The very best wi-fi exercise headphones for 2025

No matter what sort of train you’re into, when you’re understanding, you’ll need a pair of wi-fi exercise headphones. They mean you can be free and untethered throughout a critical weight-lifting session, a 5K run, an hour on the skate park and in every single 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 think about 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 think about earlier than you decide up a pair. All of our prime picks under will work out and in of the health club, so you’ll be able to spend money on only one pair and make these your every day driver. In case you’re primarily a runner, take a look at our checklist of best headphones for running.

Finest exercise headphones for 2025

JLab

Connectivity: Wi-fi | Fashion: In-ear with hook | Assistant help: None

When you have 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. Numerous 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 when you’re new to it, but it surely’s a surefire technique to get a little bit further stability throughout excessive depth exercises.

Sound high quality is fairly good on these buds as properly, though not practically as balanced as that of our prime decide. I additionally respect you can cycle by means of three completely 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 type of app connectivity.

You may 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 serious pain-point in regards to the earlier variations right here: as an alternative of the previous, built-in USB-A cable for charging, it is now a extra trendy USB-C cable. Nonetheless, the case is on the cumbersome aspect; 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 costlier buds.

Professionals

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

Cons

• Massive case
• Hook design received’t be for everybody

$30 at Amazon

SHOKZ

Connectivity: Wi-fi | Fashion: Open-ear | Assistant help: 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 permit for extra situational consciousness, with the objective being to let noise in moderately 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 types of actions together with operating, power 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 dying metallic (when you can’t management your self).

Sound high quality is stable contemplating the design, and the OpenFit will get fairly loud as properly. 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 general quantity out of all the open-ear units I attempted, however when you crank the quantity as much as the max (or shut), the particular person subsequent to you’ll positively hear what you’re listening to. Total, these are an amazing possibility for anybody who doesn’t discover in-ear buds significantly comfy, or those that simply favor to have extra consciousness of their environment whereas understanding.

Professionals

• 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 | Fashion: Over-ear | Assistant help: None

Some favor to put on over-ear headphones all day, day-after-day, and if that sounds such as you, there’s a superb probability you already use your daily-driver headphones on the health club. However when you’re noticing elevated wear-and-tear on these cans attributable to sweat or prolonged durations of use, chances are you’ll need to take into account a pair of over-ear headphones particularly for understanding.

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 “one hundred pc sweatproof” thanks partly 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 while you need 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 ultimately surrender the ghost.

Sound high quality is first rate, but it surely must 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 doubtless get higher sound high quality on a pair of Bose or Beats headphones on the identical worth vary; you’re actually paying for the improved sturdiness with the Ript Extremely. In the end, if you’d like a pair of headphones for the health club that may deal with sweat and (probably) last more than different cans in the identical worth vary, the Ript Extremely is an efficient selection.

Professionals

• 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 ranking, 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 degree of water resistance that almost all exercise-specific rivals have. We typically just like the AirPods Professional, however the Beats Match Professional supply most of the identical options and conveniences (specifically good transparency mode and the H1 chip), with a design that’s extra applicable for understanding.

Beats Powerbeats Professional

The Powerbeats Pro are a superb various to the Beats Match Professional when you’re a stickler for a hook design. Nonetheless, they price $50 greater than the Match Professional (though they typically hover round $180) and don’t supply any important upgrades or extra options apart from 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 moderately 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 brought on them to shift and transfer rather more once 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 in regards to the Endurance Peak 3 is that they’ve the identical IP68-rating that the (now discontinued) Jabra Elite 8 Energetic do, however they solely price $100. However, when you get the identical safety right here, you’ll need to 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 fashion) and their charging case is very large 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 might put on over-ear or on-ear headphones throughout a exercise, a lot of the best headphones obtainable now shouldn’t have the identical degree of sturdiness. Water and mud resistance, significantly the previous, is essential for any audio gear you intend on sweating with or taking outside, and that’s extra prevalent within the wi-fi earbuds world.

Most earbuds have considered 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 commonest, 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 moderately 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 individuals who don’t just like the intrusiveness of in-ear buds.

Water resistance and mud safety

Even when a pair of headphones for understanding 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) scores. 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 scores for water resistance are ranked on a scale of 1 to 9; increased numbers imply extra safety, whereas the letter “X” means the machine is just not rated for cover in that regard.

The entire earbuds we examined for this information have at the very least an IPX4 ranking, which suggests there’s no mud safety, however the buds can stand up to splashes from any route and are sweat resistant, however most likely should not be submerged. For an in depth breakdown of all of the potential permutations, take a look at this information printed by a provider referred to as The Enclosure Firm.

Energetic noise cancellation and transparency mode

Energetic noise cancellation (ANC) is changing into customary on wi-fi earbuds, at the very least these above a sure worth level. In case you’re searching for a pair of buds that may be your exercise companion and serve you exterior of the health club, 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’ll be able to focus, or provide you with some solitude throughout a busy commute.

However an earbud’s potential to dam out the world goes hand-in-hand with its potential to open issues again up must you want it. Many ANC earbuds additionally help some kind of “transparency mode,” or numerous ranges of noise discount. That is essential for running headphones as a result of exercising outside, alongside busy streets, could be harmful. You most likely don’t need to be completely oblivious to what’s happening round you while you’re operating 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 need to block out the boring roar of a health club or the man exaggeratingly lifting weights subsequent to you.

Battery life

The entire Bluetooth earbuds we examined have a battery lifetime of six to eight hours. Generally, that’s what you’ll be able to anticipate from this house, with a couple of outliers that may rise up to fifteen hours of life on a cost. Even the low finish of the spectrum must be adequate for many athletes and health club junkies, but it surely’ll be useful to maintain the buds’ charging case on you when 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 supplied at the very least an additional 15 hours. It will dictate how typically you truly need to cost the machine — 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 off-the-cuff 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 have to be specializing in understanding. In the identical vein, I’m cognizant of in the event that they get free 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 potential to be comfy and supply a superb listening expertise in a number of completely 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 rather more detailed details about audio high quality for a few of our prime picks in his critiques and shopping for guides. With these headphones for understanding, nevertheless, I’ll make notice 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 forth). A lot of the wi-fi exercise headphones we examined work with companion apps which have adjustable EQ settings, so that you’ll be capable to tweak sound profiles to your liking typically.