The Best Workout Headphones To Pump Up Your Fitness Routine

Battery life: Up to 8 hours | Water resistance rating: IP68 (case IP54) | Driver size: 6mm | Noise cancellation: Yes, active | Charging case: Yes, wireless

Best for: Comfy workouts with earbuds designed to stay in place through the most rigorous routines.

Pros:

• ShakeGrip technology helps keep them securely in place
• Jabra app is easy to use

Cons:

• Noise-canceling could be better
• Audio could also be better

The Jabra Elite 8 ticks all of our boxes, making it our top choice for when you’re working out. It features a ShakeGrip technology that’s designed to stay in your ear during your most rigorous exercise routines. When you want to focus, you can opt to use the adjustable ANC to reduce outside noises, high winds and more. If you’re on the move and need to hear the outside world, HearThrough mode can help you talk and take calls while reducing wind interference.

The buds last up to eight hours on a single charge, and the 6mm speakers are powerful enough to deliver solid audio quality. It won’t have the deep bass of, say, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (which, while great, are not designed for workouts), but you’ll still get a decent enough audio to make your music enjoyable during your workouts. Plus, these come with an IP68 water- and dust-proofing, and can be submersed in water up to 4.9 feet. (That being said, we don’t recommend submersing your earbuds). We also like the user-friendly Jabra app, where you can adjust your audio and noise-canceling to suit your needs.

What our writers say: Audio expert Adam Doud tested the wireless earbuds and named them the best wireless earbuds for exercise. He says, “Some will say that if you want a set of earbuds for working out, you need buds that are going to be sweatproof and maybe rainproof, just in case. Then you have the Jabra 8 Active, which Jabra claims is the toughest set of earbuds in the world. Jabra might just be right about that, because not only are these earbuds rated IP68 for water- and dust-resistance, but they are also shock-resistant and survive HACT testing, which dunks the earbuds in salty water for 10 to 15 cycles. Just in case you’re not convinced, Jabra also backs up these earbuds with a full 2-year warranty against water, dust and sweat damage.”

Battery life: 10 hours | Water resistance rating: IP67 | Driver size: 6mm | Charging case: Yes

Best for: Runners who crave a snug fit and ambient noise awareness.

Pros:

• Affordable price
• Strong battery life on a single charge
• Touch controls

Cons:

• No active noise cancellation

The JBL Endurance Race Earbuds are terrific running companions, with a wingtip to enhance its snug fit in-ear. These earbuds’ design helps them stay in place and not pop out, even as you get moving. They offer JBL’s signature high-bass output which you can adjust using the equalizer in the companion mobile app. The battery lasts a strong 10 hours, while the charging case holds 20 more hours in reserve—and can quick charge an extra hour of playtime in just 10 minutes.

Functions such as changing the volume, skipping to the next track, answering a call or accessing your choice of supported voice assistants (Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa) are accessible using the touch-sensitive area on the earbuds. While these earbuds lack active noise cancellation, they have an “Ambient Aware” feature which lets you hear what’s happening around you.

What the reviews say: One customer says, “They work flawlessly, not obnoxious and sound good. They are comfortable, especially with the swappable earbuds sizes and the option to remove the loops.”

Battery life: 5 hours | Water resistance rating: IPX4 | Driver size: 12mm (unconfirmed) | Charging case: Yes

Best for: Active people who want audiophile quality.

Pros:

• Great for staying aware of your surroundings
• Impressive audio quality

Cons:

• Those with sensory issues may not enjoy the clip on their ears
• No noise cancellation

The Bose Ultra Open Wireless Earbuds are unusual in that instead of resting in your ear, they, “clip” onto your ear helix. It’s a snug fit that’s designed to give athletes the best of both worlds: They can hear ambient noise while jogging while also getting impressive audio quality. Silicone wing tips help these sweat and water resistant (but not waterproof) earbuds stay in place regardless of your movements. They produce clear and crisp audio, and you can use the Bose app to customize your audio to an extent, too. Beam-forming microphones hone in on your voice during calls, and help mitigate the effects of wind.

Unlike other Bose offerings, the touch controls are limited, so you can’t skip tracks or adjust volume. But if you’re using them for exercising, it won’t matter too much since your focus will be on your fitness routine.

