After a long day of work, exercising can seem like a chore because it can become monotonous to pound the pavement or use an iron. Exercise headphones can be beneficial, particularly when combined with your preferred music, podcasts, or audiobooks.
Not all noise-canceling headphones and wireless earbuds are appropriate for a vigorous workout. We tested dozens of earbuds and headphones while running, biking, planking, stretching, lifting weights, and more—at home, at the gym, and outdoors—in order to determine which ones were ideal for fitness.
GO Ahead and SkipThe top 2024 fitness headphones | How to buy workout headphones | Why should I trust NBC Select?
Selected.
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Editor’s pickBeats Fit Pro
$149.99$199.99Best Buy
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Best for iPhoneApple AirPods Pro 2
$189.99$249.00Amazon
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Best budgetJLab Go Air Sport
$19.99$29.88Amazon
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Best open earShokz Open Run
$99.95$129.95Amazon
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How we picked the best workout headphones
While exercising, the NBC Select team tested many of the best wireless headphones available. We gave particular weight to the following attributes while choosing our favorites:
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Comfort
: We highlighted headphones that were comfortable to wear for hours at a time, did not fall out while exercising and included different sized eartips for a more customized fit. -
Usability
: Controlling your audio while exercising is a little trickier compared to the moments while you are working or commuting. As you re running it can be hard to change audio levels, skip a song or select a new podcast. We paid special attention to on-ear controls, trying out button and touch controls with dry, sweaty and gloved hands. -
Battery life
: We picked earbuds that lasted well beyond our workout and could charge quickly. -
Water-resistance:
Working out can be messier than normal everyday activities we paid close attention to the headphonesIP rating
, or how much it is protected against dust and water.
Related
We tried Apple, Sony and other top earbuds. Here are our favorites
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The best workout headphones in 2024
After much effort, a variety of big and small brands, including Apple, Jabra, Shokz, and others, were among our top choices. Below each suggestion, we include specifications like as water resistance, battery life, and more.
Editor s Pick:
Beats Fit Pro
Beats Fit Pro
- Great fit
- Easy button controls
- No wireless charging
Despite testing out dozens of competitors, the Beats Fit Pro has been my preferred workout headphone for years. The tiny, integrated wing-tips provide a snug fit without making the earbuds feel overly heavy, which is largely due to the fit. You may press the physical button on both earphones to start, stop, and skip songs. You can also hold down the button to choose between transparency and noise cancellation. Even with thick gloves on in freezing weather, they are easy to manage. I’ve found that these earphones link well with my iPhone and provide a comparable experience on Android using the Beats mobile app.
The case lacks wireless charging, in contrast to many of its competitors in this price range.
Bluetooth multipoint: no; wireless charging: no; water resistance: IPX4; transparency: yes; noise cancellation: yes; battery life: rated up to 6 hours (ANC on); and compatibility: Android, iPhone Silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
Best for iPhone:
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C)
Apple AirPods Pro 2
- Versatile
- Great noise cancellation
- Not for Android users
- Pricey
Because AirPods Pro fit comfortably and securely in our ears during exercises, including both indoor and outdoor gym routines, the NBC Select staff adores them for both work and daily use.
Excellent sound quality and noise cancellation are features of the earbuds. In my experience, music and conversation at the gym abruptly stop when noise cancellation is activated. I can plainly hear my surroundings when I turn on transparency mode, which is useful when I’m jogging outside because I can easily keep an ear out for other runners and vehicles. To ensure a proper fit, these second generation versions come with numerous ear tips in the box.
Water resistance: IPX4 | Bluetooth Multipoint: no | Best with: iPhone | Ear tips: silicone (XS, S, M, L) | Transparency: yes | Battery life: rated up to 6 hours (ANC on) | Wireless Charging: yes
Best budget earbuds:
JLab Go Air Sport
JLab Go Air Sport
- Competitive price
- Secure fit
- So-so sound quality
The quality of these earbuds, especially while running outside, shocked me considering they cost $30. In my opinion, they have a really secure fit because to their huge ear hook design that wraps across the back of your ears. The fit was comfortable and snug, but not so tight that I couldn’t hear other runners and traffic sounds.
They lack wireless charging, transparency, and noise cancellation, just like the majority of earbuds in this price range.
No noise cancellation, no transparency, an 8-hour battery life rating, no wireless charging, IP55 water protection, no Bluetooth multipoint, compatibility with Android and iPhone, and silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
Best open ear headphones:
Shokz Open Run
Shokz Open Run
- Open ear design
- Safely hear surroundings
- Can be uncomfortable
- Charges with specific cable
Instead of resting inside your ear canal, these headphones sit on the exterior of your ear. According to the brand, they use vibrations to send sound into your inner ear through the bones in your jaw and cheeks.
