I've been testing the best workout headphones for almost a decade, and know that the difference between a good and a great set is how well they stay in place during fast-paced, high-intensity or sweaty workouts.
Of course, they need to sound good and be durable enough that you won't accidentally damage one of the buds if it drops on the floor or gets wet during a rainy outdoor run or training session.
That's why I've picked the Jabra Elite 8 Active as the best workout headphones for most people. They're extremely comfortable, and I rarely need to adjust the fit thanks to the clever ShakeGrip materials and design that keep them in place.
But if you're looking for something that won't break the bank, I've been using the Beats Solo Buds as my daily set for the past few months. Other Beats sets are only really designed for iPhones, but these work just as well with Android too.
But the best workout earbuds are the ones that suit your training the most. That's why I've rounded up a range, from bone conduction sets for running to Apple and Android-specific headphones for access to your favorite digital assistant.
The quick list
The Jabra Elite 8 Active are durable, long-lasting, and come with the brand's ShakeGrip design to stop them falling out mid-workout. Plus, the noise cancellation works well and they sound great across a variety of genres.
Read more below
The JLab Epic Air Sport ANC (2nd Gen) are some of our favorite budget-friendly workout earbuds. The ear hooks keep them firmly in place, and the reasonably-priced buds even come with noise cancellation and 15-hour battery life.
If you want a set of workout headphones that'll sound good, last long enough to see you through your training, but won't break the bank, the Beats Solo Buds are your best bet. They're a comfortable, enjoyable, but no-frills set of earbuds.
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The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 bone conduction headphones use vibrations on your cheek to generate audio, keeping your ears open so you can hear your surroundings. Plus, the wrap-around design makes them a firm favorite for most runners
The over-ear hooks on the Beats Powerbeats Pro mean they're not going to shake loose, even during high-intensity exercise. You also get access to the brand's famously bass-y audio and Apple's H1 chip for 'Hey Siri' voice commands.
Apple's flagship earbuds aren't designed for exercise, but we found they easily stayed in place during our workouts. Plus, you get excellent integration with other Apple devices, and are a great choice for everyday use when you're done training.
Google's Pixel Buds Pro 2 are the AirPods Pro equivalent for Android owners. The earbuds play well with Google Assistant and Gemini, the noise cancellation is very effective, and the transparency mode is great for when you're training outside.
These are the ideal choice if you're looking for a set you can keep in your gym bag for sweaty workouts without needing to put them on charge after every session. Plus, the sound quality is actually pretty good for the price.
The best workout headphones you can buy today
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Best workout headphones overall
After using the Jabra Elite 8 Active for several months to listen to music and podcasts during high-intensity exercise, gentle walks, and muscle-building workouts, we can confidently say that they're the best workout earbuds for most people.
Like their predecessor, the Jabra Elite 7 Active, the buds come with Jabra's ShakeGrip design, which uses a blend of materials and weighting to keep them in place. Even during high-impact moves like burpees, they never fell out of our ears.
Plus, we liked that they have physical buttons on each earbud for pausing playback, switching noise cancellation modes, and adjusting the volume. This is much easier to use during exercise than touch-based controls found on other earbuds, like the Apple AirPods Pro.
The IP68 water resistance rating means that they'll withstand even the sweatiest workouts or wettest outdoor runs, making them ideal for however you prefer to train. Though we did find that the case's interior can get a bit dirty over time.
- Read our full Jabra Elite 8 Active review
Best budget workout headphones
The JLab Epic Air Sport ANC (2nd Gen) are ideal if you're looking for a set of workout headphones on a budget. We were impressed with how good these sub-$100 earbuds sounded, and at the case's mammoth 70-hour battery life.
And if you'd prefer not to rely on clever designs to keep them in place (like with the Jabra Elite 8 Active) the ear hooked design should suit you better. We found that they were comfortable for long periods, so should be good for most workouts.
