2024's Best Workout Headphones and Earbuds: Elevate Your Training

Let’s start with the crowd’s favorite here: the Beats Fit Pro. These are the best wireless earbuds overall, when it comes to sport activities, due to the fact that they tick all the right boxes. The Fit Pro model uses ear hooks to keep each earphone in place, and it’s a very tight and secure system.

Even though Beats headphones and earbuds are famous for their powerful bass, the Fit Pro earbuds offer balanced sound with clear mids and highs. There are two physical buttons on the earphones, and the Beats logo also doubles as a multi-function button. You can pause or play, accept or decline a phone call, and even fire up your phone’s voice assistant service with a long press.

Get your Beats Fit Pro here:

Beats by Dr. Dre - Fit Pro now 10% OFF

Apple H1 chip, ANC, Long battery life, transparency mode, IPX4 sweat resistance, get the best workout Beats earbuds now!

$199 ⁹⁹

Buy at BestBuy

The battery life on these is pretty good, with up to 6 hours of battery life for the earphones and up to 18 hours if you count the charging case. Speaking of the charging case, it’s a bit bulky, and it doesn’t support wireless charging. There’s also a transparency mode on the Fit Pro, and this adds to the pros of the model.

The Fit Pro launched at $199.99, but there are great deals live at the moment, and you can get a pair for as low as $179.99, shaving 10% off the price. And at that price, these workout earbuds are unbeatable.

Jabra Elite 8 Active

Jabra Elite 7 Active

Мost comfortable


The Jabra Elite 7 Active model can be found occupying the top position in many “best earphones” charts. These earphones are packed full of features, and if the fit was just a tad tighter, they would’ve topped our best workout headphones and earbuds chart too. 

Of course, this depends on your ear canal and with the right ear tip, these true wireless earbuds can become a part of your ear. Let’s concentrate on the positives: the Jabra Elite 7 Active does a lot of things right. 

For starters, they boast ANC with HearThrough, and both work great. The active noise cancellation is pretty much on par with that of the AirPods Pro and even gives some Sony earbuds a run for their money.

Get your Jabra Elite 7 Active here:

Jabra - Elite Active 7 True Wireless

Active Noise Cancelling In-Ear Headphones - Titanium Black Long battery life - 8 on the buds, 30 in total with the charging case Multipoint connection IP57 water and dust resistance

$179 ⁹⁹

Buy at BestBuy

HearThrough is amazingly useful if you’re running outside or working out with a personal trainer. The system feeds outside noises into your listening experience with clarity and absolutely no lag, so you can remain aware of your surroundings and let ambient sound through without the need to take the earbuds off.

The sound quality is also pretty good, with clear and punchy mids and highs, and tight and focused bass frequencies. The battery life on the Jabra Elite 7 Active is pretty decent; you can get up to 8 hours from the buds alone (with ANC off) and go up to 30 hour battery life zone when using the charging case.

Sony WF-C500

Best noise-canceling workout earbuds


If you want good noise-canceling earbuds technology, go to Sony. The Japanese company has a reputation when it comes to keeping outside noises, well, outside. The Sony WF-C500 wireless earbuds are no exception. They combine some great features with an attractive price tag to win the hearts of active people around the globe.

The design is oriented toward fit and comfort; there are rubber arcs that offer support once the earphones are placed inside your ear. Sony offers two sizes of ear tips out of the box, and they’ll fit most people just fine.

Get your Sony WF-C500 here:

Sony - WF-C500

True Wireless In-Ear Headphone - Black, 20 hours of listening, IPX4 water resistance rating, ergonomic design, custom EQ

$30 off (30%)

$69 ⁹⁹

$99 ⁹⁹

Buy at BestBuy

The ANC can be tuned to your liking via a slider bar inside the companion app. There’s also a pretty convenient option to pass through only voices from the outside noise. The sound quality itself is pretty decent, with no distortion even at the loudest settings.

