Best Workout Headphones (2026), Tested in the Gym and in the Streets | WIRED

Overview

“You’re always mooooving,” a parent friend once said in my direction, as he rapidly disappeared over the horizon. Unlike luxurious over-the-ear cans, you can use the best workout headphones for every part of your life—not only working out, but also traveling or while puttering around your house pretending you're putting things away.

Since I started testing workout headphones many years ago, the sound, comfort, variety, and features have all improved dramatically. I pretty much always have a pair on or around me, whether I'm biking on errands, washing dishes, or following along to mildly embarrassing yoga videos on my laptop in my bedroom. If you also need the distraction of music or podcasts while scrambling up stony slopes or mowing your lawn, our top pick is the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 (

Details

Don't see anything you like? Check out our guides to the Best Swimming Headphones, the Best Bone Conduction Headphones, or the Best Open Earbuds for more.

Updated March 2026: We've added the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra 2, the Chamelo Music Shield, the Soundcore Aero Fit 2 Pro, and the Shokz Open Fit Pro. We also added what we're testing next and updated links and prices.

How to Keep Your In-Ear Headphones From Falling Out

Best Overall Photograph: Ryan Waniata Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Beats Powerbeats Pro 2

As reviewer Ryan Waniata points out, Beats were the first sport-friendly buds to have the keys to the Apple i OS kingdom. But they work nearly as well for Android users as for Apple users, which makes the Powerbeats Pro 2 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) our choice for the best overall workout buds. They have redesigned ergonomic ear hooks made out of nickel-titanium alloy, which are super comfy. They add previously omitted standards like good noise canceling and clear transparency mode, alongside impressive new additions like a savvy heart rate monitor built off the Apple Watch and spatial audio with head tracking.

The H2 chip makes the Powerbeats Pro 2 particularly convenient for sporty Apple heads, offering core features like i Cloud device switching, Find My functionality, and hands-free Siri, among others. But there's a ton of new additions, including some for Android owners, like a dedicated app and one-touch pairing. New drivers and amplification provide the slick and punchy sound Beats fans love, and they also have excellent battery life. IPX4 water resistance could've been a little bit better, but I should note that I also have a pair of these (in purple) and have done things like aim a pouring hose straight at my head while wearing them. The buds were no worse for wear; the fit is secure enough in my ear that water couldn't penetrate them.

Best Noise-Canceling Photograph: Parker Hall Photograph: Parker Hall Photograph: Parker Hall Chevron Chevron Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra 2 Earbuds

It can be really hard to lock in at the gym when you're surrounded by loud music and friends chitter-chattering away. Bose is the undisputed king of noise-canceling headphones, so if you really need to concentrate (and aren't worried about colliding with someone in the locker room), you should consider the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra 2 (9/10, WIRED Recommends).

Senior editor Parker Hall noted that the noise-canceling on the second-gen pair of these buds bested the competition and was better than the first-gen. You get wireless charging in the clamshell and guards to prevent earwax (and salty sweat) buildup. Bose uses a chiming calibration tool to adjust the sound profile and noise-cancelling response to the shape of your actual ear canals, which is wild. 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, for anyone who gets jumpy at plates clanging. 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.

Best Over-Ear Photograph: Adrienne So Photograph: Adrienne So Chevron Chevron Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Blue Ant Pump X

Ever since I started lifting more weights, I need a secure pair of over-ear headphones that aren't going to pop out and onto the floor when I pick up something heavy. The Blue Ant 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. These work remarkably well, even if your spouse does find the condiment drawer to be a very strange place to store gym equipment.

The single-button operation is intuitive, and ANC is effective, causing my whole family to jump-scare me repeatedly as I sat quietly on the floor doing laundry. 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.

Best Sunglasses Photograph: Adrienne So Photograph: Adrienne So Photograph: Adrienne So Photograph: Adrienne So Chevron Chevron Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Oakley Meta Vanguard

The Oakley Meta Vanguard sunglasses are all-in-one sports sunglasses. 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 definitely 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. They're just so attractive and versatile. Shield my eyes from the sun, listen to Pool Kids, take calls, and shoot small clips with voice commands to text to my husband later? This all sounds good to me.

Best if You Have an i Phone Photograph: Parker Hall Review: Apple Air Pods Pro 3 Review: Apple Air Pods Pro 3 Chevron Chevron Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Apple Air Pods Pro 3

The Air Pods Pro 3 are the first Air Pods model I've ever used that I legitimately see as workout headphones. (Previous models fell out all the time.) Apple conducted what 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 Air Pods Pro model that haven't fallen out of my ears while running.

Like the Beats above, 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 as well as 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.

