No matter what sort of train you’re into, when you’re understanding, you’ll desire a pair of wi-fi exercise headphones. They can help you be free and untethered throughout a critical weight-lifting session, a 5K run, an hour on the skate park and in every single place in between the place you’re transferring and sweating a ton. There are dozens of nice wireless headphones and wireless earbud choices on the market, however for train particularly, there are extra components to think about earlier than selecting one up like water resistance, battery life and total consolation.
At Engadget, we’ve examined a bunch of fitness-ready headphones and earbuds to provide you with our high picks, plus some recommendation to think about earlier than you choose up a pair. All of our high picks under will work out and in of the fitness center, so you possibly can spend money on only one pair and make these your day by day driver. If you happen to’re primarily a runner, take a look at our record of best headphones for running.
What to search for in exercise headphones
Design
Earlier than diving in, it’s value mentioning that this information focuses on wireless earbuds. When you may put on over-ear or on-ear headphones throughout a exercise, a lot of the best headphones out there now should not have the identical degree of sturdiness. Water and dirt resistance, notably the previous, is necessary for any audio gear you intend on sweating with or taking outside, and that’s extra prevalent within the wi-fi earbuds world.
Most earbuds have certainly one of three designs: in-ear, in-ear with hook or open-ear. The primary two are the most well-liked. In-ears are arguably the most typical, whereas these with hooks promise higher safety and match since they’ve an appendage that curls across the high of your ear. Open-ear designs don’t stick into your ear canal, however fairly sit simply outdoors of it. This makes it simpler to listen to the world round you whereas additionally listening to audio, and could possibly be extra comfy for many who don’t just like the intrusiveness of in-ear buds.
Water resistance and dirt safety
Even when a pair of headphones for understanding aren’t marketed particularly as train headphones, a sturdy, water resistant design will, by default, make them appropriate for train. To keep away from repetition, right here’s a fast primer on sturdiness, or ingression safety (IP) scores. The primary digit you’ll see after the “IP” refers to safety from mud and different potential intrusions, measured on a scale from 1 to six. The second refers to water resistance and even waterproofing, in one of the best instances. The scores for water resistance are ranked on a scale of 1 to 9; increased numbers imply extra safety, whereas the letter “X” means the system just isn’t rated for cover in that regard.
All the earbuds we examined for this information have not less than an IPX4 score, which suggests there’s no mud safety, however the buds can face up to splashes from any route and are sweat resistant, however in all probability should not be submerged. For an in depth breakdown of all of the attainable permutations, take a look at this information revealed by a provider known as The Enclosure Firm.
Energetic noise cancellation and transparency mode
Energetic noise cancellation (ANC) is turning into customary on wi-fi earbuds, not less than these above a sure worth level. If you happen to’re on the lookout for a pair of buds that may be your exercise companion and serve you outdoors of the fitness center, too, noise cancelation is an effective characteristic to have. It makes the buds extra versatile, permitting you to dam out the uninteresting roar of your private home or workplace so you possibly can focus, or offer you some solitude throughout a busy commute.
However an earbud’s capacity to dam out the world goes hand-in-hand with its capacity to open issues again up must you want it. Many ANC earbuds additionally help some kind of “transparency mode,” or numerous ranges of noise discount. That is necessary for running headphones as a result of exercising outside, alongside busy streets, may be harmful. You in all probability don’t need to be completely oblivious to what’s occurring round you if you’re operating outdoors; adjusting noise cancelation ranges to extend your consciousness will assist with that. Stronger noise cancelation is likely to be extra interesting to these doing extra indoor coaching in the event that they need to block out the uninteresting roar of a fitness center or the man exaggeratingly lifting weights subsequent to you.
Battery life
All the Bluetooth earbuds we examined have a battery lifetime of six to eight hours. Normally, that’s what you possibly can count on from this house, with a number of outliers that may stand up to fifteen hours of life on a cost. Even the low finish of the spectrum must be ok for many athletes and fitness center junkies, but it surely’ll be helpful to maintain the buds’ charging case on you when you assume you’ll get near utilizing up all their juice throughout a single session.
