Hitting the gym without a good pair of headphones is like hitting the gym without a decent pair of trainers — absolutely pointless. That goes for working out at home, too. It takes a special kind of super-human to workout and keep those reps up without tunes pumping in their ears.Buying a pair of headphones or earbuds for everyday use is one thing, but buying a pair for gym sessions is something else. It requires knowing about a whole other world of workout-focused features and specifications. Choosing a pair of workout headphones is as easy as doing 50 burpees (i.e. not easy at all). You need somebody to act as your spotter. That’s where we come in. You stick to the hard work of smashing those reps, and we’ll stick to the hard work of researching the best headphones for you.
Are wired or wireless headphones best for the gym?
While audio brands are still making very good wired headphones and earbuds (audiophiles will tell you that wired produces the best sound quality), the only sensible choice in the gym is wireless. Getting tangled in wires when you're trying to lift, push, or pull isn't helping your performance whatsoever. Every pair included in this list are Bluetooth enabled.
What features do you need with gym headphones?
In theory, you can hit the gym with any pair of earbuds, but there are some specific features that will actively help your workout and get you on track to smash your PB:Sweat resistance — Water/sweat resistant/proof earbuds will ensure you can workout as hard as you like and not damage the tech.Workout tracking — Some headphones/earbuds will connect with popular fitness apps that help track performance and goals.Volume controls — There's nothing worse than having to fiddle on your phone mid-workout. Look out for headphones that have buttons/touch controls on the ear cups or buds.Keep these features in mind when selecting the best headphones for working out.
Wissonly Hi Runner
Wissonly is a brand known for its technology and the fastest growing brand in recent times. Their R&D team are all technical experts in the field of bone conduction headphones. As early as 2012, they started to develop bone conduction headphones that don't hurt ears. With advanced bone conduction vibration technology, they have been recommended by the majority of otologists!
What impresses me most about Wissonly Hi Runner is their excellent sound quality. They are equipped with a large-size directional bone conduction vibration unit, which increases the effective sounding area by 35% through structural optimization, thus making the sound range wider and the sound more stereoscopic and shocking. At the same time, they have also improved the problem of sound quality loss caused by low sound transmission efficiency of traditional bone conduction headphones. Together with world-class audio tuner, they have customized an exclusive sound quality output scheme for Wissonly Hi Runner headphones in the world's top tuning laboratory. More than 20 audio tuners have been adjusted for 85,036 times, finally showing a really good sound quality which belongs to bone conduction.
The body of the MIC DG Pro is made of memory titanium, which can self-adjust the contact area to ensure a good wearing experience of headphones and take into account more users.
As the core component of the product, the headphones plays a key role in the product experience. Wissonly Hi Runneris equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 chip, and the Bluetooth connection is very stable. It also has 32G of built-in memory, and it also supports IPX8 waterproof, which can even be used for diving.
Jaybird Vista 2
OK, so the list is about gym headphones, but not everyone keeps their workout routine strictly within the confines of the gym. If you’re someone who likes to mix it up and take exercise into the great outdoors, the Jaybird Vista 2 are a class-leader for rugged, tough-as-nails workouts.Built with military-grade durability, these withstand everything. They’re what Jaybird likes to call “earth-proof” — sweat-proof, dust-proof, weather-proof, and everything else-proof. Ultimately, they’re designed for serious endurance training, which means they’re also well suited to tougher forms of gym exercise, such as CrossFit or solo boxing training.They’ll help you stay super-focused thanks to active noise cancellation. There’s also SurroundSense tech, which keeps in tune with ambient noise. This ensures that you’re not so closed off that you don’t know what’s happening around you.
Adidas RPT-01
While earbuds have steadily taken over the fitness market, they’re not everyone’s preference. And sometimes, when it comes to fitness tech and equipment, you want to rely on a brand that knows a thing or two about sport. In this case, Adidas, one of the biggest sports brands in the world.The Adidas RPT-01 are wireless, Bluetooth-powered headphones that go the distance.These pack enough juice for 40 hours of listening — way more than the battery life of even the best earbuds. And while you can’t expect the very best sound from a sports brand, the Adidas RPT-01 headphones are actually a collaboration with a tech firm that works with Marshall.They’re also super convenient for making adjustments mid-workout, with a multi-directional knob on the right ear cup that controls pairing, volume, and playback options. There’s no need to dig your phone out of your pocket and fiddle with controls. Another button connects to the voice assistant, while you can customise settings in the Adidas app.
Sennheiser Sport
Practical features tend to race ahead of sound quality when it comes to the best-rated fitness headphones, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be both an audiophile and fitness fanatic. That’s where the Sennheiser Sport True Wireless Earbuds come in.As you’d expect from the German-made Sennheiser — a stalwart of audio innovation —the Sport True Wireless Earbuds sound fantastic. They’re not just showing off, either. The sound quality is designed to actually boost your workout. You can also fine tune the sound in the Sennheiser app, getting it to the levels that will perfectly suit and enhance your performance.They also have a selection of ear tips, including open/closed “adapters” that block out/allow in levels of ambient noise, helping control your level of immersion. The selection of tips and fins also ensure a secure fit — there’s no losing these during your reps.
Beats Fit Pro
If you’re an Apple die-hard, chances are you’ll want a pair of headphones that sync perfectly with your Apple devices and give you all those iOS-specific features. As good as the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max are, they’re not made with fitness in mind. And you certainly don’t want to risk damaging those £500-plus AirPods Max when you’re in the sweaty thrust of a workout.Much better suited for fitness are the Apple-made Beats Fit Pro, which are powered by Apple’s H1 chip. These wireless earbuds have a flexible and secure fit, with a custom acoustic platform that delivers powerful and balanced sound. There are both ANC and transparency modes, plus sweat resistance.If you like the look of the Beats Fit Pro but you’re an Android user, don’t worry — they pair with Android devices right out of the box.
