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We tested 12 popular workout headphones from Bose, Beats, Apple, and more to find the best pair to hold up through the whole exercise routine
Credit: Rachel Anderson
By Rachel Anderson ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Updated October 16, 2025
Workout headphones should get you hyped enough to push through any plateau. A secure fit and your favorite hits can motivate you rep after rep, bringing the hype you need for a better, more rewarding workout.
Since 2015, we've tested more than 180 headphones, narrowing them down to the 12 most popular workout options. From explosive jump sets to long training sessions, we put each pair through a range of workouts to find the best options for you.
The best workout headphones are the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2. With a secure hook and strong noise cancellation, they provide workout support to tune out the world. The JBL Endurance Race TWS is a great budget choice, staying secure with its winged design and one of the highest sweat-resistance ratings.
If running is more your speed, our running headphone review might be a better fit. If you want more details on sound quality and noise cancellation, we have all the nitty-gritty in our earbuds and wireless headphones reviews. Not sure what kind you need? Check out our Best Headphones Review for a breakdown designed to help you decide.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2helped push us through our workout routines with more energy than ever. “They never budged,” noted our lead tester, which helped her lock in during sweaty sessions. The flexible hooks mold to different ear shapes and sizes, while the app helps you check the seal to ensure the tip is snug and won't slip. This second generation dramatically improves active noise cancellation (ANC), so you'll rarely hear the guy next to you grunting through his lifts. The reliable buttons allow you to switch to transparency mode when you need to chat or check if a machine is available.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 introduces heart rate tracking, something we were eager to try, as it meant ditching the sweaty watches to get the data. However, tracking only works when music isn't playing, which is a bummer since music is what motivates tough workouts. Our testers had mixed opinions on comfort. The ear tips sit deeper in the canal, which some found uncomfortable, while others noticed fatigue from the hook pressing against the back of the ear. They're a great workout companion, but not the most comfortable for all-day wear compared to the Bose Ultra Open. At over $200, they're not cheap, but if your budget allows, what you get is a pair that brings real improvements to hard workouts.
For iPhone users who need music to drive every rep, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 deliver sound that pulls you into your workout. The bass feels alive and full, pushing us harder with each set. Active Noise Cancellation does a fantastic job of silencing the clanging around the gym, allowing you to focus. “I was impressed by the transparency mode when I headed outdoors for my workouts and wanted to stay aware of my surroundings,” mentioned one tester. These buds are comfortable and easily fit securely, which is impressive for an in-ear design without hooks or wings. They're small and discreet, lending to better portability if you don't have your gym bag.
The short six-hour battery life limits the convenience of tossing them in your bag and forgetting about them until your next session. They're not ideal for Android users, as you would miss many key features and conveniences. We recommend the PowerBeats Pro 2 or Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro if you're dedicated to the Android ecosystem. The alternatives for staying loyal to Apple are not appealing. The newly released AirPods 4 with ANC are uncomfortable to wear, and their noise cancellation is weak, while the first-generation AirPods Pro feel like a significant step down. The AirPods Pro 2 are worth the investment, especially since they perform well beyond the gym and are excellent for everyday use, potentially saving you money over owning different earbuds for different activities.
With the Galaxy Buds3 Pro, Samsung ditched their old round earbuds for a futuristic design inspired by the AirPods Pro 2. You get a familiar favorite: snug and lightweight earbuds with stems that never get in the way, no matter how many overhead lifts we do. With an IP57 rating, you can sweat through intense runs or spin classes without worrying about water damage. The angular stems and tactile buttons make the controls easy to use. Samsung loyalists also receive extra perks, including enhanced audio formats for richer sound, spatial audio with head tracking, and Samsung Find, which helps track your earbuds if you leave them behind at the gym. “The music is so full I can feel the energy from every boom and rumble of hard-hitting tracks,” one tester remarked.
