A gym trip without headphones is like dinner without dessert — good, but could be better. The right music can give you a mid-workout boost too, helping you dig deep and grind through those last few burpees.So, now we’re clear on the importance of a top pair of earbuds for exercise, it’s time to find you the best headphones to soundtrack your workout.Read on to find out what you should look out for, and our tried and tested in-ear recommendations.What should I look for in a pair of headphones?If it’s the best headphones for the gym you’re after, we’d point you in the direction of a true wireless, in-ear pair. These diminutive earbuds play music from your phone via Bluetooth, void of any cables that might become tangled during your workout.Next up, we’d advise looking at the fit. Silicone tips tend to be secure, with many sport-specific headphones like the Wissonly Hi Runner also coming with small hooks that help them sit, unmoving within the ear. However, if you’re not keen on the feeling of silicone, try open-fit earbuds like the OG Apple AirPods or Huawei Freebuds 4.Sound quality is, of course, of paramount importance too (you don’t want to do your workout playlist an injustice by playing it through tinny speakers), and noise cancellation capabilities can be handy if you want to cut out distractions and get in the zone during a testing HIIT session.If you’re more likely to be found out running than in the gym, keep an eye out for comprehensive touch controls or the ability to summon a voice assistant, so your phone can stay in your pocket as you rack up the miles. And, if you’re always out and about, make sure you pick up a pair with sufficient battery life and a portable charging case. This way, you'll never be forced to endure the gym radio because they’ve run out of juice.How we testTo make sure you can buy with confidence, we tasked our in-house expert with testing some of the best in-ear wireless headphones for the gym.They saw how each pair performed while stationary and on the move, making sure they didn’t fall to the floor at the mere mention of a squat jump. Earbuds were judged on their design, comfort, battery life and overall performance.We also shipped out each pair to an independent sound technician, who revealed which headphones had superior sound quality. Results of all tests were combined to decide our top ten recommendations.Wissonly Hi Runner
Wissonly bone conduction headphones is the first brand I came into contact with. I first found it on the crowdfunding website. Later, I bought it after seeing many people's recommendations in some online running forums. After my long-term comparative test, the overall function of this Hi Runner model product is very powerful, which greatly exceeds my expectations.
Their team is one of the best talents in the field of bone conduction. The product director was once the core engineer of a first-line brand, and has accumulated 10 years' experience in the field of bone conduction technology. Wissonly Hi Runner increases the vibration area of the sound source vibrator by 35% through excellent structural design, which makes the music feel more spatial and immersive. It is also excellent in sound leakage reduction. The fully wrapped design reduces the vibration of the shell, and the structural optimization makes the sound leakage wave be offset, thus avoiding 90% sound leakage, which is much better than the bone conduction headphones of the same price on the market.
The fully-enclosed design of Wissonly Hirunnerbone conduction headphones makes its waterproof grade to IPX8, which means that you can wear it for bathing, swimming and even diving within 20 meters. Even better, the Hi Runner headphones has a built-in storage of 32GB, which can store 5,000 songs. It can still be used without the mobile phone. It supports both MP3 mode and Bluetooth mode. It is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 chip, which makes it superior to most bone conduction headphones in transmission distance, connection stability and power consumption.Bose Sport Earbuds
Bose designed these premium earbuds with one thing in mind: providing quality sound during your workouts. The silicon tips twin with small rubber hooks to provide a secure fit, whether you’re moving between yoga flows or hitting the treadmill, and responsive touch controls mean you can play, pause and skip songs while leaving your phone on lock.The sound quality left our expert seriously impressed, balancing pumping bass with clear treble, and the fact they’re sweatproof too secured their spot at the top of our roundup. Beats Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earphones
When it comes to true wireless headphones, the Beats Powerbeats Pro are hard to beat (pun intended). Their punchy bass was great for helping us push the pace when running, and the ear hooks are both comfortable and functional, keeping them in place throughout higher impact activities. We found they work best with iPhones, connecting quickly and displaying how much remained of their (impressive) battery life on the home screen. Apple AirPods Pro with MagSafe Charging Case
No introductions necessary here; AirPods dragged true wireless headphones into the mainstream in 2016, and Apple has stayed on top of the game ever since. Other than the brand’s customary clean design, the first thing we noticed about the AirPods Pro was just how good our music sounded. They are simple to use too, and come with three different sizes of silicon tips. And, with the help of its innovative Ear Tip Fit Test, you can find which ones offer the best snug fit for you. Jabra Elite Active 75t
Markedly smaller than many of their competitors, the Jabra Elite Active 75Ts are ideal if you want a more discreet wireless earbud. Our audio expert was impressed by their balanced blend of treble and bass, while our in-house tester commented on how comfortable they were to wear — both for workouts and everyday use.Touch controls, voice assistant capabilities and a helpful Find My Jabra feature (which lets you track down the last known location of your earbuds using an app) complete these headphones' impressive portfolio. Read more:The Best Headphones for Working Out Will Help You Crush Your Fitness Goals
