The perfect wi-fi exercise headphones for 2025

No matter what sort of train you’re into, when you’re understanding, you’ll need a pair of wi-fi exercise headphones. They help you be free and untethered throughout a critical weight-lifting session, a 5K run, an hour on the skate park and in all places in between the place you’re transferring and sweating a ton. There are dozens of nice wireless headphones and wireless earbud choices on the market, however for train specifically, there are further components to contemplate earlier than choosing one up like water resistance, battery life and total consolation.

At Engadget, we’ve examined a bunch of fitness-ready headphones and earbuds to provide you with our high picks, plus some recommendation to contemplate earlier than you decide up a pair. All of our high picks beneath will work out and in of the fitness center, so you may spend money on only one pair and make these your day by day driver. If you happen to’re primarily a runner, try our checklist of best headphones for running.

Finest exercise headphones for 2025

JLab

Connectivity: Wi-fi | Type: In-ear with hook | Assistant assist: None

In case you have lower than $50 to spend, the $30 JLab Go Air Sport+ are an incredible choice. These are the newest model of our earlier decide right here, the Go Air Sport. Once I examined these, I didn’t have excessive expectations going into testing these buds, however I used to be shortly impressed by their consolation and sound high quality. A lot of headphones designed for exercises have this hook that wraps across the high of your ear, and it does assist the Go Air Sport keep securely connected to your head.

The Sport+ maintains that design. The hooks are fairly versatile and have a soft-touch end, which provides to their consolation. Admittedly, this design will take some getting used to when you’re new to it, nevertheless it’s a surefire approach to get a bit additional stability throughout excessive depth exercises.

Sound high quality is fairly good on these buds as properly, though not almost as balanced as that of our high decide. I additionally respect which you can cycle by three completely different EQ modes — Signature, Balanced and Bass Enhance — utilizing the buds’ onboard controls. There’s no app to fuss with, and that was a pleasant change of tempo after principally testing buds with some form of app connectivity.

You’ll be able to anticipate over 9 hours of playtime on the Go Air Sport+, plus one other 26 hours of battery life with its charging case. JLab additionally fastened a significant pain-point concerning the earlier variations right here: as a substitute of the previous, built-in USB-A cable for charging, it is now a extra fashionable USB-C cable. Nonetheless, the case is on the cumbersome facet; you may nonetheless throw it right into a backpack or purse simply, nevertheless it’s not as svelte as instances you’ll see on costlier buds.

Execs

• Reasonably priced
• Spectacular sound high quality for the value
• IP55-rated design
• Good battery life

Cons

• Massive case
• Hook design received’t be for everybody

$30 at Amazon

SHOKZ

Connectivity: Wi-fi | Type: Open-ear | Assistant assist: None

The Shokz OpenFit 2 are the newest iteration of those open-ear headphones, with our earlier high decide right here being the unique OpenFit. Earbuds with open designs like this enable for extra situational consciousness, with the objective being to let noise in relatively than block it out. In my expertise, the OpenFits do an incredible job of this with out skimping on sound high quality or consolation.

The buds themselves virtually float over your ear cavern and Shokz’s soft-finish “dolphin arc” hook is versatile sufficient to securely wrap across the high of your ear with out placing an excessive amount of stress on it. There’s a bud-like portion on the different finish of the hook that acts as counterbalance, leading to a dependable match that by no means faltered throughout all types of actions together with operating, energy coaching and indoor biking. Granted, none of these workout routines contain shaking your head an excessive amount of; perhaps don’t put on the OpenFit to take heed to head-banging loss of life metallic (when you can’t management your self).

Sound high quality is stable contemplating the design, and the OpenFit will get fairly loud as properly. These buds have Shokz’s Direct Pitch expertise, which makes use of reverse sound waves to optimize the gap and angle to your ear canal. The corporate claims this helps scale back sound leakage. In my testing, I discovered that true to a sure extent. The OpenFit had one of the best sound high quality and total quantity out of all the open-ear units I attempted, however when you crank the quantity as much as the max (or shut), the particular person subsequent to you’ll positively hear what you’re listening to. General, these are an incredible choice for anybody who doesn’t discover in-ear buds notably snug, or those that simply favor to have extra consciousness of their environment whereas understanding.