Just as the AirPods Pro 2 lack features for Android users, the Galaxy Buds3 Pro leave Apple users missing out. The buds were comfortable for most of our testers, but the three tip sizes don't offer a very wide range when compared to other premium products. Also, be careful when swapping tips, as the silicone tears easily. These earbuds are on the pricier side, similar to Apple and Beats, so the JBL Endurance is worth considering if your budget is tighter. You'll still get a secure fit, but comfort and sound quality take the biggest hit. Ultimately, if you're an Android user looking for a solid all-around earbud, the Galaxy Buds3 Pro can withstand a workout and deliver great sound wherever you go.
If you hate the feeling of stuffy, sweaty ears while you work out, the Bose Ultra Open could be a great fit. The clip-on design keeps the speakers outside the ear canal, avoiding that clammy buildup. They're a big change from in-ear designs that focus on blocking noise, letting in ambient gym sounds so you stay aware of your surroundings. One tester said, “This is perfect for anyone who wants to stay aware of their surroundings, especially during outdoor workouts or chatting to their spotter.” The clip-on style hugs the edge of the ear, making them one of the most comfortable pairs we've ever tested. We were impressed by how they stayed surprisingly secure during our most intense workouts.
The Bose Ultra Open keeps you connected to your surroundings, which also means the loud gym noises around you come through, making it harder to fully zone in on your workout. Turning the volume up helps, but it never quite overpowers the background clatter. The same music that leaks out to people nearby is also what robs you of that deep, driving bass many rely on for motivation. You need a seal for improved sound quality, especially bass, which can be found in the Galaxy Bud3 Pro or AirPods Pro 2 if that is what you prefer. The Open Ultras are among the most expensive in this lineup, but their open design makes them suitable for a wide range of activities, including running errands and wearing at work, where spatial awareness might be mandatory. If noise cancellation isn't your bag, they could be the only pair you need. If you want to shift to the incredibly comfortable open design, these are the best you can get.
The Beats Fit Pro performs reliably with no major flaws, offering features that make workouts easier and more comfortable. The noise cancellation blocks out most distracting gym sounds, giving you uninterrupted training time. “The wings are soft and pliable,” said one tester, making them more comfortable than most other earbuds that feature a wing or hook with an in-ear style. The transparency mode on these earbuds is easy to activate with the controls, so you can chat or hear your surroundings smoothly. Other earbuds either have poor controls or make it so quiet that it's easier to just take them out.
The Beats Fit Pro features a more comfortable winged design than the JBL Endurance Race TWS, but it does stay as secure. They only come with three ear tip sizes, and during dynamic moves like box jumps, some testers noticed that they easily loosen. Compared to other premium earbuds, they don't really excel in any area, delivering average performance for a higher-priced product. If you love Beats and want something smaller and more discreet than the Powerbeats Pro 2, these could be a good option, but expect a noticeable drop in performance.
The open-ear design of the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 makes them extremely comfortable for long workouts. The band is loose enough to avoid tension or headaches, but secure enough to avoid falling off. They sit over your ears, well-balanced, so it doesn't press too hard in one place. We like these conductive buds for outdoor workouts or crowded gyms when you want to stay aware of your surroundings. Without in-ear tips and with flexible hooks, they were the easiest to fit with less concern for ear shape or size. We also liked that sweat didn't gather in our ears. The controls are simple to use, both on the headphones and through the app, making it easy to navigate songs and adjust the sound profile.
The OpenRun Pro 2 doesn't deliver deep bass, even when audio is made from a combination of bone conduction and speakers. Without active noise cancellation, gym background noise can still be loud, so you may need to increase the volume. However, one tester noted, “Even at maximum volume, I still wanted a bit more punch.” The sound is crisper from the Bose Ultra Open if you want a boost in audio from an open design. The 12-hour battery life is impressive for long sessions, though these don't come with a charging case. The band keeps the earbuds secure for running and biking, but for exercises when you hit the mat or rest your head on a chair, the band feels awkward. Overall, they're still a great option if you want to stay aware of your surroundings while working out comfortably.
