When it comes to working out, listening to music, podcasts, and even audiobooks can make the time fly by. Of course, that means you need headphones, but not just any pair. Wireless earbuds allow you to move around freely as opposed to over-ear models.
We’ve already written a guide to the best wireless earbuds for your daily activities. I’ve tried dozens of earbuds at the gym and on outdoor runs to find the best one for my fitness pursuits.
skip ahead Best workout earbuds of 2023. | | How to buy training earphones
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How to choose the best workout earbuds
We tried dozens of top-rated wireless earbuds during our workouts.
- comfortable: I looked for earbuds that were comfortable for hours at a time, didn’t fall out during exercise, and included eartips of different sizes for a more customized fit.
- ease of use: We focused on earphones that are easy to operate even with gloves on or with sweaty hands.
- battery life: We chose earbuds that last beyond your workout and charge quickly.
- price: We believe all of our picks are worth the value they offer.
Where possible, multiple Select team members tried each earbud to provide as many perspectives as possible.
Best workout earbuds of 2023
After a ton of sweat and sore muscles, our top picks were mostly from best-selling brands like Beats, Jabra, and Apple.
Best Overall: Beats Fit Pro
Strong Points: Excellent fit, easy button operation
Cons: Cases that can be improved
The Beats Fit Pro have been my go-to workout earbuds for years. Even after trying dozens of competitors, they’re still my favorite. Small built-in wingtips ensure a secure fit without adding bulk to the headphones. Both earbuds have physical buttons for media control, making them easy to use even with gloves on. In my experience, it pairs easily with iOS devices and offers a similar experience on Android via the Beats mobile app.
noise cancellation: yes | | Transparency: yes | | battery life: Rated maximum 6 hours (ANC on) | | wireless charging: no | | water resistant: IPX4 | | Bluetooth multipoint: no | | works best with: Android, iOS | | ear tip: Silicone (S, M, L)
Optimal budget: Jabra Elite 3
Strong Points: great value, good water resistance
Cons: no automatic noise canceling
The Jabra Elite 3 offer all the basic features you want in a pair of workout earbuds for under $100. They’re comfortable in-ears, they won’t fall out during your workout, they have easy-to-use button controls, and they sound great. There’s no automatic noise cancellation, but the result is longer battery life. In our experience, the Elite 3 worked well on both iOS and Android devices via his Jabra mobile app.
noise cancellation: no | | Transparency: yes | | battery life: Rated up to 7 hours | | wireless charging: no | | water resistant: IP55 | | Bluetooth multipoint: no | | works best with: Android, iOS | | ear tip: Silicone (S, M, L)
Best for iPhone: AirPods Pro (2nd generation)
Strong Points: Versatile and excellent noise cancellation and clarity
Cons: Expensive, not for Android devices
Several members of the Select team love Apple’s AirPods Pro in their workouts and daily lives. Despite their unique shape, they remained comfortable and safe in my ears during workouts such as running outdoors and his routine on the treadmill indoors.
The entire Select team noted the excellent sound quality and noise cancellation. Outside, I could hear my surroundings very clearly using the transparent mode. These 2nd generation models include multiple eartips, essential for an ideal fit.
noise cancellation: yes | | Transparency: yes | | battery life: Rated maximum 6 hours (ANC on) | | wireless charging: yes | | water resistant: IPX4 | | Bluetooth multipoint: no | | works best with: iOS, macOS | | ear tip: Silicon (including XS, S, M, L)
Most Secure Fit: JBL Endurance Peak 3
Strong Points: Ear hook design, waterproof
Cons: huge case, no automatic noise cancellation
If you’re looking for the most secure fit for high-intensity activity, JBL’s Endurance Peak 3 is for you. They feature a large earhook design that fits behind your ears, making them the most secure fit of our picks. This makes the case much larger than other options and less likely to fit in your pocket.
Endurance Peak 3 has an excellent IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The brand says it can be worn while swimming. I didn’t get a chance to try it, but I submerged it. After that it worked fine.
noise cancellation: no | | Transparency: yes | | battery life: Rated up to 10 hours | | wireless charging: no | | water resistant: IP68 | | Bluetooth multipoint: no | | works best with: Android, iOS | | ear tip: Silicone (S, M, L)
best cheap earphones JLab Go Air Sports
Strong Points: Very affordable and secure fit
Cons: Decent sound quality
For just $30, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and ease of use of JLab’s Go Air Sport earbuds, especially for outdoor running. It features a large ear hook design that wraps behind the ear for a very secure fit. There’s no noise canceling or transparency, but the fit was good enough to let me hear music comfortably, but not so isolating that I couldn’t hear traffic or other runners safely.
noise cancellation: no | | Transparency: no | | battery life: Rated up to 8 hours | | wireless charging: no | | water resistant: IP55 | | Bluetooth multipoint: no | | works best with: Android, iOS | | ear tip: Silicone (S, M, L)
How to buy training earphones
There are many great wireless earbuds for everyday use. But not all of these top picks make for ideal workout earbuds.
ear tip fit
It’s important that your workout earbuds fit correctly. You don’t want it to come off during exercise. All recommended earbuds come with multiple eartips. We recommend trying several ear tip sizes to see what fits your ear best. In our experience, earbuds with wingtips or earhooks are the most reliable fit for strenuous physical activity.
Water and dust resistance
Water and dust resistance are indicated by the earbuds’ IP (Ingress Protection) rating. An IP rating includes two numbers, such as IP55. The first digit represents ingress protection against dust and debris. The second digit represents water resistance.
For workout earbuds, a water resistance rating of 4 or higher helps protect against sweat and rain. Earbuds for sports in freshwater should be at least 8-grade fully waterproof.
Automatic noise cancellation and transparency
Both noise canceling and transparency modes are very useful features in all types of earbuds, including workout earbuds. Noise cancellation can block outside noise, such as a noisy gym. Transparency mode captures sound and is a useful safety feature for outdoor fitness activities like running where you want to hear the noise of nearby traffic and pedestrians. However, using both noise canceling and transparency modes can add to the overall price of the earbuds.
Why we trust Select
Harry Rabinowitz is a reporter for Select and has covered consumer technology for over three years. For this piece, he tried over a dozen top-rated wireless his earbuds for different fitness activities. He also spoke with other members of the Select team about his experience with the same earbuds from Jabra and Apple.
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