You’ll get a mean of 20 to twenty-eight additional hours of battery out of most charging instances and the entire earbuds we examined had holders that supplied not less than an additional 15 hours. This can dictate how usually you really must cost the system — as in bodily join the case with earbuds inside to a charging cable, or set it on a wireless charger to energy up.
How we take a look at exercise headphones
In testing wi-fi exercise headphones, I put on them throughout each little bit of train I do — be it an off-the-cuff stroll across the block, a brisk morning run or a difficult weight-lifting session. I’m on the lookout for consolation arguably most of all, since you ought to by no means be fussing together with your earbuds when you ought to be specializing in understanding. In the identical vein, I’m cognizant of in the event that they get unfastened throughout quick actions or slippery once I’m sweating. I additionally use the earbuds when not exercising to take calls and hearken to music all through the day. Many individuals will need only one pair of earbuds that they will use whereas exercising and simply doing on a regular basis issues, so I consider every pair on their capacity to be comfy and supply a very good listening expertise in a number of totally different actions.
Whereas I’m additionally evaluating sound high quality, I’m admittedly not an audio knowledgeable. My colleague Billy Steele holds that title at Engadget, and also you’ll discover way more detailed details about audio high quality for a few of our high picks in his critiques and shopping for guides. With these headphones for understanding, nevertheless, I’ll make observe of associated points in the event that they stood out (i.e. if a pair of earbuds had noticeably sturdy bass out of the field, weak highs, and many others). Many of the wi-fi exercise headphones we examined work with companion apps which have adjustable EQ settings, so that you’ll have the ability to tweak sound profiles to your liking generally.
A observe about Jabra headphones
Jabra introduced it is going to exit the consumer earbuds business, which is disappointing contemplating the corporate has made glorious headphones for understanding. Our high picks embrace two Jabra fashions and we really feel comfy recommending them nonetheless as a result of Jabra plans to help its present earbuds for “a number of years.” Nonetheless, we’re always testing new buds and reassessing our high picks, so we’ll replace this record accordingly sooner or later.
Greatest exercise headphones for 2025
Connectivity: Wi-fi | Type: In-ear with wingtip | Assistant help: Google Assistant, Siri
Read our full review of the Beats Fit Pro
The Beats Fit Pro got here out on the head of the pack due to their comfy, safe design, good sound high quality and transparency mode, amongst different issues. As my colleague Billy Steele detailed in his review of the Fit Pro, the buds’ wingtip design units them other than different Beats earbuds and makes them notably good for operating and different exercises. The buds are pretty small and lightweight, and the wingtip on every is versatile sufficient to hug your ear properly with out placing an excessive amount of strain on it. This helps them really feel safer if you’re transferring round quite a bit be it throughout a morning jog or whereas taking a HIIT class. The buds are additionally IPX4 rated — not the very best quantity of safety I encountered, however sufficient to maintain the buds working effectively even throughout my sweatiest periods.
Because it have been, the Beats Match Professional stayed put throughout each single exercise. Nonetheless, adjusting their place on the fly can result in certainly one of my few gripes with the buds: unintended presses of the onboard controls. There have been plenty of instances once I went to regulate a bud and I ended up pausing my music within the course of as a result of the buttons are really easy to set off.
Sound high quality is strong and notably nice for exercising due to its punchy bass and total balanced profile. Spatial audio help is nice to have, and whereas Adaptive EQ means you possibly can’t modify the EQ your self like you possibly can with different buds, it does make for constantly good audio high quality. It’s additionally one much less factor to play with out of the field, which I count on many individuals will recognize; these earbuds are a real unbox-and-go possibility. ANC can also be sturdy and transparency mode will turn out to be useful for many who usually run, cycle or in any other case train outdoors. It was probably the most natural-sounding transparency mode of any earbuds I attempted, and it’s straightforward to activate or off both with onboard controls or from the management panel in your iOS or Android smartphone.