The Sony WF-C500 earbuds come with lots of bells and whistles: there’s an IPX4 rating for water resistance, gesture controls, quick charging, Sony's DSEE upscaling tech, Reality 360 audio (that's Sony proprietary spatial audio feature), and the battery life is admirable: 10 hours from the buds (with noise-canceling off) and 20 hours with the case.

Last but not least, the price is really good.

Read More: Sony debuts new WH-XB910N headphones and WF-C500 earbuds

Sennheiser - SPORT

Best sound

The Sennheiser Sport True Wireless Earbuds boast fantastic sound quality, delivering crisp highs, rich mids, and powerful bass. You'll feel like you're in your own personal concert while working up a sweat.

Get your Sennheiser - SPORT here:

Sennheiser - SPORT

Hear low subs and soaring vocals with a frequency range of sound from 5 Hz-21 kHz Compact, exquisite and portable earset In-ear earphones for comfortable listening

$20 off (13%)

Buy at Amazon

The fit is pretty tight yet comfortable, and there are three different ear tips to choose from; one omits the rubber arcs for the times you want a more relaxed experience. These earbuds have an impressive IPX4 rating, making them sweat and water-resistant, so you can push through those intense sweat sessions worry-free.

The Sennheiser Sport can keep up with your marathon workouts, offering up to 7 hours of playback time on a single charge. And with the included charging case, you can extend that to a whopping 28 hours!

Adidas RPT-01

Best on-ear model


If you’re like me, you probably struggle to find the perfect in-ear headphones, especially if you’re into sports. I find most of the models either not tight enough or too loose. Behold the Adidas RPT-01, one of the best on-ear workout Bluetooth headphones on the market.

Going for an over-the-ear model has its pros and cons. Granted, these headphones are not as compact or as light as an in-ear model, but here’s where the drawbacks end. Due to the larger battery inside, the Adidas RPT-01 can pull out 40 hours of listening time from its sleeve.

These headphones are also IPX4-rated, so you don’t need to worry about the occasional splash or sweat. There are control buttons on each headphone, allowing you to skip and pause tracks, adjust the volume, pick up (or reject) calls, or you can program one of them (the action button) via the Adidas companion app to change EQ models or activate or finish fitness activities.

Get your Adidas RPT-01 here:

adidas RPT-01 On-Ear Wireless Bluetooth Sport Headphones - Light Grey

$38 off (22%)

Buy at Amazon

Another nice addition is the removable, washable knitted ear cushions and inner headband. If you’re working out in the cold, they’ll keep you warm, and they also look pretty neat.

The Adidas RPT-01 is manufactured in collaboration with Zound Industries (Urbanears, Marshall headphones), so you can expect a solid performance when it comes to sound quality. The price is surprisingly affordable, too.

Bose Sport Earbuds

Tightest fit


Back to the in-ear models The Bose Sports Earbuds are true to their name; they offer a tight and comfortable fit and really cool touch controls. With the included StayHear Max tips, these will fit pretty much any ear and won’t fall off during even the hardest workout. Sound quality is also good, but that's to be expected from a Bose model.

The touch interface lets you swipe for volume control and tap to play or pause music or answer calls. There’s also a shortcut feature that lets you program a function of your choice, like checking your battery level.

Get your Bose Sport Earbuds here:

Bose - Sport Earbuds True Wireless In-Ear Headphones - Triple Black

$179 ⁹⁹

Buy at BestBuy

Speaking of battery levels, the battery life of the Bose Sport Earbuds is not that impressive, clocking in at 5 hours for the buds and 10 more hours if you use the charging case.

Another slight drawback is the lack of Bluetooth multi point, but on the other hand, you’re getting Bluetooth 5.1 with these. These wireless earbuds are also water and sweat resistant, they come with IPX4 certification.

Skullcandy Indy ANC

Best budget workout earbuds


If your budget is tight, you can still get a decent pair of workout earbuds. The Skullcandy Indy ANC model offers almost all the features you see in much more expensive earbuds but at a very affordable price.