However, we were less impressed with the ANC, which was noticeably worse than on the first-generation Epic Air Sport ANC. That doesn't mean it was terrible — it did filter out background noises pretty well — but you don't expect worse performance after an upgrade.
Still, the earbuds survived everything we threw at them and, because you rarely need to charge them, the fairly dated USB-A charging port was less of an annoyance than it really should have been, given most now use USB-C cables.
- Read our full JLab Epic Air Sport ANC (2nd Gen) review
Best value workout headphones
You don't get noise cancellation or a charging case, but the Beats Solo Buds are easily the best value workout headphones, whether you use an iPhone or Android smartphone, as the small buds are incredibly comfortable and sound great.
After wearing them for several weeks, we even began to reach for them over the Jabra Elite 8 Active. Of course, without sweat protection or noise cancellation, from a technical perspective, there's no competition between the two.
However, on a more practical level, the lack of battery means that the carry case is incredibly small and lightweight (the case weighs 22g, each bud is just 5.7g), so the Solo Buds are ideal if you need something to quickly throw in your bag, without compromising on sound and comfort.
The fit was pretty good too, and the buds are designed to form a seal around the inner part of your ear and passively block noise from getting in the way. It's not entirely effective — you can still hear passing traffic and people talking — but it's not distracting either.
Of course, the main downside here for workouts is that the Solo Buds don't last as long as the alternatives and the lack of charging case means you can't give them a quick boost without another charger to hand. Plus, we found that the quoted 18-hour battery life was more like 15 hours in practice.
That's still long enough to see you through all but the longest workouts, and we were impressed at how well they stayed in place during walking, high-intensity workouts, and strength training sessions. In fact, the only time we had to adjust the fit was during a particularly hot and sweaty walk during a heatwave.
- Read our Beats Solo Buds hands-on
Best workout headphones for running
The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 are the follow up to our former favorite running headphones, the OpenRun Pro. These bone conduction headphones sound great, despite the fact they use vibrations on your cheeks to transmit audio.
While out running with the OpenRun Pro 2 (or most Shokz headphones for that matter), we found that the fit was comfortable and secure, so you won't need to continually fiddle with them and can focus on your training.
The downside to the headband-style design is that you can't adjust the fit. However, there's a smaller edition (OpenRun Pro 2 Mini) that has a shorter band for improved fit. But we were impressed with the comfort during runs, bike rides, and yoga sessions.
You don't get a charging case, but we found that the battery would last around 12 hours between top-ups, which should see you through most workouts. That said, if you like to dial up the volume to max, expect closer to 10 hours of power.
They can survive sweaty workouts and light rain, but if you plan to train in the wet or want a more multi-functional set that'll cope with a dip in the pool, the OpenSwim Pro are a good alternative, and they have onboard MP3 storage.
- Read our full Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 review
Best workout headphones for the gym
The Beats Powerbeats Pro retain the brand's impressive bass performance, but also come with Apple smarts thanks to the H1 chip that also powers the AirPods Pro. So, you get great noise cancellation and tight integration with your iPhone.
They do still work with Android smartphones, but you miss out on the "Hey Siri" wake-word activation, which is a large part of the appeal. Well, that along with the ear-hook design, which we found kept them secure during all our workouts.
Although, we did find that they were a bit fiddly to put in if you have longer hair, as the hooks get a bit tangled. But once they're in place, they're not going to fall out. And when you finish your training, the buds integrate with Apple's Find My platform, so you can locate them if you accidentally leave them at the gym.
Beats' reputation for heavy bass precedes it, but we were happy to find a more well-rounded sound profile on the Powerbeats Pro. Despite the similarities with Apple's flagship earbuds, the battery life is a more respectable 9 hours per bud.
- Read our full Beats Powerbeats Pro review
Best workout headphones for iPhone
The Apple AirPods Pro 2 have almost the same tech as the Beats Powerbeats Pro, but with Apple's much-copied stemmed design. They've become the go-to workout headphones for many iPhone owners because they're pretty versatile.
