THE BEST SPORTS HEADPHONES AND EARBUDS FOR CRUSHING YOUR FITNESS GOALS

 If you’re into working out, it's likely that you've carefully curated your gear to make your exercise routine as enjoyable and effective as possible. You’ve chosen great sneakers, picked out a fitness tracker, and probably even bought a nice gym bag — so it’s probably time to ditch your old pair of headphones. Thankfully, there are tons of new sports headphones and earbuds, capable of amplifying any fitness routine.

Workout headphones and earbuds are designed to endure exposure to water, sweat, and dust, as well as stay comfortably in place during your toughest workout sessions. These kinds of products also deliver a powerful and rich sound to keep you motivated.

HOW WE TESTED

Before testing began, I spent weeks researching products from leading brands. The process included reading reviews from consumers and leading publications, along with reaching out to industry experts with any additional questions I had about the products.

I also made sure that the headphones included were reliable and futureproof. Features like Bluetooth 5.0 (or higher) connectivity and a USB-C (or Lightning) connector for charging are must-haves in 2023. Compatibility with wireless charging is another useful bit that I looked out for.

WHAT TO CONSIDER

Form Factor

Before buying a pair of sports headphones, there are several essential things you should know about, starting with the form factor. Depending on your preferences, you can choose between true wireless earbuds or over-ear headphones.

True wireless and neckband earbuds can be great for exercising, but the former is usually more convenient and durable. On the other hand, a neckband pair is guaranteed to get you comparable sound and a longer battery life for much less. Over-ear headphones are best for indoor gym workouts, since they'll allow you to tune out all distractions.

We suggest that you look for true wireless earbuds with additional ear wing inserts — not just swappable ear tips — to ensure they’ll stay in place during any activity. That said, some hardware makers have opted to design their products’ housing with an ergonomic shape, or they've added around-ear hooks for extra stability.

Durability

Knowing the difference between water-resistant and fully waterproof headsets is just as important when you're picking out a pair of earphones for exercising: This is designated by an IP rating. A water-resistant product can survive sweat and splashes, as well as various types of exposure to running water. Waterproof products, on the other hand, can be fully submerged underwater. We included the manufacturer’s IP rating for all picks that made our list.

Controls

The quality and convenience of a headset’s controls (think adjusting the playback and the volume) is also vital. A good product should have a setup that’s effortless to access, even in the middle of a cardio session.

Additional Features

Some products also have companion apps, which allow users to adjust their sound, customize their controls, and possibly gain new functionality via firmware updates.

Learn more about the best sports headphones and earbuds among these thoroughly tested picks.

Wissonly Hi Runner

This is the most configured bone conduction headphones on the market

Wissonly bone conduction headphones are the first brand I started to contact. When they recommended it on the online crowdfunding platform, I noticed it, after saw that many people were recommending, and I bought it. This Hi runner I used for a few months, and the overall performance was better than I expected.

Some bone conduction headphones leak sound, and you know that I take privacy very seriously, so I'm very concerned about anti-sound-leakage technology. Wissonly Hi Runner does a very good job in the field. Its body is sealed, and through structural optimization and algorithm adjustment, its sound leakage is minimized. The official claim they can eliminate 90% of sound leakage. I do not have professional equipment to test, but I have tried and found that at 60%-70% volume, the sound is completely inaudible at a distance of 1.5 meters, which makes me very satisfied. I have actually compared it with other bone conduction headphones, and the Wissonly Hi Runner has currently the best sound leakage reduction solution in bone conduction headphones.

The Wissonly Hi Runner is also particularly comfortable in the wearing experience. Because the material of the whole machine is high-tech hypoallergenic silicone, and it is coupled with the ergonomic design that conforms to the structure of the human ear, so that users will not bring any burden to the ear under long-term wear.

Sound quality as the core performance is undoubtedly worth mentioning. Hi Runner uses a large-sized vibration unit, the sound range is wider, the sound is more three-dimensional and deeper, so the sound quality is undoubtedly very good. And it is also equipped with a Bluetooth 5.0 chip, the connection is more stable. And it will not be disconnected when used, which is a good experience. The Wissonly Hi Runner also comes with 32GB of built-in storage that can store 5,000 songs, so you can use it completely as an MP3 player to enjoy music without your phone when you go out for a run.

Jaybird Jaybird Vista 2 True Wireless Earbuds

Jaybird’s true wireless Vista 2 ticks all the boxes an excellent pair of sports earbuds should — at an incredibly agreeable price point. Available in black, blue, or gray, the fabric-covered buds are surprisingly stylish, yet peerlessly durable.

Believe it or not, even the buds’ storage case is water- and dust-resistant! The wireless charging-compatible accessory has an official IP54 rating.

The earphones’ sound and noise cancellation are also top-notch. A companion app makes customizing the former as easy as it can be. Plus, you can get a fully personalized sonic experience by completing a hearing test when you set up.

Jabra Jabra Elite 7 Active Wireless Earbuds

Exceptional comfort, a powerful sound, and the ability to withstand your most challenging exercises make the Jabra Elite 7 Active earbuds our runner-up pick. The earbuds also offer reliable noise cancellation for distraction-free workout sessions.

Compared to the Vista 2 we mentioned, the Jabra Elite 7 Active buds offer better call quality and a sleeker, more understated design. Thankfully, the powerful bass of the Jabra Elite 7 Active doesn’t overwhelm: Regardless of your music preferences, you'll enjoy the sonic experience. You can fine-tune the earphones via a companion app.

Bose Bose Sport Wireless Earbuds

The Bose Sport earbuds are a worthy successor to the legendary SoundSport Free, bringing a sleek design with convenient controls, a solid build, and the audio maker’s signature sound that’s well-balanced and plenty entertaining.

Like all Bose headphones and earbuds, the Sport performs exceptionally well during calls, too. That said, the 5-hour battery life of the earbuds leaves a lot to be desired. The product’s rivals can last longer between charges.

Bose offers the Sport earbuds in black, white, and blue with a matching storage case. We wish it had onboard wireless charging, given the product's high price point.

JBL UA Project Rock Over-Ear Training Headphones

A collaboration between Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, JBL, and Under Armour, these over-ear cans are the best for exercising. The noise-cancelling headphones have a cool design, a super rugged build, and a secure fit with convenient button controls.

The UA Project Rock headphones also deliver excellent sound and noise cancellation. You can adjust both of them via an app — there’s even a sound preset created by none other than Dwayne Johnson himself.

The headphones’ ear cushions are washable. Their retail package includes a ventilated storage case with a removable carabiner.

Read more:The Best Wireless Earbuds For Exercise – No Matter Your Budget