All the best workout headphones for the gym or home
Overview
Table of Contents
Hitting the gym without a good pair of headphones is like hitting the gym without a decent pair of trainers — absolutely pointless. That goes for working out at home, too. It takes a special kind of super-human to workout and keep those reps up without tunes pumping in their ears.
Buying a pair of headphones or earbuds for everyday use is one thing, but buying a pair for gym sessions is something else. It requires knowing about a whole other world of workout-focused features and specifications. Choosing a pair of workout headphones is as easy as doing 50 burpees (i.e. not easy at all). You need somebody to act as your spotter. That’s where we come in. You stick to the hard work of smashing those reps, and we’ll stick to the hard work of researching the best headphones for you.
Let’s start with a quick guide on all the need-to-know information.
Which is best for the gym, on-ear or in-ear headphones?
Normally we’d say it’s all down to personal choice. This is still true (there are people who prefer working out with either style), but there’s no doubt that in-ear headphones, or earbuds as they’re more commonly known, have cornered the fitness market. It’s little wonder why: earbuds are more portable, they’re easier to throw in a gym bag, and they don’t have the heft of on-ear headphones. Just pop those buds in your ears and start exercising. You’ll barely notice they’re in there.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t on-ear options available. Some brands continue to produce the larger on-ear variety for fitness. The main benefit is that they pack a much longer battery life. So, if you’re a fan of marathon gym sessions, they could be for you. We have included just one on-ear pair (but an excellent pair) in this roundup.
Are wired or wireless headphones best for the gym?
While audio brands are still making very good wired headphones and earbuds (audiophiles will tell you that wired produces the best sound quality), the only sensible choice in the gym is wireless. Getting tangled in wires when you're trying to lift, push, or pull isn't helping your performance whatsoever. Every pair included in this list are Bluetooth enabled.
What features do you need with gym headphones?
In theory, you can hit the gym with any pair of earbuds, but there are some specific features that will actively help your workout and get you on track to smash your PB:
Sweat resistance — Water/sweat resistant/proof earbuds will ensure you can workout as hard as you like and not damage the tech.
Workout tracking — Some headphones/earbuds will connect with popular fitness apps that help track performance and goals.
Volume controls — There's nothing worse than having to fiddle on your phone mid-workout. Look out for headphones that have buttons/touch controls on the ear cups or buds.
Keep these features in mind when selecting the best headphones for working out.
Do you need noise cancellation in the gym?
Noise cancellation is a common feature on good quality headphones and earbuds. Active noise cancellation (ANC) works exactly as it sounds. It blocks and dampens external sounds, so you can shut yourself away from the outside world and fully immerse. It works by using tiny microphones within the ear cups/buds, which emit anti-soundwaves to cancel out incoming noise.
This can be useful for working out, as it helps you stay in the zone and concentrate on smashing that PB. However, it’s also good to be aware of your surroundings, so look out for ANC with transparency or ambient modes. These allow some external noise to seep in, keeping you partially in tune in the rest of the gym.
What are the best headphones for the gym?
Only you can decide what works best for you, but the choices outlined below are a great place to start. We’re confident that we’ve included something for everyone, with popular models from top brands like JBL and Apple.
These are the best headphones for the gym in 2022.
Jaybird Vista 2
Best For Tough Workouts
The Good & The Bad
- Earth-proof
- Great for endurance
- Good ANC features
- Handy charging case
- Average battery life
- Pricier end of the scale
Why We Like It
OK, so the list is about gym headphones, but not everyone keeps their workout routine strictly within the confines of the gym. If you’re someone who likes to mix it up and take exercise into the great outdoors, the Jaybird Vista 2 are a class-leader for rugged, tough-as-nails workouts.
Built with military-grade durability, these withstand everything. They’re what Jaybird likes to call “earth-proof” — sweat-proof, dust-proof, weather-proof, and everything else-proof. Ultimately, they’re designed for serious endurance training, which means they’re also well suited to tougher forms of gym exercise, such as CrossFit or solo boxing training.
They’ll help you stay super-focused thanks to active noise cancellation. There’s also SurroundSense tech, which keeps in tune with ambient noise. This ensures that you’re not so closed off that you don’t know what’s happening around you.
