5 Best Workout Headphones, According to a Gym Rat
After weeks of sweaty lifts, treadmill runs, and frequency response testing, these workout headphones and earbuds stood out for fit, sound, battery life, and staying power.
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I’ve been an athlete my entire life, where I played almost every sport when I was younger to now going to the gym five days a week. Being able to push my body to the limit and getting a little bit stronger or faster every single workout always helped me feel better. What helps me lock in and focus at the gym more than anything is music. There’s so many different types of headphones or earbuds that are great for just listening to music. What’s difficult is finding a pair that is great to use while you're drenched in sweat, running or lifting weights, and hoping one side doesn’t fail due to sweat or pop out while you’re attempting a PR.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, the Tech and Engineering Lab has been testing headphones and earbuds for decades. From the best noise-cancelling headphones to cheap earbuds, we’re always testing the latest and greatest and comparing them to the products that have stood the test of time. Recently, we've tested over 20 different workout headphones, checking comfortability, sound quality, battery life, sweat-resistance, and more. We also work with consumers to get extra real-world feedback to determine the reasons why they like, or don't like, certain pairs. Below are our favorite workout headphones we’ve tested in the gym, out on a run, and everywhere in between.
Our top picks:
✔️ Best Overall: Beats Powerbeats Fit
Our top tested workout headphone with the best sound quality and great noise cancellation
✔️ Best Value: Nothing CMF Clip Pro
Stylish, affordable, and the lightest headphones tested
✔️ Best Open-Ear: SHOKZ OpenFit Pro
Powerful sound and unique features that are perfect for working out with
Best Deal
Pros
- Wing-tip design prevents earbuds from falling out of ear
- Easy iPhone connection
- Great ANC available
Cons
- Low IP rating
These comfy earbuds are built to stay in your ear. Using the “wing-tip,” a piece of rubber that sticks out like a wing through the top of the earbud, you can lock the earbud in place easily. Just tuck it into your upper ear, and it will stay snug and secure, no matter the workout. It actually worked surprisingly well, and it never fell out while I worked out. It also had some of the best noise cancellation on this list. There's four fun colors to choose from. While it is IPX4, which is typical for earbuds, it is still one of the lowest IP ratings out of the choices on this list.
While testing, we found that the Powerbeats Fit, compared to the other workout headphones we tested, was the closest to the Harman curve, a scientifically derived ideal sound for your average listener. If you are an iPhone user, it is the easiest to adjust the features since no app is needed (non Apple users will need an app). All the earbud controls, sound controls, and EQ controls are built directly into the Bluetooth settings. It even gives you the ability to check the seal of the earbuds when they are in your ear to see if you need a smaller or bigger ear tip (turns out I'm a large!).
| Type | In-ear headphones |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Battery Life | 6 hours with ANC, 24 hours total with case. 7 hours without ANC, 30 hours total with case. |
| Noise Canceling | Yes |
Pros
- Lots of controls customization for both headphones and case
- High sound quality for lower price
- Extremely lightweight
Cons
- Lacks bass
These open-ear headphones by CMF are simple but work extremely well. They latch on right above your ear lobe, and they stay there. These are our cheapest option, coming in at $99, and for the quality they provide, it’s a steal. Each earbud has a button you can press at the top that are your controls, and you can customize them through the Nothing app. The case itself has customizable controls, and you can make it so you can change the volume with the case and even pause and play music. I sometimes found that customization pretty frustrating when it was in my pocket, as it would constantly change the volume while I was walking, so it was great that it could be turned off or on based on preference.
In our tests, these were the most comfortable to wear for long periods of time. These felt the lightest in our ears while we were testing, and I even sometimes forgot I was wearing them. For the price, it had sound quality that was on par with some of our more expensive earbuds. Unfortunately, despite that, due to it being an open-ear earbud, the bass is hardly there. So if you listen to bass-heavy music, these might not be the one for you.
| Type | Open ear |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Battery Life | 10 hours, 36 hours with case |
| Noise Canceling | No |
Pros
- Unique noise reduction for open-ear headphones
- Dolby Atmos Compatible
- Great battery life
Cons
- Biggest open-ear tested
These SHOKZ open ear headphones were the most unique and biggest open-ear headphones that we tested, meaning they have an open ear with an ergonomic ear hook to loop around and hold it in place. It had a unique noise reduction feature, a rarity in the open-ear space. It has buttons to press controls, which are all customizable through the SHOKZ app. These have Dolby Atmos settings as well, so it enhances any movies or TV shows you are watching. With a battery life of 12 hours without noise reduction and 6 with, you definitely have enough time to get a workout in. They even have "Find my Earbuds," which allows you to play a loud sound through the headphones in case you misplace them.