The JBL Endurance Race TWS shows that you don't need to spend a fortune for a stable pair of workout headphones. They shine where it matters most, with a secure fit. We did box jumps, jumped rope, biked, and even headbanged until our necks hurt, and they never shook loose. With 10 hours of battery life and a quick 10-minute charge giving an hour of playtime, they are great for anyone who forgets to charge. They also have a high dust and water resistance rating of IP67, meaning you can safely immerse them in water up to one meter for thirty minutes. While we wouldn't rely on them for swimming, “This extra durability gives me confidence when sweating heavily during workouts,” noted one tester.
The Endurance Race doesn't have ANC, and the “talk-thru” or transparency mode is not very impressive as it mostly just quiets the music. It's often better to pause your audio and take out the buds. The wing-tip is wide and sits in a sensitive part of the ear, which caused discomfort early in our workouts, and the larger, bulkier bud does not help. The Beats Fit Pro will give you more comfort, but you'll lose a bit of stability. Taps were finicky, and even a stray hair could trigger them, which sometimes made workouts distracting. These compromises can be manageable, especially if you are not wearing them for long sessions and just want them as an addition to your earbud collection.
You could break your neck trying to shake the JBL Endurance Race TWS earbuds out of your ears.
The Shokz OpenFit 2's open design and comfortable hooks are ideal for someone who wants awareness but still likes hooks. These headphones gently hug your ears with soft material that we actually enjoyed. The open design brings awareness to your surroundings, so if you're in a busy gym or often on crowded trails and streets, these can help a lot. “Not having an earbud shoved in my ear canals felt refreshing,” said one tester.
These have a unique design that rests more on your ear than in it, so side-to-side movements like lateral lunges or skater jumps can cause them to jostle, and sometimes the hooks weren't enough to keep them in place. It doesn't happen often and mainly affects people with smaller ears, but it's something to keep in mind. The clip-on design of the Bose Open Ultra has the most secure fit out of all the open headphones. Being open-fit headphones, the OpenFit don't have active noise cancellation, and the sound can feel thin if you're used to in-ear designs. You can turn the volume up to try to block out gym noise, but anyone nearby will hear what you're listening to. A few testers really enjoyed this pair, but you'll want to make sure you get a secure fit if you try them.
The JLab Go Sport+ are one of the most affordable pairs of gym headphones you can find. The hook adds extra security, and is the only difference between these and the JLab Pop+. They come in fun colors and include an app, which gives you some extra convenience. With a sweat and dust rating of IP55, they can withstand intense workouts, even in extended sessions.
Both the hook and ear tips of the Go Sport+ tend to create pressure points on different parts of the ear across testers; most of us think they are uncomfortable for long training sessions. They can work in a pinch, though one tester said, “These are the trade-offs in super budget earbuds.” The sound quality is thin, and you can sometimes hear a faint hissing noise. The touch sensor controls don't always register, so you'll need a bit of patience when changing songs directly from the earbuds. The JLab Go Sport+ can be a budget-friendly backup for daily use or a worry-free option if you frequently lose earbuds and don't want to risk losing a more expensive pair.
We appreciate the hook for extra stability, but beyond that, there wasn't much praise for the JLab Go Sport+.
Over-ear headphones like the Beats Studio Pro are hard to resist because the bigger size means they can pack in more tech than tiny earbuds. That design alone gives you better active noise cancellation. The seal around your ears traps the sound, letting it bounce inside for a richer, fuller experience than regular earbuds. That deep, booming bass that Beats is known for really gets us fired up to crush our workouts. The battery life is insane, lasting up to 40 hours, so you could go straight from work to the gym and still have plenty of juice left.
But it isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Once our ears were sealed in the cup, things got hot and uncomfortable…fast. Even just lifting weights, heart pumping, ears are going to sweat. They aren't sweat-rated either, with one tester noting, “I worry about how well they'll hold up over time.” Good luck keeping them on during anything more than a treadmill walk, because sit-ups, push-ups, or quick movements can cause them to start slipping. If you're looking for Beats, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are among our favorites, designed with workouts in mind. Over-ear headphones pack in more tech than smaller buds, but these just don't hold up when you actually try to use them at the gym. Honestly, we have to say, don't bother.