Lauren Swanson, editorial director of NBC Select, ran the New York City Marathon wearing these headphones. Because they keep her ears wide, she can hear passing automobiles, bikes, and pedestrians more clearly, which makes her feel safer when running with them. Compared to conventional in-ear earbuds, I have found that these headphones improve my ability to hear other cyclists on bike paths and cars on the road.
Compared to conventional earbuds, these headphones feel significantly different to wear. For activities other than running, Swanson does not feel comfortable wearing them.
No noise cancellation, no transparency, an 8-hour battery life rating, no wireless charging, IP67 water protection, no Bluetooth multipoint, compatibility with Android and iPhone, and no ear tips
Best battery life:
Beats Flex
Beats Flex
- Long battery life
- Competitive price
- No IP rating
The two earbuds on these headphones are connected by a wire, and they pair wirelessly with your device over Bluetooth. Nikki Brown, an SEO editor for NBC Select, uses them when she goes on walks and rides her stationary bike. Even when she perspires, they remain in her ears and fit comfortably. Any music that is playing is automatically paused when the buds click together magnetically. Additionally, they feature the longest battery life of any headphones on our list—up to 12 hours on a single charge.
The brand claims that they are perspiration and water resistant, but unlike our other suggestions, they lack an IP classification.
No noise cancellation, no transparency, a 12-hour rated battery life, no wireless charging, no water resistance, no Bluetooth multipoint, compatibility with Android and iPhone, and silicone ear tips (S, M, L, XL)
Most durable:
Jabra Elite 8 Active
Jabra Elite 8 Active
- Waterproof
- Small and portable
- Weaker noise cancellation
I submerged these Jabra earphones in a jug of water for more over a minute and utilized them immediately without any problems, making them some of the most resilient we’ve tried. The brand claims that the earphones are waterproof (down to around five feet) and IP68 dust-tight. During floor stretches and both indoor and outdoor runs, they remain motionless and comfortable in my ears.
The combined battery life of the casing and the buds is up to 32 hours. I could hear metal bars clanging and music blasting a little louder at my noisy gym with noise-canceling set on than I could with other earbuds of the same price I’ve tried.
Yes to noise cancellation; yes to transparency; yes to wireless charging; yes to water resistance (IP68); yes to Bluetooth multipoint; best compatible with: Android, iPhone Silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
Most secure fit:
JBL Endurance Peak 3
JBL Endurance Peak 3
- Secure ear hook design
- Waterproof
- Huge case
- Lacks noise cancellation
Among the headphones we tested, these fit the most securely and are ideal for vigorous exercise. Every bud features a sizable ear hook that encircles the rear of your ear. Each earbud is huge due to this design, and the charging case is significantly larger than the other alternatives on our list.
They are waterproof to a depth of roughly five feet and IP68 dust resistant. Although we didn’t get a chance to use these earphones on a beach, we did dip them in water, and they functioned normally after that. The brand claims that you may use them while swimming and surfing.
No noise cancellation; transparency; ten-hour battery life; IP68 water resistance; Bluetooth multipoint; compatibility with Android and iPhone; silicone ear tips (S, M, L);
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How to shop for workout headphones
We’ve tested dozens of great headphones that are suitable for daily usage, but not all of them are the best for working out. When purchasing your next pair of exercise headphones, have the following in mind:
Earbud fit
According to our experience, if your earphones don’t fit properly, they will fall out when you’re exercising vigorously. Every one of our suggested earbuds has ear tips in various sizes. Determine which ear tip size works best for you by trying a few different sizes. If you want to avoid worrying about a loose fit all together, look into headphones that fit more securely via wingtip or ear hook.
Water and dust resistance
Water and dust resistance is denoted by an earbuds IP (ingress protection) rating. IP ratings contain two numbers. The first digit represents intrusion protection against dust and debris. The second digit denotes water resistance.
Many workout headphones have an IP rating of IPX4, which indicates protection against splashing water. Earbuds meant for swimming or water sports should be fully waterproof, with a rating of at least IPX8.
Automated noise canceling and hear through
Noise cancelation and hear through (sometimes called transparency) are both very useful features to have in any kind of headphones. Noise canceling can block outside noise like chatter or music at the gym. Hear through lets in sound and is useful for outdoor activities like running, when you may want to hear nearby traffic or pedestrian noise more clearly.
Headphones with noise canceling and hear through modes are typically more expensive than models without those features.
Why trust NBC Select?
I am areporterat NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including recent stories onfitness trackers,walking shoesandwireless earbuds. For this piece, I tried over a dozen headphones and earbuds while doing different fitness activities. I spoke with other members of the NBC Select team about their experiences with headphones and earbuds they ve used for fitness.
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