The best workout headphones disappear when you start moving. They’re locked in without readjustments and comfortable enough that the music feels like it’s coming from inside your head. Your workout headphones have a tougher job than your everyday pair. They need to survive sweat, being thrown into a gym bag, and the occasional drop. They also need to sound good enough to keep you motivated until the finish line.

The WIRED Reviews team has tested hundreds of headphones and earbuds, and I’ve narrowed down the models that best balance sound quality, comfort, and durability. We put these picks through workouts like weightlifting and indoor swimming, as well as outdoor activities like trail runs, hikes, and cycling, to evaluate which headphones enhanced the experience and which ones got in the way. This roundup includes a mix of headphones and earbuds, wired and wireless, from the top pick, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 ($250), to the bone-conduction Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 ($180).

For more recommendations, check out our guides to the Best Wireless Earbuds, the Best Open Earbuds, and the Best Bone Conduction Headphones.

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Featured in This Guide

Best Wireless Earbuds for Working Out

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2

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$250 $200 (20% off)

Amazon

Best Wireless Headphones for Working Out

Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2

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$449 $370 (18% off)

Amazon

Best Budget Buds

JLab Audio Go Air Sport

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$30 $25 (17% off)

Amazon

Best Premium Earbuds

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

Jump to review

$299 $249 (17% off)

Amazon

Best Wireless Earbuds for Working Out

Photograph: Ryan Waniata

Beats

Powerbeats Pro 2

$250 $200 (20% off)

Amazon

$250 $200 (20% off)

Best Buy

$250

Beats by Dre

Beats were the first sport earbuds to tap into Apple’s ecosystem, but the Powerbeats Pro 2 work nearly as well with Android, making them a great pick for any phone. The redesigned nickel-titanium ear hooks stayed in place through hours of testing, and former WIRED reviewer Ryan Waniata said they’re the most comfortable hooked earbuds he’s worn. The noise canceling is a major upgrade, outperforming the Beats Studio Buds+ and holding its own against premium rivals like Sony’s WF-1000XM5 and Technics’ AZ80. The Powerbeats Pro 2 also finally add a natural-sounding transparency mode, along with punchy sound, up to 10 hours of battery life (eight with ANC enabled), and convenient push-button controls.

Apple users get extras like iCloud device switching, Find My functionality, and hands-free Siri, while Android users still benefit from the Beats app, heart rate monitoring, and one-touch pairing. I wish the PowerBeats Pro 2 had a higher IP rating than IPX4, but they’re still built to handle sweat and light rain.

Best Wireless Headphones for Working Out

If you prefer over-ear headphones for your workouts, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 are hard to beat. The plush fit is comfortable enough for long listening sessions, and the impressive noise canceling blocks out any distractions at the gym. The sound is clear and engaging, with plenty of punch, plus a transparency mode that feels natural. Bose also added useful upgrades like USB-C lossless audio, improved ambient controls, and longer battery life.

The ear cups do trap heat and sweat, but I have yet to find a pair of over-ear headphones that don’t encourage sweat during intense workouts. Nonetheless, they are a premium pick for anyone who wants workout headphones to double as everyday headphones.

Best Budget Buds

Courtesy of JLab

JLab Audio

Go Air Sport

$30 $25 (17% off)

Amazon

$30 $25 (17% off)

Best Buy

$30 $25 (17% off)

JLab

JLab’s Go Air Sport is the sport version of the insanely affordable Go Air, with a slight markup for over-ear hooks and a case with a cover. That case also has a built-in USB charger. The build quality is solid, and touch controls are not too sensitive; I don’t accidentally turn off my music or turn up the volume whenever I adjust my hair or my hat. They have a solid 30 hours of battery life when you recharge them in the case. I wore them for two weeks for a few hours each day while running and walking my dog, and I didn’t have to recharge them once. And the Bluetooth connection is stronger than most affordable earbuds I’ve tried; I don’t have to be wary about walking around a corner, away from my phone. As a bonus, they also come in a wide array of playful colors. —Adrienne So