The Bmani Sport with LED is one of the more affordable options. They offer consistent, reliable button controls that let you focus on your workout. These buds keep things simple, with no app needed for adjustments. The LED screen on the charging case shows the battery percentage, so you always know when it's time to charge.
However, these are all minor positives for workout headphones. Overall, this pair didn't really stand out. “The sound quality is muddied,” one of our audiophile testers said, and the earbuds can even buzz and vibrate at normal volume. The fit is bulky, and the hooks are rigid, making it difficult to adjust for different ear sizes. Even for a budget pair, both the earbuds and the case feel cheap and fragile. Due to the poor fit and struggle to keep them in place during workouts, we recommend exploring more reliable options.
The JLab Go Air Pop+ are the cheapest in the bunch. They're similar to the JLab Go Sport+, with the main difference is they lack a hook. They offer decent battery life, so they won't likely die mid-workout. If they do, the integrated charging cable is convenient and ready to use. “I appreciated the variety of colorways,” noted our lead tester.
Although these come with three different ear tips, none of them created a solid seal to help with passive noise cancellation, sound quality, or securing them in our ears. As you become progressively more sweaty, they become itchy inside your ear canal and less secure. The JLab Go Air Pop+ lacks ANC and transparency modes, and the touch sensors on the sides of the buds are very difficult to use; it is easier to control your music directly from your phone. The complexity of these controls, combined with the other lackluster features, made for a frustrating workout.
The Jlab Go Air Pop+ has poor sound quality and doesn't stay securely in the ear.
Credit: Rachel Anderson
How We Tested
Our team spent months studying what makes headphones ideal for gym use. Our fitness experts then spent months extensively testing each pair to determine which options are the best for working out. Our main focus was a comfortable and secure fit. Working out can mean lying on your back, explosive jump boxes, and lateral swings that can frequently dislodge a standard set of earbuds or headphones. We also considered the headphones' ability to block out surrounding noise so you can focus on your workout and meet new goals. Sound quality and ease of use also played a role in our ranking.
Our team spent hours taking each pair of headphones through sweat-intensive workouts to really test their limits.
Credit: Rachel Anderson
Why Trust GearLab
Rachel Anderson is an avid gym-goer and fitness enthusiast. She has two decades of experience coaching in various aspects of fitness, including track and field, cross-country, and CrossFit. She discovered her passion for lifting over 10 years ago and has been a dedicated lifter ever since. She loves music almost as much as she loves fitness and is obsessed with finding the perfect pair of headphones for all her workout routines.
Rachel has spent 20 years of her life in various coaching roles, and has been lifting for over 10 years.
Credit: Rachel Anderson
How to Choose Workout Headphones
Workout headphones need to stay put. Exceeding your goals and staying motivated while surpassing your personal bests requires more than just music or a comfy pair of buds. Whether you're just starting out on a walking routine or you're swinging kettle bells half your size, the job feels infinitely easier when you have secure-fitting earbuds blasting heart-pumping music, boosting your energy. Finding the right pair for your needs includes determining your specific needs and budget.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 were completely immovable throughout all of our movement tests.
Credit: Rachel Anderson
Finding Your Fit
Finding the best fit includes considering the type of activity you will engage in the most and your personal preference. While we chose a range of headphones and earbuds designed for activity or offer impressive performances to test, it doesn't mean they are all good at all things.
The wing of the JBL Endurance on the left is more effective than the wing on the Beats Fit Pro, shown on the right.
Credit: Rachel Anderson
Earbuds designed for running might offer an excellent and secure fit when upright moving down the road. However, those same buds might fall off your head when performing maneuvers on a decline bench or hanging upside down. Buds with wrap-around hooks might be great at preventing bud loss when the silicone tips get sweaty, but they can be fatiguing if you spend multiple hours at the gym lifting everything.