Execs

• Comfy open-ear design
• Design permits for extra situational consciousness
• Good sound high quality and quantity

Cons

• No ANC
• Not as safe when in comparison with in-ear or hook-toting buds

$180 at Amazon

H2O Audio

Connectivity: Wi-fi | Type: Over-ear | Assistant assist: None

Some favor to put on over-ear headphones all day, every single day, and if that sounds such as you, there’s a great probability you already use your daily-driver headphones on the fitness center. However when you’re noticing elevated wear-and-tear on these cans attributable to sweat or prolonged durations of use, you might need to take into account a pair of over-ear headphones particularly for understanding.

In that case, take into account the H2O Audio Ript Ultra. Whereas these wi-fi headphones don’t have a selected IP score (they’re not designed for the pool, to be clear), they do declare to be “one hundred pc sweatproof” thanks partly to their detachable and washable earcups. They survived a few of my hardest runs and strength-training periods with out concern, and the earcups are fairly straightforward to take away once you need to give them a wipe-down. There’s additionally a second pair of earcups included within the field so you may swap them in when the originals finally hand over the ghost.

Sound high quality is respectable, nevertheless it needs to be higher on a pair of $250 headphones. The Ript Extremely has customized 45mm drivers and lively noise cancellation as much as 30 dB. Whereas the general sound high quality isn’t higher than our high decide, it’s greater than sufficient to get your blood pumping throughout a exercise. However extra importantly, you’ll possible get higher sound high quality on a pair of Bose or Beats headphones on the identical value vary; you’re actually paying for the improved sturdiness with the Ript Extremely. Finally, if you would like a pair of headphones for the fitness center that may deal with sweat and (doubtlessly) last more than different cans in the identical value vary, the Ript Extremely is an efficient selection.

Execs

• Sweatproof
• Removeable, washable earcups
• Second pair of earcups included within the field
• Comfy match

Cons

• Costly
• Sound high quality might be higher

$250 at Amazon

Others wi-fi exercise headphones we examined

Apple AirPods Professional

The Apple AirPods Pro have an IP54 score, which protects them from temporary encounters with mud and splashes. Whereas that’s extra mud safety than many different earbuds we examined, it’s the identical degree of water resistance that the majority exercise-specific opponents have. We typically just like the AirPods Professional, however the Beats Match Professional provide lots of the identical options and conveniences (specifically good transparency mode and the H1 chip), with a design that’s extra acceptable for understanding.

Beats Powerbeats Professional

The Powerbeats Pro are a great various to the Beats Match Professional when you’re a stickler for a hook design. Nevertheless, they price $50 greater than the Match Professional (though they typically hover round $180) and don’t provide any important upgrades or further options except for their design. They’re additionally fairly previous at this level (launched in 2019) and it seems Beats is placing extra effort into upgrading and updating its newer fashions relatively than this mannequin.

Anker Soundcore AeroFit Professional

The Soundcore AeroFit Pro is Anker’s model of the Shokz OpenFit, however I discovered it to be much less safe and never as snug because the latter. The precise earbuds on the AeroFit Professional are noticeably bulkier than these on the OpenFit, which prompted them to shift and transfer way more after I was sporting them throughout train. They by no means fell off my ears utterly, however I spent extra time adjusting them than I did having fun with them.

JBL Endurance Peak 3

Essentially the most noteworthy factor concerning the Endurance Peak 3 is that they’ve the identical IP68-rating that the (now discontinued) Jabra Elite 8 Energetic do, however they solely price $100. However, whilst you get the identical safety right here, you’ll must sacrifice in different areas. The Endurance Peak 3 didn’t blow me away when it got here to sound high quality or consolation (the hook is extra inflexible than these on my favourite buds of an analogous fashion) and their charging case is huge in comparison with most opponents.

What to search for in exercise headphones

Design

Earlier than diving in, it’s value mentioning that this information focuses on wireless earbuds. When you might put on over-ear or on-ear headphones throughout a exercise, a lot of the best headphones accessible now should not have the identical degree of sturdiness. Water and mud resistance, notably the previous, is vital for any audio gear you intend on sweating with or taking outdoor, and that’s extra prevalent within the wi-fi earbuds world.

