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Best workout earbuds
Exercising is tough, but finding earbuds that keep up with you shouldn’t be. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best workout earbuds money can buy. We hope these push you through even the most strenuous workout regimen. Whether you’re looking for a pair of affordable buds or the best money can get we hope to have you covered with these picks.
Editor’s note: this list of the best workout earbuds was checked on June 1, 2023 to ensure the picks are still up to date and updater formatting.
For our top five picks, you can find the isolation and frequency response charts at the end of each image gallery. You can learn more about how to read our charts here.
Why is the Jabra Elite 7 Active the best pair of workout earbuds?
Jabra has some of the best wireless earbuds on the market, and the Jabra Elite 7 Active builds upon the company’s empire. Like the Jabra Elite 7 Pro, the Elite 7 Active has an IP57 rating so you don’t have to worry about dust or water damage. Unlike other workout earbuds from Jabra, the Elite 7 Active is wrapped in a ShakeGrip cover to keep the earbuds in place. You don’t get wing tips but the earbuds fit our reviewer and test head well.
The Jabra Elite 7 Active doesn’t come cheap but you get plenty of features here like active noise canceling, wireless charging, and one of the best mobile headphone apps around. While Jabra’s default sound is a bit more bass-heavy than what we recommend, it doesn’t pose an issue because you can just equalize the sound directly in the app. This headset can’t outperform the Bose QC Earbuds or Sony WF-1000XM4 when it comes to noise canceling but it’s fine, and the passive isolation is better than most in-ears.
The microphone sounds pretty good when you speak from ideal, quiet spaces and it even does a fair job of isolating the speaker’s voice from our simulated office environment. Take a listen below!
Microphone demo (Ideal):
Microphone demo (Office):
How does the microphone sound to you?
If the Jabra Elite 7 Active appeal to you but seem like a bit too much for your needs, try the Jabra Elite 4 Active. They’re essentially a toned-down version of the Jabra Elite 7 Active. Still, the Elite 4 Active delivers where it matters most.
You don’t get any extra frills, but if you’re focused on working out, you may not even miss them. The IP57 rating remains, however, so you can go hard for hours and not worry about your buds. And you can use the (somewhat basic) equalizer in these buds’ companion app to customize your tunes beforehand if you want.
At the end of the day, despite the lack of many fancy features, the sound quality, noise canceling, and durability of the Jabra Elite 4 Active are all elite.
The Jaybird Vista 2 is the most durable set of workout earbuds you can buy
Most athletes are best off with the Jaybird Vista 2, which includes a set of IP68-rated wireless earphones and a MIL-STD 810G-rated charging case. The Vista 2 is made for athletes of any proclivity and supports important safety features like mono listening.
Jaybird’s signature ear and wing covers keep the earbuds in place, though it doesn’t make for the most comfortable fit. While this isn’t ideal for regular use, it shouldn’t prove to be much of an issue when exercising. After polling Android Authority readers, we found that 61% of voters only listen to music for less than two hours a day anyway. The earphones last for 5 hours, 20 minutes on a single charge and the USB-C case supplies an additional two charge cycles, and can fast charge the earbuds.
This is Jaybird’s first set of active noise canceling (ANC) earphones, and it shows. The ANC performance is better than no noise canceling at all, but it can’t compete with the likes of Sony or Bose. Sound quality is quite good and closely follows our ideal consumer curve, with amplified bass and treble notes. The great thing about wireless Jaybird earbuds is that you can EQ the sound in the Jaybird MySound app. No matter your needs, the Vista 2 is bound to be a great pick for your workouts.
Although the Vista 2 features a design that’s built to reduce wind noise transmission during phone calls, it’s not the most effective. You can still use the microphone for general phone calls and it works well in quiet environments though.
Jaybird Vista 2 microphone demo (Non-standardized):
How does the microphone sound to you?
