You want a pair that will stay in your ears while also providing high-quality audio to keep you entertained and focused. However, it is used with our pick for the best running headphones. All of those caveats were enough to keep the Zygo from being a pick here, but folks who swim extensively daily and/or competitively may want to give it a try. Klipsch says this design will prevent your sweaty earbuds from getting gross if you put them away wet. Fit is a crucial part of purchasing any headphones, but when youre searching for the best wireless earbuds for working out, getting proper sizing becomes even more important. Here are all of our headphone recommendations. Game Nights Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley direct. Though the IPX4 water and dust resistance rating isnt as high as that of the Jabra Elite Active 75t, it should be sufficient for the average run or indoor workout. If you want to spend the least amount of money possible for sweat-resistant sport headphones and still be happy with your purchase, the Koss FitClips KSC32i wired earbuds are the way to go. The tips are proprietary and snap into place, but unfortunately the wings slip out of position rather easily. The AirPods Pro stay in place during moderate movement, but people who do very high-impact workouts (such as burpee tuck jumps) may find that the earbuds can slip out of place. With an IP57 rating, these earbuds should withstand abuse, sweat, and moisture when used properly, and theyre backed by a two-year warranty. It is by no means pocket-sized, unless you work out in cargo pants. iLuv's earbuds are compact and lightweight, making them perfect for workouts. Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport and Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport McLaren Edition: These two pairs are largely the same, so we decided to discuss the two together. The control buttons are well designedthey are generally easy to find by feel and to press without painfully mashing the earbuds into your ear canalbut they lack volume control. Log information: anonymized data that tracks usage, such as where the user taps within the app and how long the headphones are connected (currently shared with. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. The fit is uncomfortably tight even on small heads, so the design wont work on people with low ponytails, thick and curly hair, or larger hat sizes. nepal earbuds An additional Apple bonus: If a friend has a pair of Beats or AirPods, both of you can listen to one iOS device wirelessly using Apples audio-sharing feature, which is especially nifty if you and a friend are following a workout video together. If youve seen how Air Tags function, youll be familiar with the process, which is a combination of GPS, Bluetooth proximity, and speaker chirp. cancelling corded sweatproof headsets *At the time of publishing, the price was $42. The hear-through feature produced results that sounded sibilant and distractingly unnatural, so it wasnt something wed leave on for situational awareness, but for a brief conversation, its fine. The earbuds look a little weird, but winglets combined with a hook-over-the-ear design keep them securely in place. We tested both the less-expensive Flip earbuds and the more-customizable Sport earbuds and were equally happy with the two. Here are the pairs we tested for our most-recent update in June 2022: Adidas FWD-02 Sport: Adidas gets a few things very right with this pair of true wireless earbuds. Because theyre wired, you dont have to worry about charging them, and the cable includes a universal single-button remote/micbut if your phone lacks a headphone jack, youll need an adapter. See our competition section for details. I was able to walk several rooms away from my phone with zero skips or blips in the music. You can choose among three bundles, each with a different earbud style included. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 Sport: We like the fit, the durable IP57 rating, and the easy-to-use controls on this pair. We independently review everything we recommend. Although the IPX4 water-resistance rating means the Studio Buds can travel with you to the gym, they might not stay put for dynamic workouts. The EQ profile is saved to the earbuds, so you need to complete this step only once, after which you can use any audio device or app you like. But for $120, we want a more seamless experience. If you prefer over-ear headphones: The UnderArmor UA Project Rock Over-Ear Training Headphones pleasantly surprised our test panel, but a few concerns kept them from becoming an official pick. The hear-through sounds dull, which is fine for quick conversations, but not useful if you need longer-term situational awareness. And the microphones provide wind and background noise reduction, so you can take a quick call, even while jogging. Sony just dropped The Last of Us: Part 1 PS5 trailer. When we initially tested these, we had some concerns with their spotty connectivity and ANC effectiveness. Anker Soundcore Spirit: If you want durable headphones for walking around, these are fine. The Endurance Race true wireless earbuds offer ambient awareness, a quick-charge feature, and 10 hours of continuous playback time (plus 20 additional hours in the case.) Its a dry cold, almost minty like Tiger Balm. Basically, its like listening to FM while you swim, but the radio station is your mobile device. If you