Talking of, the Beats Match Professional work notably effectively with iPhones due to their built-in H1 chip, however Android customers can obtain their companion app to entry issues like fast pairing, management customizations and a battery standing indicator. I didn’t get into element in regards to the setup course of as a result of, effectively, there isn’t a lot of 1. However I’ll say that, upon unboxing, I used to be stunned how low-cost the charging case feels. Whereas it gives an additional 21 hours of charging on high of the buds’ promised six hours of life, the construct high quality seems like an actual step down in comparison with the buds themselves. Except for that and the contact controls, although, the Beats Match Professional provide an entire bundle for athletes, one which can be utilized all day along with coaching periods. Plus, their customary $200 worth isn’t too cost-prohibitive, they usually can usually be discovered on sale for much less.
- Comfy IPX4 design
- Nice sound high quality with Adaptive EQ
- Efficient ANC and helpful transparency mode
- Multipoint connectivity
- Strong battery life
- Onboard controls are straightforward to by chance press
- Charging case feels low-cost
Connectivity: Wi-fi | Type: In-ear | Assistant help: Siri, Google Assistant
The Jabra Elite 8 Active virtually bested the Beats Match Professional, however in the end the latter received due to their wingtip design and extra natural-sounding transparency mode. However apart from these two issues, the Elite 8 Energetic are simply nearly as good, if not higher, than the Match Professional.
Before everything, the Elite 8 Energetic has one of many highest sturdiness scores of any earbuds we examined. Rated IP68, it’s protected in opposition to every kind of mud and particles and it’ll survive being submerged in water at excessive strain. Jabra additionally subjected the Elite 8 Energetic to military-grade testing, defending them from extreme humidity, excessive temperature, rain and altitude. That is extra safety than most want, however it is going to possible give some folks peace of thoughts to know that these buds can take a beating (and, most necessary, they’ve primarily sweatproof).
That additional safety doesn’t make the Elite 8 Energetic cumbersome or unattractive as one may assume. These buds are a number of the most comfy I attempted, with a light-weight design and a safe match. The soft-touch end on the buds and their charging case provides a degree of luxurious that almost all othersI examined didn’t have, too. There are onboard controls as effectively, they usually’re not as straightforward to by chance press as these on the Beats Match Professional.
The Elite 8 Energetic has a terrific sound profile out of the field however you possibly can modify the EQ inside the companion cellular app. The app has six preconfigured settings to select from too, and I discovered myself utilizing Bass Enhance and Energize most of all whereas exercising (they’re fairly comparable with sturdy bass, however Energize emphasizes highs a bit extra). The Elite 8 Energetic undoubtedly has a bonus over the Beats Match Professional for anybody who prefers to customise EQ, or needs to have totally different sound profiles relying on what they’re doing. On high of that, these buds help spatial sound with Dolby Audio.
The Elite 8 Energetic help adaptive noise cancelation, they usually do a very good job of analyzing your surroundings and blocking out interferences. “HearThrough” is Jabra’s model of transparency mode, and it’s the setting to make use of when operating outdoors in a metropolis or an space with plenty of site visitors. Sound isn’t drowned out by wind on this mode both since HearThrough is designed to neutralize wind noise whereas additionally letting you keep conscious of your environment. I ran in some notably windy climate whereas testing these out, and I had constantly good listening experiences each with HearThrough and ANC activated.
As for battery life, the Elite 8 Energetic will get eight hours on a cost with ANC turned on, and a further 24 hours when using their charging case. You’ll be able to stand up to 56 hours of whole use when you’re not utilizing ANC, which is exceptional. The case additionally helps wi-fi charging, a characteristic that the Beats Match Professional’s lacks, and it additionally feels extra substantial.
