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 2
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.
Noise cancellation: yes |Transparency: yes |Battery life: rated up to 6 hours (ANC on) |Wireless Charging: yes |Water resistance: IPX4 |Bluetooth Multipoint: no |Works best with: iPhone |Ear tips: silicone (XS, S, M, L)
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.
Noise cancellation: no |Transparency: no |Battery life: rated up to 8 hours |Wireless Charging: no |Water resistance: IP55 |Bluetooth Multipoint: no |Works best with: Android, iPhone |Ear tips: silicone (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
These headphones rest on the outside of your ear instead of inside your ear canal. They use vibrations to transmit sound through the bones on your cheeks and jaw into your inner ear, according to the brand.
NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson used these headphones to run the New York City Marathon. She feels safer running with them because they leave her ears open, allowing her to hear nearby cars, bikes and pedestrians more clearly. I ve used these headphones while cycling to better hear cars on the road and other cyclists on bike paths, compared to wearing traditional in-ear earbuds.
These headphones feel very different to wear than traditional earbuds Swanson does not find them comfortable for activities outside of running.
Noise cancellation: no |Transparency: no |Battery life: rated up to 8 hours |Wireless Charging: no |Water resistance: IP67 |Bluetooth Multipoint: no |Works best with: Android, iPhone |Ear tips: n/a
Best battery life:
Beats Flex
Beats Flex
- Long battery life
- Competitive price
- No IP rating
These headphones have a wire connecting the two earbuds and connect to your device wirelessly via Bluetooth. NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown uses them on walks and while riding her stationary bike. They sit comfortably in her ears and don t fall out, even while she is sweating. The buds snap together magnetically, which automatically pauses any audio playing. They also have up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, the most of any headphones on our list.
They are water and sweat resistant, according to the brand, but do not have an IP rating like our other recommendations.
Noise cancellation: no |Transparency: no |Battery life: rated up to 12 hours |Wireless Charging: no |Water resistance: unlisted |Bluetooth Multipoint: no |Works best with: Android, iPhone |Ear tips: silicone (S, M, L, XL)
Most durable:
Jabra Elite 8 Active
Jabra Elite 8 Active
- Waterproof
- Small and portable
- Weaker noise cancellation
These Jabra earbuds are some of the most durable we ve tried I dropped them into a jug of water for over a minute and used them right away afterward with no issue. The earbuds are IP68 dust-tight and waterproof (up to a depth of about five feet), according to the brand. They sit still and comfortably in my ears during indoor and outdoor runs as well as floor stretches.
Between the case and the buds, they have a combined battery life of up to 32 hours. At my loud gym, with noise-canceling turned on, I could hear metal bars clanging and music blasting slightly more than when using other similarly-priced earbuds I ve tried.
Noise cancellation: yes |Transparency: yes |Battery life: rated up to 8 hours (ANC on) |Wireless Charging: yes |Water resistance: IP68 |Bluetooth Multipoint: yes |Works best with: Android, iPhone |Ear tips: silicone (S, M, L)
Most secure fit:
JBL Endurance Peak 3
JBL Endurance Peak 3
- Secure ear hook design
- Waterproof
- Huge case
- Lacks noise cancellation
These headphones have the most secure fit of any we tried, well-suited to high-intensity activity. Each bud has a large ear hook design that loops around the back of your ear. This design means each earbud is large, with the charging case in particular much larger than other options on our list.
They are IP68 dust resistant and waterproof up to a depth of about five feet. You can wear them while swimming and surfing, according to the brand while we didn t get a chance to use these earbuds on a beach, we did submerge them in water, and they worked as normal afterwards.
Noise cancellation: no |Transparency: yes |Battery life: rated up to 10 hours |Wireless Charging: no |Water resistance: IP68 |Bluetooth Multipoint: no |Works best with: Android, iPhone |Ear tips: silicone (S, M, L)
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How to shop for workout headphones
We ve tried dozens of excellent headphones fit for everyday use, but not all of them make for ideal workout headphones. Keep the following in mind as you shop for your next fitness headphones:
Earbud fit
Your earbuds need to fit your ears well, or else they will fall out during intense exercise, in our experience. All of our earbud recommendations come with multiple sized ear tips. Try a few different ear tip sizes and feel out which one fits best for you. 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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