typically find that most traditional earbuds fit fine once you choose the right size tip, the Flip is likely your best bet. The over-ear hooks keep the buds secure, the six-hour battery life is good, and the IP66 rating and two-year warranty are impressive. Out of the box, the sound quality of the Reflect Mini NC was bass-forward in a fun way, especially for workouts. Our research shows that runners may have different needs based on how and where they run, so we have a separate list of running-headphones recommendations. The earpads are breathable and washable, which we really likebut because of this, the headphones dont fully isolate you from gym noise, which may be a dealbreaker for some. The earbuds connect quickly and in our testing performed very well in relatively close range. But, as with many Bluetooth headphones, dual-device connectivity can still cause some hiccups, especially when using these earbuds for app-based video meetings like Zoom. She has a BA from Ithaca College in music performance and audio production. In contrast, the transparency mode on the Fit Pro is excellent, and makes it very easy to carry on a conversation or maintain situational awareness without adding too much distracting sibilance to the sound of the world around you. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves opens March 3, 2023. The only real issue we had was with the tap-based controls, which we found rather fussyfor example, when we meant to adjust the volume, we instead paused the music. The lack of volume controls seems to be a trend among many of the less-expensive true wireless earbuds available, and that omission is a bummer because it forces you to keep your music device nearby if you want to adjust the loudness between tracks. Had our testing progressed uneventfully, the Vista 2 undoubtedly would have become a pick in this guide. The EP-T32s controls allow for play/pause, track forward/reverse, call answer/end, and phone assistant activation, but not volume adjustment. However the touch controls can be tricky, as the tap surface area is tiny and you must tap with a fairly slow, regular cadencewhich is not easy to accomplish when youre mid rep or on the move. If you like them, this pair is the most lightweight weve tested. Shokz Aeropex: This pair of bone-conduction headphones is nearly identical to the newer Shokz OpenRun Pro, but it lacks the OpenRuns quick-charging capabilities. Look for retailers that allow you to return or exchange, and save the packaging until youve had a chance to test all the sizing and stability options. We liked the full-featured physical controls, which are intuitive and easy to use while moving. We talk more about how the Fit Pro compares to other earbuds in our guide to noise-cancelling headphones, but folks using the active reduction to combat airplane noise should find it useful. Folks with the smallest and largest ear sizes who struggle to keep true wireless earbuds in place may benefit from the Reflect Mini NCs stabilizing wings. The one downside is that the Syryn does not play DRM-protected MP4 or AAC files that you download from iTunes; you need to use iTunes to convert unlocked MP4 or AAC files to MP3 before dragging and dropping them onto the player. That means their durability has limitations, and long-term water or sweat exposure can still damage them. This pair fit our panelists really well and sounded nice, too. When we tried to download the app, the Monster site said it was unavailable. We did some HIIT, weights, and yoga, and the earbuds didnt budge. That's why workout headphones for iPhone are a must-have investment. But the small button size might prove tricky for folks with very large fingers or dexterity issues. Google says the Volume EQ feature adjusts the tuning as you turn the volume up or down so that the sound stays balanced. Higher frequencies, such as consonants and cymbals, were clear and didnt pierce in our tests, though audio purists who like an extra pop in the high frequencies could accuse them of lacking some sparkle or detail. The Powerbeats Pro pair comes with a one-year warranty, but Beats isnt specific about sweat-damage coverage, so wed exercise caution. In our tests, we found the sound quality on the primary EQ setting to be bass-heavy, but not terribly so; on bass-intense songs, we could still hear male vocals clearly enough. We take to the track and run half a mile with each pair. Go for the super-affordable Koss FitClips KSC32i. The sound quality is great with a little EQ adjustment, and the microphones are clear for phone calls, especially if you have a deeper-pitched voice. Although you can adjust the EQ via the JBL app, the presets are on the extreme side, and the more nimble EQ slider tool could be intimidating to non-audiophiles. But the company has since added ANC, which is available in free firmware that current owners can download via the Jabra Sound+ app. The interface is as easy to use as on a USB thumb drive: Connect the player, drag and drop songs in the order you want them played, eject, and disconnect. When they do fit properly, they offer a fun, bass-heavy sound, but half of our panel couldnt get them to seal effectively. Apple AirPods Pro: Although the IPX4 rating of the AirPods Pro means theyre protected from some mild sweat damage, these earbuds arent our first choice for regular gym use. The beauty of these wireless headphones is that they have long-lasting batteries, too. We also discovered that you must power the T5 II Sport earbuds down manually: After we placed both pairs earbuds into their respective cases and sealed the lid, both pairs remained connected to our phone. The earbuds have an IPX8 rating, so you can literally drop them in a bucket of water and theyll survive. For that price, we expect better performance than we can get from our top pick, which costs half as much. During testing I was able to keep my phone in my pocket, armband, or backpack with no issues. Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Reg-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Chloe Coleman, Daisy Head and Hugh Grant star in this live-action epic fantasy film version of the Hasbro role-playing game. The biggest advantage these earbuds have over the competition is their ability to access Apple features. Device information, such as mobile device ID (including brand and operating system), IP address, or Bluetooth MAC address. Light and flexible, these headphones stay put when you run, jump, or play. Theyre not just great workout headphonestheyre great work/play crossover headphones. The EP-T32 is mercifully free of those flaws. Hey Siri can also be used to control volume or toggle between noise cancellation and the transparency mode, which is a good thing since you have to choose between the two as the assigned function for a long button hold. Weve tested several hundred headphones, including wireless, noise-cancelling, and even kids headphones, to pick the best headphones in each category. Exceptionally water resistant and free of annoying cables, the Aukey EP-T32 is a great affordable pair of earbuds to toss in your gym bag. However, unlike those of the Jabra, the controls are limited on Android phones; volume controls are an option only for Apple devices. We sweat a lot. Additionally, the controls are fiddly and can be tricky to activate while youre on the move. And the sound is a boomy mess with harsh, sizzling highs that arent fixable using the app-based EQ adjustments. Were curious to see how this works in practice. While features like spatial audio and head tracking have yet to really show lasting value, others like touchless Hey Siri control and Find my can prove incredibly helpful. (Beats is owned by Apple.) If you havent been a fan of bone conduction in the past, this pair wont change your mind. As for those rare occasions when the Elite Active 75t earbuds were faulty, it seems that Jabra has been responsive in reviewing cases and replacing defective units with new earbuds. The Powerbeats Pro earbuds claim to be sweat and water resistant, so they could go from work to the gym, as well as handle a little rain. The downsides are that the sound is bass-heavy (no matter which of the three EQ settings you choose) and that the balanced mode can make high frequencies sound a little coarse. This step reduces the field further, but our mission to find the best workout headphones isnt finished yet. Want a pair of cheap wired earbuds to stash in your gym bag? The first pair had one earbud that wouldnt take a charge right out of the box, and the second pair had a microphone short out, which led to a loud hissing in one ear during phone calls and while using the hear-through feature. The Syryn package includes everything you need to dive right in: a waterproof MP3 player, wired earbuds (because Bluetooth doesnt work underwater), and plenty of tips. A dedicated button can be assigned to activate Google, Alexa, or non-native digital assistants. For gym use, we preferred headphones that block out external noise. These headphones should be easy to use and have all the buttons you need, so you can put away your phone during workouts. Its essentially identical to the older Aeropex, but adds quick-charge capabilities. Additionally, Jabra had planned to introduce a software update that would enable either earbud to work independently, but the company scrapped that plan in favor of adding active noise cancelling. Next, we subject our favorites to some stress tests. The buttons are easy enough to use by feel. Then theres our panel of experts: In addition to myself, we had Brent Butterworth, a Wirecutter senior staff writer with decades of experience in the audio field for publications such as SoundStage, Home Theater, Sound & Vision, and many others; John Higgins, a session musician, sound editor, IGN contributor, and occasional Wirecutter writer (and my spouse) with a music masters degree from the University of Southern California; and Geoff Morrison, AV editor-at-large for Wirecutter and writer for CNET, Forbes, and Sound & Vision, with over a decade and a half of audio and video reviewing under his belt. The volume level and the number of phone calls you take may affect that playtime. Although all of our picks in this guide passed our stress tests and are sturdy and labeled as sweat resistant or sweatproof, theyre still electronics. Were willing to let this slide because the battery life should be sufficient that you wont need to keep the case on you when venturing out, even for a longish hike. Our focus here is on sealed earbuds and headphones designed to keep out the sounds of a noisy gym (or home) environment and help you stay in the zone with your favorite tunes. But the inclusion of a hear-through mode is a nice perk. And although the touch controls were less fussy overall than on many other pairs we tested, we found ourselves getting