Best Premium Earbuds

Bose is the undisputed king of noise-canceling headphones, so if you really need to lock in, consider the QuietComfort Ultra 2 Earbuds. According to former editor Parker Hall, the noise-canceling on the second-gen pair bested the competition and was better than its predecessor. You get wireless charging in the clamshell and guards to prevent earwax buildup. Bose uses a chiming calibration tool to adjust the sound profile and noise-canceling response to the shape of your actual ear canals, which is impressive. If you get too deep in the zone, there’s also an Aware mode that lets you hear ambient noise while smoothing out loud sounds. Not only are these the best for the gym, but they’re also probably the best pair for anyone who wants noise cancellation in a compact package that you can tote around every day. —Adrienne So

Best Earbuds for Apple Users

The AirPods Pro 3 are the first AirPods model I’ve used that I legitimately consider to be workout headphones. (Previous models fell out all the time.) Apple conducted what former WIRED editor Parker Hall calls “an ungodly number” of laser ear scans, and there is a greater choice of ear tips. The XXS small tips actually fit me well, and these are the first AirPods Pros that haven’t fallen out of my ears while running.

Like the Powerbeats Pro 2, they also have heart rate sensing, so if you’re tracking your workout with Fitness+ and using Workout Buddy, you can see your live heart rate in the app or on your Apple Watch. Noise canceling is also excellent if you’re working out in the gym. Apple’s bass-heavy, bright tuning is also ideal if you’re bopping around to pop sensations like Haim or Mariah Carey when you’re working out. —Adrienne So

Best Earbuds for Running

Courtesy of Shokz

Shokz

OpenRun Pro 2

$180

Amazon

$180

REI

$180

Best Buy

The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 now charge via USB-C, so you can say goodbye to their proprietary charger. These earbuds use both air and bone conduction to transmit sound while you’re working out outside. This new model added a second air-conduction unit, which improves the sound quality and reduces the tingling sensation you get with bone conduction.

WIRED contributing reviewer Michael Sawh notes that the battery life is slightly less than promised, and the waterproof rating is lower than on previous iterations (IP67). According to Sawh, the sound quality isn’t as clear as one might like, but the bass and punch are still powerful. Former WIRED editor Adrienne So says these are her favorite pair of headphones for cycling because they fit comfortably underneath a helmet.

Best Earbuds for Swimming

Photograph: Michael Sawh

Shokz

OpenSwim Pro

$230

Amazon

$230

REI

$230

Shokz

The OpenSwim Pro has an industry-leading IP68 rating and a dedicated swimming EQ mode that produces a balanced sound that is pleasant to listen to underwater. According to WIRED contributing reviewer Michael Sawh, the controls are easy to use, and the neckband is slim enough to wear under a swim cap. Since Bluetooth doesn’t work underwater, you’ll need to import audio files from your computer onto your swim headphones. There’s 32 GB of onboard storage. Be sure to check the format to make sure it’s compatible; the OpenSwim Pro supports MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC, M4A, APE, and WMA files.

Best Wired Earbuds for Working Out

If you’re running or hiking, it’s convenient to have a pair of earbuds that are attached to you and won’t fall into a puddle. Former WIRED editor Adrienne So loves these Soundpeats Q40HD, mainly because they’re designed with two clips to attach to your shirt; plus the buds themselves are magnetic and click together when not in use. In testing, Adrienne was able to get around 20 hours of battery life, and even when power is low, a quick top-off with a USB-C cable got her more than enough battery to last for an hour-long trail run. The headphones don’t include active noise cancellation, but they fit well enough to provide passive noise cancellation. They block ambient sounds so well, in fact, that she only wears one bud when running.

Photograph: Adrienne So

BlueAnt Pump X for $100: The BlueAnt Pump X has an incredible standout feature: cooling gel ear pads that you can keep in the fridge and swap out for the regular ear pads, so you don’t get too sweaty. The single-button operation is intuitive, and ANC is effective. Battery life was also startlingly long—I wore them for an hour or two a day for several weeks before the battery got to 50 percent. The regular ear pads are soft and comfortable, and they’re also water-resistant, which is unusual in over-ear gym headphones. There’s also a special X Mode that pumps up the bass; I could feel distinct vibrations with my bass standard, Beyoncé’s “Partition.” The price is also reasonable. —Adrienne So

