The 6 Best Workout Headphones of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

 If you’ve ever felt focused, fueled, and locked into your workout, only to have your headphones slip out of your ear mid-stride, you know how crucial it is to have a solid pair of buds to see you through an entire session. 

Whether your preferred sport is running, lifting, or swimming, listening to music can make a big difference in your workout. Studies have shown that music can significantly improve your athletic performance by helping you work out longer, push harder, and feel less tired in a single session. “More studies have shown that when doing cardiovascular-specific workouts like running, rowing, or spinning, listening to faster music with higher BPMs can elevate your intensity and focus during those rigorous training sessions,” adds fitness expert and co-founder of Rumble Boxing, Noah Neiman.

But even if you’re not overly concerned with your performance, consistently working out is incredibly important to your overall health. Regular exercise reduces your disease risk, improves brain function, strengthens your bones, and much more. This is why investing in a pair of headphones you love is important, no matter how you like to get in your daily movement—music is just one more thing to help get you going and keep you going.  

We tested the best headphones on the market to help you find the pair of buds that’ll keep you active. We spoke to experts about what makes a pair of headphones great and then looked at things like durability, battery life, noise-canceling ability, and Bluetooth range to narrow down the list. A board-certified otolaryngologist on our Medical Expert Board also reviewed this article for medical and scientific accuracy. Based on our tests, these are the best workout headphones available today.

Wissonly Hi Runner

The design team of Wissonly bone conduction headphones started to research bone conduction acoustics as early as 2012. Their technical accumulation in the field of bone conduction is very good, and they are a team that is good at technology.

Wissonly Hi Runner adopted Wissonly 3.0 technology to reduce sound leakage in bone conduction headphones. They reduced the sound transmission from the bone vibration unit directly to the air through the completely closed design of the headphones’ body. They also used high-quality cushioning materials to minimize the vibration of the body, thus reducing the sound leakage by more than 90%. I did a test, turned on Hi Runner, adjusted the volume to 70%, and within a distance of 1m, I couldn't hear any sound at all. This kind of sound leakage reduction performance has been well received by users since wissonly released the sound leakage reduction  technology. This technical scheme is the best leak-proof among bone conduction headphones at present.

The headphones’ body  of Wissonly Hi Runner is made of memory titanium, which can self-adjust the contact area, ensuring a good wearing experience of headphones at any time, taking into account more users with different head circumference. Hi Runner can be said to be very sincere in configuration. It is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 chip, which makes the connection more stable, and can realize fast connection and switching of multiple devices. Built-in 32G memory can store 5000 songs. When you go out for a run, you can enjoy music without your mobile phone. The battery life is also very good, and it can be played continuously for more than 10 hours at normal volume, which is good for me, because I go out for outdoor sports on weekends, and I often go out for a whole day.

Bose Sport Earbuds

The Bose Sport Earbuds are our best pick for workout headphones, because they feel incredibly well made, down to their charging case. As we worked out in them, we felt like they were one of the most comfortable, secure pairs of headphones we’ve ever tried on. 

At first, we thought these headphones looked too big and bulky, but thanks to their unique ear tips and wings, they fit snugly and never felt as though they might slip out—even when we were jumping rope vigorously. They come with three different-sized ear tips, so these buds will fit both big and small ear canals. We also noticed that they felt incredibly durable, so if they ever do slip out, they won’t crack open on impact with the ground. 

The charging case felt solid and held an additional 15-hour charge, so we could make it through an entire week of workouts without even thinking about reaching for the power cord. The only thing we were missing was a noise-canceling feature, but at the end of the day, these buds are safer without noise-canceling capabilities, so we didn’t mind. If noise-cancellation is non-negotiable for you, though, check out the other options on this list. 

JLab JBuds Air Pro True Wireless Earbuds

These headphones by JLab boast tons of the features of higher-end buds for a fraction of the price, making them our top pick for best value. Not only do they offer a whopping 36 total hours of charge (when you add the nine-hour battery life of the buds plus the case’s 27 hours), but they also have a massive Bluetooth range of 30 feet. Combine those major details with the fact that they also provide in-app customizations, a location feature, and excellent sound quality, and we were sold. 

When we exercised in them, they felt secure and super-durable. The only thing we were missing was a noise-canceling feature. We also thought the design felt a little bulky, but the silver lining is that the bulkiness adds to its durability. Overall, if you’re looking to save some cash but still get a great pair of headphones, these are winners. 

TRANYA Upgraded T10 Wireless Earbuds

We love these wireless headphones, because they’re super-simple to use and are an absolute steal for the price. If you don’t care about bells and whistles and want a quality pair of headphones, as cheap as possible, the T10s are your buds.  

When we tried them on, they immediately felt comfortable and connected to our phones easily. We also loved the bass-boosting feature, which was an extra pick-me-up for high-intensity moments. 

These budget headphones are water resistant, which makes them a great option for anyone who wants to swim with earbuds but is worried about ruining an expensive pair. And because they have an IPX7 (the level of water resistance necessary to submerge devices), you can swim with your head above or below water. 