The Sennheiser Sport True Wireless is best for staying aware of your surroundings
For joggers and other outdoor exercise enthusiasts, the Sennheiser Sport True Wireless is the best earbud option. It comes with both closed and open ear tips, so you can choose whether or not you want to block out your surroundings. There’s also a wide variety of wings to select from to ensure you get a secure fit on any adventure, and you can attach a lanyard to the case which makes it easy to hook it onto your bag. Moreover, the IP54 rating protects the earbuds from both dust and water. No matter what, these sporty earbuds from Sennheiser are ready for anything.
You can also activate the “Aware” mode on the earbuds, which amplifies environmental noise while also boosting the low-frequency response of the earbuds to avoid some auditory masking of bass. With the Sennheiser Smart Control app, you can also use a rudimentary custom EQ to adjust the sound to your liking. Since the Sport True Wireless has a consumer-friendly frequency response, we’re confident most people will enjoy how the Sennheiser Sport True Wireless sounds without any equalization.
You can use the onboard microphones for phone calls, but the microphone quality isn’t as good as some other true wireless earbuds. Listen to the demonstrations below to judge for yourself:
Sennheiser Sport True Wireless microphone demo (Ideal):
Sennheiser Sport True Wireless microphone demo (Office):
Sennheiser Sport True Wireless microphone demo (Street):
On the hunt for ear hooks? Check out the JBL Endurance Peak 3
This durable set of true wireless earbuds is a real winner if you want a secure fit for your workouts. The JBL Endurance Peak 3 is affordable, and it brings almost everything you could want for an exercise companion. It’s got good battery life, a bassy sound signature to keep on beat during a run, and it’s IP68 rated for dust and waterproofing.
The JBL Endurance Peak 3 supports the JBL Headphones app, which significantly increases the feature set of the earbuds. The app brings customization of on-ear controls, EQ presets (and the ability to make your own), firmware updates, and more. You can also turn on the earbuds’ transparency modes, Ambient Aware (which amplifies all external sounds using the microphone) and TalkThru (which only amplifies the frequencies associated with human speech). However, there’s no ANC, which may make this less idea in a noisy gym.
The microphone for the earbuds isn’t spectacular, but it will handle calls without too much issue. Have a listen for yourself:
JBL Endurance Peak 3 microphone sample (Ideal):
JBL Endurance Peak 3 microphone sample (Street conditions):
JBL Endurance Peak 3 microphone sample (Windy conditions)
How does the microphone sound to you?
The Bose Sport Earbuds is among the best workout earbuds with excellent sound
Bose takes a second swing at wireless earphones with its Sport Earbuds, which is much sleeker than the original SoundSport Free earphones. The Sport Earbuds includes StayHear Max ear tips, akin to the secret sauce in your Aunt’s best recipe. The StayHear Max ear and wing tip combo keeps the buds in place during vigorous movement, and the IPX4 rating means that you can perform almost any exercise without worry.
Sound quality is very good with the Bose Sport Earbuds. Generally speaking, the Bose Sport Earbuds modestly amplify bass notes and give a good bump to upper-midrange frequencies. Though some people would prefer a heavier bass boost in workout earbuds, this gentle response is pleasing to almost all consumers, and the earbuds relay audio clearly. But if you want to customize the sound profile to suit your workouts, there’s an EQ in the Bose Music app if you’ve got firmware version 2.0.7 or later installed.
If you want to stay within the Bose ecosystem and are willing to spend some extra cash, get the Bose Sport Earbuds.
Microphone quality is good too, but not the best we’ve tested. Things have certainly improved since the SoundSport Free, but where the Sport Earbuds’ four-mic system really shines is how it cancels out predictable background noise.
Bose Sport Earbuds microphone demo (Ideal):
Bose Sport Earbuds microphone demo (Wind):
How does the microphone sound to you?
iPhone users who want something more versatile should get the Apple AirPods Pro
Apple’s AirPods Pro has been completely redesigned from the compared to the AirPods (2nd generation); the Pro model has angled nozzles that seal to the ears. This is imperative for its hero feature: noise canceling. While the latest AirPods (3rd generation) marks an upgrade over the previous iteration, the fit is not stable enough for workouts.
