5 Best Workout Earbuds in 2023 (that stick in like glue)

What Makes the Best Wireless Workout Earbuds?

Looking for great earbuds for working out is not just about finding the top earbuds on the market.

You need to think about your workout and the strain it will put on the buds.

Features you may not care about on the train or at home might be very important for your workouts or long runs.

• Fit: good workout earbuds always stay in your ears, no matter how much you shake your head. Winged and hooked designs are the best. Earbuds are usually better for vigorous workouts than on-ear headphones due to better stability.

• Sound quality: while audio quality isn’t of at most importance for working out, nobody wants to listen to muddy mess when lifting weights.

• Durability: when you’re running or in the gym, earbuds can fall on the floor or get squashed by everything in your gym bag. That’s why you need something durable for working out.

• Noise isolation: you want to be blocking out ambient noise if you’re in a noisy gym. However, if you need to hear outside noise such as traffic for your safety, get some other earbuds with less noise isolation.

• Battery life: a downside of having wireless functionality. If you can, opt for longer battery life and other features, like quick-charge capability.

• Waterproof protection: exercising means sweating. IPX (waterproof rating) will tell you how strong waterproof headphones are. About IPX4 and upwards is sweat-resistant.

Best Workout Earbuds

Wissonly Hi Runner

Wissonly bone conduction headphones, the product I use the most, is the first brand I started to contact. When they were crowdfunding online, I participated.

The sound quality is what I am most satisfied with. I am not a professional music player, but from my personal experience, Hi Runner is the best sound quality bone conduction headphones I have ever used. It uses a large-sized 360-degree bone conduction vibration unit, and through structural optimization, the sounding area is increased by 35%, so that the sound range is wider, and the stereo feeling and shock of sound are stronger. Its anti-sound-leakage treatment is also very good. The whole body is completely sealed, and the algorithm is optimized to minimize the leakage of sound. I have tested it myself, and at a distance of 2 meters, the volume is turned on at 60%, so I can't hear the sound at all.

wissonly Hirunner’s body is made of memory titanium, which can self-adjust the contact area. It can ensure a good wearing experience of the earphone at any time, taking into account more users and usage scenarios.

Hi Runner is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 chip, and the connection is more stable. It also has IPX8 professional sports waterproof +32g internal memory to swim in the water. The battery performance is also good, and it can play music continuously for 8-10 hours.

AfterShokz Aeropex

The sound fidelity is overall good, with a wide frequency response and a tailored bass boost (exceptional among the best bone conduction headphones).

The Aeropex weigh only 26g, which is incredibly lightweight, but they still don’t compromise on features. With up to eight hours of listening time, you can use them for a full day.

PremiumPitch 2+ technology ensures better sound, with improved bass response through bone vibration. Also, it lessens the vibration feel in your cheeks, which is annoying to some people.

A titanium-wrapped headband is designed to be extremely flexible and fit comfortably on all sorts of different ear shapes.

With IPX7 water-resistant design and a secure fit, you can use them as gym or running headphones.

Beats PowerBeats Pro

The bass-forward sound is controlled and makes your favorite tunes enjoyable. The midrange is slightly reduced, while the treble shows a significant amount of sparkle.

Construction on these is of high quality. Housing is made from hard plastic, with a matte black finish and ear hook design. The latter work exceptionally well at providing stability, even during jumping jacks, no matter the ear shape.

While you can’t wash them under a tap, they have no problem with excess sweat (IPX4 certification makes them sweat proof).

Even if your workout routines are long, PowerBeats Pro come with 11 hours of battery life per single charge.

To make their longevity even better, you get an additional 24 hours inside the case, while the ear buds themselves can quick charge.

Sony WF-SP800N

Their stock sound isn’t the most amazing, but with customizable EQ inside a Sony Headphones Connect app, WF-SP800N can start to perform really well.

They even support premium and special features like 360 Reality Audio that boost the surround experience to selected audio tracks.

With an IP55 rating, you can rest assure that these earbuds can deal with both dust and big splashes of water.

Expect good overall comfort and stability due to ear fin design. If you’re at a gym, enabling ANC helps you block loud noises around you. Or, when you want to speak to someone, you can amplify the ambient sound.

With an impressive battery life of 13 hours per charge, which is more than in most earbuds, you also don’t have to worry about them dying in the middle of a workout session.

JBL Reflect Mini NC

JBL Reflect Mini NC have a very exciting sound, with punchy bass and sparkly treble. You can change the sound to your liking inside the JBL Headphones app.

The latter allows you to customize controls and toggle between ambient sound mode and ANC.

Unfortunately, the latter isn’t going to mute loud gym noises since it’s hardly working. At least you get up to seven hours long battery life, suitable for lengthy indoor and outdoor workouts.

Furthermore, Reflect Mini NC excel at providing excellent stability and a high level of durability.

Firstly, the earpiece sits in your ears thanks to multiple sizes of large ear fins. And secondly, they boast an IPX7 rating, making them fully submersible.

How to Choose Earbuds for Working Out For You

There’s no way someone can recommend one set of earbuds for everyone. You need to consider your needs before you can make this decision.

What is Your Type of Earbuds?

It's likely that you have made the decision to opt for earbuds rather than on-ear headphones.

In-ear headphones are lightweight and offer a great fit.

On-ear headphones are a smaller type of traditional headphones, but they are not suitable for activities that involve fast movement. Additionally, the ear cushions can cause your ears to sweat more.

Over-ear headphones are not ideal for exercise at all. They excel in active noise canceling and provide a full sound, but when it comes to exercise, earbuds are typically much more convenient.

Earbuds are smaller in size, can comfortably fit with a wing or hook design, and are unlikely to get in the way. For more information on the comparison between earbuds and headphones, you can find more details on the subject.

You can also refer to the earbuds vs. headphones guide for further information.

Where are You Working Out?

Naturally, one can engage in physical activities in various locations. However, it is wise to consider primarily where you will be spending most of your workout sessions.

If you frequently visit a noisy gym, it is important to prioritize the ability to block out background noise.

If you exercise in an area with heavy traffic, it is crucial to maintain situational awareness rather than focusing on isolating background noise. For instance, bone conduction headphones allow you to remain fully aware of your surroundings as they do not obstruct your ear canals.

If you prefer outdoor exercise, even in rainy conditions, it is essential to ensure that the product you choose is fully waterproof.

Running necessitates more than just a snug fit, unlike weightlifting at the gym. Ear wings and hooks can provide added stability during your runs.