It’s worth noting that they felt cheaper in material and design (they felt a little plastic to us) than the other options on this list. These headphones are also pretty bare-bones when it comes to additional features. What you see is what you get, but for $36, that shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Under Armour Project Rock Over-Ear Training Headphones

While over-ear headphones have a nasty reputation of sliding off your head at the most inopportune times (like mid-deadlift), we loved Under Armor’s Project Rock headphones because they feel more compact and secure than competitor options.

They were designed to last, as they’re durable and offer easy cleaning for the ear cushions. And they’re ideal for anyone who doesn’t want to be bothered remembering to charge their headphones, because they come with a 45-hour battery life plus an automatic power-off function to preserve the battery.

At first, we were worried they’d be too big, but they fit snugly and stayed on throughout our entire workout. We didn’t like the on/off sliding power button for no reason, other than we think a pushable button would be easier to manage. If you love HIIT or intense cardio, in-ear options will probably serve you better, as they’re less likely to slip.

Shokz OpenRun Pro Bone Conduction Headphones

We practically forgot we were wearing these headphones on our run—they’re that lightweight and comfortable. What’s more, we felt completely safe while we exercised, because they don’t have earbuds, which block out surroundings. Instead, they offer a unique open-ear design. 

These headphones are also ideal for runners, because they offer a wraparound band, so they won’t slip off and get lost, and they’re water resistant, so you can sweat without worry. The only thing that we felt was missing was even better sound quality, which isn’t as easy to achieve when the speaker is significantly further from your ear canal than earbuds or over-ear headphones. However, we think it’s a minor sacrifice when you weigh it against your safety. 

What to Know About Workout Headphones

Battery Life 

There’s nothing more demotivating than having your headphones die mid-workout. To ensure you can get through an entire session with your headphones’ battery intact, you should opt for a pair of headphones with a minimum battery life of two hours. The good news is that the average battery life of earbuds is five hours, and the majority of options on this list last around eight hours. 

While some workout headphones require a USB charging port, there are many options that come with a charging case, which can help you fill up the battery in between sessions. Regardless of how the headphones charge, you’ll want to find a pair that holds the charge well and charges quickly, in case you’re on the go. If you’re someone who exercises often or constantly forgets to charge your earbuds, we recommend opting for a pair with a charging case. You’ll still need to charge the case, but the case itself will extend the number of times you need to charge manually with a wall plug. 

Comfort and Fit

The biggest reason why earbuds slip out of ears in the middle of a workout is improper fit. “You want to make sure the earbuds fit your ear. For people who feel like their earbuds always fall out, a better alternative is the earbuds that have the hook that goes over the top of the ear to better hold it in place. There are also different-shaped earbuds that fit different ear shapes and sizes so you want to find the one that is the best fit for you,” explains Noelle McKenzie, certified personal trainer, functional training specialist, and co-founder of Leading Edge Personal Trainers.

Water Resistance 

Different headphones come with different levels of water resistance. “Most headphones, especially sport-specific ones like the Powerbeats Pro, are all water resistant/proof,” explains Neiman. However, if your exercise of choice is swimming, make sure to get a pair of headphones that are IPX7 or higher, so you know you can submerge them without ruining them. 

Another thing to keep in mind is how much you sweat when you work out. If you prefer anaerobic exercises like HIIT, which will undoubtedly cause you to break a serious sweat, you should look for water-resistant earbuds and avoid over-ear headphones. “When you know you'll be sweating you want to get water-resistant earbuds so the earbuds stay in the ear, and sweating doesn't affect them. With the over-the-ear headphones, sweating makes them smell and move,” says McKenzie. 

Noise Cancelation 

There are multiple types of noise cancellation, including passive noise cancellation, active noise cancellation, and ambient/transparency mode. 

• Passive noise cancelation uses physical blockers to reduce outside noise. This can be from over-ear headphones cupping your ears or in-ear buds suctioning the inside of your ear to block out sounds. 
• Active noise cancelation inverts sound waves through a built-in microphone and speaker that listen to outside noises to cancel them. Some headphones use an even more advanced version (called "adaptive active noise cancelation") to automatically adjust the level of cancellation, depending on the background noise occurring each moment. 
• Ambient/transparency mode uses a microphone to listen to the world to adjust how you hear your music. Unlike active noise cancellation, transparency mode will bring in ambient and external noises so you can remain aware of your surroundings.

Noise cancellation is a fantastic feature that offers many benefits to headphone users. Working out in lower lights with noise-canceling headphones has been shown to increase focus, because your senses are hyper-dialed into the activity at hand,” says Neiman. There is a time and place for noise cancellation. “Transparent headphones are important if you're using your headphones outside for safety reasons—so you're aware of your surroundings. Noise-cancellation headphones are best when you're in the gym or want to be free of distractions.” If you’re exercising outdoors, we recommend using transparency mode or headphones that don’t have noise-cancellation capabilities. It's also important to note that some people may get headaches from using noise-canceling headphones.