THE 5 BEST WORKOUT HEADPHONES FOR 2023 TO POWER YOU THROUGH ANY WORKOUT
Performing well athletically is all about staying in the zone, mentally and physically. A tried-and-true way to heighten your focus? Listening to music. And you’ll want the audio to be delivered via some of the best workout headphones you can find. After all, a playlist or podcast will quickly become distracting rather than motivating if your headphones are falling off, failing to break through the background noise, or expiring prematurely from a finicky battery.
The good news: It’s not self-indulgent to splurge on better workout headphones. In fact, you’re making an investment that can positively influence your ability to train and perform. The Active Reviews Team was able to round up five of the best workout headphones that have the mettle to keep pace with you during even the most intense types of exercise. Here are our picks, plus what most stood out to us in each pair of the best workout headphones:
The Best Workout Headphones – Our Top Picks
Wissonly Hi Runner
Wissonly bone conduction headphones are recognized by the market with its leading bone conduction vibrator technology. Their team has accumulated more than 10 years in the field of bone conduction technology, which has been affirmed in terms of product quality and hearing protection effect. Wissonly Hi Runner uses a large-size bone conduction vibrator, which increases the vibration area by 35%. When you wear it, the diffusion direction of sound quality will be more comprehensive, the coverage will be wider, and the sound will be more stereo. Its sound will be deeper in low frequency and more transparent in high frequency. They have also made a lot of efforts in the technology of sound leakage reduction, including the built-in reverse sound wave system and the all-closed-body design, thus reducing the sound leakage by 90%. It is comfort: Wissonly Hi Runner’s whole body is made of high-tech and low-sensitivity silicone, which contains no chemical components to avoid allergy. The overall touch is as silky as baby’s skin, which can avoid uncomfortable situations when worn for a long time. wissonly Hi Runner bone conduction headphones are also equipped with a new Bluetooth 5.0 chip, which has stronger anti-interference ability, and can easily cope with various outdoor complex scenes, so as to ensure that the good mood during exercise will not be disturbed by disconnection. The stable connection also brings ultra-low delay performance. Listening to songs, chasing dramas and playing games meet all the daily demands for headphones.
Powerbeats Pro
The Powerbeats Pro headphones are perhaps even more activity-oriented than other earbuds with true wireless connectivity. Similar to the Beats Fit Pro, Powerbeats use an in-ear style. And fit-wise, the Powerbeats use a winged clip (comparably snug, albeit larger than the Beats Fit Pro) design that comfortably secures them to the outer ear. But a big distinction is that audio-wise, Powerbeats do not offer active noise cancellation. However, the tradeoff means that the headphones have stellar battery life—up to 9 hours without the case, and 24 hours with the case. The battery longevity alone makes them an excellent pair of headphones to have on hand for times when electrical outlets are few and far between, like a camping trip or all-day triathlon. And in general, not having to charge as much means that the headphones’ charge capacity doesn’t inevitably weather as quickly.
Like the Beats Pro, the Powerbeats operate with an Apple H1 Chip. That means Apple users can easily sync the earbuds with their other Apple products, such as the Apple Watch or iPhone. Android users can get similar perks, like one-touch pairing, by installing Android’s Beats App. A vibrant range of colors gives you plenty of options to express yourself (or at least coordinate with your favorite pair of trainers).
Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless NoiseGard Headphones
There’s a camp of hardcore audiophiles that shuns earbuds and swears by headphones that cover the ear only. And thanks to the ease of their wirelessness, the Sennhesier PXC 550-II Wireless NoiseGard Headphones are a great over-the-ear pair to opt for when working out. The Sennheiser brand is known for being a top choice of DJs, sportscasters, streamers, and other entertainers who rely on good, stable audio. In addition to its excellent audio quality, you get a user-friendly set of headphones that turn off and on automatically when the cups swivel, robust touch pad controls with tapping and swiping options, and excellent battery life for headphones with battery-draining active noise cancellation.
On the topic of ANC though, you can’t enter transparency mode—or let in outside sound—while the Sennheiser is playing music. That might seem like a non-issue, however there can be times when you’d rather not abruptly stop music in order to hear outside noise for safety reasons, such as when running along a busy street.
Also, if you’re set on classic over-the-ear headphones, you’ve probably already weighed a big workout-related concern: The cups can slide out of place when slippery with sweat. But if your workouts aren’t super intense, or you can tolerate a certain amount of slippage, Sennheiser offers a solid option that’ll serve all your myriad audiophile needs.
