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The 6 Best Workout Headphones in 2024, Tested by Gear Experts
Because every sweat session needs an epic soundtrack.
WHETHER YOU PREFER to listen to music, a podcast, or tune into sports while getting your sweat on, you'll need a solid pair of workout headphones to make it happen. The best workout headphones exist in earbud and over-ear headphone form—even a few on-ear headphone designs are great for working out.
Best Workout Headphones of 2024
Read more: How Men's Health Thoroughly Tests and Reviews Fitness Products
The writers and editors at Men's Health have been testing workout headphones for over 5 years now in all types of training. The key to a good pair of workout headphones is finding ones that fit your ears snug, and won't budge while you're running or repping out squat sets in the power rack. Workout headphones need to have some sort of water resistance in order to withstand plenty of sweat, and 5-mile runs in the rain. We currently recommend six different pairs of headphones for working out, but our favorite pair of workout headphones continues to be the Beats Fit Pro, which launched two years ago.
Keep scrolling to learn more about the Beats Fit Pro and our other top workout headphones to wear in 2024.
How to Find the Best Workout Headphones for You
Workout headphones have come a long way in the last few years. The best workout headphones offer easy connectivity, clear audio quality, long battery life, and durable design—sometimes all for less than $150. Whatever your personal listening style or regular fitness routine, there’s a “perfect” pair of workout headphones for you. Here’s what to look for to find the right ones.
Water-Resistance
If you go hard during your workouts, there's no doubt you sweat—probably a lot. You need a pair of headphones that can keep up. Look for headphones or earbuds that are at least water-resistant or, even better, waterproof. Really, earbuds are going to promise better sweat-resistance than over-ear headphones will. Over-ear headphones are a lot harder to find with a sweat-resistant construction, although brands like Sony and Beats still hold up well to sweat. If most of your workouts are on the moderate side, sweat resistance may not be an issue, and any pair of the workout headphones we've noted below will work for you.
Noise Cancellation
The biggest leap forward in wireless headphone design is hands down noise-canceling technology. If you work out at the gym, in the city, or anywhere where outside noise is an issue, look for Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). This means your headphones have built-in circuitry and software to actively drown out unwanted sounds around you. Some models offer a “Transparency Mode” (or something similar), allowing you to tune back into your surroundings at the push of a button—perfect for when you’re crossing a street, ordering a coffee at the airport Starbucks, or chatting up your running partner.
Battery Life
All of the workout headphones below have excellent battery life, but if you want the longest battery life you will likely want to grab a pair of over-ear headphones. The workout earbuds we've curated have good charging cases too, so if you do find yourself low on power you can tap into that reserve and get a quick charge.
Ease of Use
Your workout-friendly headphones should have simple buttons or touch-capability built in that allows you to skip music tracks, change the volume, and take phone calls—all without having to take your phone from your pocket. And it should be intuitive enough to use even when you’re in peak workout mode.
Price
Headphones can be expensive, but they don’t have to be. We curated the best workout headphones to not go above a price point any higher than $400, because we believe there's more than enough value on the market where you don't have to pay a premium for workout headphones. We don't necessarily recommend going cheap though. Expect to pay anywhere between $100-$400 for a quality pair of workout headphones that will last.
How We Selected the Best Workout Headphones
For the past four years, we consulted with Men's Health's fitness and tech editors on the top workout headphones for men. Experts, including Fitness Director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., Senior Gear and Commerce Editor John Thompson, and Fitness and Commerce Editor Talene Appleton, NASM, put countless headphones through the wringer in multiple workout settings to evaluate their fit, durability, comfort, sound quality, and price. The list above is a reflects what we believe are the best workout headphones you should know about in 2024.
Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., is the fitness director of Men's Health and a certified trainer with more than 10 years of training experience. He's logged training time with NFL athletes and track athletes and his current training regimen includes weight training, HIIT conditioning, and yoga. Before joining Men's Health, he served as a sports columnist and tech columnist for the New York Daily News.
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