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The best headphones for working out in 2025, tested and reviewed

Published

6 days ago

February 15, 2025

The best headphones for working out in 2025, tested and reviewed

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Using headphones for working out can transform your frame of reference and put you in the mood to grind like nothing else. Of course, exercise can be strenuous and involve tons of movement, so it’s essential to find a pair that leaves you unencumbered by wires and fit securely enough that they won’t be flung to the ground every time you move your head. In this list, we’ll break down the best headphones for working out—like our best overall, the Apple Beats Fit Pro—and optimizing the circuit(s) with your favorite music and podcasts.

How we chose the best headphones for working out

The best headphones for working out are wireless, and Bluetooth requires power. And, in all honesty, the best headphones for working out are earphones, which is why they make up the majority of our selections. We picked pairs that offer at least five hours of single-charge battery life, and all of the earbuds include charging cases. Considering the battery life of your audio device is extremely important for keeping the flow going—you wouldn’t want the music to stop mid-workout. All of the selections on our list fit securely around the head or in the ear to ensure that they move very little or not at all during workouts. Everyday headphones made for walking or when you’re stationary aren’t typically designed with extreme movement in mind.

Sound quality was also a big factor in considering headphones for this list, and many of the earbuds we picked either come with a full and balanced sound profile or offer the option to adjust their sound via an app. Staying aware of the activity around you is always important while wearing headphones, especially if you’re on the go. For our list, we picked headphones/earphones that either feature a transparency mode or are completely open-ear.

The best headphones for working out: Reviews & Choice

Prepping for a workout is all about getting your mind and body in the right place, and apart from stretching, putting on the right clothes, and making sure you have a favorite water bottle and your fitness tracker, pumping up the jams properly can pump you up for a regular training run. One of our choices is sure to put a spring in your step the next time you go for a jog or lift weights.

Best overall: Apple Beats Fit Pro

Pros

High-performance active noise canceling in a compact earbud design

Secure design stays in ear when running or working out

Compatible with dynamic head tracking on iOS devices

Includes pocket-sized travel case and three eartip options

Cons

No wireless charging

iOS device required for full functionality

Not protected against water immersion

No multipoint pairing

Why it made the cut: The Apple Beats Fit Pro features a snug fit, balanced sound, and seamless iOS connectivity that make them easy to add to any workout routine.

Specs

Weight: 0.2 ounces/earbud; 2.3 ounces with case
IP rating: IPX4 (splash-resistant)
Battery life: 6 hours single-charge; 24 hours with case

We’ve thoroughly reviewed the Apple Beats Fit Pro, and they take the best overall award on this list thanks to their sound quality, workout-friendly design, and fantastic iOS compatibility. They contain the same proprietary H1 chip found in Apple’s AirPods, which enables near-instantaneous pairing and steady, reliable connections to iOS devices along with battery life optimization. Like AirPods, the Beats Fit Pro earbuds are also fully compatible with iOS head-tracking and spatial audio features for simulated surround sound and immersive media listening. Their inclusion of active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency modes make them equally useful on the road and at the gym. We also love the range of colors these buds come in.

The Beats Fit Pro earbuds are designed to sit securely in your ears using small rubber wings that rest comfortably against your outer ear along with three sets of variously sized ear tips. A quick optional setup step uses the earbuds’ onboard microphones to test your fit for sound leaks. Once your optimal fit is achieved, the Beats Fit Pro can endure almost every exercise imaginable, including rowing, without budging. They’re some of the best running headphones around. The earbuds’ conveniently pocked-sized charging case brings their total battery life to around 24 hours. While it would be nice to see wireless charging in a product with this price tag, we appreciate that the case is chargeable via USB-C rather than Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector.

While the Beats Fit Pro earbuds are unmistakably great for iPhone users, it’s unfortunate that the instant pairing and steady connectivity of the earbuds’ H1 chip aren’t extended to Android users. For their price, it would also be nice to see features like multipoint pairing and more robust weatherproofing rather than the same IPX4 rating found in standard AirPods. Still, if you work out regularly and are an iPhone user, you’d be seriously hard-pressed to find a better in-ear option.

