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Adding music to your fitness routine can boost your motivation, help you keep pace, and block out unwanted distractions. But you shouldn't use just any pair you have lying around. Rather, the best headphones for working out should be designed specifically for active users, have some amount of noise-cancellation, as well as quality audio.
Our top pick are the Jabra Elite 4 Active. These are not only the best-fitting pair we've ever tested but they also pack crystal clear audio, HearThrough tech that doesn't completely drown outside noise, and long battery life. If you're looking for a budget pair, we recommend the Skullcandy Mod, which lack features like noise canceling but cost under $50.
To test for this guide, I enlisted the help of three other people and consulted with two experts for added insight. Below are the four best headphones for working out, as well as insight into how we tested everything and answers to some FAQs. For information on what to wear while running, check out our guide to the best running headphones.
Top picks for the best headphones for working out
Best overall: Jabra Elite 4 Active
Best noise-canceling: Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen.)
Best budget: Skullcandy Mod
Best for swimming: Zygo Solo
Best overall
The Jabra Elite 4 wireless earbuds are sweat- and waterproof, have Active Noise Cancellation, and won't break the bank.
- Active Noise Cancellation with HearThrough technology
- Relatively budget-friendly
- Durable design
- Solid battery life
- Only three color options
- Requires an app to pair and customize
The Jabra Elite 4 Active earbuds are an all-around, solid headphone option that provides high-quality music, a secure fit, and top Active Noise Cancellation with HearThrough, all at a reasonable price.
During testing, the earbuds stayed securely in our ears even when jumping rope or running on the treadmill. The outer part of the earbud did seem a little larger and heavier than the inner ear tip but that didn't compromise fit or comfort even after a few hours. The buds have a waterproof rating of IP57, so don't worry if you get sweaty during a workout.
The ANC was fairly good, though not the best we tested. However, the HearThrough technology was great to really amplify outside sounds via built-in microphones that pick up sounds around you.
One thing the testing team didn't love about the Elite 4 Actives was the need to download a companion app just to connect and set up the buds. The app does provide a lot in terms of specific features like walking you through your headset, teaching you how to use ANC and HearThrough, and showing how to activate mono earbud mode. It also updates the earbuds quickly and easily, and has settings for what type of music you listen to (neutral, speech, bass boost, etc.).
The favorite part from all the testers, other than the comfort, was the ability to pause/play, turn up volume, and turn on ANC right from the earbuds themselves, and not only via a phone.
Best noise-canceling
The AirPods Pro 2 are a big upgrade from their predecessors, with improved noise cancellation and battery life, new touch controls for volume, and a redesigned case with a built-in speaker and pinpoint location tracking. This USB-C model comes with a modern charging port and added dust resistance.
- Best sounding Apple earbuds
- Loaded with Apple-friendly features
- Excellent noise canceling
- Adaptive audio adjusts to environment
- Still limited for Android devices
- Nearly identical physical design as original AirPods Pro
- Lack of custom EQ controls
The AirPods Pro from Apple aren't necessarily made for active workouts but they are a go-to for many reasons. For one, the sound quality is fantastic, even in a busy gym. This is thanks to its Active Noise Cancellation and spatialized stereo technology. You can easily toggle between ANC and Transparency mode on your phone or by pressing and holding the sensor button on the stem of the right AirPod.
With spatialized stereo technology, you get an almost surround-sound effect in the pods, too. From your phone, you can set it up to be fixed or to track with your head movements, which helps keep the sound optimal no matter what direction outside sound is coming from.
The stem touch sensor also controls pause/play and skip forward or back, but you have to talk to Siri to change the volume or do it on your phone.
Also on your phone is where you can do an ear tip fit test to see if the small, medium, or large tips are best for your ears. I'm not sure how accurate it is, though — I tried the test with all different tip sizes and the app always got the conclusion that each tip was the right fit.
However, I chose the middle size because, as to my knowledge, my ears are neither big nor small, and the middle ear tips felt comfortable and secure with a solid seal. You can also turn on the automatic ear detection, which pauses music when you take an earbud out.
Testers found that the pods did jostle around a bit during high-impact, sweaty workouts, but were good for low-impact activities.
Read our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen.)
Best budget
Although small in size and priced affordably, the Skullcandy Mod headphones have a secure and compact fit, plus customizable buttons to suit any preference.
- Vert affordable
- Lightweight and minimal
- Seven hours of battery life and up to 27 hours with charging case
- IP55 sweat and water resistant
- Only one color
- No noise cancellation
The Mod True Wireless Earbuds from Skull Candy were a tester favorite mainly due to their compact size and minimal design. They also cost less than $50. Ever tester felt as though these could easily be $80 or more, so the fact they're somewhat budget-frinedly was a major plus.
Although these earbuds don't have active noise cancellation, they do have some great extra features like the customizable listening experience and button settings, plus multi-device pairing.
One thing to note is that they require you to turn on both earbuds separately with a press of a side button. This also means you can listen with just one earbud easily but I often times put them in my ears expecting them to turn on automatically only to wonder why my music hadn't started playing.
