Exercising without music to most is almost unrealistic. For us (and we go to the gym nearly 5-6 times a week), working out without music would take away from the overall effort we put in, the enjoyment of the experience as a whole and would make it honestly rather boring. When it comes to headphones in particular, there are numerous models out there with different shapes and sizes. There are indeed headphones tailored more towards those who exercise and work out, and today we highlight the best of the best (depending on what type of exercise you partake in).
How to choose your exercise headphones
- Your budget. This is always important to take into consideration when sifting through the huge market of headphones. There are some great budget-friendly options we’ll include in this article, however there are also some heavy hitters out there that are worth the money if you have it.
- What type of exercise are you partaking in? Are you lifting weights? A nice relaxed over-ear pair of headphones may suffice since you won’t be moving your entire body around (depends on the exercise of course). On the other hand, if you’re vigorously sprinting, jumping or any other type of movement that will call for some more security of the headphones, you’ll either want some earbuds that have wings or over-ear headphones that clamp tightly to your head.
- What kind of headphones do you need? This is primarily based on the previous question because how exactly you exercise will effect the influence of the security of your headphones on your head. Over-ear, earbuds, open-back, etc.
- Wireless or wired? There are benefits to both. Many prefer wireless while others
- Waterproof\sweat-proof. Look into these if you’ll be partaking in exercise that may require some protection.
- What you want to look like. Well, aesthetics are never a bad thing to take into consideration. We wouldn’t say it completely determines the pair of headphones you should buy, but we always like to include this last in our checklists.
The best headphones for exercising\working out
The following are the best models of headphones we feel are great for exercising (of all kinds). We made sure as to include some earbuds, over-ear, wireless, and more. Let us know in the comments if you have any of your own recommendations or thoughts about certain models we included — we’re all ears. We do have some specific articles for headphones, so be sure to read our best wireless earbuds and best closed-back headphones for some more detailed info on those.
JayBird BlueBuds X
These are the ultimate pair of earbuds for working out. They’re wireless with Bluetooth connectivity, allow you to take phone calls, 8 hours of play time, and most importantly give you a snug fit (you can customize it with some options they give you in the box). It also comes with a case which is great for traveling (I can’t tell you how many pairs I’ve broken by sticking them in my pocket and forgetting about them). When it comes to a specific type of exercise, these will with just about anything besides a water-based sport. I’ve heard runners use them, weight lifters, etc. PCMag included these in their best headphones for running article and it made it to #1, so there’s always that as well. If you have the cash and want wireless earbuds, these are superb.
Check pricing\reviews of the BlueBuds X: US | UK
Sol Republic Relays
These are a few bucks lower than the BlueBuds X but still get the job done when it comes to a solid pair of earbuds. You have numerous color options for aesthetic choice, three button (or 1-button option if you want to save money) control center at the mid-section of the cable, built-in microphone and nifty sweat\water resistance. If you want to save money and don’t mind having some wires on you while you work out, these are great to look at. WireCutter had these as the winner for their best exercise headphones article.
Check price\reviews of the Relays: US | UK
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
This is our choice for the best headphones for lifting weights. We are currently wearing a pair of these as we type this article and just to double check if they’re sturdy on the head — they don’t fall off if we shake our heads as fast as we can. We wouldn’t recommend these for running since earbuds are more suitable for that; however, if you’re doing the typical weight lifting exercises these will be great (besides perhaps snatches or cleans or anything related to crossfit where your entire body is incorporated). You see the dudes and dudettes at the gym rocking the Beats by Dre, but we feel the ATH-M50x blows them out of the water. The only downside to these is that they’re not wireless some Dre models, but they do have interchangeable cables if you want a short straight option that doesn’t get in the way too much. If you are looking for a pair of over-ear headphones to lift in, check out our best wireless headphones article for some more options this route.
Check reviews\price of the ATH-M50x: US | UK
Bose Freestyle
We all know Bose as their name is quite large in the market. These earbuds are quite popular in the exercise department, coming in a wide variety of colors, built-in microphone, a clear sound, quite comfortable fit and the ability to switch from calls to music with the inline control center (not that we like answering the phone when we’re busy in our zone, anyway). It’s not quite at the BlueBuds X price level so if you want to save a few bucks this is another option for the earbud route. They come with the little fins so they’re not going to shake off very easily. CNet had this pair of earbuds at the top of their list for best sports headphones.
Check price\reviews of the Freestyle: US | UK
Soul Transform
Here’s another pair of over-ear headphones that are great for exercising. They’re ideal for exercise because of their lightweight and comfort. There are a few color options but as much as we’d like, although the earpads are removable and washable so if you’re wanting some clean headphones after a long workout it’s quite nice. The headband has a mesh material (as seen in the photo) to help you breathe which never hurts. Oh, did we mention Tim Tebow is sponsored by them? Why not!
Check reviews\pricing of the Transform: US | UK
Plantronics BackBeat Fit
We’re huge Plantronics super fans — you just can’t beat their quality, prices as well as reputation among the headphone world. This particular model is geared towards working out and we love the stability it gives us with the ear clips. They’re a step above earbuds in terms of size and just below over-ear pairs, so if you want something in the middle this one is perfect for runners. They are also waterproof, 8 hour of battery use, and an “eartip design” that lets you hear a bit of your surroundings for safety (especially if you’re running near the street). The price is typically under a Benjamin but double check the websites just to make sure. This is a solid pair of headphones for runners or those may be moving around a bit more than a weight lifter.
Check price\reviews of the BackBeat Fit: US | UK
X-1 Surge Sportwrap
Here’s our pick for the best waterproof headphones in case you’re swimming or sweating way too much (which is never a bad thing of course). Although a few prior headphones listed are waterproof, these go up to 12 feet of depth. They hug your ears with the hook design and have a nice full-range sound to them. The neckband may not be your style but it helps with being sturdy so they don’t fall off, and look pretty slick if you ask us.
Check pricing\reviews of the Surge: US | UK