If you're after a set that can see you through work meetings, phone calls, catching up on podcasts, and workouts, the AirPods Pro are an ideal choice. They're not as durable as the Jabra Elite 8 Active (the AirPods Pro have an IP54 rating vs the Elite 8 Active's IP68 dust and water resistance), but they won't break easily either.
Plus, while testing these earbuds, they stayed neatly in place during workouts (although we did occasionally need to adjust the fit). The only time they did fall out was while doing some gardening, where they fell directly into the dirt, but, after a quick wipe down, were otherwise unaffected.
Though they're less suited to high-impact moves like burpees, as we frequent had to re-twist them back in place. And for short or casual runs, they're a good option, but if you plan to run regularly, a dedicated set of running headphones will probably be a better choice.
And if you're already embedded in Apple's ecosystem, the AirPods Pro quickly connect to, and share settings with, all your devices, and the Spatial Audio feature is an interesting way to listen to music. The only downside is the battery life; 6 hours compared to the 8 hours you get with the sub-$50 JLab Go Air Pop.
The main reason we don't rate these higher in the list of best workout headphones is mostly due to the design — these aren't made for sports and they're not as secure fitting as you'd need for all high-intensity workouts. But for general use with your iPhone, including yoga, HIIT sessions, and casual runs, they're a great choice.
- Read the full Apple AirPods Pro 2
Best workout headphones for Android
As Google continues to develop the Pixel-branded ecosystem of devices to rival Apple's iPhone and AirPods, it's no surprise that the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are the best workout headphones for Android, even if they are targeted squarely at owners of the brand's range of Pixel phones.
The key upgrade from the first-generation Pixel Buds Pro is the addition of Google Gemini, the brand's generative AI model. As it's still fairly new, it doesn't replace the older virtual Google Assistant, although in theory it can. But in practice, we found that it doesn't always offer the most accurate answers.
Features like voice assistants and hands-free controls are useful, but not essential when you're working out. Instead, it's more important that they stay in place as you exercise. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 have a new wing on each bud to help them lock into your ears.
This would be great, but it doesn't quite reach the inner-top part of your ear, so we still found a bit of adjustment was needed to keep them in position for optimal noice cancelation. Google also claims to have improved the ANC, but it's hard to really tell the difference here between the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and the original.
However, it's still effective, blocking out most noises bar some higher frequency sounds like crying babies and emergency service sirens. The sound quality matches the Pixel Buds Pro, although you may want to tweak the EQ to your preferences, as the default setting is a bit heavy on the lower end.
One other thing they have in common with the AirPods Pro is that they're not nessecarily the best workout headphones if spend hours training every week, as the fit isn't quite optimized for high-impact exercise. But if you're after a versatile option to wear at the gym and at the office, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are a great choice.
- Read our full Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review
Best workout earbuds under $50
If you're after a good set of workout earbuds that you can chuck in your bag without worrying about them too much, the JLab Go Air Pop are a great option. The buds cost just $25, but can last up to 8 hours, are IPX4-rated, and come in 5 colors.
But unlike many other cheap workout headphones, these ones actually sound good, so you won't get distracted by muffled audio or low volume songs. We were impressed how comfortable they were to wear over long periods too.
At this price, it's hard to demand perfection, but if you're hoping the Go Air Pop could pull double duty as workout earbuds and for joining virtual meetings, we found that the call quality wasn't good enough to use them reliably for calls.
However, if you're after a spare set of buds you can grab in emergencies or as a gym set that won't break the bank if you need to replace them after a dumbbell accidentally lands on one, the Go Air Sport are definitely one of our top picks.
- Read our full JLab Go Air Pop review
How to choose the best workout headphones
There a lot of Bluetooth workout headphones out there, so it can be challenge to decide between them all. However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind that'll help narrow your options down to the right ones for your needs.