Most Affordable Buds Courtesy of JLab Save to wishlist Save to wishlist JLab Audio Go Air Sport

Workout buds are getting cheaper and better all the time, but JLab’s are really in a different class when it comes to build quality, sound, and value. The Go Air Sport are the sport version of the insanely affordable Go Air (8/10, WIRED Recommends), with a slight markup for over-ear hooks and a case with a cover. You just can't find buds with quality this good for this price, especially if you don't want to spend a ton on headphones you will mostly be sweating and grunting in.

They come in a sturdy case with 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. And the Bluetooth connection is stronger than in other 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.

My Favorite Workout Headphones Photograph: Adrienne So Photograph: Adrienne So Photograph: Adrienne So Chevron Chevron Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Soundpeats Q40HD$32 Amazon Soundpeats earned a rare 10/10 recommendation rating from us with the Capsule 3 Pro+, so it's not surprising that the Q40HD are my favorite workout headphones. Buds are convenient, but if you're running or hiking outside a lot, it's nice to have a pair that are tied to you and that you can't drop in a puddle. I rarely take these off, as they have two clips to attach to my shirt, and the buds themselves are magnetic and click together when not in use. I get around the suggested 20 hours of battery life, but even when power is low, a quick top-off with a USB-C cable gets me 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 I wear only one bud when I’m running. Beyoncé’s “Partition” has plenty of oomph to the bass, and I can distinguish both Christine's and Stevie's high, sweet voices clearly on “You Make Loving Fun.” I love these headphones. I'm wearing them right now! Specs Battery life Up to 20 hours Water resistance IP67 Noise cancellation? Passive noise cancellation Compatibility Android and i OSWIRED/TIREDAccordion Item Container Button Large Chevron WIREDNever lose a bud again! Fit very comfortably, for cheap buds. Sound incredible for this price point. TIREDButtons are a little stiff.

Soundpeats earned a rare 10/10 recommendation rating from us with the Capsule 3 Pro+, so it's not surprising that the Q40HD are my favorite workout headphones. Buds are convenient, but if you're running or hiking outside a lot, it's nice to have a pair that are tied to you and that you can't drop in a puddle. I rarely take these off, as they have two clips to attach to my shirt, and the buds themselves are magnetic and click together when not in use.

I get around the suggested 20 hours of battery life, but even when power is low, a quick top-off with a USB-C cable gets me 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 I wear only one bud when I’m running. Beyoncé’s “Partition” has plenty of oomph to the bass, and I can distinguish both Christine's and Stevie's high, sweet voices clearly on “You Make Loving Fun.” I love these headphones. I'm wearing them right now!

Best Bone Conduction Photograph: Michael Sawh Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Shokz Open Swim Pro

Swimming would be so much less boring if you could listen to podcasts or music while you were doing laps. In our guide to the Best Swimming Headphones, reviewer Michael Sawh points out that the Open Swim Pro has an industry-leading IP68 rating and a dedicated swimming EQ mode that makes it pleasant to listen to underwater. The controls are also easy to use, and the band is slim enough to wear under a swim cap.

It's worth noting here that since Bluetooth doesn't really work underwater, you will need to drag and drop audio files from your computer onto your swim headphones. If you have a large audio library, check the format to make sure it's compatible (the Open Swim Pro supports MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC, M4A, APE, and WMA files). If you don't, you should have a way to download audio legally because streaming services don't work underwater.

Best for Running Courtesy of Shokz Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Shokz Open Run Pro 2

The biggest change to the updated Shokz Open Run Pro 2 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is that it now charges via USB-C, so there's no more hunting for the weird proprietary Shokz charger! The company's headphones use both air and bone conduction to transmit sound while you're working out outside. This year, it added a second air-conduction unit, which improves the sound and further reduces the weird skull-bone tingle that you get with bone conduction.

Reviewer Michael Sawh notes that the battery life is a little less than promised, the waterproof rating is lower than on previous iterations, and the sound is not quite as clear as promised. However, the bass and punch still come through. I've tried these as well, and the USB-C charging tips it over the edge for me—the build quality is also leagues nicer than other headphones of this type that I've tried, with buttons that don't stick or collect dirt. These are still my favorite headphones to run in, and they also work well underneath a helmet.

Build quality is leagues better than other headphones of this type

To a certain extent, how the headphones sound matters less than if they fit correctly. They can be the best-sounding headphones in the world, but I will find them irritating if they won't stay in mid-run. So how do you keep your headphones from falling out? Here are a few tips and tricks that I've tried over the years.

Dial it in. To put on your buds, pull open your ear a little bit and give it a little twist to fix it in place. If they don't fit, don't be afraid to switch or mismatch ear tip sizes—one ear might need a medium tip and the other a small, for example, or one might need a foam tip while the other needs a plastic tip.

Accessorize. Still can't get it to fit quite right? There's a healthy market for aftermarket clips and wings to get your earbuds or Air Pods to fit more securely.

Check the IP rating. Ingress-protection ratings give you a quick indication of the headphones’ dust- and water-resistance. If you’re running outside in the pouring rain, you need a higher IP than if you’re doing gentle calisthenics in the gym.

