The most effective wi-fi exercise headphones for 2025

No matter what sort of train you’re into, in case you’re figuring out, you’ll desire a pair of wi-fi exercise headphones. They permit you to 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 particularly, there are further components to contemplate earlier than selecting one up like water resistance, battery life and total consolation.

At Engadget, we’ve examined a bunch of fitness-ready headphones and earbuds to give you our prime picks, plus some recommendation to contemplate earlier than you decide up a pair. All of our prime picks beneath will work out and in of the health club, so you possibly can spend money on only one pair and make these your day by day driver. In case you’re primarily a runner, try our listing of best headphones for running.

Finest exercise headphones for 2025

JLab

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

You probably have lower than $50 to spend, the $30 JLab Go Air Sport+ are a terrific 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 shortly impressed by their consolation and sound high quality. A lot 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, nevertheless it’s a surefire strategy to get a little bit further stability throughout excessive depth exercises.

Sound high quality is fairly good on these buds as properly, though not almost as balanced as that of our prime decide. I additionally recognize that you could cycle by means of three completely different EQ modes — Signature, Balanced and Bass Enhance — utilizing the buds’ onboard controls. There’s no app to fuss with, and that was a pleasant change of tempo after largely testing buds with some type of app connectivity.

You’ll be able to 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 significant pain-point in regards to the earlier variations right here: as a substitute of the outdated, built-in USB-A cable for charging, it is now a extra fashionable USB-C cable. Nonetheless, the case is on the cumbersome aspect; you possibly can nonetheless throw it right into a backpack or purse simply, nevertheless it’s not as svelte as instances you’ll see on dearer buds.

Execs

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

Cons

• Giant 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 purpose being to let noise in relatively than block it out. In my expertise, the OpenFits do a terrific 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 strain 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 working, energy coaching and indoor biking. Granted, none of these workout routines contain shaking your head an excessive amount of; perhaps don’t put on the OpenFit to take heed to head-banging dying 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 properly. These buds have Shokz’s Direct Pitch expertise, which makes use of reverse sound waves to optimize the gap 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 perfect sound high quality and total quantity out of the entire open-ear gadgets I attempted, however in case you crank the quantity as much as the max (or shut), the particular person subsequent to you’ll undoubtedly hear what you’re listening to. General, these are a terrific 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

• Comfy 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 desire to put on over-ear headphones all day, daily, and if that sounds such as you, there’s a very good likelihood you already use your daily-driver headphones on the health club. However in case you’re noticing elevated wear-and-tear on these cans on account of sweat or prolonged intervals of use, chances are you’ll wish to contemplate a pair of over-ear headphones particularly for figuring out.

In that case, contemplate the H2O Audio Ript Ultra. Whereas these wi-fi headphones don’t have a selected IP ranking (they’re not designed for the pool, to be clear), they do declare to be “100% sweatproof” thanks partially to their detachable and washable earcups. They survived a few of my hardest runs and strength-training periods with out concern, and the earcups are fairly simple to take away while you wish to give them a wipe-down. There’s additionally a second pair of earcups included within the field so you possibly can swap them in when the originals ultimately quit the ghost.

Sound high quality is respectable, nevertheless it needs to be higher on a pair of $250 headphones. The Ript Extremely has customized 45mm drivers and energetic 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 identical value vary; you’re actually paying for the improved sturdiness with the Ript Extremely. In the end, if you would like a pair of headphones for the health club that may deal with sweat and (probably) last more than different cans in the identical value vary, the Ript Extremely is an efficient selection.

Execs

• Sweatproof
• Removeable, washable earcups
• Second pair of earcups included within the field
• Comfy 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 temporary 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 the majority exercise-specific opponents have. We typically just like the AirPods Professional, however the Beats Match Professional supply lots of the identical options and conveniences (specifically good transparency mode and the H1 chip), with a design that’s extra applicable for figuring out.

Beats Powerbeats Professional

The Powerbeats Pro are a very good different to the Beats Match Professional in case you’re a stickler for a hook design. Nonetheless, they value $50 greater than the Match Professional (though they typically hover round $180) and don’t supply any important upgrades or further options except for their design. They’re additionally fairly outdated at this level (launched in 2019) and it seems Beats is placing extra effort into upgrading and updating its newer fashions relatively 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 about them to shift and transfer rather more after I was sporting them throughout train. They by no means fell off my ears utterly, 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 value $100. However, whilst 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 opponents.

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, many of the best headphones obtainable now do not need the identical degree of sturdiness. Water and dirt resistance, notably the previous, is essential for any audio gear you propose on sweating with or taking outdoor, and that’s extra prevalent within the wi-fi earbuds world.

Most earbuds have one in every 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 relatively sit simply outdoors 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 dirt safety

Even when a pair of headphones for figuring out aren’t marketed particularly as train headphones, a sturdy, waterproof 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 perfect instances. The scores for water resistance are ranked on a scale of 1 to 9; greater numbers imply extra safety, whereas the letter “X” means the gadget just isn’t rated for cover in that regard.

All the earbuds we examined for this information have at the very least an IPX4 ranking, which implies there’s no mud safety, however the buds can face up to splashes from any route and are sweat resistant, however in all probability should not be submerged. For an in depth breakdown of all of the attainable permutations, try this information revealed by a provider known as The Enclosure Firm.

Energetic noise cancellation and transparency mode

Energetic noise cancellation (ANC) is turning into customary on wi-fi earbuds, at the very least these above a sure value level. In case you’re in search of a pair of buds that may be your exercise companion and serve you outdoors of the health club, too, noise cancelation is an efficient function to have. It makes the buds extra versatile, permitting you to dam out the uninteresting roar of your own home or workplace so you possibly can focus, or offer you some solitude throughout a busy commute.

However an earbud’s means to dam out the world goes hand-in-hand with its means 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 outdoor, alongside busy streets, might be harmful. You in all probability don’t wish to be completely oblivious to what’s happening round you while you’re working outdoors; 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 wish to block out the uninteresting roar of a health club 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. Usually, that’s what you possibly can anticipate from this area, with just a few 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 health club junkies, nevertheless it’ll be helpful 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 instances and the entire earbuds we examined had holders that supplied at the very least an additional 15 hours. This can dictate how typically you truly need to cost the gadget — 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 in search of consolation arguably most of all, since you ought to by no means be fussing along with your earbuds when you have 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 take heed 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 means to be comfy and supply a very good 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 evaluations and shopping for guides. With these headphones for figuring out, nevertheless, I’ll make be aware of associated points in the event that they stood out (i.e. if a pair of earbuds had noticeably sturdy 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 have the ability to tweak sound profiles to your liking generally.