Firstly, it's vital that they stay in place during your exercise sessions. Some have ear hooks to physically hold them down, but others rely on clever engineering, a range of ear tips, or a specific set of materials to stop them falling out.
You also want them to survive some degree of moisture. If you plan to get sweaty, then you'll need a set rated to at least IPX4 for water resistance. But for outdoor workouts with a chance of rain, it's best to aim for an IPX7 rating.
Importantly, they also need to last the length of your workout. If you're doing short, high-intensity sessions, then you may only need an hour of battery. But, with the right case, you may only need to recharge them every couple of weeks.
If long runs are more your thing or you're training for a marathon, you'll need a long-lasting set, like the Shokz OpenRun Pro, which are specifically designed with long distance outdoor runners in mind and last up to 10 hours.
And, finally, how loud do you like your workouts? If you don't mind some background noise at the gym, then a set of passive noise-canceling headphones should do the job, but most of the best workout earbuds have active noise cancellation (ANC) instead.
Earbuds with ANC cancel out the sound before it even hits your ears, so they're ideal if you want to zone out to your favorite tracks and focus on your exercise. But you may also want to hear traffic when you're out and about, so choose a set with a transparency mode too, which cancels most, but not all, noise.
How we test the best workout headphones
Before investing your money in a set of workout headphones, you want to be sure that they do what they claim and are comfortable enough to wear during your training. That's why we put each set to the test before including it in the guide.
I've been testing headphones for almost ten years and know the most important areas to check out before recommending any pair. You really don't want them to fall out and get lost or need to continually adjust them in your ears.
So, we wear the headphones across a range of training styles, including high-impact runs (which can cause a lot of vibration and movement), intense fast-paced workouts and weightlifting sessions to see how they fare.
If they easily stay in place, they glide through this test, but it's not a write off if they do move — headphones that struggle with runs may still make great weights companions — so we move into other areas, like comfort and sound.
For longer sessions, including runs, yoga classes and extended gym sessions, we check that the headphones are actually comfortable in your ears and don't leave you with ear pain or pressure headaches, which can happen with some sets.
Likewise, you don't want them to run out of battery mid-session, so we check how the battery life stacks up to the manufacturer's specs. For earbuds, we see how long they last out of the case and confirm how long the case can boost that.
When it comes to sound quality, even the best workout headphones aren't going to be a match for the best audiophile headphones in terms of clarity and detail. But that doesn't mean you need to put up with poor or low quality audio.
We use a consistent playlist of music to help compare the headphones to other sets we've tested, which includes a variety of motivational dance music, dynamic rock songs, and everything in between, including the best new workout music.
Also tested
The workout headphones in the guide above aren't the only ones we've tested. We regularly try out workout earbuds so that we can recommend the top options that are worth spending your hard-earned cash on.
However, there are several other good options if you're after a bit more choice. These are the earbuds we've tested that didn't quite make the cut.
FAQs
What do IP ratings mean?
If you've been hunting for new workout headphones, you may have noticed that each set has an IP rating for water resistance. This stands for Ingress Protection, and it's a measure of how well the buds can stand dirt and water.
There's a standard format to the rating — IPXY — where X refers to the level of dust protection and Y relates to the device's water resistance. The dust protection runs from 0 to 6, while water ranges between 0 and 9.
Unless you're working out in very dusty environments, the dust protection is less relevant and most brands don't even test them against that part of the standard. Instead, you'll want to pay attention to the water rating.
Headphones with an IPX4 rating are protected against splashes of water, so will cope with sweaty workouts. However, if you want to run in the rain (or are worried about getting caught in a storm) then aim for a set with an IPX7 rating.
This means they can be submerged in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes without damage. That doesn't mean you should take them swimming (you'll want some waterproof headphones for that) but dropping them in a puddle isn't going to do them any harm.
Should you use over-ear headphones or earbuds for exercise?
Our roundup only includes workout earbuds, but it's not uncommon to see some people train with over-ear headphones instead, especially at the gym. So, which should you wear for exercise?