What our writers say: Doud also tested the Bose Ultra Open Wireless Earbuds and says, “The way the sound fills out around your ears is remarkable. A sound stage like this almost makes you feel like you’re wearing a pair of open-back, over-ear headphones, which is hard to do for as small as these buds are. And thanks to the open audio design, you can still place an order in a coffee shop without taking off the ears.”

Battery life: Up to 6 hours | Water resistance rating: IPX4 | Driver size: Not disclosed by Apple | Noise cancellation: Yes, active | Case: Wireless charging

Best for: Apple users looking for superior earbuds with newly enhanced features.

Pros:

• Personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking
• Improved active noise cancellation with adaptive transparency mode
• Convenient touch-sensitive controls

Cons:

• Expensive

The second-generation AirPods Pro are an upgrade to our prior pick for best wireless earbuds for Apple users. They have a new processing chip inside for better noise cancellation and overall performance. Each earbud’s stem gains touch-sensitive controls and the new ear tips are designed to offer a more comfortable and secure fit.

Battery life increases to six hours—and with the wireless charging case, the earbuds can gain an additional 30 hours. The compact charging case adds a lanyard loop and a speaker to make it easier to locate the case using the Find My app. Perhaps the biggest improvements to these earbuds are the enhanced personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking so music adjusts to your movements; adaptive transparency mode; and upgrades to the earbuds’ adaptive equalizer. The Lightning port has been replaced with USB-C on newer models to complement the iPhone 15 series.

What our writers say: Doud recommends the AirPods Pro, especially if you have an iPhone. He says, “The AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) are the best earbuds you can buy for an iPhone. The quick pairing, awesome noise cancellation and intuitive controls are great and allow you full control over your music and podcasts. They’re also long-lasting and have wireless charging in the case.”

Battery life: Up to 5 hours | Water resistance rating: IPX7 | Driver size: 10mm | Noise cancellation: Yes, active | Charging case: Yes, wireless

Best for: Android users—especially Samsung users.

Pros:

• High IPX7 waterproof and sweatproof rating
• Can be used with any Bluetooth capable device capable of streaming music
• Active noise canceling

Cons:

• You lose some features when not using Samsung devices

The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro come in graphite, white or purple and are a strong choice for workouts given their high IPX7 waterproof and sweatproof rating. They last for up to 30 minutes in three feet of water, so if you’re really pushing yourself to new limits, you don’t have to worry about sweat affecting them. You get up to five hours of battery life on a single charge with ANC on and up to 20 hours with the included charging case.

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro automatically sync with your favorite Samsung phone, tablet and smartwatch, and they also automatically pair with any Samsung TV, so you can enjoy a private listening experience regardless of the equipment you’re using. And, if you are prone to misplacing your earbuds, the Samsung SmartThings app makes it easy to locate them.

What our writers say: Tech editor Rebecca Isaacs tested the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro and says, “The Samsung Buds2 Pro feel comfortable when being worn for hours and I love that they pair seamlessly with other Samsung products. If you’re using the Samsung Watch 6 or Watch 6 Classic to track your workouts, you have the entire Samsung ecosystem at your fingertips. The touch controls are also easy to reprogram.”

Battery life: 10 hours | Water resistance rating: IP68 | Driver size: 10mm | Charging case: Yes

Best for: Getting a super secure earbuds fit.

Pros:

• Secure behind-the-ear fit
• Water- and dust-resistant
• “Ambient Aware” for enhanced awareness

Cons:

• No active noise cancellation

The JBL Endurance Peak 3 builds upon its predecessor, the JBL Endurance Peak II earbuds, by improving dust and water resistance with an IP68 rating. It’s so strong, you could technically wear them while swimming for short periods, but we don’t recommend it. Secured with the hooks that fit behind your ears, the earbuds stay firmly attached to your ears and unsullied by jerks, vigorous head rotations or acts of defying gravity.

The JBL Endurance Peak 3 offer a bass-heavy sound profile, which you can alter using a companion app for Android or iOS. The earbuds also offer up to 10 hours of battery life, while the case adds an extra 40 hours, allowing you to go without charging for days. The only disadvantage here is the lack of noise cancelation, although it is the safer option if you are working out outdoors. Meanwhile, the Ambient Aware mode enables better attention to the sounds around you even without taking the earbuds off.

Battery life: Up to 10 hours | Waterproof rating: IP55 | Driver size: 16.5 mm | Noise cancellation: For hands-free calls only

Best for: Those who want headphones that don’t block their ears.

Pros:

• Unique and comfortable design
• Offers su