The Best Wireless Earbuds for Working Out
Luxurious over-the-ear cans are plush, comfortable, and they sound great. But for working out, traveling, and wandering around town, you might want to consider a pair of durable, wireless in-ear buds. I've been trail running, hiking, working on my yard, lifting weights, and watching mildly embarrassing barre and yoga videos on my laptop, all while testing the best wireless workout headphones around. If you like listening to music while scrambling up stony slopes or mowing your lawn, here are a bunch of WIRED's favorite pairs. We've worn, and sweated on, all of them.
Be sure to check out our favorite completely wirefree earbuds, cheap headphones, Best Bluetooth speakers, smart speakers, and other buying guides.
Updated for March 2021: We removed the Plantronics Backbeat Fit and the Jabra Elite 75T, and added the Jabra Elite 85T and the JBL Under Armor True Wireless Streak.
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Photograph: Philippa Langley/Getty ImagesA Few Pointers
Should I Get Wired or Wireless Headphones?Which buds are right for you? A surprising number of people still prefer wired headphones. When you're going on a long run, the last thing you want to do is stand on your front porch, shivering in your shorts, trying to figure out why the right earbud isn't connected. But for obvious reasons, wireless headphones are much more convenient when doing other strenuous physical activities.
I recommend investing in a pair that has ear hooks, clips, or fins to hold them securely in place; you can also buy ear hooks a la carte online. A tight, secure seal ensures that you get that big bass sound to power you through the last mile. Everyone's ears are different, and your left might even be different than your right. Don't be afraid to try mismatching sizes of ear tips or fins for a better fit.
Photograph: BeatsBest Overall
Beats Powerbeats (2020)It's been a year, and I am still running wearing Beats Powerbeats. They are my favorite workout headphones, and by far the best headphones for Apple users. They have the same stellar sound quality as our old favorites, the wirefree Powerbeats Pro, but they're wired for better battery life and more security. They fit comfortably and snugly in my ear, and unlike nearly every other bud I've tried, I've never knocked one out of my ear and into the mud.
After a year of running outside in constant Pacific Northwestern rain, the IPX4 waterproof rating has held up. They haven't fritzed out and I've never had the Bluetooth connection drop out due to inclement weather.
I do have an iPhone 11, so some of the inconveniences our audio reviewer Parker Hall noted in our Powerbeats review (8/10, WIRED Recommends) don't apply to me. You do lose some functionality if you pair it with an Android phone, and you do have to charge it with a Lightning cable.
Photograph: JabraRunner-Up
Jabra Elite 85TOur head audio review also loves the Jabra Elite 85T. After trying them, I have to agree.
The Elite 85T are tiny—both the case and buds are the smallest of a half-dozen pairs sitting on my desk. I usually prefer workout earbuds with ear hooks or fins to keep them in place, the 85T fit comfortably and securely, even in my small ears. The sound quality is excellent, for both music and calls, and unlike previous generations of Jabra Elite headphones, these have active noise-canceling for when you return to the gym.
If you're unwilling to shell out the full price for the latest pair, Jabra has a demonstrated commitment to its earlier pairs. The company just added noise-canceling to the still-excellent 75T. It also offers a 2-year-warranty that is far above the industry standard.
Photograph: LetsfitThe Best Super Cheap Earbuds
Letsfit Bluetooth HeadphonesWorkout headphones take a beating. Even if you're only running or working out at home, mine get shoved in backpacks and fanny packs, thrown in my key bin, or end up at the bottom of wet tote bags all the time. With treatment like that, even a $50 set like our previous budget pick, the JLab Audio Epic Sport2, starts to seem expensive.
At $18, the Letsfit workout buds are … fine! They're not outstanding, but are adequate. I didn't hear any echoes or distortion. After a little fiddling with the ear hooks, the buds stayed put while on miles-long trail runs. The 15-hour battery life is amazing, and they're rated IPX7 waterproof.
These are great for an extra pair to keep your workout bag. If you want a pair that is almost indistinguishable from pricier pairs, we still recommend JLab Audio's cheaper options, too.
Photograph: JaybirdThe Most Durable Pair
Jaybird VistaThe Jaybird Vista are designed for ultrarunners and extreme sports fanatics, and they stand out for their lightness and extreme durability. I rediscovered these as I was cleaning out my gear closet and was surprised, again, by how light and tiny they are. Each bud weighs a miniscule 6 grams and the case is flat to fit inside your running shorts.
They feature EarthProof encapsulated construction that seals the components inside a tiny plastic bubble, so unlike many buds on this list, they can even withstand full immersion. The battery life is excellent. They have a sterling Bluetooth 5.0 connection, and the controls are simple enough for even an exhausted trail runner to remember.
Photograph: BoseAnother Great-Sounding Pick
Bose Sport EarbudsI'm currently wearing the latest version of the wirefree Bose Sport earbuds, and they sound amazing. (I also loved the company's older pair of wirefree sport buds, so that makes sense to me.) In addition to intense bass and a clear mic, the ear fins on this version are soft and comfortable, and the bud itself doesn't stick out nearly as far from your ear as the original version.
They're waterproof and the battery lasts 5 hours, so they can keep you motivated for an entire marathon. Unlike some of our options, this case has a latch so it doesn't fall open when you stick the buds in your fanny pack or backpack.
It's worth noting: These are larger than some of our other picks, and some of our other options do offer better battery life by.
Photograph: AppleAnother Option for Apple Users
Apple AirPods ProI love my AirPods Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends), but they're not my favorite earbuds for working out. They fit much more securely than the standard AirPods (most earbuds do), but they still don't seal in your ear. I also wouldn’t take any headphones that don’t have an ear fin or over-ear clip on an outdoor run.