Most earbuds have one in every of three designs: in-ear, in-ear with hook or open-ear. The primary two are the most well-liked. In-ears are arguably the most typical, whereas these with hooks promise higher safety and match since they’ve an appendage that curls across the high of your ear. Open-ear designs don’t stick into your ear canal, however relatively sit simply outdoors of it. This makes it simpler to listen to the world round you whereas additionally listening to audio, and might be extra snug for individuals who don’t just like the intrusiveness of in-ear buds.

Water resistance and mud safety

Even when a pair of headphones for understanding aren’t marketed particularly as train headphones, a sturdy, waterproof design will, by default, make them appropriate for train. To keep away from repetition, right here’s a fast primer on sturdiness, or ingression safety (IP) rankings. The primary digit you’ll see after the “IP” refers to safety from mud and different potential intrusions, measured on a scale from 1 to six. The second refers to water resistance and even waterproofing, in one of the best instances. The rankings for water resistance are ranked on a scale of 1 to 9; greater numbers imply extra safety, whereas the letter “X” means the system is just not rated for defense in that regard.

All the earbuds we examined for this information have at the least an IPX4 score, which implies there’s no mud safety, however the buds can stand up to splashes from any course and are sweat resistant, however in all probability should not be submerged. For an in depth breakdown of all of the attainable permutations, try this information printed by a provider known as The Enclosure Firm.

Energetic noise cancellation and transparency mode

Energetic noise cancellation (ANC) is changing into normal on wi-fi earbuds, at the least these above a sure value level. If you happen to’re in search of a pair of buds that may be your exercise companion and serve you outdoors of the fitness center, too, noise cancelation is an efficient characteristic to have. It makes the buds extra versatile, permitting you to dam out the boring roar of your private home or workplace so you may focus, or provide you with some solitude throughout a busy commute.

However an earbud’s potential to dam out the world goes hand-in-hand with its potential to open issues again up must you want it. Many ANC earbuds additionally assist some kind of “transparency mode,” or varied ranges of noise discount. That is vital for running headphones as a result of exercising outdoor, alongside busy streets, might be harmful. You in all probability don’t need to be completely oblivious to what’s occurring round you once you’re operating outdoors; adjusting noise cancelation ranges to extend your consciousness will assist with that. Stronger noise cancelation is perhaps extra interesting to these doing extra indoor coaching in the event that they need to block out the boring roar of a fitness center or the man exaggeratingly lifting weights subsequent to you.

Battery life

All the Bluetooth earbuds we examined have a battery lifetime of six to eight hours. Basically, that’s what you may anticipate from this house, with a number of outliers that may rise up to fifteen hours of life on a cost. Even the low finish of the spectrum needs to be adequate for many athletes and fitness center junkies, nevertheless it’ll be useful to maintain the buds’ charging case on you when you suppose you’ll get near utilizing up all their juice throughout a single session.

You’ll get a mean of 20 to twenty-eight additional hours of battery out of most charging instances and all the earbuds we examined had holders that supplied at the least an additional 15 hours. This can dictate how typically you truly must cost the system — as in bodily join the case with earbuds inside to a charging cable, or set it on a wireless charger to energy up.

How we check exercise headphones

In testing wi-fi exercise headphones, I put on them throughout each little bit of train I do — be it an informal stroll across the block, a brisk morning run or a difficult weight-lifting session. I’m in search of consolation arguably most of all, since you ought to by no means be fussing together with your earbuds when you have to be specializing in understanding. In the identical vein, I’m cognizant of in the event that they get free throughout quick actions or slippery after I’m sweating. I additionally use the earbuds when not exercising to take calls and take heed to music all through the day. Many individuals will need only one pair of earbuds that they will use whereas exercising and simply doing on a regular basis issues, so I consider every pair on their potential to be snug and supply a great listening expertise in a number of completely different actions.

Whereas I’m additionally evaluating sound high quality, I’m admittedly not an audio knowledgeable. My colleague Billy Steele holds that title at Engadget, and also you’ll discover way more detailed details about audio high quality for a few of our high picks in his evaluations and shopping for guides. With these headphones for understanding, nevertheless, I’ll make be aware of associated points in the event that they stood out (i.e. if a pair of earbuds had noticeably sturdy bass out of the field, weak highs, and so on). Many of the wi-fi exercise headphones we examined work with companion apps which have adjustable EQ settings, so that you’ll have the ability to tweak sound profiles to your liking typically.