If you’re interested in the features of Beats but prefer earhooks, the Apple Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds are a great choice.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds come with built-in heart-rate tracking, AirPods Pro features like Spatial Audio and transparency mode, a fantastic fit that stays secure during workouts, and five tip options included in the package. However, they are on the expensive side and the earhooks may cause discomfort after wearing them for several hours.

With a weight of 2.2 ounces and a battery life of 10 hours with ANC on (45 hours with the charging case), the Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds are designed to stay in place during intense workouts. They offer active noise canceling and transparency mode, along with physical buttons for media controls.

Overall, the Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds provide excellent sound quality, a secure fit, and a sleek design. They are a top choice for workout earbuds.

On the other hand, if you prefer on-ear headphones for workouts, the JBL Live 670NC is a great option. With a long-lasting 65-hour battery life, quick charge functionality, adaptive noise canceling, and EQ adjustments through the JBL app, these headphones are perfect for spontaneous workouts.

The JBL Live 670NC headphones provide energetic sound with a 40mm driver and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. They offer noise-canceling and ambient-aware modes, making them versatile for different environments. However, the fit of the earcups may affect the noise-canceling performance.

Overall, the JBL Live 670NC headphones are a solid choice for on-ear headphones for workouts, offering a comfortable fit, long battery life, and immersive sound quality. If you’re looking for water-resistant over-ear headphones for workouts, the Treblab Z2 headphones are a great choice. They are lightweight, comfortable, and have an IPX4 rating with a long battery life, making them ideal for running.

For bone-conduction headphones, the SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2 is a top pick. These headphones keep your ears open for situational awareness and have a long battery life. They may have less bass response than traditional earbuds but are great for staying aware of your surroundings.

The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are perfect for running or cycling. They offer situational awareness and a good bass response. The unique design allows them to fit securely behind the ear without the need for ear tips, making them comfortable for long periods of wear. The earbuds fit securely around our ears, even during jogs, without any indication of slipping or falling off. They never felt like they were pinching or irritating our ears in any way.

In terms of sound quality, Bose’s Ultra Open Earbuds are a great addition to the company’s lineup. They support Bluetooth 5.3 (including AAC for iPhones) and surprisingly deliver a lot of bass, despite not creating a seal around our ears. Additionally, there is minimal sound bleed, thanks to the directional drivers that beam sound into the canal. This makes them ideal for outdoor exercise without worrying about disturbing others.

Moving on to the best budget option, the soundcore by Anker Sport X10 offers an incredibly secure fit and long battery life for runners on a budget. The earbuds feature a swiveling ear hook design, customizable controls via a smartphone app, and a transparency mode for enhanced situational awareness. However, they do lack multipoint connection and ANC performance in loud environments.

Before purchasing headphones for working out, consider factors like sweat level, workout intensity, charging capacity, and situational awareness. It’s important to choose headphones that can withstand sweat, provide a secure fit, have long battery life, and offer situational awareness features for safety. If you tend to sweat more than average, it’s safer to choose headphones with a rating of at least IPX7 for water resistance. All the options on our list, except for the JBL Live 670NC, are either water-resistant or fully waterproof.

Are bone-conduction headphones good for working out?
Bone-conduction headphones are ideal for working out because of their open-ear design, which allows you to stay aware of your surroundings. They are particularly beneficial for runners and cyclists who need to be alert to road traffic but can also benefit anyone looking for increased situational awareness.

Do noise-canceling headphones work well in the gym?
Noise-canceling headphones can work in the gym to some extent, but not all ANC headphones are the same. The Apple Beats Fit Pro, with its secure earplug design, offers both passive and active noise canceling, making it effective at blocking out human conversation and ambient music.

In conclusion, the best headphones for working out are those that fit securely, provide excellent sound quality, and offer situational awareness. The Apple Beats Fit Pro is a top choice for its sound quality and secure fit. For long-lasting battery life, consider the Powerbeats Pro 2 or JBL 670NC. And for the best situational awareness during activities like cycling and running, the SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2 bone conduction headphones and Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are recommended. Please rewrite this sentence. Please rewrite this sentence.