startled and annoyed when the last media we had accessed on our phone would start playing as we were just putting the earbuds in our ears. They're also easy to connect with all Apple devices and provide high-quality, rich sound. We begin each test by putting the earbuds under the scrutiny of our expert panel to consider the fit, comfort, ease of use, and sound quality. These hooks are flexible enough to fit a wide variety of ear shapes, as well as to accommodate the arms of glasses or sunglasses. However, music sounds tinny, and bass notes cause the earbuds to vibrate on your skull once you turn the volume up over 50%. The IP67 rating is a great insurance policy against sweat and dirt. Whether it's finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we'll help you get it right (the first time). If you need stronger sweat resistance: If other earbuds cant stand up to your powerful perspiration, the Jaybird Vista is worth considering. Plus you have to leave your mobile device and the transmitter poolside, which, depending on how much you trust the folks at your swim club, might make you feel uncomfortable. For the low price, though, we were able to let these flaws slide. I could get a few walls or a few hundred feet away from my phone without my music skipping. When you do need more juice, the case charges wirelessly on a Qi pad or wired via USB-C. Worth noting is the size of the case. So the Aukey EP-T32 isnt as effective at longer-range listening as the Jabra Elite Active 75t, but unless you plan to work out downstairs and leave your phone upstairs, you probably wont encounter this quirk. The Koss FitClips KSC32i earbuds sound much better than their low price suggests, but the microphones quality is lacking. We found a lot to like about the Vista. Though this pair isnt perfect, nothing else weve tested in the sub-$50 price range can compete with it. The buds are large, and the hook doesnt arch over the ear like on most earbuds; instead it seems to sit like a backward C. Our test panelists with smaller ears found the fit odd but passible. (In fact, Zygo sells bundled sets that can work together for around $1,000.) The microphones sound like youre under a blanket during calls. Lackluster sound quality and control buttons that clicked loudly in our ears rounded out our reasons to dismiss this pair. The tap controls are limited; you handle track-reverse and volume on your music device. In our tests, the sound options were at best super boomy with sibilant highs. However, anyone who has larger ears or ears that stick out may find that these simply dont fit. For workout headphones, fit is everything, and everyone on our panel was impressed by the flexible fins that hold these earbuds securely in your ears. Either of the Fit Pros earbuds can work independently, but multitaskers may miss the dual-device connectivity of the Jabra pair. Those who prefer a digital assistant other than the one assigned to their phone will like this pairs compatibility with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. The microphone quality is stellar over phone calls or video chat. To check durability, we hold each wired set by the earpieces and tug sharply a few dozen times to simulate snagging and pulling them off the wearers head. Although these earbuds have a sealed design to block out noise, the hear-through mode allows you to have a conversation or to keep an ear on traffic without removing your earbuds. We spray every set of headphones with our sweat proxy and mash all of the buttons; after repeating this process four times, we check the performance. We offer tips on cleaning them. In our tests, the earpieces stayed in place through burpees, jump tucks, and inverted yoga moves. But after adjusting the sound profile through the EQ settings in Jabras free app, we found our sweet spot with decent detail in the highs, clear mids, and a fun, forward bass. Additionally, the mic quality could be iffy. You can also quickly pair these earbuds with Android devices, but in that case you need to download the Beats app first. However, the controls arent intuitive and take a little getting used to. aftershokz conduction Bose Sport Earbuds: Though this pair features the great Bose sound profile youve likely come to expect, it lacks a lot of the features we enjoy in our top picks. Soul Electronics X-tra: The around-the-ear design didnt breathe as much as we hoped, and with those fabric earpads sucking up sweat, youll likely want to wash them after every workout. The charge case is small and lightweight, and should fit easily into the key pocket of exercise shorts. Because of the narrow intense range of noise cancellation on the Fit Pro, people who are prone to eardrum suck may find the ANC on this pair triggers that feeling of uneaseand the level of reduction is not adjustable. JLab JBuds Air Sport: This pair is a decent affordable true wireless alternative for the gym. Flexible wings help keep this Apple-friendly pair secure in your ears. 