In the end, you possibly can’t go improper with both the Beats Match Professional or the Jabra Elite 8 Energetic. However Jabra’s buds provide a bit extra customization and sturdiness than the Beats Match Professional, and never everybody will want the latter’s bonus options. Nonetheless, when you’re an athlete who likes to mess around with sound profiles or need a number of the most sturdy wi-fi earbuds out there at present, the Jabra Elite 8 Energetic are those to get.
- Comfy match
- IP68 water and dirt safety
- Spatial sound with Dolby Audio
- Robust ANC
- Multipoint connectivity
- Strong battery life
- HearThrough doesn’t sound as pure as different transparency modes
Connectivity: Wi-fi | Type: In-ear | Assistant help: Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant
The Jabra Elite 4 Active provide one of the best worth for the cash of any choose on our record. For $120, you get an IP57-rated design, strong sound high quality with adjustable EQ, good ANC, the identical HearThrough transparency mode that the Elite 8 Energetic have, app connectivity and a complete of 28 hours of battery life. These have been a number of the best buds for me to “choose up and go” with, whether or not it was for an impromptu stroll across the block, a sweaty HIIT session in my basement or an hour of labor during which I actually wanted to dam out distractions and get issues achieved.
Just like the Elite 8 Energetic, the Elite 4 Energetic is tremendous comfy and Jabra has actually gotten the onboard controls proper on this sequence of buds. The buttons will not be really easy to press that you simply by chance set off them everytime you modify the match, they usually present satisfying suggestions if you really do deliberately press them. Sound high quality and ANC are spectacular, and I mainly by no means needed to fear about operating out of battery.
The principle variations between the Elite 4 Energetic and the costlier Elite 8 Energetic are that the latter have a better IP score, voice steerage, spatial sound help with Dolby Audio, an extended total battery life (56 hours with the charging case) and that satisfying soft-touch end. The IP score and prolonged battery life are the 2 fundamental options that might compel some to spend the additional cash on the Elite 8 Energetic as a substitute. Additionally, spatial audio is sweet to have if in case you have the buds semi-permanently positioned in your ears always pumping out tunes, whatever the exercise. In any other case, although, you’re getting a ton of fantastic options with these $120 earbuds.
- Nice worth for the cash
- Comfy IP57-rated design
- Good sound high quality and ANC
- Multipoint connectivity
- Good battery life
- No spatial sound with Dolby Audio just like the Elite 8 Energetic has
Connectivity: Wi-fi | Type: In-ear with hook | Assistant help: None
If in case you have lower than $50 to spend, the $30 JLab Go Air Sport are a terrific possibility. I didn’t have excessive expectations going into testing these buds, however I used to be rapidly impressed by their consolation and sound high quality. Plenty of headphones designed for exercises have this hook that wraps across the high of your ear, and it does assist the Go Air Sport keep securely connected to your head. The hooks listed below are fairly versatile and have a soft-touch end, which provides to their consolation (I attempted a number of equally designed buds with a lot stiffer hooks that have been a ache in additional methods than one.) Admittedly, this design will take some getting used to when you’re new to it, but it surely’s a surefire strategy to get a bit additional stability throughout excessive depth exercises.
Sound high quality is fairly good on these buds as effectively, though not practically as balanced as that of the Jabra Elite 8 Energetic or the Beats Match Professional. I additionally recognize that you would be able to cycle via three totally different EQ modes — Signature, Balanced and Bass Enhance — utilizing the buds’ onboard controls. There’s no app to fuss with, and that was a pleasant change of tempo after largely testing buds with some sort of app connectivity.
You’ll be able to count on eight hours of playtime on the Go Air Sport, plus one other 24 hours of battery life with its charging case. Whereas the USB-A cable constructed into the underside of the case is helpful, I really feel prefer it must be a USB-C connector as a substitute. The case can also be on the cumbersome aspect; you possibly can nonetheless throw it right into a backpack or purse simply, but it surely’s not as svelte as instances you’ll see on costlier buds.
