Best workout headphones for 2026
Keep a steady workout rhythm with wireless headphones
In this article: Our top five headphone picks for running and working out...
- Best headphones for the gym — Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
- Versatile and rugged true wireless headphones — Anker Soundcore Sport X20
- Best in-ear headphones for situational awareness — Sony LinkBuds
- Best noise cancellation — Sony WF-1000XM5
- Best bang-for-your-buck true wireless earbuds — JBL Endurance Race2
... plus, some advice on the features to look for in sports headphones.
From a boxer’s hustle up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art to a hopeful Jamaican bobsledding team learning the ropes of the sport, it seems that there’s always a song playing to motivate movie protagonists as they progress and improve. One thing’s certain: in the real world, music helps increase performance and endurance. In fact, the National Center for Biotechnology Information did an in-depth study showing just that.
If you’re looking to really push yourself and train harder, you’ll need good tunes and an equally good pair of wireless headphones to help you along. There are a few things to consider.
Style and comfort
Wireless headphones come in two flavors: truly wireless and mostly wireless.
Mostly wireless headphones are earbuds that have a cable connecting them that goes behind your neck. True wireless headphones are just as their name implies. There’s no cable connecting the headphones to your phone or to each other. They provide you with a wire-and-tangle-free listening experience. Both styles use Bluetooth to connect to your smartphone.
True wireless sport headphones don't use a connecting cable, providing a hassle-and-wire-free workout.
Either style will work for most workout routines. If you don’t want the feeling of a wire behind your neck interrupting your reps, go with a truly wireless model. If you’re worried you might lose an earbud while doing burpees or running, then I’d recommend going with a mostly wireless model.
There’s no point in listening to music while you’re pumping iron if the headphones are uncomfortable or constantly falling out. It’s crucial to get a pair that stays firmly in place no matter the intensity of your workout. Thankfully, most earbuds come with different sizes of tips and fins to ensure you get the right fit for your ears.
Sound quality
Being able to get into the groove of your music during a workout is paramount. It’s hard to do that if your headphones are bass-shy, tinny, or otherwise lackluster. Having your ears blasted by weak sound can really mess with your rhythm and grind, so you’ll want to grab a pair that can easily carry all the energy your playlist contains.
Whether you're hiking or jogging, sport headphones can keep up even in the most demanding environments.
Weather/sweat resistance and ruggedness
Some years ago, I broke my first pair of true wireless earbuds (cheap-ish ones, thank goodness) while I was hitting the heavy bag in my dad’s garage. I wasn’t aware that the earbuds didn’t have much in the way of sweat/water protection, and after only two sessions, they bit the dust. My disappointment was immeasurable, and my day was ruined. Don’t put yourself in that same situation.
Make sure your workout headphones have, at minimum, an IPX4 rating. If you’re wondering what an IPX rating is and what each rating means, we did an article all about them.
Battery life
Say you have a long gym routine or you're planning on going somewhere after you’re done; you’ll want your headphones to keep up and stay charged while you’re doing your thing. Most models have five or six hours of battery life.
True wireless earbuds come with a charging case that stores extra power and extends your listening time.
True wireless earbuds have about the same amount of battery, but there's a nifty twist — their carrying cases double as a charger and offer an additional ten to twenty hours of music playback to your headphones. Some models even feature quick charging, where just a few minutes of having the earbuds in the case nets you an hour or two of listening time.
Controls
Pausing your workout to pick up a call or switch tracks from your smartphone can be a real pain since it breaks up your pace. Wireless headphones typically have onboard controls to alleviate that issue. Most wireless models that have a neckband will have a strip with buttons for answering and hanging up a call, turning the volume up or down, and for changing tracks.
True wireless headphones, on the other hand, have a single multifunction button on an earbud that lets you do things with a tap or two. In any case, make sure the pair you’ve set your sights on gives you convenient controls to reduce interruptions.
Android or Apple controls
Smartphones typically won’t have an issue connecting with most wireless headphones. However, you wouldn’t want to pick up a pair of Apple AirPods Pro for your Android™ smartphone. Double-checking for compatibility never hurts and it’ll prevent bumps in the road later down the line.
Noise cancellation
Earbuds do a good job at blocking out the gym by themselves, but for true isolation, you’ll want a pair with noise cancellation built in. They use special circuitry to block out external noise and keep you distraction free.