The Shokz OpenFit 2 fit loosely around the ear and fall off with a simple shake of the head.
Credit: Rachel Anderson
While not all headphones or buds are good at all things, most of those in our selection have impressive crossover capabilities that ensure they are good for more than just a singular activity. Finding a pair that can crosstrain with you can save money over buying different pairs for different activities.
What About Sweat-Resistance?
Most workout headphones come with an IP rating that indicates how well they protect against dust and water. The first number refers to dust resistance, and the second to water resistance. While higher ratings are generally better, an IPX4 rating is typically sufficient to protect devices from sweat and occasional splashes.
Part of finding the best fit for your needs includes considering what features the pair has that help it stay in place and whether or not it is sweat-resistant or possibly waterproof. The table below is organized from most secure to least secure. While most offer something to help keep them in place, not all of them execute their designs well, or they don't work as well as we'd hoped when used in real life.
Secure Design and Sweat Resistance
Additional Secure Fit Features
Style
Ear Tip Sizes
IP Rating
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
Ear hooks
In-ear
5
IP54
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
Back headband with ear hooks
Open
2 bands
IP57
Apple AirPods Pro 2
✖
In-ear
4
IPX4
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro
✖
In-ear
3
IPX4
JBL Endurance Race TWS
Wing tips
In-ear
3
✖
Beats Fit Pro
Wing tips
In-ear
3
IPX5
Bose Ultra Open
Clip
Open
✖
IPX4
Beats Studio Pro
Top headband
Over-ear
✖
IP67
Bmani Bluetooth with LED
✖
In-ear
3
IPX4
JLab Go Sport+
Ear hooks
In-ear
3
IP55
JLab Go Air POP+
✖
In-ear
3
IP55
Shokz OpenFit 2
Ear hooks
Open
✖
IP55
The Bose Ultra Opens clip design is surprisingly secure.
Credit: Rachel Anderson
The PowerBeats Pro 2 thrives in HIIT intervals and stays with you through every jump, sprint, and lift. The hook design improves on the previous generation, becoming more slender and flexible. The Bose Ultra Open hugs the bottom ridge of your ear, using the natural contours as a rail to wrap around, creating an open design with no sweaty tip.
The wider wing of the JBL Endurance provides better ear traction than the Beats Fit Pro, making it the more secure option, but the firmness can be uncomfortable. The AirPods Pro 2 is one of the few standard in-ear buds that stayed put.
The Bmani ear tips could never quite fit right for any of our testers, making them easily slip out once we started our warm-up jumping jacks.
Credit: Rachel Anderson
The Bmani and Jlab Go Air Pop+ could never stay in for long. Everyone on the team struggled to find a good fit.
You'll be annoyed by how easily the Beats Studio Pro's headband shifts as you do simple workouts.
Credit: Rachel Anderson
We've never been more frustrated than when using the Beats Studio Pro. These big, bulky over-ear headphones immediately started slipping during dynamic movements and while lifting. Without any feature to secure them, they're clearly not built for activity.
We wear each of these headphones for the whole workout routine, from warm up to cool down, so we can see how long their wearability lasts.
Credit: Rachel Anderson
It's Gotta Be Comfortable
While your workout headgear might not need to be as comfortable as a pair of casual listening, all-day workmate headphones, they do need to be comfortable enough to last the duration of your workout without distracting you from your fitness goals.
The clip-on Bose Ultra Open hugs around the bottom of your ears.
Credit: Rachel Anderson
For the most part, open designs lead in comfort. With no ear wrap, in-ear tip, or ear pinna hook, open styles give your ears a break, so much so that you can even forget you're wearing them. You also get the bonus of not having clammy ears when you start to sweat.
Make sure you get the right size Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, since the band can begin to flap if it gets too long.