Like others in this guide, the Mod buds use a companion app. The app lets you set up certain customizations, like skipping tracks when you press the button on the buds or switching to Skull Candy's hear-through mode, called Stay-Awake. However, this didn't function nearly as well as the Jabra Elite 4 Actives.
You can also change up the listening experience with customizable equalizers. Presets include music, podcasts, movies, or a fully customizable mode.
Overall, the Skull Candy Mod are a quality, budget earbud that offer a lot despite a modest price tag.
Best for swimming
The Zygo Solos are your go-to headphones if you’re an avid swimmer, and unlike other swimming headphones, Zygo doesn’t store music in the headphones but instead uses a transceiver you stick outside the pool to enable a Bluetooth connection.
- No need to download an app to use
- Comes in sizes standard and large
- Fully waterproof and works 1-2 ft below the surface at up to 50 meters distance
- Kind of bulky
- Need to have both the headphones and transceiver to work
Using the Zygo Solo headphones for swimming is a bit of a journey — but one that is well worth it. When you purchase, you'll get one headset, one transmitter and stand, one charging case, one pair of earplugs, and one microfiber cloth.
And you essentially need all of those items to use the headphones, too. But unlike other swimming headphones where you download music to the integrated MP3, Zygo's buds are a little different. All you have to do is pair your phone with the included transmitter via Bluetooth, and you're good to go.
The Zygo headphones use bone conduction at your temples to play music, so your ears are open (you can still use earplugs) and the headset rests at the top of your neck. You can control the volume from the headphones but won't be able to pause/play or skip forward or back.
One nitpick we had is that the sound quality isn't all that great. However, if you want to listen to a variety of music and podcasts as you swim, Zygo is your best option. Plus, you can use Zygo's headphones for live coaching and with the Zygo app, you can get guided audio workouts.
How we test workout headphones
A group of testers and I racked up tons of sweaty minutes with each pair of headphones, in a variety of gyms and settings (on treadmills, outside, etc.). While testing, we compared each headphone across these five categories: Price, comfort and stability, sound quality, controls and buttons, and Active noise cancellation.
Here's how each category factored into which headphones ultimately made the cut:
Price: Headphones aren't cheap, and can sometimes be easy to lose and leave behind in the gym. The higher-end headphones we tested did have slightly better features but they didn't differ greatly compared to the lower priced headphones, except for when it came to active noise canceling and hear-through features (see below).
Comfort and stability: When it comes to headphones, one of the most important factors (and potentially most annoying) is fit and stability. We only included headphones that didn't slip out or around, and instead stayed put even when working hard on the treadmill or during particularly sweaty routines.
Sound quality: For headphones that are being used in the gym or for a pumped up workout, we focused on sound quality, including bass and clarity.
Controls and buttons: Having to take out your phone to adjust volume is not ideal but that was the case with a few of the pairs we tested. Almost every brand tested had an accompanying app to use with the headphone, too. With some, you had to use the app to adjust some controls and features like noise cancellation, while with others, the app wasn't necessary.
Active noise cancellation: Having active noise cancellation isn't a must persay, but wow, is it nice. When using a pair with high-quality ANC, almost 100 percent of the extra noise simply goes away and all you hear is your music — not the treadmill, not your breathing, and not the rest of the gym goers, so you can focus on your workout.
What to consider when shopping
For such small gadgets, earbuds pack a surprising amount of features, yet you have to consider more than just the extras. Our testers say the most important elements include:
- Battery life and in-case charging capabilities, so you aren't left having to recharge every time you go to the gym.
- Active noise canceling options, for if you're using the headphones at a loud gym or other noisy places.
- Extra features, like being able to listen from one earbud at a time, if you can change the volume from the buds rather than on your phone, and if they are sweat- or waterproof.
- Fit and style, because some headphones are made for more high-impact movements, like running, and some are made for lower-impact workouts, like strength training
Workout headphones FAQs
How often should I clean my headphones?
You should clean your headphones once a week with typical use. It's important not to use water as this can degrade the headphones' electronics. Use an alcohol pad or some sort of specially designed product. Cleaning them often will not only keep them from getting gross but will also keep them working longer.
Do workout headphones need to be waterproof or sweatproof?
Ideally, yes. Thankfully, most headphones that are marketed for exercise are also sweatproof or waterproof, even if you don't think you sweat a lot. These ratings are listed as IP ratings, with IPX4 being a solid choice for active headphones (can withstand splashes from any direction), but anything above IPX2 should be good (protected against dripping water of about 3 millimeters per minute).
How do I know if the earbuds fit well?
With in-ear buds, you'll get small, medium, and large ear tip options when you buy. Try them each and see how they feel — the ear tip should ideally create a sort of seal within your ear, so that the sound stays clear and the buds don't bounce around and become loose.
Other options include in-ear buds that also have some sort of hook that goes over the ear for extra support, like the Bose Sport Open Earbuds or Skullcandy Push Active, which are ideal for outdoor running.
Our experts
- Caroline Grainger, ISSA Certified Personal Trainer at FitnessTrainer Online Personal Trainers
- Candice Ortiz-Hawkins, AuD, ABAC, CCC-A, Clinical Audiologist