If you’re an iPhone owner who wants only one set of headphones, the Pro Pods are rated IPX4, which means they’re sweat-resistant (don’t wear them in the shower, though). The sound quality and noise-canceling are also excellent, and you can long-squeeze the stem to let in ambient sound if you need to cross the street or say hi to a fellow gym-goer.
Photograph: SonyBest for Work and Workouts
Sony WF-SP800NThe Sony WF-SP800N are a good option for anyone looking for workout buds that can double as (home) office headphones. These are Sony's midrange phones, so they don't have the QN1E chipset that makes the WF-1000XM3 earbud's noise-canceling so impenetrable. The sound isn't quite as rich and detailed, and they're bigger than I prefer for workout buds.
But they do have some noise-canceling, which reduces my daughter's Pinkfong songs to a dull mumble. They also have automatic ambient sound adjustment to let in outside noise when you're moving around. Phone calls sound fine; they fit snugly and comfortably; and they're water- and dust-resistant. They also get 9 hours of battery life outside the case—enough for a whole day of hiking.
Photograph: BoseBest for Biking
Bose Frames TempoOn my long, rambling ebike rides, I usually put on the Bose Frames Tempo. Bose's latest audio sunglasses have a small Bose speaker below each temple. I was very skeptical of the sound quality, but they actually work! The frames are comfortable, and the speakers are clear and loud enough for me to enjoy Laura Veirs' latest album, even when I'm pedaling down the street at over 20 mph. It also allows me to hear oncoming traffic and guards my eyes from the sun.
These would be a great option if you spend a lot of time exercising outside and are having trouble juggling all the accoutrements—the sunglasses, the earbuds, the hats. I can even hear them if they're pushed up on my head. I do have a slightly wider-than-average skull and these were just a skosh too tight. JLab Audio has recently announced a similar concept, but we haven't tried them yet.
Photograph: Bang & OlufsenThe Status Pick
Bang & Olufsen E8 SportBang & Olufsen makes gorgeous headphones, and these ... well, they're gorgeous. I especially love their small size and their low profile in the ear. I have extremely small ears, and these stayed put.
They also sound amazing, and they're hugely customizable. You can pick different listening profiles and adjust the degree of audio transparency that you'd like, so you can hear the outside world better, or barely at all. They're also water-resistant and offer up to 7 hours of battery life outside the case, and 30 with it.
If you like world-class sound and aesthetics, and wouldn't throw yourself off a cliff if you lost a $350 earbud, these are great.
Photograph: JBLA Personal Fave
JBL Under Armor True Wireless StreakOn paper, the JBL & Under Armour True Wireless Streak might not be anyone's top pick. They're expressly designed for smaller ears, but the buds and case are noticeably larger than the Jabra Elite 85T. We're fans of JBL speakers, but they don't have the best sound on this list. They just move a lot of air in proportion to their size. Their controls are also confusing—it was way too difficult to switch them back into pairing mode so my husband could try them, too.
Still, I like these a lot. The fit is excellent, the bass is pumping, and it has dedicated features to make it easier and safer use them outdoors, like Ambient Aware to pipe in outside ambient noise and TalkThru to help you chat with your workout partner. They have a waterproof rating of IPX7, and come in a variety of colors that make them really stand out in a sea of basic black buds.
Photograph: JLabHonorable Mentions
Other Workout Buds We LikeWe try almost every pair of new workout buds that come out. Here are a few that we like, but didn't make the cut.
- Master & Dynamic MW07 Go ($199): We love these headphones, but they're an older pick that we replaced with the newer Jabra Elite 85T and Bose Sport buds.
- JLab Audio Flex Sport Headphones ($79): I reviewed these a few years ago, but they're even cheaper now and I have yet to come across another pair of over-ear workout headphones that I like as much. These are great for running outside when it's cold and your tiny buds are uncomfortable under your hat. In the heat, earbuds work better.
- Philips Wireless Sport Headphones ($120): These fit well and the sound is decent, but the case battery life is underwhelming and the UV sterilizing tech seems like a gimmick. Wiping your headphones off after a workout and letting them dry is all the cleaning you need.
- Sennheiser CX Sport ($122): It's been awhile since Sennheiser updated these, but I liked them when I tried them! These are also a good option if you need one pair of headphones to pull work and workout duty.
- … And a fond farewell to the Plantronics BackBeat Fit 2100 ($50): One of our longtime favorites, the BackBeat line by Poly (formerly Plantronics), is no longer being manufactured. They'll continue to be sold for as long as supplies last, and are still a great buy that will last you for years—just catch them at their $50 price point. My pair from 2017 is still going strong.
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Photograph: AppleBuds We Didn't Love
Why Didn't We Include AirPods?The products I'm asked about most often are Aftershokz and AirPods. I have tried several pairs of Aftershokz bone-conducting headphones, and I find the faint buzzing in my skull to be deeply unpleasant. Other reviewers on our team have concurred, with verdicts ranging from "I'd rather just not wear headphones" to "I just don't get it."
While many people like exercising with the original AirPods, we rejected these as well, because they have an inflexible, slick plastic fit and their sound is mediocre. We also reviewed other pairs of buds, like the Tivoli Go Fonico, which look great, sound great, and fit well. They didn't make the cut for this roundup due to their poor battery life, glitchy Bluetooth, and puzzling controls. I also found the sound for other buds, like Aukey's sport wireless buds, to be underwhelming.