Stay safe
Cranking music to power your workout is good and all, but if an emergency happens or if you’re running near traffic, you need a way to be able to hear what’s going on. I’d recommend checking to see if the pair you’re checking out has a pass-through mode that lets in ambient sound.
With all those considerations in mind, here are my top five picks.
Best headphones for the gym — Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
The innovative Bose Ultra Open Earbuds were made for people who don't like the fit of traditional in-ear headphones. These truly wireless earbuds sport an interesting design and rest snugly on the outsides of your ears. While that may sound uncomfortable, our resident headphone expert Jeff says that you barely even notice Ultra Open Earbuds when you're wearing them.
Despite their "open" nature, these buds sound surprisingly full thanks to Bose's Immersive Audio tech. The Ultra Open Earbuds create a three-dimensional sound "bubble" around you that's filled with richness and detail. However, don't expect the bass response to be super deep, like on other, more traditional Bose earbuds.
Details
- open, wearable design attaches to the outer edge of your ears
- proprietary Bluetooth 5.0 chip for a stronger, more stable connection
- built-in rechargeable batteries offer 7.5 hours of stereo listening
- carrying case banks up to 19.5 hours of power
- IPX4 sweat- and weather-resistant
Versatile and rugged true wireless headphones — Anker Soundcore Sport X20
The affordable Anker Soundcore Sport X20 offers active individuals great sound and plenty of style. With their rugged, sweat-proof housing, flexible ear hook design, and comfortable silicone eartips there’s not much these true wireless earbuds can’t withstand. They also come with noise cancellation that adjusts to the sounds around you.
The earbuds themselves have about 7 hours of battery life with noise cancellation before they need to be recharged. The included charging case banks an additional 36 hours of power, giving you roughly 43 hours of listening time total.
These earbuds have a pretty good seal around your ears, which means they'll have ample bass. If you want to tailor the 'buds' sound to your liking, you can download Anker's Soundcore app (available for iOS® and Android) and adjust their sound. The app's Hear ID 2.0 feature tailors the X20's sound to your hearing profile.
Details
- 11mm dynamic drivers tuned for energetic sound with deep bass emphasis
- noise-canceling circuitry automatically adjusts to the level of external sound
- built-in rechargeable batteries offers 7 hours of listening with noise cancellation (12 without)
- included carrying case banks up to 36 hours of power
- durable, IP68 water-resistant design
Best in-ear headphones for situational awareness — Sony LinkBuds
Sony's new LinkBuds are perhaps one of the most unique designs I've ever seen. Whereas other true wireless earbuds have some sort of "talk-thru" or pass-through mode, these boundary-pushing buds eliminate electronic sound processing and have a true open-air design.
That's right — the hole in the middle of the driver lets external sounds in and gives you natural hearing. That means you'll be able to hear your gym partner clearly without ever turning your music off. Or, if you're on your morning jog, you can hear traffic and be aware of what's happening around you.
Of course, under normal circumstances, this would impact sound quality. But Sony developed a custom DSP for the ring-shaped 12mm drivers in these earbuds so they still deliver balanced, full-range sound. You can also download the Sony Headphones Connect app and tailor their sound to your liking.
The LinkBuds are IPX4-rated, meaning they're sweat-and-water-resistant. Their compact form factor makes them barely noticeable when they're in your ears while their "fitting supporters" keep them snug and secure. These earbuds also support single-bud operation if you'd rather just use one.
Details
- Unique 12mm ring-shaped driver with open-air design
- Bluetooth 5.2 for listening to music and phone calls
- 5-1/2 hours of listening time; carrying case banks an additional 12 hours of power
- onboard controls for music playback and calls
- IPX4-rated for sweat-and-water resistance
Best noise cancellation — Sony WF-1000XM5
Boasting best-in-class active noise cancellation, a hefty eight-hour battery life, and an IPX4 rating, the true wireless WF-1000XM5s from Sony offer a premium, quiet workout experience. The earbuds have touch controls that let you answer calls, control music playback, and turn the noise cancellation on and off. The included charging case banks up to an additional sixteen hours of power.
The earbuds' tuned 8.4mm drivers deliver smooth, detailed sound and stout bass. The WF-1000XM5s are also compatible with Sony’s Headphones Connect app, which allows you to manually adjust the level of noise cancellation and customize the sound of the headphones.