Skullcandy Crusher 540 Active for $210: The BlueAnt headphones are just a better buy in all regards, but I enjoyed these a lot. The noise canceling doesn’t work very well, but these headphones are attractive, and the bass is powerful. —Adrienne So

Shokz OpenFit Pro for $250: The Shokz OpenFit Pro’s sound quality is excellent; the buds are beautiful and comfortable; and I appreciate the physical buttons. That said, the open-ear noise-reduction system merely blunts outside noise rather than blocking it, so I don’t understand the value here. —Adrienne So

Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro for $180: The AeroFit 2 Pro physically switches modes with its adjustable ear hooks to transform from open earbuds to noise-canceling ones. Unfortunately, I found the case to be too big, and the noise cancellation wasn’t so effective. Still, it’s an interesting concept, and I do like being able to toggle the angle on the ear hooks for a more secure fit. —Adrienne So

Photograph: Adrienne So

Oakley Meta Vanguard for $499: Not only are they Oakley sunglasses with Prizm lenses for enhancing contrast and keeping you from tumbling head over heels on the trail, but they also have a 12-MP action camera in the bridge of the nose, two over-ear speakers with a five-mic array for calls, and they integrate with Garmin to work as a (not very useful) fitness tracker. That’s OK, because these are the best for moving at speed. They are 6 decibels louder than the Oakley Meta HSTNs, and you can tell. They’re the only open headphones where I don’t have to turn the volume all the way up to hear podcasts when going over 20 mph. —Adrienne So

Photograph: Adrienne So

Chamelo Music Shield for $260: Chamelo’s audio sunglasses have electro-chromic lenses; you can change how dark they get with a finger slider on the arm. However, the music isn’t very loud, the battery life is much worse than the Vanguard, and they’re relatively expensive. —Adrienne So

JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 for $100: This is the upgraded version of the Go Air Sport above, with hybrid dual drivers for better sound, a higher IP rating, better battery life, and active noise canceling. You need a fully sealed fit for ANC to be effective, which these don’t have; I can still hear people at the gym when I’m lifting weights. Still, in every other way, these headphones meet their promises, and they do feel secure. —Adrienne So

H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport for $220: These are a huge improvement from the first iteration of the brand’s waterproof headphones, thanks to a more secure fit, better buttons, and a smoother silicone finish. However, they’re pricier than the Shokz, and they use a proprietary charger instead of USB-C. —Adrienne So

Nwm Go for $99: Stylish Japanese brand Nwm recently launched these open-ear bone conduction headphones that purport to reduce sound leakage. It works—they sound fine and are incredibly light; they also use a proprietary charger. —Adrienne So

Photograph: Adrienne So

Nothing Open Earbuds for $99: These are some of the slimmest buds I’ve tested, and they fit well under layers of hoods, helmets, and hats. —Adrienne So

JLab JBuds Mini for $40: For tiny earbuds, these sound pretty decent. They’re IP55, so they’re sweatproof and dustproof, and because they fit so well, the noise canceling is effective. The biggest drawback is that they’re not great for phone calls. They also only get around five hours of playtime without the case and 20 hours with it.

Suunto Sonic for $79: If you want to try a neckband-style headphone like the Shokz above, but for cheaper, WIRED contributor Michael Sawh says these are lightweight with a balanced sound profile. —Adrienne So

Speck Gemtones Sport for $70: These are cheap and fit well. The buttons are a little too sensitive, and the sound is noticeably fuzzier than most of our other picks, but they’re not terrible. —Adrienne So

Raycon Bone Conduction Headphones for $100: These headphones were so uncomfortable, pressing on my ear canal where they buzzed the flesh of my eardrums and not my bones. It was unbearable. —Adrienne So

Skullcandy Method 360 ANC for $130: In testing, I found the earbuds and case to be huge. The noise canceling also doesn’t work at all. —Adrienne So

Anker Soundcore C40i for $120: These open-ear buds fell out before I’d run a block down my street. I put them in my pocket and didn’t wear them again for the rest of the run. —Adrienne So

1More Fit Open for $55: These earbuds sound OK, but the buttons are so sensitive that I couldn’t run for more than five minutes without a song skipping or the music turning off. —Adrienne So

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