H1 chip integration permits hands-free Siri access and seamless usage across iOS devices. It also benefits power efficiency, a big reason standalone battery life is just over five hours. Unlike the AirPods (2nd generation), the AirPods Pro includes a wireless charging case by default. Microphone quality is just as good as before, and the IPX4 rating means you can sweat in the AirPods Pro to your heart’s content.
What makes the JLab Epic Air Sport ANC a good pair of cheap workout earbuds?
JLab’s hooked Epic Air Sport ANC earphones are very good for the sub-$100 price. Not only do you get a secure fit thanks to the earbuds’ hooked design, but it’s also durable, so they can get knocked around and still work. These earbuds aren’t anyone’s hi-fi pick, but they’ll sound plenty good for working out and have no trouble going the distance — it boasts an impressive 9-plus hour battery life on a single charge.
The Shokz OpenRun keeps you completely aware of your surroundings
Anyone who exercises outdoors knows just how important vigilance is, and the Shockz OpenRun allows you to keep an ear on your surroundings while listening to your music. Unlike other earbuds that don’t seal to your ear canal, the OpenRun leaves your ears completely unoccluded by way of bone conduction. We often recommend bone conduction headphones to runners and even bike commuters because safety comes first.
Two bulb-shaped pieces connect to a band that wraps around the back of your head, which has plenty of flexibility to fit most head shapes. The headset has an IP67 rating against dust and water, making it a great option for rock climbers and beach runners too. Unfortunately, the headset charges via a proprietary 2-pin connector rather than USB-C but this is a minor inconvenience considering all of the benefits.
Put simply, bone conduction headphones rest on your cheekbones and transmit audio by sending vibrations through the bones in your skull into your inner ear. Those who wear certain hearing aids can also benefit from bone conduction headphones since they don’t interact with the outer ear.
The best workout earbuds: Notable mentions
- Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2: These have an IPX5 rating and excellent isolation. While that does mean you don’t want to wear them if you’re running down city streets, it’s nice for the gym when you want to ignore the music the gym is playing.
- Anker Soundcore Spirit X2: If you like ear hooks for a secure workout earphone experience these sub-$100 earphones provide excellent battery life and IP68 protection from sweat.
- Jabra Elite 3: This is Jabra’s most affordable set of truly wireless earphones to date and the company manages to pack in premium features like an IP55 rating and aptX support.
- Jaybird X4: This headset is hard to find these days, but it has an IPX7 rating, secure fit, and tactile control module.
- Plantronics BackBeat Pro 5100: You can wear these in the office and quickly transition to the gym without worrying about durability, thanks to the IP54 rating. Integrated sensors facilitate automatic ear detection for auto-play/pause when the earbuds are inserted or removed.
- Samsung Galaxy Buds 2: Samsung Galaxy smartphone owners who want a good pair of ANC earbuds with plenty of software and hardware features will enjoy this headset. The ANC is better than the more expensive Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, but the Pro model has a more durable IPX7 rating.
- Skullcandy Push Active: Athletes who want something that fits securely around the back of their ears should look into the reasonably priced Push Active. Skull-iQ lets you directly access your phone’s smart assistant, and the buds have an IP55 rating. If you want all the same features without the ear hooks, get the Skullcandy Grind Fuel.
- Sony WF-C500: This set of earbuds has a standard IPX4 water-resistant build and comes in black or white. With a 10-hour standalone battery life and extra charge from the USB-C case, you’re well equipped to use this for a couple of weeks without the need to recharge it. You can even use the earbuds with Sony 360 Reality Audio for an immersive listening experience.
- Under Armour True Wireless FLASH X by JBL: This rugged set of workout earbuds offers a secure fit and water-resistant build with a bass-heavy sound profile.