I wear headphones while working out, which I do every day. I run 3-5 miles every other day, ride a bike every day, and lift weights at home or in the gym 3-4 times a week. Naturally, I test swimming headphones in the pool.

I listen for sound quality with songs in a variety of registers (is it dating myself to say that my standards include Mariah Carey for higher registers and Beyoncé's Beyoncé for bass). I test durability by dropping them and sweating in them. I test water resistance by sweating while wearing them and pouring water on them (or on my head while I'm wearing them). I also test battery life by checking how long it takes for one charge to last while wearing them.

I'm currently testing the H2O Audio Tri Run ($100).

We try every pair of new workout buds that come out. Here are a few that we also like that didn't quite earn a space above.

Shokz Open Fit Pro for $250: The most interesting headphones that I tested last year were the Shokz Open Fit Pro. Shokz purported to create the world's first open-ear noise reduction system. The sound quality is excellent; the buds are beautiful and comfortable; and I like the physical buttons. Ultimately, though, the noise reduction system just blunts outside noise rather than blocks it, so I don't really understand the value proposition on offer here.

Soundcore Aero Fit 2 Pro for $180: The same goes for the Aero Fit 2 Pro, which actually transform shape from open earbuds to noise-canceling buds. The case is weirdly big and the noise cancellation is not really that effective. Still, it's an interesting idea and I like being able to toggle the angle on the ear hooks to get them to fit more securely.

Nwm Go for $99: Stylish Japanese brand Nwm recently launched these open-ear bone conduction headphones that purport to reduce sound leakage, so not everyone can listen to your spicy audiobook on the train. This works, they sound fine and are incredibly light, but they use a proprietary charger and my husband thinks they look like some weird dental device.

Skullcandy Crusher 540 Active for $130: The Blue Ant 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 astoundingly powerful—my whole head vibrated while listening to Jay-Z at the gym.

Chamelo Music Shield for $260: Chamelo's audio sunglasses have electrochromic lenses; you can change how dark they get with a finger slider on the arm. This is very cool and these glasses are very attractive. However, the music isn't very loud, they're very expensive, and the battery life is much worse than the Vanguard.

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 incredibly secure.

H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport for $200: These are a huge improvement of the first iteration of the brand's waterproof headphones, with a better fit, better buttons, and a better silicone finish. I also like the charging case! However, they're pricier than the Shokz and they use a proprietary charger instead of USB-C, which is annoying.

Nothing Open Earbuds for $100: These are some of the slimmest buds I've tested and they fit well under layers of hoods, helmets, and hats.

JLab JBuds Mini for $40: If I were spending my own money, I would buy a pair of JLab workout buds and be done with it. I raved about these cute, tiny buds last year and they are also in our Best Wireless Earbuds guide.

Suunto Sonic for $79: If you want to try a neckband-style headphone like the Shokz above, but for cheaper, Sawh also likes these lightweight headphones with a balanced sound profile.

Shokz Openrun Pro for

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 bad.

There’s nothing more annoying than carving out some time in your day for a workout, getting out the door, and realizing that you can’t listen to your fun podcast because your headphones are glitching out. These are the ones I hated.

Raycon Bone Conduction Headphones for $80: I have no idea if these sound good, because they pressed directly on top of my ear canal, where they buzzed the flesh of my eardrums and not my bones. It was unbearable.

Skullcandy Method 360 ANC for $100: The case is huge, the buds are big and awkward, and noise canceling works not at all.

Anker Soundcore C40i for $60: These fulfilled all my worst imaginings about open-ear buds; they 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.

1 More Fit Open for $90: Don't buy these. They 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.

Why are the young ones plugging their headphones into their phones?

Earbuds are amazingly convenient, but Bluetooth pairing can be wonky, and I always seem to drop one out at the most inconvenient times. To plug your headphones in, you'll either need a headphone jack adapter or a phone with a headphone jack.

You spent hundreds of dollars on your Sony WH-1000XM6, why wouldn't you just wear them to work out? Sweat has salt and minerals that can corrode ear cups, especially if they're made from premium materials, like leather. You're also out and about in the world, encountering rain and other cold, hot, or humid environments that aren't great for delicate drivers and other headphone components. No one's telling you you can't work out in regular headphones, but if you consider yours precious, it's worth getting another pair that you won't mind getting damaged.

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Key Takeaways

• “You’re always mooooving,” a parent friend once said in my direction, as he rapidly disappeared over the horizon
• Since I started testing workout headphones many years ago, the sound, comfort, variety, and features have all improved dramatically
• Don't see anything you like
• Updated March 2026: We've added the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra 2, the Chamelo Music Shield, the Soundcore Aero Fit 2 Pro, and the Shokz Open Fit Pro
• How to Keep Your In-Ear Headphones From Falling Out