One of the best wi-fi exercise headphones for 2025

No matter what sort of train you’re into, for those who’re figuring out, you’ll need a pair of wi-fi exercise headphones. They let you 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 transferring 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 elements to think about earlier than selecting one up like water resistance, battery life and general consolation.

At Engadget, we’ve examined a bunch of fitness-ready headphones and earbuds to give you 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 gymnasium, so you may spend money on only one pair and make these your day by day driver. If you happen to’re primarily a runner, try our checklist of best headphones for running.

Greatest exercise headphones for 2025

JLab

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

When you have lower than $50 to spend, the $30 JLab Go Air Sport+ are an excellent choice. These are the most recent 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 connected 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 for those who’re new to it, but it surely’s a surefire technique to get a 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 admire you can cycle by 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 largely testing buds with some sort 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 fastened a serious 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 trendy USB-C cable. Nonetheless, the case is on the cumbersome facet; you may nonetheless throw it right into a backpack or purse simply, but it surely’s not as svelte as circumstances 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 assist: None

The Shokz OpenFit 2 are the most recent 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 fairly than block it out. In my expertise, the OpenFits do an excellent 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 kinds of actions together with operating, energy coaching and indoor biking. Granted, none of these workout routines contain shaking your head an excessive amount of; possibly don’t put on the OpenFit to hearken to head-banging dying metallic (for those who 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 know-how, 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 very best sound high quality and general quantity out of the entire open-ear units I attempted, however for those who crank the quantity as much as the max (or shut), the particular person subsequent to you’ll positively hear what you’re listening to. General, these are an excellent choice for anybody who doesn’t discover in-ear buds notably comfy, or those that simply want 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 assist: None

Some want to put on over-ear headphones all day, day-after-day, and if that sounds such as you, there’s a great likelihood you already use your daily-driver headphones on the gymnasium. However for those who’re noticing elevated wear-and-tear on these cans resulting from sweat or prolonged intervals of use, it’s possible you’ll need 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 score (they’re not designed for the pool, to be clear), they do declare to be “100% sweatproof” thanks partly to their detachable and washable earcups. They survived a few of my hardest runs and strength-training classes with out challenge, and the earcups are fairly straightforward to take away whenever you need to give them a wipe-down. There’s additionally a second pair of earcups included within the field so you may swap them in when the originals finally hand over the ghost.

Sound high quality is respectable, but it surely 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 possible get higher sound high quality on a pair of Bose or Beats headphones on the similar value vary; you’re actually paying for the improved sturdiness with the Ript Extremely. Finally, in order for you a pair of headphones for the gymnasium that may deal with sweat and (probably) last more than different cans in the identical value vary, the Ript Extremely is an effective selection.

Execs

• Sweatproof
• Removeable, washable earcups
• Second pair of earcups included within the field
• Comfy match

Cons

• Costly
• Sound high quality might be higher

$250 at Amazon

Others wi-fi exercise headphones we examined

Apple AirPods Professional

The Apple AirPods Pro have an IP54 score, 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 the majority exercise-specific opponents have. We typically just like the AirPods Professional, however the Beats Match Professional provide most of the similar options and conveniences (particularly 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 great various to the Beats Match Professional for those who’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 provide any important upgrades or further options other than 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 fairly 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 far more once I was carrying 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

Essentially 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 Lively 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 type) 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 value mentioning that this information focuses on wireless earbuds. When you may put on over-ear or on-ear headphones throughout a exercise, many of the best headphones out there now do not need the identical degree of sturdiness. Water and dirt resistance, notably the previous, is necessary for any audio gear you propose on sweating with or taking outside, and that’s extra prevalent within the wi-fi earbuds world.

Most earbuds have one in all 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 fairly sit simply exterior of it. This makes it simpler to listen to the world round you whereas additionally listening to audio, and might 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 very best circumstances. 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 is just not rated for defense in that regard.

The entire earbuds we examined for this information have not less than an IPX4 score, which suggests there’s no mud safety, however the buds can stand up to splashes from any course and are sweat resistant, however most likely should not be submerged. For an in depth breakdown of all of the potential permutations, try this information revealed by a provider known as The Enclosure Firm.

Lively noise cancellation and transparency mode

Lively noise cancellation (ANC) is changing into commonplace on wi-fi earbuds, not less than these above a sure value level. If you happen to’re searching for a pair of buds that may be your exercise companion and serve you exterior of the gymnasium, too, noise cancelation is an effective characteristic to have. It makes the buds extra versatile, permitting you to dam out the boring roar of your private home or workplace so you may focus, or offer you 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 assist some kind of “transparency mode,” or numerous ranges of noise discount. That is necessary for running headphones as a result of exercising outside, alongside busy streets, might be harmful. You most likely don’t need to be completely oblivious to what’s occurring round you whenever you’re operating exterior; adjusting noise cancelation ranges to extend your consciousness will assist with that. Stronger noise cancelation could be extra interesting to these doing extra indoor coaching in the event that they need to block out the boring roar of a gymnasium 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. Usually, that’s what you may anticipate from this house, with a couple of 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 gymnasium junkies, but it surely’ll be helpful to maintain the buds’ charging case on you for those who assume you’ll get near utilizing up all their juice throughout a single session.

You’ll get a median of 20 to twenty-eight further hours of battery out of most charging circumstances and the entire earbuds we examined had holders that offered not less than an additional 15 hours. This may 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 check 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 ought to be specializing in figuring out. 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 hearken 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 potential to be comfy and supply a great listening expertise in a number of completely different actions.

Whereas I’m additionally evaluating sound high quality, I’m admittedly not an audio knowledgeable. My colleague Billy Steele holds that title at Engadget, and also you’ll discover far 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 figuring out, nonetheless, 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). Many 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 normally.