Best workout headphones

You shouldn’t start to exercise with the goal of getting a six-pack; it takes too long, and more often than not, our dedication dwindles before we can see those washboard abs. There’s no shame: we’ve all been there. When it comes to fitness, we recommend starting with an attainable goal to feed you that dopamine hit, and with the SoundGuys way, you don’t even need to do a single crunch. Instead, all you need is a good pair of workout headphones.

What makes a good pair of workout headphones?

There are a few factors to consider when looking for headphones to bring to the gym. The first thing to consider is what kind of headset you actually want. Do you want wired or wireless? Over-ear headphones or wireless earbuds? Everyone has their own preferences, but in this list, we’re going to be going over the best over-ear and on-ear headphones for working out. If you prefer earbuds, don’t worry; we have you covered there too.

Now that we’ve narrowed that down, some other important factors you should keep in mind are cost, sweat resistance, comfort and fit, durability, and battery life. We go into each of these in greater detail further down in the article, but if you just want to know what the best workout headphones are, then let’s get into it. For most people, you should go with the Plantronics BackBeat FIT 6100.

Most people should get the Plantronics BackBeat FIT 6100

If you want a pair of workout headphones that aren’t earbuds, you’re going to have to make some compromises. Oftentimes you have to choose between water resistance, isolation, or sound quality when buying headphones, but that isn’t the case with the Plantronics BackBeat FIT 6100.

This set of over-ears was designed specifically for working out. The headband features an adjustable mechanism, so you can temporarily tighten the fit for vigorous workouts. The BackBeat FIT 6100 has an IPX5 rating, which means it can withstand all the sweat you throw at it. Battery life is very good: you get 27 hours of playtime from a single charge, and the headset supports fast charging. When you plug in the micro-USB cable for 15 minutes, you get six hours of playback. It supports Bluetooth multipoint, so you can connect to two devices at a time, which is great when working out from home: you can keep an ear on incoming work chats from your computer while enjoying music from your phone.

Sound quality is only okay because bass notes make it hard to hear midrange notes. This is called auditory masking, and it’s something we encounter every day. Normally, we ding points for this, but the BackBeat FIT 6100 are workout headphones, not audiophile cans. For the price, it’s hard to find fault with the BackBeat FIT 6100.

If you like bass, go with the Sony WH-1000XM4

The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are an excellent choice for workout enthusiasts looking for bass-focused performance. While not ideal for intense physical activities or rainy conditions due to their susceptibility to moisture, these headphones shine in varied listening situations. They offer a comfortable fit, high-bitrate Bluetooth audio, and exceptional bass, creating an immersive workout experience.

With improved active noise cancelation (ANC), they effectively block out distractions in busy gyms or bustling outdoor environments. The headphones also provide clear call quality, making them suitable for hands-free workouts or virtual coaching sessions. Their exceptional battery life, offering up to 30 hours with ANC on, also ensures you have enough juice for extended workout sessions or even a week’s worth of commutes.

It’s worth noting that the only reason we didn’t select the newer Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones is that they do not have an IP rating, so they are not officially rated for water or sweat resistance. This means they may not be the best choice for outdoor activity or very intense workouts where exposure to moisture is a concern. The predecessors do carry an IPX4 rating, making them suitably sweat-resistant.

Outdoorsy folk, get the Shokz OpenRun

The Shokz OpenRun headphones are the top pick for outdoor workouts due to their safety-oriented design. These bone-conduction headphones keep your ears open, allowing you to stay aware of your surroundings, making them ideal for runners, cyclists, and outdoor athletes. They are compatible with in-the-ear hearing aids and suit those who prefer not to insert earbuds into their ears.

The headphones offer comfort and durability, with a design that rests on your cheekbones, and they come with IP67 dust and water resistance. With up to 8 hours of battery life and quick charging, they are reliable for extended outdoor sessions. While not audiophile-grade, their sound quality is decent, making them a great choice for those who prioritize safety and situational awareness during outdoor workouts.

The Under Armour Project Rock Over-Ear Training Headphones by JBL review is a favorite among athletes

JBL and Under Armour often collaborate on workout headphones and earbuds, and one of its latest iterations ropes in Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The Under Armour Project Rock Over-Ear Training Headphones by JBL is an over-ear noise canceling headset with an IPX4 rating. These bulky headphones have large button controls and removable ear pads that make it easy to maintain the headset.

Battery life is ridiculously long, and this clocked in at 41 hours and 13 minutes of playtime with noise canceling on. You can fast charge the headset with the included USB-C cable: 5 minutes of charge provides 120 minutes of battery life. If the battery does happen to deplete, you can use the integrated headphone jack to connect to your phone.

As with many JBL headsets, the Project Rock Over-Ear has a bass-heavy response by default, which is made even bassier when you enable “The Rock’s Project Rock EQ.” With the default setting, bass notes are approximately two times louder than mids, which subjects some vocals and strings to auditory masking, but nothing too egregious.

Don’t want to spend too much? Get the JLab Rewind Wireless

If you’re of the variety that loves Stranger Things and squared-off, oversized glasses, then the retro-styled Rewind Wireless from JLab is all you need to complete your look.

For the rest of us, this is just a solid pair of wireless on-ears that only cost $20. If you know you’re going to destroy your workout headphones anyway, then there’s no point paying a crazy amount of money for a pair.