Credit: Rachel Anderson
We love open designs, and the clip-on from Bose Ultra Open stands out for how little we feel them once they're on. We sometimes forget they're even there. The clip is more like a clamp, and its placement keeps it out of the way of hats and glasses. From Shokz, the OpenRun Pro 2 and Open Fit 2 rest on your ears rather than in the ear canal. We enjoyed the OpenRun Pro 2 for most exercises, but the band got in the way during sit-ups and bench lifts, and could conflict with glasses.
Up close, you can see that the wing of the JBL Endurance is wide and not very forgiving on the ear.
Credit: Rachel Anderson
If you prefer in-ear buds for better sound and noise cancellation, the AirPods Pro 2 are the most comfortable. The tradeoff is sweaty ears, but they do a great job of not feeling heavy or bulky.
The wing of the JBL Endurance is stiff and doesn't conform well to different ear shapes. By a long shot, the worst was the Beats Studio Pro. The over-ear design traps heat, making ears hot and moist as soon as you exercise. Even just lifting, the ear cups quickly became sweaty, forcing us to take them off to finish our workout in peace.
A big part of cancelling out high-pitched noises, like the clanks of weights, is done passively through the ear tips. That is why we appreciate that the PowerBeats Pro 2 offer five ear tip sizes to choose from.
Credit: Rachel Anderson
Blocking Out the World
A pair of headphones that helps you stay focused can dramatically improve your workout, helping you achieve new personal records (PRs). Effective active noise cancellation (ANC) can block out distractions and let you zone in on your goals. However, if your workouts find you outdoors, teaming up and chatting with a workout partner, or in places where environmental awareness is important, you might want to swing to the opposite end with an open set of buds.
There's no active noise cancellation for open designs like the OpenRun Pro 2.
Credit: Rachel Anderson
Comfort and Fit Trade Offs
Open-style buds do not have noise cancellation, so if this is important to you, you might be looking at a slightly less comfortable or secure set of buds as the tradeoff.
The ANC on the AirPods Pro 2 can help create a bubble in the most chaotic gym settings.
Credit: Rachel Anderson
We loved the cocoon the AirPods Pro 2 created, silencing awkward grunts and dulling the sharp clacks of metal bars hitting metal. They lower the noise evenly across the frequency spectrum, so you get a more balanced sound reduction. Other products often dampen high clanks or low thuds but miss entirely the opposite range, making the experience less consistent.
The AirPods Pro 2 got us hyped, helping us push through those dreaded battle rope drills.
Credit: Rachel Anderson
The PowerBeats Pro 2 isn't far behind the AirPods Pro 2, effectively blocking out gym music and other background sounds. It performs best at higher frequencies, passively reducing high-pitched noises like gym machines whirring, much like earplugs.
Locking in on your workout and your favorite song can help you push past plateaus.
Credit: Rachel Anderson
Bring the Noise
During a workout, sound is motivation. Crisp highs and driving bass push you through each rep while clear mids make your favorite tracks feel real, keeping you locked in and energized from start to finish. If feeling the music helps drive you further, you'll want to make sound quality a top consideration.
Between the Galaxy Buds3 Pro and AirPods Pro 2, you will find some of the most immersive sound you can get from earbuds, whether for workouts or everyday use. The bass truly stands out. Where others felt thin and uneventful, these pushed us to squeeze out a few extra reps.
The least impressive sound quality are the JLab Pop+ and Sport+. They are fine for workouts, but you'll notice a clear drop in depth and clarity compared to higher budget options. Open designs place the speakers (or vibration conduction) outside your ear canal, making it less immersive and quieter. The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, Shokz OpenFit, and Bose Ultra Open models can't bring the thump as well as in-ear buds, but they do let you chat with your workout partner.
We tested a wide range of different styles of headphones and budgets to find recommendations for various types of users.
Credit: Rachel Anderson
Conclusion
Choosing the right set of workout headphones can help you conquer new goals and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Finding the pair that matches your workout style means you can rely on them to be a true training companion.