Details
- active noise cancellation blocks out external noise
- Headphones Connect app lets you fine-tune your experience
- Sweat-resistant IPX4-rated design
- 8-hour battery life with noise cancellation turned on; extra 16 hours of charge in case
Best bang-for-your-buck true wireless earbuds — JBL Endurance Race 2
Looking for great sound on a budget? The JBL Endurance Race 2 true wireless earbuds have an excitingly energetic sound and are a great bang-for-your-buck option to fuel your cycling or squats. They are low profile, durable, and completely waterproof.
Active noise cancellation helps quiet noise in the gym. Then simply tap the left earbud to enable JBL's "Smart Ambient" mode for maximum situational awareness while you're out grinding on the pavement.
JBL designed these earbuds to stay in place while you move. They twist securely into place thanks to a patented TwistLock® system. That helps provide a proper seal for harder-hitting bass.
Details
- 10 hours of listening with noise cancellation (12 hours without)
- carrying case banks up to 36 hours of power
- IP68 rated waterproof design
- 3 pairs of silicone ear tips and 2 sizes of fin-like "enhancers" to keep earbuds secure
- active noise cancellation and "Smart Ambient" mode for better awareness during workouts
Need help?
With the growing number of wireless headphones out there, picking out the right pair can be difficult. Thankfully, our advisors have done countless demo sessions with the headphones we carry and can help guide you along. For free one-on-one shopping advice, contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Popular questions customers ask
If you’re pumping away at the gym or going for a run, you’ll need headphones that are rated to resist water to prevent damage. A lot of earbuds we carry are at least IPX4-rated. That means they’re resistant to sweat and water splashes from all directions. Some models offer even more resistance and protection.
A lot of the sport earbuds we carry feature some sort of “pass-through” mode that lets external sounds (like conversation and traffic) in to help you keep an ear on your surroundings.
It all depends on what kind of exercises you’ll be doing. Most true wireless earbuds fit snugly in your ear canal and stay in place. But if you’re doing high-intensity exercises and are worried about one of the ‘buds popping out, a model with a neckband may be best.
Almost every pair of earbuds we carry has some way of controlling your music straight from the earbuds themselves. Touch controls on either or both earbuds let you play and pause your music, skip tracks, and even answer and disconnect calls.
Mary Lou from Boone
Posted on 1/13/2022
I have both the Sony and similar JBL headphones that cover the ears. Both headphones (and Bose, as well) do NOT hold up well when mowing the lawn. All three have fax leather covers that deteriorate rapidly with heat and perspiration. I love the Sony headphones in the house in a static situation but find them extremely difficult to use while doing any kind of exercise. The JBLs performance is great but the ear covers are NOT made for exercise.
Steve Stevenson from Aurora
Posted on 4/13/2018
I agree with Chuck--a runner should not interfere with his own ability to hear threats. Plus, when I used to run all the time, if I even got distracted by random thoughts, forget music, I would slow down and not maintain my target speed.
Deb Gilbert from Crutchfield
Posted on 4/11/2018
As a runner and a former race director, I see both sides of the headphone discussion. Safety is a huge concern when running outside, but many people use the motivation and pacing of music to help get them through the run. You need to hear traffic, race instructions, animals, and other people around you. That's why the headphones with an open design are listed prominently. I've been to many a group run where someone didn't notice traffic or didn't hear someone coming up behind them to pass. Open design is the best suggestion for people who still want to wear headphones. I personally only use headphones when I'm running on a treadmill. It really helps break the monotony of the indoor run, and makes it a bit more enjoyable.
Chuck from Morehead City
Posted on 10/28/2016
I have been running/jogging/walking for over 40 years. I suggest that a runner not use earphones or anything that interferes with their senses. A person constantly needs to be aware of cars, predators etc. and you can't do that with your ears plugged up! For example, I can see a car coming at me from the front but also can hear one coming from behind and will pass each other right where I am at. Need to know information for obvious reasons.
chris
Posted on 7/30/2016
Safty is important. A tragic moment happened near my home when a jogger was killed by a falling tree. I wonder if the jogger would have heard the tree falling or notticed something was wrong if it were not for the headphones. Same thing can happen with traffic, we need our hearing not just for entertainment but also to keep us alive.