There’s adjustable active noise cancellation with Ambient mode, touch controls, rubber arcs to hold the earbuds in place during your workout, sound profiles from the companion app, and more. Sound quality is pretty good for the price but don't expect wonders.

Get your Skullcandy Indy ANC here:

Skullcandy - Indy ANC True Wireless In-Ear Headphones - True Black

$129 ⁹⁹

Buy at BestBuy

The battery life is one of the best in the business, with 8 hours from the buds and up to 32 hours with the charging case, which is a better battery life than what most competitors can offer.

The only downside is the lack of any sweat or water resistance, but the price makes up for that. These might not be the best workout earbuds, but they’re one of the cheapest that feature ANC.

JBL Reflect Aero

Is it better to workout with headphones or earbuds?

This is a hard question to ask, but we're not dealing with easy ones here now, are we? All minor things aside, the most important thing about working out is motivation. And if a pair of new earbuds can get you there, then go for it.

If buying a pulse sensor-equipped pair or getting updates from a virtual trainer in your ear is your thing, then sure, a pair of workout headphones is a great choice.

Not to mention the soundtrack effect: many people enjoy listening to music while they train, and some studies suggest that the overall performance gets a slight bump when you're pumping up to the chords of "Eye of the Tiger" (track and genre for demonstrative purposes only).

How to choose the right workout headphones for you?

This one's a bit easier; it really depends on what you want to do with your workout earbuds. If you're a runner that goes for long marathons around the city, transparency mode is an absolute must (you don't want to be hit by a bus, right?). Battery life is also important for these long workouts.

On the other hand, if you're doing HIIT or something dynamic and intense that involves sweating, an IP rating is very important. The fit and comfort of the said pair of workout earbuds are absolutely crucial. They have to be a part of you to the point where you forget that they're there. Last but not least, we shouldn't forget sound quality!

Are there sport-oriented headphones or earbuds from popular brands?

Yes, there absolutely are sport-oriented headphones and earbuds from popular brands such as Bose, Jabra, JBL, and Samsung.

These headphones and earbuds are designed to be comfortable and secure during physical activity, and often feature sweat and water resistance, as well as features such as touch and voice controls for taking calls, operating smart assistants, and control music.

Some popular series include Jabra Elite Sport series, Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, Powerbeats, Bose Sport series, and more.

How do the different types of headphones and earbuds compare when it comes to workouts?

Different types of headphones and earbuds have their own unique advantages and disadvantages when it comes to working out.

In-ear (earbuds) headphones:

• They are compact and lightweight, which makes them easy to take with you to the gym or on a run.
• They provide a secure fit and are less likely to fall out of your ears during physical activity.
• They often offer some sort of water or sweat resistance rating, which can help during intense workouts.
• They may not provide as much noise isolation as over-ear headphones, which can be beneficial for outdoor activities as it allows you to be aware of your surroundings.

Over-ear headphones:

• They can provide better noise isolation, which can be beneficial when working out in a noisy gym or when you want to focus on your music or podcast.
• They can be bulkier and heavier than in-ear headphones, which can make them less convenient to take with you to the gym or on a run.
• They may not provide as secure a fit as in-ear headphones, which can make them more likely to fall off your ears during physical activity.
• They generally have better battery life than in-ear headphones, due to the increased size, allowing for a larger battery.

Conclusion

So there you have it: a list of the best workout headphones and earbuds, as well as a comparison of the different types and their advantages and disadvantages. However, it's important to keep in mind that this list is dynamic and subject to change. The market for headphones and earbuds is constantly evolving, with new models and technologies being released all the time.

There are bone conduction headphones, the ear hook design constantly evolves, on ear headphones are getting lighter, true wireless headphones now connect to multiple devices and have extended range. In order to stay informed about the latest releases and advancements in the world of headphones and earbuds, you should check this space from time to time.

Keep an eye out for new models that may better suit your needs and preferences, or that may offer new features that you find useful for your workouts. Additionally, we also offer the best deals and discounts on workout headphones and earbuds that are live at the moment, so you don't need to browse the web for hours, searching for the best price.