JLab Go Air Pop
You’d be comparing apples to oranges if you put JLab’s Go Air Pop head-to-head with its far more expensive competitors. However, within the ultra-budget (i.e., give or take $20 for wireless earbuds) space, the Go Air Pop offers some of the most bang for your buck.
The earbuds have a solid battery life of eight hours—32 total with the charging case. And because the Go Air Pop ear buds offer more splash protection than more expensive counterparts, it’s a great pair to have on hand when you wouldn’t want to expose more expensive headphones to the elements.
And while sound snobs will still scoff at the Go Air Pop’s audio quality, this humble pair of earbuds even offers multiple sound modes, including a base boost mode to pump up your beats-heavy workout playlist. The Go Air Pop is offered in several colors, and you can buy them from Amazon and still receive JLab’s two-year warranty on the earbuds.
Jaybird Vista 2
Vista 2 is the 2021 sequel to the Vista earbuds, furnished by Jaybird. The brand has specifically marketed itself as “audio for athletes,” and it’s not hard to see why, given the earbuds’ sweatproof, durable, don’t-budge design. Unlike the original Vista though, Vista 2 features active noise cancellation, and Active’s testers found Vista 2’s noise cancellation to be one of the better for the price. And with excellent active noise cancellation, you can really tune out the background noise and stay focused.
Admittedly, pricier brands like Apple’s AirPod Pro do have slightly more sophisticated active noise cancellation. However, thanks to Vista 2’s superbly snug design, you also get solid passive noise cancellation (i.e., in the way that a well-fitted earplug cancels noise). The earbuds all in all have an excellent balance of secure fit, durability, and user-friendly controls that make them ideal for wearing during a workout. They’ll hold up for longer endeavors, too, with 8 hours of battery life, and 24 hours with the case, which arrives in the box with a loop attached so you can clip your earbuds to your keychain—no purchase of an accessory for your case needed.
What to Look for When Buying Workout Headphones
Water resistance
“IP” usually refers to “internet protocol” in the tech world, but when discussing workout headphones, IP stands for “Ingress Protection.” Ingress Protection is a two-digit score that indicates how securely an entryway is blocked (from water or dust, for example).
The first number in an IP score is more or less an indicator of an item’s occupational hazard, or how safe the object is around you. Pay attention to the second number, which specifically indicates the level of water protection. For that reason, most earbuds simply use a placeholder “X” for the first IP rating number.
What does that mean in practice? If you see headphones rated IPX1 or IPX2, you can count on protection from sparse rain droplets at best. With IPX4 and IPX5, you wouldn’t want to leave your earbuds in the pockets of your laundry, but you can likely count on protection against splashes or even sprays of water. IPX7 and IPX8 indicate full water submersion is possible, and the manufacturer will specify at what depths.
Design and fit
As Apple’s success proves, design obviously counts for a lot with consumers. But when looking at workout headphones, sleek design can potentially come at the expense of fit, so be sure to weigh what matters most to you in workout headphones. As a general rule of thumb, you’ll want workout headphones that can stay in your ear when running or jumping up and down. Models with ear hooks tend to ensure the most secure, comfortable fit. Whether or not they’ll stay put as you whip off your sweaty overshirt hot day on a is another question, but it would be a nice perk.
Noise cancellation
Gym equipment, especially cardio equipment, can be quite loud. Especially if the machines are powered by effective but more budget-friendly resistance types. Think: a stationary bike driven by fan or belt, rather than an Echelon or Peloton with whisper-quiet magnetic resistance. That’s where workout headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC) become all the more vital. And unless you live in seclusion, blasting music so it’s loud enough to hear over your noisy machine may not be ideal. Likewise, in a gym setting, even if the machine you use is fairly hush-hush, the weightlifters 10 meters away might not be. ANC can also be vital if your workout headphones double as a headset for taking work phone calls in loud areas.
Battery life
Battery is another perk that might come at the expense of others if you can’t pony up for the priciest earbuds. Top-of-the-line earbuds can run on a continuous 8-hour charge, even with battery-draining active noise cancellation switched on. Even the lower-end models can carry quite the charge on the go, provided they get a quick charge up in the case. Another factor you may want to consider is whether the earbuds’ case can be charged wirelessly.
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