The very best wi-fi exercise headphones for 2025

No matter what sort of train you’re into, in case 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 shifting and sweating a ton. There are dozens of nice wireless headphones and wireless earbud choices on the market, however for train specifically, there are extra elements to contemplate earlier than choosing one up like water resistance, battery life and general consolation.

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

Greatest exercise headphones for 2025

JLab

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

When you’ve got lower than $50 to spend, the $30 JLab Go Air Sport+ are an amazing possibility. 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 rapidly impressed by their consolation and sound high quality. A number of headphones designed for exercises have this hook that wraps across the prime of your ear, and it does assist the Go Air Sport keep securely hooked up 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 in case you’re new to it, but it surely’s a surefire strategy to get slightly further stability throughout excessive depth exercises.

Sound high quality is fairly good on these buds as nicely, though not practically as balanced as that of our prime decide. I additionally recognize that you would be able to cycle by way of three totally different EQ modes — Signature, Balanced and Bass Increase — 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 sort of app connectivity.

You may count on 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 serious 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, but it surely’s not as svelte as circumstances you’ll see on costlier buds.

Execs

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

Cons

• Giant case
• Hook design gained’t be for everybody

$30 at Amazon

SHOKZ

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

The Shokz OpenFit 2 are the newest iteration of those open-ear headphones, with our earlier prime decide right here being the unique OpenFit. Earbuds with open designs like this enable for extra situational consciousness, with the purpose being to let noise in quite than block it out. In my expertise, the OpenFits do an amazing 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 prime 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 kinds of actions together with operating, 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 hearken to head-banging loss of life steel (in case 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 know-how, 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 one of the best sound high quality and general quantity out of all the open-ear gadgets I attempted, however in case you crank the quantity as much as the max (or shut), the individual subsequent to you’ll undoubtedly hear what you’re listening to. General, these are an amazing possibility for anybody who doesn’t discover in-ear buds notably comfy, or those that simply desire 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 | Model: Over-ear | Assistant assist: None

Some desire to put on over-ear headphones all day, on daily basis, and if that sounds such as you, there’s a very good likelihood you already use your daily-driver headphones on the fitness center. However in case you’re noticing elevated wear-and-tear on these cans as a consequence of sweat or prolonged durations of use, chances are you’ll 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 score (they’re not designed for the pool, to be clear), they do declare to be “one hundred pc sweatproof” thanks partially to their detachable and washable earcups. They survived a few of my hardest runs and strength-training periods with out situation, and the earcups are fairly straightforward to take away if you wish 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 ultimately surrender the ghost.

Sound high quality is respectable, but it surely 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 prime decide, 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 value vary; you’re actually paying for the improved sturdiness with the Ript Extremely. Finally, if you need a pair of headphones for the fitness center that may deal with sweat and (probably) last more than different cans in the identical value vary, the Ript Extremely is an efficient alternative.

Execs

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

Cons

• Costly
• Sound high quality may very well 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 transient 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 rivals 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 very good various to the Beats Match Professional in case you’re a stickler for a hook design. Nonetheless, they price $50 greater than the Match Professional (though they usually hover round $180) and don’t provide any vital upgrades or extra 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 quite 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 comfy because the latter. The precise earbuds on the AeroFit Professional are noticeably bulkier than these on the OpenFit, which precipitated them to shift and transfer way more after I was sporting 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

Probably the most noteworthy factor concerning 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, when 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 the same model) and their charging case is huge in comparison with most rivals.

What to search for in exercise headphones

Design

Earlier than diving in, it’s price mentioning that this information focuses on wireless earbuds. Whilst you may put on over-ear or on-ear headphones throughout a exercise, a lot of the best headphones accessible now should not have the identical stage of sturdiness. Water and dirt resistance, notably the previous, is necessary 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 certainly one 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 prime of your ear. Open-ear designs don’t stick into your ear canal, however quite sit simply exterior of it. This makes it simpler to listen to the world round you whereas additionally listening to audio, and may very well be extra comfy for many who don’t just like the intrusiveness of in-ear buds.

Water resistance and dirt 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 one of the 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 system shouldn’t be rated for cover in that regard.

All the earbuds we examined for this information have no less than an IPX4 score, which suggests there’s no mud safety, however the buds can face 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 doable 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 commonplace on wi-fi earbuds, no less than these above a sure value level. In the event you’re searching for a pair of buds that may be your exercise companion and serve you exterior 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 house or workplace so you may focus, or offer you some solitude throughout a busy commute.

However an earbud’s capability to dam out the world goes hand-in-hand with its capability to open issues again up do you have to want it. Many ANC earbuds additionally assist some kind of “transparency mode,” or varied ranges of noise discount. That is necessary for running headphones as a result of exercising outside, alongside busy streets, could be harmful. You in all probability don’t wish to be completely oblivious to what’s happening round you if you’re operating exterior; adjusting noise cancelation ranges to extend your consciousness will assist with that. Stronger noise cancelation is likely to be extra interesting to these doing extra indoor coaching in the event that they wish 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 count on from this area, with a couple of outliers that may stand 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, but it surely’ll be useful to maintain the buds’ charging case on you in case you assume you’ll get near utilizing up all their juice throughout a single session.

You’ll get a mean of 20 to twenty-eight further hours of battery out of most charging circumstances and all the earbuds we examined had holders that offered no less than an additional 15 hours. This can dictate how usually you truly should 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 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 need 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 after I’m sweating. I additionally use the earbuds when not exercising to take calls and hearken 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 capability to be comfy and supply a very good listening expertise in a number of totally different actions.

Whereas I’m additionally evaluating sound high quality, I’m admittedly not an audio professional. 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 prime picks in his opinions and shopping for guides. With these headphones for figuring out, nonetheless, I’ll make observe of associated points in the event that they stood out (i.e. if a pair of earbuds had noticeably robust 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 usually.