- V-MODA Forza Metallo Wireless: This neckband-style pair of wireless headphones is outfitted with a sweat-resistant coating, aptX codec, and maintains a stable connection for long workouts.
Hold up! Something’s different:
Some of our picks’ frequency response and isolation charts were measured with our old testing system. We have since purchased a Bruel & Kjaer 5128 test fixture (and the appropriate support equipment) to update our testing and data collection. It will take a while to update our backlog of old test results, but we will update this review (and many others!) once we’re able with improved sound quality measurements and ANC performance plots. These will be made obvious with our new chart aesthetic (black background instead of white).
Thank you for bearing with us, and we hope to see you again once we’ve sorted everything out.
What you should know about the best workout earbuds
Workout earbuds can be intimidating, after all, you need them to be durable and comfortable but it’s hard to know what else matters. Well if you’ve never bought a pair of workout earbuds before, then you may want to study up on our in-ear buying guide. Those who may not have time to read it can use the table of contents on our site to navigate through the sections below regarding fit, durability, and Bluetooth codecs.
How do you know if your earbuds fit well?
To achieve a proper fit, you need to find the best fitting ear tips for you. Thankfully, most companies provide you with multiple sizes of ear and wingtips for extra security. If your earbuds are falling out too often or hurting your ears, alter the sizing or ear tip style. Sometimes earbuds aren’t for you you, though. If that’s the case, be sure to read up on our lists of the best workout headphones and best running headphones.
What if I want workout headphones?
There are tons of great workout headphone options on the market, though they all frequently share a number of fundamental aspects. Workout headphones are often on the bulky side, but they’re designed to deal with sweat well and survive otherwise rough treatment. These won’t be great if you’re looking for a biking companion, but here are a few we recommend as alternatives to workout earbuds if you just want something different. If you want to read about even more options, check out our list of best workout headphones.
- Under Armor Project Rock Over-ear Training Headphones by JBL: It’s a real mouthful of a name, but these headphones bring ANC, IPX4 sweat protection, and washable ear pads, in addition to all the features of the JBL Headphones app. It’s a little pricey ($275 at Amazon), but it’s a versatile pair of over-ears.
- Plantronics BackBeat FIT 6100: It’s starting to show its age, but this workout workhorse brings a lightweight build, great battery life, and IPX5 water resistance — perfect for any sweaty excursion. Plus it’s only $59.9 at Amazon).
- JBL Live 650BTNC: This pair of noise canceling over-ears is super comfortable, and brings hands-free access to your virtual assistant of choice. It also supports Bluetooth multipoint, which is always nice to have. You can find it for $114.49 at Amazon.
What are IP ratings?
Additionally, a key aspect of the listed best workout earbuds is that they’re, at the very least, sweat-resistant. So here’s a quick rundown of ingress protection (IP) ratings and fit. The X is just a placeholder for a dust resistance rating.
| Water-resistant | Waterproof | Can withstand | |
|---|---|---|---|
IPX0 | Water-resistant | Waterproof | Can withstand Not water-resistant |
IPX1 | Water-resistant ✓ | Waterproof | Can withstand Dripping water (1 mm/min) Limit: vertical drips only |
IPX2 | Water-resistant ✓ | Waterproof | Can withstand Dripping water (3 mm/min) Limit: Device max tilt of 15° from drips |
IPX3 | Water-resistant ✓ | Waterproof | Can withstand Sprays Limit: Device max tilt of 60° from sprays |
IPX4 | Water-resistant ✓ | Waterproof | Can withstand Splashes, omnidirectional |
IPX5 | Water-resistant ✓ | Waterproof | Can withstand Water jets (12.5 L/min) Example: Squirt guns |
IPX6 | Water-resistant ✓ | Waterproof | Can withstand Strong water jets (100 L/min) Example: Powerful water guns |
IPX7 | Water-resistant | Waterproof ✓ | Can withstand Complete submersion Limit: 1 m. for 30 min |
IPX8 | Water-resistant | Waterproof ✓ | Can withstand Complete submersion Limit: 3 m. for 30 min |
Do Bluetooth codecs matter when picking out workout earbuds?