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company, Best budget wireless earbuds for working out, Best budget wired earbuds for working out, How we picked the best workout headphones, The best wireless earbuds for working out: Jabra Elite Active 75t, If you need a more secure fit: Beats Fit Pro, Best budget wireless earbuds for working out: Aukey EP-T32, An affordable wired earbud set for workouts: Koss FitClips KSC32i, The best waterproof headphones: Underwater Audio Swimbuds Syryn, list of running-headphones recommendations, Tips on Tips: How to Shop for Replacement Earbud Tips, Read more about Apples privacy practices, UnderArmor UA Project Rock Over-Ear Training Headphones, Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport McLaren Edition. Philips Go Sports A4216: What makes this affordable over-ear pair both unique and divisive are the cooling earpads. But the IPX4 water resistance may not be high enough for the most punishing activities. ear cell sweatproof cancelling Learn more. Once you get them settled into your ears, the grippy material that coats the earbuds helps to hold them in place until youre ready to take them out. If your gym routine consists entirely of stable movements (cycling, weights, and the like), these headphones could be an option. Shokz OpenRun Pro: Bone-conduction headphones are an option for a very specific subset of folks who cant handle having headphones on or in their ears, but they wont block out gym noises. Find the best headphones to use during your favorite workout with our recommendations for the best workout headphones for iPhone. Note that although the EP-T32 earbuds themselves are rated that high, the case is not, so you still need to use some caution when placing them in the case to charge or when plugging the case into a power sourcealways make sure both are fully dry before introducing electricity to the situation. We consider wind noise, cable noise (if theyre wired), and the ability to hear external sounds. When they work properly, the Vista 2 earbuds are wonderful. These days, most people prefer the convenience of Bluetooth headphones. If you tend to overheat during workouts, this might be a welcome sensation, perhaps if used in combination with other temperature control measures. We wear sunglasses to see how well each pair fits for glasses wearers. The seal is the most important aspect of waterproof headphones: If water gets into your ear, you cant hear the music properly. There are also audio-based coaching programs in the included app, and Zygo says live classes will be offered soon, akin to Peloton. But the low price also brings some drawbacks. In our tests, the bass was a bit more forward than was natural, but that may be a good thing when youre playing bumping, workout-motivating tunes. The Fit Pro earbuds offer physical buttons that control track skip, phone calls, and volume on Apple devices, plus some button customization and one-touch pairing on Android devices (if you download the Beats app). The Elite 7 Active has a coating that improves the grip in your ear so they stay in place better when you sweat, which is a welcome improvement over the 75t. The controls are easy to use, with a little practice. However, when I tried to go farther away (specifically, downstairs and down a walkway), I found that the connection started to break up at around 40 feet away from my Pixel 4a phone. The tap-based controls are simple to use, though it might take a few tries for you to get a sense of the pace you need to double- and triple-tap. Stabilizing hooks help keep this true wireless pair in place, and IPX8 waterproofing protects them from moisture damage. In the middle of a workout, this type of thing could be very frustrating. We had no problem with the sets Bluetooth 5.0 wireless signal at the gym, outside, or indoors. Whether youre looking for the best sound or just to cancel out the noise, weve picked the best headphones for anyone who wants an immersive experience. Fortunately, you do get 19 hours from the included charging case, which is small enough to fit in a pocket. Jabra Elite 4 Active: We love the fit, high water/dust resistance, and controls, but the device connectivity is fussy, the microphone sounds muffled on calls, and the active noise cancellation is middling. Though significantly smaller than that of the Beats Powerbeats Pro, the Fit Pros case is too large to fit in the key pocket of running shorts. They're also sweatproof and feature high-quality stereo sound. The Underwater Audio Swimbuds Syryn earbuds seal out water and stay in place, even when youre pushing off the pool wall, doing flip turns, or practicing aggressive strokes such as the butterfly. Though the tap-based controls arent as prone to misfire as touch-based controls, we missed having volume controls and track-reverse options, which the Spirit Dot 2 lacks. (Yes, weve endured numerous wet-willies for you.). Cleer Arc: The Arc is essentially a pair of small speakers that rest on top of your ear, which allows unencumbered situational awareness but is not ideal for a noisy gym environment where you want to block out the noise. But the earbuds themselves are thicker and wider than wed prefer, and the material on the wings is a little stiff, which in our tests made the Streak a less comfortable fit than other more ergonomically designed pairs weve tried. Like the Elite Active 75t, these earbuds are sealed to block out noise, but the hear-through mode is great for occasional situational awareness or conversations between workout sets. Though we recognize that technology production lines can experience occasional hiccups, two back-to-back failures gives us significant pause. With all of the features in this bundle, its one of the best waterproof-headphones packages a swimmer can get. But if you dont plan on using the controls frequently, this pair is otherwise a decent option.