Ultimately, it comes down to preference, but there are a few factors to consider. Over-ears use an adjustable headband to keep them in place, so they're not likely to move about, especially if you're lifting weights.
Even just a few years ago, in-ear buds weren't really designed with exercise in mind, so they'd often fall out or need a lot of fiddling to keep them in place. But the best workout headphones we've included here all have ways to overcome that challenge.
Some, like the Beats Powerbeats Pro, have ear hooks to hold them securely. Then there's the Jabra Elite 8 Active which come with the brand's ShakeGrip design, which uses a blend of internal weighting and grippy materials.
But many people also feel like a larger set of headphones will have longer battery life and sound better too. However, the performance gap has shrunk, so you can get impressive noise cancellation and battery life from workout earbuds now.
The downside to over-ears is that they're generally not designed for sweaty exercise. Many have leather ear pads, and these quickly wear with repeated movements and contact with sweat. You can replace them, but it's not ideal.
The earbuds are also lighter, so you're less likely to notice you have them in, while over-ear cans can start to press against your skull and contribute to tension headaches, unless they're specifically designed for comfort. Although that usually makes them less durable.
Can you repair workout headphones?
Generally, no. This is partly due to the intricate designs required to make small earbuds packed with batteries, sensors, and headphone components. But it's also because most brands don't prioritize repairability.
Many sets, like those in our best workout headphones roundup, are durable, so shouldn't get easily damaged. And since most offer some degree of water resistance, a bit of sweat or light rain shouldn't cause you any problems.
So any significant damage is going to come from accidents, like dropping a weight onto an errant bud. However, you may notice a drop in battery life in the longer-term, which you usually can't do anything about.
The only way around this would be to pick up a set of the Fairphone Fairbuds, which may be the world's most repairable earbuds since you can replace seven parts, including the battery and outer shell.
They're currently only available in the EU and UK, and we're still waiting on details of any US release. But we hope Fairphone will bring these more sustainable earbuds stateside soon.
Are wired headphones good for the gym?
All of the sets in our best workout headphones roundup are wireless and connect to your smartphone or other devices via Bluetooth. But you can still find wired sets, including the Apple EarPods, which looks a bit like AirPods but with a cable and Lightning connector to plug into your iPhone.
Wired sets also tend to be cheaper, so you may be considering a set that you wouldn't need to worry as much about damaging or replacing. However, it's important to consider how you like to train before picking up a wired set.
To keep them connected, you'll need to have your phone somewhere on your body, either in a pocket, waistband or running phone holder. Consequently, there are two different devices moving at different times as you exercise; your earphones and your smartphone.
The movements are translated between them with the cable, so if you stretch your leg out, the cable tenses and may tug on your earphones, which could lead to them falling out.
Plus, if you're working out with weights or other equipment, there's also the risk that the wire will get tangled up, leading to the headphones falling out or the cable getting ripped.
Similarly, if you prefer to keep aware of your surroundings, you can use most wireless workout headphones in mono mode, with just a single earbud in while the other stays in the case. You don't have the same option for wired workout headphones.
What is the best device for listening to music while running?
Many runners would advise picking up a set of the best bone conduction headphones for running. Like the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 in our roundup, these use vibrating pads on your cheek bones to reproduce audio, leaving your ears free to pick up the sounds around you, like traffic and other people.
This is very helpful while out running, especially if you want to run safely in the dark. Although music can be a great motivator, you don't want to miss important alerts like emergency vehicle sirens or bikes coming up behind you.
Plus, it means that you're more aware of everything else going on around you, including other runners and pedestrians. And if you plan to run races, using bone conduction headphones allows you to chat with other runners and listen to music.
You can get similar effects with most of the best workout headphones, as transparency modes use the earbuds' built-in mics to elevate environmental noise, but bone conduction headphones also wrap around your head, so stay in place more effectively during high-impact activities like running.