When you’re looking for workout earbuds, chances are you’re prioritizing durability and fit over sound quality so high-quality Bluetooth codec support matters less than if you were to search for a premium set of noise canceling headphones. If you do think that Bluetooth codecs matter to you, well then all you really need to know on a base level is that AAC is the only high-quality Bluetooth codec for iPhones, and it doesn’t perform as consistently on Android devices. If you have an Android phone, we recommend you look out for aptX or LDAC support as these codecs will improve sound quality and reduce latncy.
How we chose the best workout earbuds
We’ve reviewed our share of products at SoundGuys before deciding on the best workout earbuds. Doing so makes it easier to determine what the best workout earbuds available are. However, we aren’t superhuman and admittedly haven’t reviewed every product out there, but we have done our research and all top five products and notable mentions.
For this list, I was able to test our curated selection of models. I also used these casually around the house, in the office, and generally while out and about. When testing earbuds for workout purposes, I do a bit of cardio, mainly biking and running paired with weight-lifting and calisthenics. All the products listed were able to withstand my workouts.
How we test the best workout earbuds
We subjected the best workout earbuds nominees to our objective testing which includes isolation, battery life, and frequency response. After we test all products and score them, we write a review. You can read all about it here, but the truncated version is as follows.
- Each product was subjected to multiple sine sweeps through the headphones, and we recorded the frequency response once we were able to repeat a result that demonstrates the hallmarks of a good seal.
- For battery testing, we used a real-time analyzer to calibrate the necessary setting for 75dB(SPL). We then played an infinitely looped music test track until the battery ran out. This lets us compare each product’s result to the others in a very controlled way.
- With the isolation tests, we used pink noise at 90dB(SPL). We first recorded with the headphones off and then with the headphones on. From there, we just subtract one from the other to get the isolation.
Why you should trust SoundGuys
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At the end of the day, we want you to enjoy what you listen to, which means we want you to enjoy what you’re listening through. None of our writers sees a dime from partnership deals or referral purchases, and we absolutely don’t benefit from swaying to one product or another. If you’re interested in learning more about our ethics policy, click here.
Frequently asked questions about the best workout earbuds
This depends on a few factors: the Jabra Elite Active 75t is explicitly a pair of workout earbuds with an IP57 rating. The Elite Active 75t is quite a bit cheaper than the Jabra Elite 85t, with the former retailing for $149 and the latter for $229 . Seeing how the Elite 85t IPX4 rating is less durable than the Elite Active 75t, the price disparity may appear curious. Well, the Elite 85t has much better active noise canceling (ANC) than the Elite Active 75t. The Elite 75t series ANC is nice to have but barely affects low-frequency sounds. If you want a durable enough pair of everyday earphones, the Jabra Elite 85t is a better long-term buy. For even better noise canceling, check out the Sony WF-1000XM4.
To make sure your buds stay in your ears, you’ll want to make sure any earbuds you buy have several options for ear tips, such as what the Anker Soundcore Spirit Dot 2 come with. Also, to avoid pain, we’d recommend avoiding non-removable wing tips that work by pressing out against your ear pinnae, and instead opting for buds with removable wing tips or over-ear hooks like the Beats Powerbeats Pro.
How comfortable your earbuds feel depends on your specific ear shape as well as the ear tips you have on your buds. Ear hooks and wing tips provide stability, which factors into comfort because it prevents you from having to constantly adjust your earbuds during your workout. We recommend the Bose SoundSport Free from this list if comfort is your main goal. They are stable with wing tips and won’t give you pain after wearing them for a long time. The only thing to note is that they are bulky, so if you have a lot of ear piercings, you’ll want to go with a sleeker set.