Details
Adidas RPT-01
Best For Battery Life
The Good & The Bad
- Lightweight
- Washable mesh fabric
- Great battery life
- Intuitive controls
- Design is an acquired taste
- Less portable than buds
Why We Like It
While earbuds have steadily taken over the fitness market, they’re not everyone’s preference. And sometimes, when it comes to fitness tech and equipment, you want to rely on a brand that knows a thing or two about sport. In this case, Adidas, one of the biggest sports brands in the world.
The Adidas RPT-01 are wireless, Bluetooth-powered headphones that go the distance.These pack enough juice for 40 hours of listening — way more than the battery life of even the best earbuds. And while you can’t expect the very best sound from a sports brand, the Adidas RPT-01 headphones are actually a collaboration with a tech firm that works with Marshall.
They’re also super convenient for making adjustments mid-workout, with a multi-directional knob on the right ear cup that controls pairing, volume, and playback options. There’s no need to dig your phone out of your pocket and fiddle with controls. Another button connects to the voice assistant, while you can customise settings in the Adidas app.
Details
Sennheiser Sport
Best For Sound
The Good & The Bad
- Good battery life with charging case
- Excellent sound
- Secure fit
- Customisable EQ
- No ANC
Why We Like It
Practical features tend to race ahead of sound quality when it comes to the best-rated fitness headphones, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be both an audiophile and fitness fanatic. That’s where the Sennheiser Sport True Wireless Earbuds come in.
As you’d expect from the German-made Sennheiser — a stalwart of audio innovation —the Sport True Wireless Earbuds sound fantastic. They’re not just showing off, either. The sound quality is designed to actually boost your workout. You can also fine tune the sound in the Sennheiser app, getting it to the levels that will perfectly suit and enhance your performance.
They also have a selection of ear tips, including open/closed “adapters” that block out/allow in levels of ambient noise, helping control your level of immersion. The selection of tips and fins also ensure a secure fit — there’s no losing these during your reps.
Details
Beats Fit Pro
Best For Apple
The Good & The Bad
- Stylish design and colour options
- Flexible and secure fit
- Decent battery life
- Powerful and balanced sound
- Noise cancellation could be better
- On the pricey side
Why We Like It
If you’re an Apple die-hard, chances are you’ll want a pair of headphones that sync perfectly with your Apple devices and give you all those iOS-specific features. As good as the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max are, they’re not made with fitness in mind. And you certainly don’t want to risk damaging those £500-plus AirPods Max when you’re in the sweaty thrust of a workout.
Much better suited for fitness are the Apple-made Beats Fit Pro, which are powered by Apple’s H1 chip. These wireless earbuds have a flexible and secure fit, with a custom acoustic platform that delivers powerful and balanced sound. There are both ANC and transparency modes, plus sweat resistance.
If you like the look of the Beats Fit Pro but you’re an Android user, don’t worry — they pair with Android devices right out of the box.
Details
Jabra Elite 4 Active
Best For Playlists
The Good & The Bad
- Colour selection
- Dust and water resistant
- Spotify features
- Wind noise protection
- Better ANC available
- No auto-pause
Why We Like It
The Jabra Elite 4 Active pack in lots of Jabra tech (for a reasonable price, we might add) but the real hook for gym-goers is how brilliantly they synch with Spotify.
Let’s face it: good music playlists are as crucial to a solid workout as weights and dumbbells. The Jabra Elite 4 Active have Spotify Tap Playback, which allows you to access playlists and songs with just a quick tap. In fact, fast and easy controls are a big plus with these earbuds. There’s on-ear volume control, controlled with a physical button on the bud, plus access to Alexa with a quick tap.
The Jabra Elite 4 Active are snug in the ears, so you can really throw yourself into those reps. And you can really get in the zone with the noise cancellation, which has added HearThrough technology to allow select ambient sounds though.
Details
EarFun Air
Best For Tight Budgets
The Good & The Bad
- Latest Bluetooth tech
- Case supports wireless charging
- Vibrant sound
- Very affordable
- Nothing at this price
Why We Like It
Not everyone wants to spend a fortune on headphones for working out. But buying cheap can be a tricky balance. It’s nice to save money but you don’t want to lumber yourself with a pair that are simply poor quality. That’s a fast-track to just needing to replace them a few months down the line — which just means more money spent.
Let’s thank our lucky stars then for the EarFun Air — budget earbuds that actually deliver. Indeed, these little gems have been the recipients of several five star reviews.
They’re not made specifically for fitness, which means features are geared towards the gym or enhancing your performance. But for a low price, you get a stack of features: Bluetooth 5.0, a wireless charging case, touch controls, and energetic sound.
