The perfect wi-fi exercise headphones for 2025

No matter what sort of train you’re into, when you’re figuring out, you’ll need a pair of wi-fi exercise headphones. They will let you be free and untethered throughout a critical weight-lifting session, a 5K run, an hour on the skate park and all over the place 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 particularly, there are extra components to contemplate earlier than selecting one up like water resistance, battery life and total consolation.

At Engadget, we’ve examined a bunch of fitness-ready headphones and earbuds to give you our high picks, plus some recommendation to contemplate earlier than you choose up a pair. All of our high picks beneath will work out and in of the gymnasium, so you’ll be able to spend money on only one pair and make these your every day driver. For those who’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 important choice. These are the most recent model of our earlier choose 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 rapidly 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, but it surely’s a surefire option to get a bit of additional stability throughout excessive depth exercises.

Sound high quality is fairly good on these buds as nicely, though not almost as balanced as that of our high choose. I additionally recognize that you could 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 largely testing buds with some sort 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 mounted a significant pain-point in regards to the earlier variations right here: as an alternative of the outdated, 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’ll be able to nonetheless throw it right into a backpack or purse simply, but it surely’s not as svelte as circumstances you’ll see on dearer buds.

Execs

• Inexpensive
• 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 most recent iteration of those open-ear headphones, with our earlier high choose 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 fairly than block it out. In my expertise, the OpenFits do an important job of this with out skimping on sound high quality or consolation.

The buds themselves nearly 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 strain 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 working, energy coaching and indoor biking. Granted, none of these workouts contain shaking your head an excessive amount of; perhaps don’t put on the OpenFit to take heed to head-banging demise steel (when you can’t management your self).

Sound high quality is stable contemplating the design, and the OpenFit will get fairly loud as nicely. These buds have Shokz’s Direct Pitch expertise, which makes use of reverse sound waves to optimize the space 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 the very best sound high quality and total quantity out of the entire open-ear units I attempted, however when you crank the amount as much as the max (or shut), the individual subsequent to you’ll positively hear what you’re listening to. Total, these are an important choice for anybody who doesn’t discover in-ear buds significantly snug, or those that simply choose to have extra consciousness of their environment whereas figuring out.

Execs

• Snug 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 choose to put on over-ear headphones all day, day-after-day, and if that sounds such as you, there’s a great likelihood you already use your daily-driver headphones on the gymnasium. However when you’re noticing elevated wear-and-tear on these cans attributable to sweat or prolonged intervals of use, you might wish to take into account a pair of over-ear headphones particularly for figuring out.

In that case, take into account the H2O Audio Ript Ultra. Whereas these wi-fi headphones don’t have a particular IP ranking (they’re not designed for the pool, to be clear), they do declare to be “100% sweatproof” thanks partly to their detachable and washable earcups. They survived a few of my hardest runs and strength-training periods with out subject, and the earcups are fairly straightforward to take away whenever you wish to give them a wipe-down. There’s additionally a second pair of earcups included within the field so you’ll be able to swap them in when the originals finally surrender the ghost.

Sound high quality is first rate, but it surely ought to be higher on a pair of $250 headphones. The Ript Extremely has customized 45mm drivers and energetic noise cancellation as much as 30 dB. Whereas the general sound high quality isn’t higher than our high choose, it’s greater than sufficient to get your blood pumping throughout a exercise. However extra importantly, you’ll seemingly get higher sound high quality on a pair of Bose or Beats headphones on the similar worth vary; you’re actually paying for the improved sturdiness with the Ript Extremely. In the end, in order for you a pair of headphones for the gymnasium that may deal with sweat and (probably) last more than different cans in the identical worth vary, the Ript Extremely is an effective alternative.

Execs

• Sweatproof
• Removeable, washable earcups
• Second pair of earcups included within the field
• Snug 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 ranking, 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 stage of water resistance that the majority exercise-specific opponents have. We typically just like the AirPods Professional, however the Beats Match Professional provide most of the similar options and conveniences (specifically good transparency mode and the H1 chip), with a design that’s extra acceptable for figuring out.

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 vital upgrades or extra options apart from their design. They’re additionally fairly outdated at this level (launched in 2019) and it seems Beats is placing extra effort into upgrading and updating its newer fashions fairly 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 triggered them to shift and transfer way more once I was carrying them throughout train. They by no means fell off my ears fully, however I spent extra time adjusting them than I did having fun with them.

JBL Endurance Peak 3

Essentially the most noteworthy factor in regards to the Endurance Peak 3 is that they’ve the identical IP68-rating that the (now discontinued) Jabra Elite 8 Lively do, however they solely price $100. However, whilst you get the identical safety right here, you’ll should 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 identical 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 price mentioning that this information focuses on wireless earbuds. When you may put on over-ear or on-ear headphones throughout a exercise, many of the best headphones accessible now shouldn’t have the identical stage of sturdiness. Water and mud resistance, significantly the previous, is vital for any audio gear you propose on sweating with or taking outside, 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 preferred. In-ears are arguably the commonest, 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 fairly sit simply exterior of it. This makes it simpler to listen to the world round you whereas additionally listening to audio, and might be extra snug for many who don’t just like the intrusiveness of in-ear buds.

Water resistance and mud safety

Even when a pair of headphones for figuring out aren’t marketed particularly as train headphones, a sturdy, water resistant 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 the very best circumstances. The rankings for water resistance are ranked on a scale of 1 to 9; increased numbers imply extra safety, whereas the letter “X” means the gadget isn’t rated for defense in that regard.

All the earbuds we examined for this information have no less than an IPX4 ranking, which suggests there’s no mud safety, however the buds can face up to splashes from any path and are sweat resistant, however most likely should not be submerged. For an in depth breakdown of all of the attainable permutations, try this information revealed by a provider referred to as The Enclosure Firm.

Lively noise cancellation and transparency mode

Lively noise cancellation (ANC) is changing into normal on wi-fi earbuds, no less than these above a sure worth level. For those who’re searching for a pair of buds that may be your exercise companion and serve you exterior of the gymnasium, too, noise cancelation is an effective characteristic to have. It makes the buds extra versatile, permitting you to dam out the uninteresting roar of your own home or workplace so you’ll be able to focus, or offer you some solitude throughout a busy commute.

However an earbud’s skill to dam out the world goes hand-in-hand with its skill to open issues again up must you want it. Many ANC earbuds additionally assist some type of “transparency mode,” or numerous ranges of noise discount. That is vital for running headphones as a result of exercising outside, alongside busy streets, may be harmful. You most likely don’t wish to be completely oblivious to what’s happening round you whenever you’re working exterior; 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 wish to block out the uninteresting roar of a gymnasium 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’ll be able to anticipate from this house, with just a few outliers that may rise up to fifteen hours of life on a cost. Even the low finish of the spectrum ought to be ok for many athletes and gymnasium junkies, but it surely’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 median of 20 to twenty-eight additional hours of battery out of most charging circumstances and the entire earbuds we examined had holders that supplied no less than an additional 15 hours. This may dictate how typically you really should cost the gadget — 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 take a look at 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 searching for consolation arguably most of all, since you ought to by no means be fussing together with your earbuds when you ought to be specializing in figuring out. In the identical vein, I’m cognizant of in the event that they get unfastened throughout quick actions or slippery once 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’ll use whereas exercising and simply doing on a regular basis issues, so I consider every pair on their skill 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 opinions and shopping for guides. With these headphones for figuring out, nonetheless, 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 forth). 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 usually.