We tested the noise reduction in a loud gym, as well as commuting in the subway, and it actually reduced the noise. I wouldn’t be so daring to call it true noise cancellation, but it definitely lowered and even removed the sounds around me. At the same time, I was able to have conversations with people, and was able to hear them fine just like any other typical open ear bud.
| Type | Open-ear with ear hook |
| IP Rating | IP55 |
| Battery Life | 6 hours with noise reduction, 24 hours with case. 12 hours without noise reduction, 50 hours with case. |
| Noise Canceling | Noise reduction |
Pros
- Built in heartbeat sensor
- Easily connects to fitness apps
- Comfortable ear hook
Cons
- The layout of the tactile buttons could be better
One of the few with extra features on the list, the Powerbeats Pro 2 comes with a heartbeat sensor that it reads through your ears. It can connect to any fitness app that allows you to track your heartbeat, and in this case, we used the iPhone's built in fitness app. It's even possible to connect to certain fitness equipment. I was a little skeptical at first, but as someone who isn't a fan of smart watches, it gave me the ability to track my heart rate without putting on any extra gear. Like any Beats headphone, it's built with Apple in mind, so it was extremely easy to connect to an iPhone. As it is an "in-ear" headphone, it is also one of the few on this list with true noise canceling features.
It goes into your ear, but it also has a very comfortable ear hook to help keep it in place in your ear. The one issue I ran into with this pair of headphones was how the tactile buttons were set up. There are volume controls on both, as well has a regular button on each to pause and play. But that button is set up in a way that anytime I would touch the headphones, I would accidentally press a button.
| Type | In-ear with ear hook |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Battery Life | 8 hours with ANC, 36 hours total with case. 10 hours without ANC, 45 hours with case |
| Noise Canceling | Yes |
Pros
- Comfortable open-ear design
- Secure, according to testers
Cons
- Case cannot recharge headphones
These open-ear headphones from SHOKZ are perfect for anyone who likes to be mindful of their environment when running or working out, whether outdoor or indoors. Because they don’t actually sit inside your ear, audio is delivered through your cheekbones via bone conduction technology so you can both listen to music and listen to your gym buddy. When testing them out ourselves during workouts, we were impressed with their audio quality and found them to be both secure and comfortable. We also had a tester use these who was deaf in one ear, and she found that she liked this better than having a single earbud in!
“I ran outside and indoors on a treadmill and wasn’t scared they would fall out of my ears,” said one tester. Though we do wish that their carrying case was a bit more portable and featured recharging capabilities, the 10 hours of claimed battery life should be sufficient for at least a few outdoor runs.
| Type | Open-ear |
| IP Rating | IP55 |
| Battery life | 10 hours |
| Noise canceling | No |
How we test the best headphones for working out
The experts and engineers at the Good Housekeeping Institute Tech and Engineering Lab have been testing headphones for more than a decade. In the past five years alone, we've logged over 300 hours of listening time and in our most recent evaluations, more than 40 pairs of headphones and earbuds were tested.
To test headphones for working out, our pros first assess each pair's ease of use. We evaluate how quickly the headphones pair to devices, as well as how intuitive on-ear controls are when listening to music, podcasts, and more (for instance, is it easy to adjust volume, turn noise cancellation on or off, and skip tracks?). We also consider how comfortable the headphones feel while wearing them, taking note of their fit and design and how well they stay in-ear, on-ear, or over-ear during workouts.
To evaluate performance, our engineers run a variety of tests to assess sound quality, noise-canceling capabilities, and audio spectrum analysis, when applicable. We also consider the headphones' battery life, charging time, and durability when dropped or put in contact with water. Lastly, we factor in real-world consumer tester feedback to better understand headphones' overall sound quality, comfort, and ease of use and setup.
