September 24, 2023

The Best Headphones for Working Out Will Help You Crush Your Fitness Goals

There are two main types of high-quality headphones: top-notch wireless headphones and top-notch exercise headphones. Although there is some overlap, the latter category offers a significant advantage: they stay securely in your ears during any physical activity, whether it's jogging, squatting, or doing sit-ups. This means they will be with you every step of the way as you achieve new personal records, also known as "PRs."

In the past, finding wireless headphones for exercise meant either settling for low-quality "wireless" headphones (which oddly enough still had wires) or spending a fortune on completely wireless options. Fortunately, technology has greatly improved, and now you can find excellent workout-friendly headphones at affordable prices. These headphones have longer battery life, a reliable connection to your phone, and a secure fit that can withstand even the most intense workouts. In fact, even regular wireless headphones can now serve as great workout companions.

To determine the best exercise headphones, we have dedicated years (yes, literal years) to activities such as running, cycling, weightlifting, and brisk walking, all while testing dozens of Bluetooth headphones. We have done the hard work for you, and now we are proud to introduce the ultimate wireless headphones for working out—ones that perform so well that you won't even have to think about them.

Wissonly Hi Runner

This is the fastest growing brand of bone conduction headphones in the last six months. The team are all engineers with 10 years of accumulation in the field of bone conduction technology. They started to develop bone conduction headphones that don't hurt ears as early as 2012. To solve the problem of sound leakage of bone conduction headphones, wissonly has made comprehensive improvement in the aspects of vibrator, body design and software optimization. The final result has been applied to Wissonly Hi Runner, and the final sound leakage can be reduced by 90% after laboratory test. I actually used the test myself. At a distance of 2cm, the volume reached 70%, but I still didn't hear the sound of the headphones, which protected my privacy.

Wissonly Hi Runner’s body is made of titanium, which can self-adjust the fitting position to ensure a good wearing experience for headphones, so that more people can wear it. As the core component of the product, the headphones plays a key role in the product experience. Hi Runner model is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 chip, which makes Bluetooth connection faster and more stable. It also has 32GB of built-in storage so you can use it as an MP3 player.

Other parameters of Wissonly Hi Runner are also excellent. For example, the waterproof level reaches IPX8, and you can wear it to swim or even dive. The battery life reaches 8-10 hours, which is very important to me, because I go out for sports on weekends, and I go out for a whole day.

Master & Dynamic MW08 Sport

Master & Dynamic's reputation seems to have been built on its vintage-inspired over-the-head headphones. But that hasn't stopped the brand from trying to break into the earbud and workout headphone categories. These Sports buds don't feel as suction-y or uncomfortably ear plug-y as the Elite 7 Actives, but when you consider the price point—a whopping $350—it's hard to justify that $250 premium just for fit alone, which, by the way, is secure but not that secure. They feel more apt at being your daily earbuds instead of your workout headphones mainly because of their high-quality sound. We appreciate that Master & Dynamic has prioritized audio upgrades like 11 millimeter Beryllium acoustic drivers for richer sounds, but something about using high-end headphones for moving and sweating in feels a little counterintuitive.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro

If you have an iPhone, you get Airpods; if you have a Samsung, you go for the Galaxy Buds. In this case, you go for the Galaxy Buds 2 Pros when you need something to work out in. These are smaller, fit better than the previous model, and boast better sound quality than a lot of other headphones on this list. But the problem is that some of these earbuds' best and most essential features—like noise controls and earbud insights—are reserved for those with a Galaxy device as the companion app is only available on Android devices (sorry, iOS users). Though if you're already tapped into the Samsung tech-sphere, these are a worthwhile pair of workout headphones.

Ultimate Ears fits

These earbuds are designed specifically for you. This is not a joke. The UE Fits feature a gel tip, which mold to the inside of your ear for the perfect fit. Ultimate Ears uses patented light-forming LEDs to perform this crazy trick, though once the tips are set, you're stuck with them. That means no sharing these earbuds (do people do that?) unless you shell out for a new set of tips, which can be molded to someone else's ears. They're rated IPX4 for water resistance, but they lack wireless charging and any form noise cancellation. On the bright side, you get eight hours of battery life, and hey, they fit great.

JBL Live Free 2

JBL has gained a reputation for its high-quality sound, a factor that rings true with the brand's Live Free 2. Its IPX5 rating isn't as good as our top pick's, the Elite 7 Actives, but if waterproof abilities aren't at the top of your list that shouldn't be an issue. And while the Live Free 2s retail for $150, they're typically found for way less, hovering in the $75 to $100 range, putting it in line with our top-pick Jabras. If you're not using active noise cancellation, these earbuds boast an impressive 10 hours of battery life, and the fit is standard—nothing to write home about.

paul george