The battery in this will last you around 11 hours of constant playback, which is great for most gym-goers. The Rewind Wireless is about as lightweight as Bluetooth headphones come, and you’ll barely notice you’re wearing it. Sound quality isn’t great as the ear pads do little to isolate you from the environment. But that can be spun as a positive if you prefer to hear what’s going on around you at the gym.

If you have money to burn, get the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700

The Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 features an IPX4 rating, meaning it can resist rain and, more importantly, your sweat. Ergonomically, this isn’t the most comfortable option for working out, but at least you don’t have to worry about water damage. Sound and microphone quality are both very good, but noise canceling is just middling and actually less effective than the older and cheaper Bose QuietComfort 35 II.

For earbuds, get the Beats Fit Pro

We know these aren’t technically headphones, but the Beats Fit Pro is an excellent choice for workout enthusiasts, offering a secure and comfortable fit that stays in place during various activities. Their compatibility with both iOS and Android devices, thanks to the H1 chip, ensures a seamless experience for users of all kinds. With an IPX4 water-resistance rating, these true wireless earbuds can handle sweat and tough workouts.

One of their standout features is the user-friendly design, with an intuitive “twist and lock” mechanism for a secure fit. The automatic ear detection feature enhances convenience by pausing playback when you remove them. Plus, tactile buttons on each earbud provide quick control over media playback and calls, which is essential during workouts.

Sound quality is tailored to workout music preferences, with a bass-boosted profile perfect for pop, hip-hop, and rap. The ear tip fit test ensures effective noise isolation, allowing you to enjoy your music without raising the volume to potentially harmful levels. Although there are minor drawbacks, like the price and occasional noise canceling issues, the Beats Fit Pro offers a compelling package for fitness enthusiasts seeking reliable and versatile workout headphones.

What you should know about the best workout headphones

As with any kind of headphones, there are a few things you should keep in mind when perusing your next pair of workout headphones. We’ve broken down the key points for you; think of it as a cheat sheet of sorts.

The bulk of the cost goes to durability

Workout headsets withstand a lot of wear and tear, and that’s okay. You may be wondering why you should pay for something you’re just going to destroy, and well, if you buy the right set of workout headphones for you, you won’t break it (at least not immediately).

Most workout headsets include durability features like flexible, robust headbands, replaceable ear pads, and even the occasional modular design. It’s this kind of thoughtfulness that you pay a premium for, and it extends the life of your product.

Comfort, fit, and isolation are all important

As is the case with almost every pair of headphones, a good fit is essential for keeping the bad sounds out and the good sounds in. Outside noise can really get in the way of a good listening experience because of auditory masking, which is the natural way that your brain perceives sound. That’s especially true when it comes to on-ear headphones since they don’t completely surround your ears. This kind of design leaves a lot of room (literally) for outside noise to make its way down your ear canals.

But isolation aside, what’s arguably more important is how well the headphones fit. Who cares how good they sound if they keep falling off your head? You’ll want a pair of headphones that find a nice balance between clamping force and comfort, so they won’t fall off during a workout and they also won’t hurt your ears while you wear them.

What is an IP rating?

If you’re going to be working out, chances are you’re going to be sweating; as we all know, water and electronics don’t mix. The best workout headphones feature some kind of water-resistant certification, denoted by an IP rating.

How much does battery life matter?

If you’re going for a wireless pair of workout headphones, one thing to keep in mind is battery life. The last thing you want is to show up at the gym all hyped up and ready to exercise, only to find you forgot to charge your headphones, and you’re going to be without music. Sure, most people don’t exercise for more than 90 minutes at a time (which most true wireless earbuds can easily handle), but a bigger capacity means you can go a few days without charging.

Noise-induced hearing loss is a real problem

It’s hard to argue that the louder your music is, the easier it is to get pumped up. A higher volume usually helps you feel the bass more. Plus, you probably want to block out the sounds of weights being dropped and the pop music they play at the gym anyway by blasting your headphones. That’s not a good idea.

Noise-induced hearing loss is a real thing, and it sucks. If you consistently play your music too loudly, you can damage the cochlea cells in your inner ear over time. As a general rule of thumb, you probably shouldn’t play your music any louder than 85 dB. If you’re at or around 85dB and still can’t hear your music properly, you might have a bad fit. Definitely adjust the headphones and pads before you go putting your phone on maximum volume.

Best workout headphones: Notable mentions

• Jabra Elite 85h ($190.99 at Best Buy): This pair of wireless noise canceling headphones feature a water-resistant nano-coating that protects it from sweat droplets. The noise cancelation isn’t great, but the sound quality is good for those who enjoy vocal clarity from their music.
• JLab Flex Sport: With a 20-hour battery life and sweat-resistant build, this headset is made for you to take to the gym.
• JBL UA Sport Wireless Train On-Ear: The headset is sweat-resistant and supplies you with 16 hours of playtime. This is an on-ear version of The Rock Over-Ear Training Headphones and lacks noise canceling.
• AfterShokz Aeropex: Perhaps you don’t want the clunkiness of headphones. In that case, we recommend the AfterShokz Aeropex, a set of bone-conduction headphones that keeps you aware of your surroundings by leaving your ear canals wide open.

Why you should trust SoundGuys

SoundGuys has been around for a few years now, and in that time, we’ve managed to get our grubby hands on as many pairs of headphones as we can get. Not only do we have plenty of hands-on experience with many of the top brands of headphones, but we also make sure to run each pair of headphones through our objective tests. This helps us clearly demonstrate how a product sounds and performs when it comes to frequency response, isolation, and microphone quality.

The best workout headphones: FAQs