What to look for when shopping for the best headphones for working out
✔️ Comfort, design, and fit: It’s important that headphones for working out are not only comfortable, but that they feel secure inside your ears. You don’t want one earbud falling out as you’re on the treadmill, and you certainly don’t want your ears to start hurting after only 30 minutes. To find the best fit for you, consider what type of headphone you would like to wear for long periods of time. In-ear headphones typically come with adjustable tips so you can swap them out to the right size if they don’t feel secure. Also, don’t forget about open-ear headphones, which can be a great alternative for anyone who wants a hybrid experience.
✔️ Water resistance: Exercise is typically associated with sweat, and sometimes sudden rainfall. To prevent any future damage to your new audio gear, it’s best to invest in a pair that has been tested to withstand sweat and water. Though your headphones don’t have to be waterproof, you'll ideally want ones that are water-resistant (unless you don't think you'll sweat significantly). To find out, check for an IP (ingress protection) rating. You’ll want one that’s at least IPX4, which means that your headphones have been tested to withstand water exposure. The first number refers to solids such as dust and sand, while the second number refers to liquids. Generally speaking, the higher the number, the more durable your headphones will be.
✔️ Battery life: Though battery life isn’t quite as important for workout headphones as it is for travel headphones (no one wants to be stuck on a plane without audio), it’s still essential to consider. Marathon runners or long-distance runners will benefit from long battery life on a single charge, and frequent gym goers will be pleased with a carrying case that recharges their headphones overnight so they don’t have to plug them in as frequently.
✔️ Noise cancellation: Whether or not you need noise cancellation is up to you. This technology is designed to produce a mirror image sound wave in your ear to cancel out external noise, meaning that you won’t be able to hear your surroundings (the drone of a treadmill, someone dropping weights, etc.). While some fitness enthusiasts may prefer hearing their environment, others might find it easier to focus on an intense training session without any distractions. Keep in mind that headphones featuring noise cancellation will typically cost more than those that do not.
What type of headphone is best for working out?
The right answer always comes down to personal preference, but look below to see how we define each category of headphone.
In-ear headphones: In-ear headphones, also known as earbuds, tend to be more lightweight, easy to pack, and typically offer more sweat resistance than others as they go into your ear. If they are a bad fit, though, they are likely to fall out during a workout. It's important to make sure you test out the size of the earbud tips to have a proper seal that stays in place. They can also have noise cancellation if that is important to you while working out.
Over-ear headphones: You may have noticed we didn't add any over-ear headphones to this list. While these may feel more secure and generally offer better noise cancellation, they will also retain heat and get much sweatier than any other headphone type. Since these typically offer less water and sweat resistance as well, there's a much higher chance that you will ruin your over-ear headphones while working out with them. While you absolutely can still workout with these types, the majority are not built for working out, and we want to make sure any headphone we recommend is built for that activity.
Open-ear headphones: Very similar to earbuds, but they don't go in your ear and instead just sit in front of the ear canal. With this, they feel less sweaty while still letting you hear what’s happening around you. They usually offer no noise cancellation compared to traditional earbuds or over-ear headphones, but you can still hear your music clearly while exercising. The sound quality will be good, but if you're a fan of loud bass while working out, open-ear headphones tend to be lacking in that department. Great for runners to always be aware of what's around them, or any gym goers that don't like to be surprised by anyone around them.
Bone-conducting headphones: For those who want something completely different and unique, bone-conducting headphones are here for you. Since they use your cheekbones to produce sound and don't play directly into your ear, some are even built for going underwater. They tend to sit around the back of your head in one single band, like an over-ear that you let fall backwards. The best way to see if it works for you is to try it out, as it will be different than any other pair of headphones you have ever tried.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
For decades, the Good Housekeeping Institute has been providing expert reviews and feedback on the best electronics and accessories you can buy.
Writer and Product Reviews Analyst Olivia Lipski covers everything from tech to fitness, travel, home, health, and more. Not only does she bring years of product review experience to GH (she's reviewed everything from AirPods alternatives to JBL earbuds), but since joining in 2021 she tests at least 25 pairs of earbuds and headphones per year and rotates them out as travels, walks her dog, or commutes to the Hearst Tower.
Engineer Alec Scherma has been testing headphones and earbuds in the gym since he started working at Good Housekeeping. Working in the Tech and Engineering Lab, he's tested everything from video game consoles to portable air conditioners to artificial Christmas trees. He uses his engineering experience to think up new product testing methods that helps the Good Housekeeping team better test their lifestyle products.
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