible sound by default, but they do get loud, and there's plenty of bass, which is perfect if you're looking for that combination during a workout. The companion app has its own EQ with a bunch of presets you can choose from, as well as the ability to create your own for a custom sound. You could also edit the existing presets to tweak the sound just a little bit if you feel they sound right, but need a little work.
On-ear headphones aren't known to be the most comfortable, which applies to the RPT-01. You should be fine if you're only wearing them while working out, whereas prolonged periods may wear on your ears just by the sheer nature of the design. But if your workout is about an hour or so, you likely won't even notice.
Battery life is pretty good at up to 40 hours per charge, giving you several workouts before needing to recharge them again. And you can charge via USB-C for the odd time you need to top back up again.
Pros:- Distinct fabric design
- IPX4 water resistance
- Excellent playback controls
- Great audio with deep bass
- Long-lasting battery life
- USB-C charging
- Prolonged use can get uncomfortable
- Removable ear cushions can be tricky
Fabric for your ears
Adidas may be better known for other things to wear, but the RPT-01 proves these headphones aren't a fluke.
Best for Apple users: Powerbeats Pro
If you're an Apple user looking for something sporty, don't start with the AirPods; start with the Powerbeats Pro. It's not just because Apple owns all things Beats; it's because these earbuds are much better designed for activity. For example, the ear hook design gives them an edge in practicality for running because you won't have to worry about them falling off. Also, despite a more modest IPX4 rating, the more rubberized finish offers greater sweat and water resistance than the more exposed AirPods.
The secure fit also helps deliver better sound than the AirPods. With multiple ear tip sizes and the hooks' stability, it should be easy to find a fit that creates a tighter seal to improve the audio further. Once you do, you'll find these have a nice sound signature with richer and cleaner output. There's bass if you're looking for that, which is even better when you find the proper seal.
If you carry a Lightning charging cable around for your iPhone, you can use the same one to charge up the case for these earbuds. It's not a small case, making it less portable than others, but at least there's a sizeable battery inside. You can expect up to nine hours per charge, with 24 hours coming from the case. So with a quick five-minute charge, you can squeeze out about 90 minutes of playback.
And since these are Apple-made, you get the H1 chip inside for super-fast pairing, plus always-on Siri for hands-free access. Of course, Android users can still use the onboard playback and volume buttons to control those things with relative ease.
Pros:- Good audio quality
- Comfortable fit
- Rubberized finish for some durability
- Stable fit with ear hooks
- Responsive control buttons
- Decent battery life
- No ANC
- Bulky case
- Android users get less integration
$200 at Apple From $200 at Amazon $200 at Best Buy
Easy sporty style
The Powerbeats Pro are a better option than the AirPods if you plan to be active with these earbuds in place.
Best on a budget: Otium Bluetooth Headphones
They're not true wireless earbuds, as you do have a cable connecting the two sides, but this affordable pair from Otium is all about value when you need to break a sweat. The IPX7 rating does provide a higher level of sweat and water resistance than you might expect from something at this level, but either way, they are meant to be sporty, so you shouldn't be wary of working hard when wearing them.
Ear hooks ensure a snugger fit for the tips as they nestle into your ears. When they fit right, the seal should be tight enough to keep the best of the audio fidelity where it should be - in your ears. As you can probably imagine, Otium made these with more of a bass-heavy sound profile, so you can certainly enjoy that if you're into music that sounds better when there is some thump to it.
Onboard controls are good because they're physical buttons, so once you learn them, they stay consistent in doing what they're supposed to. Battery life is decent at up to eight hours per charge, though you will have to charge them up using a Micro-USB cable, which is one of the drawbacks you'll have to accept before you wear them for a run or workout.
Pros:- Good audio quality
- IPX7 water and sweat resistance
- Comfortable and easy fit
- Consistent onboard controls
- Affordable price
- Might be too bass-heavy
- Charges via Micro-USB
Playing nice for less
The Otium Bluetooth Headphones deliver a simple, yet effective design with good water resistance.
Best bone conduction: Shokz OpenRun Pro
Formerly AfterShokz, Shokz also changed its product names, so the OpenRun Pro is a successor of the previous Aeropex lineup and primarily aimed at an active crowd. These are worth a look if you want (or need) to free your ears entirely. Bone conduction headphones work by vibrations through your jaw and skull to capture audio so that you can hear it that way, only without anything coming into contact with your ear canal. Shokz continues to be a significant player in this particular category, and these are among the best you'll find.
It made these with decent IP55 water and dust resistance to fulfill the need to stay active, whether running, cycling, or anything else you want to do. The open design means you will hear your surroundings, so for runners who want to know their environment, it's hard not to wear these headphones. They spread out across the entire pad to help the skull absorb some of the audio output, and Shokz amped up the bass to give the OpenRun Pro a thicker sound. You can also download the Shokz app to utilize the onboard EQ. Often the toughest part of the audio spectrum to produce with bone conduction headphones, be mindful that you're not going to match what in-ear and over-ear headphones can do.
Battery life is good at up to 10 hours per charge. The onboard buttons aren't bad, mainly when it's time to play/pause or bring up Google Assistant. Shokz also addressed the design as far as the buttons go, making them easier to manage when making a call or turning them off.
Pros:- Comfortable fit
- Good audio quality
- Lower pad vibration
- Works with Google Assistant
- Solid battery life
- Water resistance
- Bass could use another boost
- Not ideal if you want noise cancelation
$180 at Amazon $180 at Best Buy
Free your ears, not the sound
Shokz give you a different look and feel with the OpenRun Pro bone conduction headphones to set your ears free.
Bottom lineFinding a pair of headphones to wear when you want to casually is easier than finding a pair that you'd like to use while working out or exercising. This is because they can't be too bulky, need to fit comfortably, and can't wiggle around too much. Not to mention they also need to repel as much sweat or water as they can.
Regardless of what you're ready to spend, this list has something for you. For most, the Jaybird Vista 2 stand out as our top recommendation for the sheer balance they give you. They aren't the best in every category, but when you look at the combination of physical design and audio performance with customization, it's hard to find that unique kind of value somewhere else. The Vista 2 are among the most ruggedized earbuds you can find and offer audio customization that few others can match.
That's not to say the other options here aren't worthy. You can still find great performance and comfort when wearing the Jabra Elite 7 Active or Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, so your options are varied and effective here.
Credits - The team that worked on this guide
Ted Kritsonis loves taking photos when the opportunity arises, be it on a camera or smartphone. Beyond sports and world history, you can find him tinkering with gadgets or enjoying a cigar.