Having the right music on hand for motivation can be key to getting a good workout. While you can certainly use a portable speaker when you’re going through a yoga session at home, you’ll need something a little easier to carry, not to mention a little more private, for most types of exercise. For that, you should consider using some of the best workout earbuds.
There are a lot of options out there, from some surprisingly cheap true wireless earbuds to the best wireless earbuds. But not all of them are good for exercise. They need to be durable and have an IP rating to withstand any dust or sweat they may come into contact with, and they need active noise cancellation or transparency mode to either block out ambient noise or let you hear it (especially if you happen to jog along a busy street). Plus, they must be secure, so they don’t pop out in the middle of a set. With that in mind, this collection includes the best workout earbuds right now.
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Jabra Elite 8 Active
Best overall
The Jabra Elite 8 Active are all-around great earbuds for athletes of just about any sport. Jabra’s specialized coating ensures a stable and snug fit, while a rugged IP68 rating keeps the buds protected against the elements, including water submersion. These buds also feature Dolby Atmos spatial audio, active noise cancellation, and Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint connection support.
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Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Premium pick
$180 $230 Save $50
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are among the best earbuds out there. With good sound quality, they can do a little of everything, including spatial audio support and active noise cancellation. And though you might not think of these as workout earbuds, their IPX7 rating and comfortable fit should make you think again. Plus, they can pair with a Samsung smartwatch which means you can leave your phone in the locker room.
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Jabra Elite 4 Active
Best value
$90 $120 Save $30
The Jabra Elite 4 Active are great for both the gym and jogging with their excellent durability and solid active noise cancellation, not to mention their motivating bass-heavy sound signature. There’s also HearThrough (aka transparency) mode available if you need to hear your surroundings. And, with an IP57 rating, they can handle any workout this side of a pool. Though there’s no multipoint connectivity and the buttons are a bit stiff, those are small quibbles.
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H2O Audio Surge SX10
Best wired
Nothing ruins a swimmer’s rhythm like an earbud falling out and sinking to the bottom of the pool. These wired Surge SX10 earbuds from H2O Audio won’t have that problem. (The big catch is, of course, you’ll need a waterproof MP3 player to use them. Don’t worry, H2O Audio sells those, too.) These earbuds are built to last for swimmers, thanks to their waterproof IPX8 rating.
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Beats Powerbeats Pro
$200 $250 Save $50
If you need a pair of faithful earbuds that’ll support just about any workout without breaking a sweat, look no further than the Beats Powerbeats Pro. These over-ear buds are super-stable, which is their biggest strength and why they’re great for more extreme athletic types who often find that their in-ear-fitting buds fall out too easily. However, they only have an IPX4 rating, less than others on this list, and there’s also no transparency mode for environmental awareness.
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Tozo NC9
$40 $80 Save $40
Looking for good ANC on a budget? Here are the Tozo NC9 earbuds. In a noisy environment like the road or the gym, they’ll suppress most background noise well. The IPX6 waterproof earbuds connect via Bluetooth 5.3 and can deliver frequencies of 14Hz to 20kHz. The sound is loud and includes extra bass and treble which many listeners will enjoy.
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Sennheiser Sport
$131 $150 Save $19
With 5Hz to 21kHz frequency response, deep bass, and clear treble, these earbuds are a gem in any scenario. The IP54-grade protection helps them survive the worst dust and sweat, and the occasional splash. The compact and comfortable build helps you wear them for long periods complimented by the 27-hour long battery.
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JBL Reflect Aero
Though the active noise cancellation isn’t anything to write home about, and the call quality could be better, the JBL Reflect Aero do a lot of things right. To start, they sound very good and implement transparency mode much better than the ANC. They also have wings to keep the individual earbuds secure in your ear as well as an IP68 rating that’s good enough to take into the water.
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Anker Soundcore Sport X10
$70 $80 Save $10
The Anker Soundcore Sport X10s were obviously built for fitness enthusiasts with their bass-heavy output, swiveling ear hooks, and sweat-proof design. The ear hooks are brilliant, with a swivel-and-snap mechanism that you can use to expand or retract. However, this makes putting on and removing the buds difficult since the case supports only the retracted position. They also have an IPX7 rating, an app for fine-tuning, and ANC and transparency modes.
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Monster Champion True Wireless Earbuds
Not only is the battery life unmatched — there are 100 hours with the case — but they also support fast charging in case you need a little extra juice before running to the gym. In addition, there’s a waterproof IPX8 rating and a secure, if not the most comfortable, fit. And, if you like to listen to lossless files while pumping iron, these also support the aptX codec.
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Skullcandy Push Active
$64 $80 Save $16
Built to withstand rough usage, the Skullcandy Push Active earbuds target adventure and outdoor activity. But that doesn’t mean they went cheap on features. An IP55 rating, durable ear hooks, a voice-controllable app, and Spotify Tap are just some of the features available here. There’s even a relatively impressive eight-hour battery life. Just be aware that both the case and the earbuds are on the bulky side.
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Jaybird Vista 2
Another seriously rugged pair of earbuds, the Jaybird Vista 2 are thankfully much smaller as they’re held in place by little ear fins. These earbuds are also very durable, as evidenced by their IP68-rated waterproofing plus MIL-STD 810G-grade shock, freeze, and impact resistance. You could take these rock-climbing if you want. While the sound quality isn’t the best out there, it’s serviceable. And these also come with ANC and an adjustable transparency mode.
Choosing your workout buds
Sports and workout earbuds can be great fitness companions with punchy sound, secure fit, robust build, and noise isolation. It also doesn’t hurt to have some good music on the treadmill or the mat to push you toward your fitness goals. Purchasing a pair of earbuds for an athletic lifestyle need not be difficult. All you have to do is figure out what features you want most from the buds: fit and comfort, sound quality, noise cancellation, or robustness. Any buds may work depending on what unlocks your inner beast.
Jogging well ahead of the others, the Jabra Elite 8 Active buds are about as tough as earbuds get and pack in ANC, transparency mode, and decent all-around audio. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, another great choice, deliver smooth audio and masterful ANC from within a robust yet unassuming body. For around thirty bucks more, you can have a real all-rounder to use at the gym, the park, and the office. No matter the situation, these buds will serve you faithfully.
Looking for something more affordable? Consider the Jabra Elite 4 Active. These are a little less tough than their newer, more robust cousin, the Elite 8 Actives, and they lose out on some features like spatial audio, but the IP57 rating is nearly as good.
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