- Inexpensive
- Spectacular sound high quality for the value
- IP55-rated design
- Good battery life
- Constructed-in USB-A charging cable is a bit outdated
- Massive case
- Hook design received’t be for everybody
Connectivity: Wi-fi | Type: Open-ear | Assistant help: None
I used to be apprehensive about open-ear headphones, particularly throughout exercises. However the Shokz OpenFit pleasantly stunned me from the primary time I put them on. Earbuds with open designs like this permit for extra situational consciousness, with the aim being to let noise in fairly than block it out. The OpenFit buds do a terrific job of this with out skimping on sound high quality or consolation.
The buds themselves virtually float over your ear cavern and Shokz’s soft-finish “dolphin arc” hook is versatile sufficient to securely wrap across the high of your ear with out placing an excessive amount of strain on it. There’s a bud-like portion on the different finish of the hook that acts as counterbalance, leading to a dependable match that by no means faltered throughout all types of actions together with operating, power coaching and indoor biking. Granted, none of these workouts contain shaking your head up or down or aspect to aspect an excessive amount of; possibly don’t put on the OpenFit to hearken to head-banging dying metallic (when you can’t management your self).
Sound high quality is strong contemplating the design, and the OpenFit will get fairly loud as effectively. These buds have Shokz’s Direct Pitch expertise, which makes use of reverse sound waves to optimize the gap and angle from the buds to your ear canal. The corporate claims this helps hold the sound directed in the direction of your ear and reduces audio leakage. In my testing, I discovered that to be true to a sure extent. The OpenFit had one of the best sound high quality and total quantity out of the entire open-ear units I attempted, however when you crank the amount as much as the max (or shut), the particular person subsequent to you’ll undoubtedly hear what you’re listening to. Total, these are a terrific possibility for anybody who doesn’t discover in-ear buds notably comfy, or those that simply want to have extra consciousness of their environment whereas understanding.
- Comfy open-ear design
- Design permits for extra situational consciousness
- Good sound high quality and quantity
- No ANC
- Not as safe when in comparison with in-ear or hook-toting buds
Others wi-fi exercise headphones we examined
Apple AirPods Professional
The Apple AirPods Pro have an IP54 score, which protects them from transient encounters with mud and splashes. Whereas that’s extra mud safety than many different earbuds we examined, it’s the identical degree of water resistance that almost all exercise-specific opponents have. We typically just like the AirPods Professional, however the Beats Match Professional provide lots of the identical options and conveniences (specifically good transparency mode and the H1 chip), with a design that’s extra acceptable for understanding.
Beats Powerbeats Professional
The Powerbeats Pro are a very good various to the Beats Match Professional when you’re a stickler for a hook design. Nonetheless, they value $50 greater than the Match Professional (though they usually hover round $180) and don’t provide any important upgrades or extra options apart from their design. They’re additionally fairly outdated at this level (launched in 2019) and it seems Beats is placing extra effort into upgrading and updating its newer fashions fairly than this mannequin.
Anker Soundcore AeroFit Professional
The Soundcore AeroFit Pro is Anker’s model of the Shokz OpenFit, however I discovered it to be much less safe and never as comfy because the latter. The precise earbuds on the AeroFit Professional are noticeably bulkier than these on the OpenFit, which precipitated them to shift and transfer way more once I was carrying them throughout train. They by no means fell off my ears fully, however I spent extra time adjusting them than I did having fun with them.
JBL Endurance Peak 3
Essentially the most noteworthy factor in regards to the Endurance Peak 3 is that they’ve the identical IP68-rating that the Jabra Elite 8 Energetic do, however they solely value $100. However, whilst you get the identical safety right here, you’ll must sacrifice in different areas. The Endurance Peak 3 didn’t blow me away when it got here to sound high quality or consolation (the hook is extra inflexible than these on my favourite buds of an analogous type) and their charging case is very large in comparison with most opponents.
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